We talk a lot about the Canadian Mental Health Association a few times a year, during times when mental health, its impacts, and the resources available are being highlighted, like during Mental Health Week. But, the CMHA’s services are available all year-round, and they’ve got incredible, free resources for Canadians.
CMHA has lots of national programs, but in terms of local services, Whistler is in the catchment area for the North & West Vancouver Branch of the CMHA. One of the local services offered by our branch is the Peer Navigation Program, coordinated by the Kelty Dennehy Mental Health Resource Centre. A Peer Navigator is someone you can talk to about the challenges you’re facing—big or small. They can offer a listening ear as well as information and resources. Peer Navigators have lived experience with mental health challenges, and can connect with you about your experiences and offer guidance on your journey.
It’s free to connect with a Peer Navigator, with no formal intake process or eligibility criteria, and you can talk to a Peer Navigator within a week of reaching out. They can connect with you over the phone, email, or Zoom. You can connect once or on an ongoing basis. To connect with a Peer Navigator, call 604-353-8235 or email keltyhope@cmha.bc.ca.
One of the CMHA’s popular provincial programs is BounceBack® Free Mental Health Coaching. BounceBack® is a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. If you’re interested in this program, you can complete this online intake form to get started.
And, one more local resource that comes highly recommended by our friends at the Whistler Community Services Society: Kelty’s Key, offered by the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation and Vancouver Coastal Health. Kelty’s Key is your source for online therapy. You can get tailored treatment from an online therapist, or work on your own with our self-help resources. This program is publicly funded by Vancouver Coastal Health, making all the services 100% free.
There are so many more resources at your fingertips than you may realize! In addition to these great offerings, there are services offered by the Province of BC, by the Government of Canada, and, of course, by local organizations like Whistler Community Services Society, Sea to Sky Community Services, the Sea to Sky Healing Project, and more. We’ve pulled together a list of local, provincial, and national resources that you can explore by following this link.
