Volume 16 Issue 1 » 77
RESOURCES
E D U C AT E YO U R S E L F
Mental Health First Aid
Becoming more popular are Mental Health First Aid
(MHFA) courses. Developed by the Mental Health
Commission of Canada, the MHFA certification program
helps people provide support or comfort to others
experiencing a mental health crisis. Courses are available
for individuals or the workplace at mhfa.ca.
BounceBack
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s BounceBack
program 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, the program provides access to
tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.
Visit bouncebackbc.ca to learn more.
MOBILE APPS
One way to start getting in touch with your mental health
is to keep better track of it. Apps like Youper, Daylio,
and MindShift allow you to track your daily moods and
corresponding activities to better chart your ups and downs.
Starting a meditation or mindfulness practice is also easy
with apps like Headspace, Calm, and 10% Happier.
ONLINE THERAPY
If talking to a counsellor in person doesn’t fit with your
schedule or budget, online therapy options like Talkspace
and BetterHelp might be right for you. These services
match you with a licensed therapist in your area, with the
ability to text or video chat with them on your own terms.
GET HELP
For free, non-emergency mental health information, call
811 or visit healthlinkbc.ca. If you are in distress, call 310-
6789 (do not add 604, 778 or 250 before the number) 24
hours a day to connect to a BC crisis line. Crisis lines aren’t
only for people in crisis. You can call for information on
local services or if you just need someone to talk to.
H OW TO F I N D A CO U N S E L LO R
In British Columbia, there is no official regulatory body
for counsellors; however, there are certain credentials that
are important when looking for one. There are three major
registering bodies for counsellors in BC: The BC Association
of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), the Canadian
Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and
the British Columbia Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy (BCAMFT). All three of these organizations’
websites allow you to search for accredited therapists in your
area. It could also help to ask friends who are in therapy
for recommendations. Often, the first intake appointment
with a counsellor is free, so you can decide if you like that
counsellor’s style and if you connect with them personally.
You might not find your counsellor after your first
appointment, and that’s perfectly all right.