Reach Out: Help is Available
Help is available if you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Reach Out.
Get help if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or at risk of harming yourself or others. Call 911, or visit your nearest emergency room.
On-Campus Resources for Students (Vancouver & Okanagan)
UBC Vancouver campus
Accessing Crisis Support & Services
- Get options for immediate help if you or someone else is in danger, or at risk of harming yourself or others, including support options on and off campus.
Suicide Awareness & Intervention Training (SAIT)
- UBC's custom Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training that is from a post-secondary context, is trauma-informed, and has cultural context.
- Free, introductory course for any UBC Vancouver and Okanagan students, faculty, staff and alumni. There are no prerequisites.
UBC Okanagan campus
- Get options for immediate help if you or someone else is in danger, or at risk of harming yourself or others, including support options on and off campus.
Suicide Awareness & Intervention Training (SAIT)
- UBC's custom Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training that is from a post-secondary context, is trauma-informed, and has cultural context.
- Free, introductory course for any UBC Vancouver and Okanagan students, faculty, staff and alumni. There are no prerequisites.
Resources for Faculty & Staff
UBC Vancouver campus
Employee & Family Assistance Program for Faculty & Staff
- 1-866-424-0770
- A confidential counselling service that can provide support to you or your family members regarding any personal problems that affect your family or work life, or your general well-being. EFAP also provides preventative resources, such as financial counselling, parenting and eldercare experts, legal advice and nutritional counselling.
- If you are experiencing an emergency or crisis and require immediate counselling services, call 1-866-424-0770 and select the emergency option to speak to a crisis counsellor.
Suicide Awareness & Intervention Training (SAIT)
- UBC's custom Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training that is from a post-secondary context, is trauma-informed, and has cultural context.
- Free, introductory course for any UBC Vancouver and Okanagan students, faculty, staff and alumni. There are no prerequisites.
Assisting Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty & Staff
- Everyone plays an important role in supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Faculty and staff can use this guide to know what to look for, say and do if they are concerned about a student.
Helping Staff & Faculty in Distress: A Guide for Colleagues & Supervisors
- We all play a role in creating a healthy and respectful work environment. The following guidelines are meant to help you take the first steps in helping a colleague you are concerned about or who may be in distress.
UBC Okanagan campus
Employee & Family Assistance Program for Faculty & Staff
- 1-866-424-0770
- A confidential counselling service that can provide support to you or your family members regarding any personal problems that affect your family or work life, or your general well-being. EFAP also provides preventative resources, such as financial counselling, parenting and eldercare experts, legal advice and nutritional counselling.
- If you are experiencing an emergency or crisis and require immediate counselling services, call 1-866-424-0770 and select the emergency option to speak to a crisis counsellor.
Suicide Awareness & Intervention Training (SAIT)
- UBC's custom Suicide Awareness and Intervention Training that is from a post-secondary context, is trauma-informed, and has cultural context.
- Free, introductory course for any UBC Vancouver and Okanagan students, faculty, staff and alumni. There are no prerequisites.
Assisting Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty & Staff
- Everyone plays an important role in supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Faculty and staff can use this guide to know what to look for, say and do if they are concerned about a student.
- A barrier-free wellness clinic, accessible without an appointment to students, staff, faculty and community members.
Helping Staff & Faculty in Distress: A Guide for Colleagues & Supervisors
- We all play a role in creating a healthy and respectful work environment. The following guidelines are meant to help you take the first steps in helping a colleague you are concerned about or who may be in distress.
Other Resources
Aboriginal Crisis Line
- Adults/Elders (250-723-4050)
- Child/Youth (250-723-2040)
- Toll free (1-800-588-8717)
Canadians can call or text 9-8-8 to access bilingual, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate mental health and suicide prevention support. The service is free and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Trained crisis responders will listen to you and provide support with compassion, providing a safe space for you to talk.
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
- The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention website provides information and resources related to suicide.
Canadian Mental Health Association
- The Canadian Mental Health Association website provides information on suicide prevention and other mental health issues.
- Vancouver crisis line (24 hours): 604-872-3311
- Suicide Hotline (24 hours, BC-wide toll free): 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- TTY: 1-866-872-0113
- Provides confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support to anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
- An online educational resource designed to improve mental health literacy among men, reduce stigma, arm men (and their friends, families, and communities) with strategies for effective self-management, and support their uptake of mental health services.
- Offers information on a number of topics, including suicide.
Interior Crisis Line for the Okanagan
- 1-888-353-CARE (2273)
- Provides 24/7/365 empowering support, skilled assessment, crisis
de-escalation, suicide prevention and life-saving intervention to the people in the Interior Region of BC over the phone and via chat Thursday to Sunday 5-9 pm PT / 6-10 pm MT
Métis Crisis Line
- 1-833-MÉTISBC (1-833-638-4722)
- This toll-free number is available 24/7 for immediate crisis intervention, but also a variety of other issues like relationship troubles, depression and anxiety, financial issues, and bullying and peer pressure support. The staff have training to assist in many ways. They also have Métis information available like how to connect with local Métis Chartered Communities.
Okanagan Suicide Awareness Society (OSAS)
- Based in Kelowna, OSAS is a registered charity with a goal is to raise awareness and to offer support to survivors of suicide loss.
SAFER Counselling Service
- 604-675-3985
- Provides support, counselling, and referrals for individuals who feel suicidal and for people whose lives have been affected by suicide.