Skip to main content

Search Wellbeing

Cancel
Home

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us

Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

Top Navigation

  • Our Partners
  • Contact
  • About Us
Wellbeing

Families Supporting Youth

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Mental Health
  3. Seeking Help
  4. Families Supporting Youth

Mental health

  • Anxiety
    • What to Do About Anxiety
    • Panic Attacks
    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Depression
    • Symptoms of Depression
    • What to Do About Depression
  • Stress
    • Symptoms of Stress
    • Managing Stress
  • Self-Harm
  • Suicide
  • Seeking Help
    • Families Supporting Youth
    • Youth Supporting Themselves

Conversations with young people about mental health may feel challenging. Here are some places to start.

Roughly 70% of serious mental health challenges start before the age of 24. Sometimes, youth may feel reluctant to share what they are going through, due to stigma or not knowing how or where to get help. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic may be adding even more stress than usual. There are resources to support youth, parents, and caregivers to know where to start.

Starting a conversation

Speaking to young people about mental health can feel uncomfortable – you may feel that you don’t have all the answers, or don’t know how to begin. Kelty Mental Health has helpful tips on how to start conversations if you are concerned about a young person in your life

  • Try to talk about mental health and wellbeing often in your family, these are important topics for everyone to be aware of. Speaking openly and regularly about mental health can help young people to feel like it’s ok to discuss.
     
  • Speak with them while doing an activity, such as taking a drive or playing a game they enjoy. This can help young people feel less pressure.
     
  •  Treat them like an adult. Listen and ask what they think would help and how you could best support. This can help show that you want to work together and are taking what they say seriously.

Find more suggestions on how to talk to young people in your life.

Reaching out for help

Together, you may decide to speak to a professional to find help or information. There are many reasons to speak to a professional – to learn more about what you are experiencing, to get a new perspective, or even just to have another person on your team. You do not need to be experiencing a crisis to seek support. Here are some places to start if you decide to reach out for help:

  • If you have a family doctor, you can contact them for information about services in your community. They can assist you by making a referral to additional professionals and support your family between appointments or if you are on a waitlist.
     
  • A school counsellor can also be a great person to reach out to. They can give advice about what the young person in your life is experiencing and help navigate other services to support them.
     
  • Attend an intake at a Child and Youth Mental Health Clinic. You will both will be asked questions about what they are experiencing and their health history. All Child and Youth Mental Health services are free of charge. Learn more about the intake process.
     
  • In addition to intake through Child and Youth Mental Health Centres, Indigenous families can access services through Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health.
     
  • Reach out to a Foundry youth clinic (if available in your community) or access online services at Foundry Virtual. Foundry provides many services for young people, including counselling and peer support.
     
  • Adults can also benefit from support while helping a family member. This will help you to discuss your own concerns and develop more skills to support your loved one. Support for family members is available through organizations like: Kelty Mental Health, FamilySmart,  Family Support Institute of BC and Foundry Parent Supports.

Navigating the world of mental health can be challenging.  Remind yourself that you are doing your best and allow yourself to ask for help when you need

Resources

Showing 2 Resources

Child and Youth Mental Health Clinics

Free mental health clinics for children and youth in locations across B.C. 

In Person
Learn More

Foundry Virtual

Foundry

Provides access to virtual services through an app and web portal for youth and their caregivers in BC. Services are free and confidential; no referral or assessment is needed.<br /><br />Use the app to drop-in or schedule a virtual counselling appointment, join a youth group or caregiver group, find peer support, or browse a library of tools and resources.

Virtual
Learn More

About

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy

Emergency Contact Information

Call 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency. For mental health support, call:

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support Line

310-6789 (no area code needed)

View in other languages

google translate icon
Copyright ©2021 – 2023

Emergency Contacts

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support

310-6789