You may feel like this isn’t the time to reach out for help or use emergency resources, but it’s important to seek help no matter what else is going on. Emergency rooms, emergency responders, and other crisis workers are there for you no matter why you need help.
The following are emergencies. In these situations, please seek help right away.
- Thinking about ending your life or trying to end your life
- Experiencing sensations that aren’t real and/or beliefs that can’t possibly be true
- Making choices that put you in serious danger
- Becoming unable to care for yourself
- Experiencing medication problems like serious side effects
- Experiencing an alcohol or any other drug overdose
- Taking a dangerous combination of substances (like benzodiazepines and alcohol)
You can:
- Call 911 for help right away.
- Go to your local emergency room. Residents of Victoria can also go to the Emergency Room at Royal Jubilee Hospital (RGH) and meet with the Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), Crisis Response Teams and Community Response Teams. Residents of Vancouver Island can find their nearest Crisis and Emergency Services location here. The Island Health 24-hour crisis line is 1-888-494-3888.
- Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) for help any time of day or night, from anywhere across BC. It’s a free call.
- Call or text Talk Suicide Canada (call 1-833-456-4566 toll-free 24/7 or text 45645 1pm – 9pm PST)
Are you concerned about someone else?
If you think that someone else is experiencing an emergency, call 911.
If the other person is willing, you can also take them to an emergency room.
If someone talks about ending their life and you don’t know how serious the situation is, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) for advice. It’s better to ask for help early—don’t wait and see if it will get worse.
If you’d like to talk to someone
If you just need someone to talk to, there is help available:
For everyone
- Mental Health Support Line: Call 310-6789 (no area code). This number will connect you to your local BC crisis line without a wait or busy signal, 24 hours a day. Crisis line workers are there to listen and support you as well as refer you to community resources.
- Crisis Centre Chat: Visit crisiscentrechat.ca to chat online with a crisis responder. It’s available from noon to 1:00am every day.
For Indigenous folks
- KUU-US Crisis Line: This is a resource for suicide prevention for Indigenous people on Vancouver Island and in the province of British Columbia. Help is available 24 hours a day. If you are facing a crisis, call any time.
- Adult Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
- Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
- Vancouver Island and through the Province of BC: 1-800-588-8717
- View a map of Indigenous, Metis, Native Friendship Centres and Indigenous communities served by Island Health. If you need an Indigenous Liaison Nurse (LIN) to help advocate on your behalf, you can find the listed contact at each hospital location here.
For young people
- Kid’s Help Phone: Visit kidshelpphone.ca or call 1-800-668-6868. For kids and teens (ages 20 and under), professional counsellors are available to help, 24 hours a day. It’s free, confidential and anonymous.
- Youth in BC: Visit youthinbc.com to chat online with a crisis responder. It’s available from noon to 1:00am every day.
For older adults
- Seniors’ Distress Line: Call 604-872-1234 to talk with a crisis responder. It’s available 24/7. This is also available to anyone who is concerned about an older adult.
For people who use substances
- Alcohol & Drug Information Referral Service: Call 1-800-663-1441 (604-660-9382 in the Lower Mainland) for information about substance use treatments or supports in your area.