Support Available 24 Hours a Day
Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat. Call toll-free 1-855-242-3310 or start a confidential chat with a counsellor at hopeforwellness.ca .
KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides crisis services for Indigenous people across BC. Adults/Elders line 250-723-4050; youth line 250-723-2040. Or call toll free 1-800-588-8717. Learn more at www.kuu-uscrisisline.com.
9-8-8 National Suicide Crisis Helpline offers immediate support anytime for support in English or French. Simply call 9-8-8 wherever you are in Canada.
Other Culturally-Safe Supports
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a partner with the FNHA in providing access to counselling, cultural and emotional support services to former First Nations students of residential and day schools, and their families, regardless of status. Call toll-free 1-800-721-0066 or visit www.irsss.ca.
Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society provides confidential outreach services such as counselling, cultural supports, and personal wellness programs. Call toll-free 1-888-403-3123 or visit www.tsowtunlelum.org.
First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day provides virtual health care and referral support for First Nations people and their families living in BC, who do not have a doctor or are unable to get an appointment. Doctors are available by video or phone from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. every day. Call 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment. Learn more at fnha.ca/virtualdoctor.
Virtual Substance Use & Psychiatry Service is an FNHA service providing virtual specialist support in addictions medicine and psychiatry for First Nations people and their families living in BC. This service requires a referral from a health and wellness provider who can support the individual on their journey. Health and Wellness Providers can make a referral by calling 1-833-456-7655. First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day can provide referral support for anyone who does not have a provider who can refer them to the program.
Counselling Services Covered by First Nations Health Benefits
For Status First Nations people, mental wellness counselling services from a qualified mental health provider (psychologist, clinical counsellor, and social worker) is covered through First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB). The mental health providers must be registered with FNHB, and many providers are registered to bill Health Benefits directly for services so clients do not have to pay out of pocket. Before booking an appointment with a counsellor, call 1-855-550-5454 or visit fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health to check if they are registered and if the service is eligible for coverage.
Last updated on Oct. 7, 2024.
