Out of the Dark: mental health resources in Quebec

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a lot of additional stress whether it's financial strain, loneliness and isolation, or concern about the future, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.

As part of our Out of the Dark: Real Talk on Mental Health series,herea list of resources within Quebec that can help to navigatethese feelings. Most of the resources listed are either free or cost a nominal membership fee. Please note thatthe resources and tools proposed below should in no way replace the help and treatment provided by your mental health professional oryour doctor.

• AMI-Qubec is an organization thatsupports those living with mental illness, their family and their caregivers. They offer support groups, workshops and counsellingfor families. More info. here.

• AMI-Qubec also provides a list of help lines withinthe province. Find that listhere.

• The Quebec Government's website includes tips on protecting your well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic and includes many resources such as aself-management tool for emotional health and resources for parents, children caregivers and more. Find it here.

• The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• How to cope with winter isolation during the pandemic

• 30-Day mental wellness challenge

• The West Island Women's Centre (WIWC) is a non-profit community organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of women. The centre is offering an eight-week "Women in Isolation" virtual support group on Mondays from 1-3 p.m. from January to March. Informationhere.

• Head and Hands is offering a 12week virtual yoga, breathwork, and meditation workshopfor youth between the ages of14-25. Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.from Janurary to March. Sign up here.

• Vent Over Tea isfree,confidential active listening service to all members of the local community topromotemental wellness and connection. All vent sessions conducted over phone or Skype.

• Friends for Mental Healthis a West Island-based non-profit organization that offers support and other resources to those close to a person with a mental health issue. There is an annual membership fee foraccess tocounselling services, support groups and workshops, but they also offer free services such as webinars and respite activities such as movie nights. More info.here.

• Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre (MMHRC)is anonline resource that seeks to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for people from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including new Canadians, refugees and members of established ethnocultural communities.

• Mental Health Estrieis a non-profit community organization committed to helping English-speaking families of Estrie and surrounding area to manage the impact of mental illness.

• Wellness Together Canada was funded by the Government of Canada in response to the unprecedented rise in mental distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a mental health and substance use website to support people across Canada. Free resources includeIndividual phone, video, and text counselling.

• Recreation therapy is an allied health profession that uses recreation, leisure and play to help people improve their quality of life.Recreation therapist Erica Botner has just launched a pilot program that offers free online sessions in an attempt toreduce isolation. Find out more here.

Other resources:

• Tel-jeunes: 1-800-263-2266

• Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868

• Tel-Aide:514-935-1101

• A list of call centersin Quebec by region.

• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (Phone) | 45645 (Text, 4 p.m. to midnight ET only)crisisservicescanada.ca

• In Quebec (French): Association qubcoise de prvention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention:Find a 24-hour crisis centre