Resources to Assist Calgarians in their Search for the Right Mental Health Service/Care Provider
Need help finding a private mental health provider without a doctor's referral?
To aid your search for the right private mental health provider in Calgary, feel free to use any of the following free search engines, websites and online directories:
Psychology Today: this website works as a free online directory that helps individuals find/connect with relevant mental health professionals in their area (including Calgary) by simply entering into the search engine the name of your city (i.e. Calgary) or your postal code. Fun fact, this website can also be a great resource for those trying to find group counselling options as well.
Link to the Psychology Today website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca?tr=Hdr_Brand
Affordable Therapy Network: this website helps connect individuals with affordable therapists or counsellors across Canada (including Calgary) that ALL offer sliding scale fees or low-cost rates.
Link to the website: https://affordabletherapynetwork.com/​​​
Psychologists's Association of Alberta (PAA) Referral Service: this phone and online referral service helps connect Albertans with private psychologists across Alberta.
Toll free number: 1-888-424-0297.
Link to the referral service: https://psychologistsassociation.ab.ca/referrals/
Boys Town: this is a free North American hotline that can help connect Calgarians with appropriate mental health professionals in their area. As an added bonus- this service is available 24/7 and also has offer 140 language interpreters available to help.
Toll free hotline: 1-800-448-4000​
Toll free administration line: 1-800-842-1488
The College of Alberta Psychologists' Online Directory: this service allows any Albertan to search for any registered psychologists across Alberta for free. Making it perfect for those who are interested in connecting with one specific professional.
Link to the directory: https://www.cap.ab.ca/member-directory​
CCPA's Canadian Certified Counsellor Search Engine: this service allows Canadians the opportunity to search for any Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) in their area for free.
​Link to CCPA’s search engine: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/find-a-canadian-certified-counsellor/
The Alberta Chapter of the AFCC Referral List: those interested in getting connected to private practitioners who can provide support in the resolution of family conflict should consider accessing AFCC'S free online referral list. For reference, this list includes professionals across Alberta who have identified themselves as providing "parenting expert" services under the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Rules of Court Family Law Practice Notes 7 (Interventions) and 8 (Parenting Time/Parenting Responsibilities Assessments).
Link to free online referral list: ​https://www.afccalberta.org/home
EDSNA's Eating Disorder Care Provider's List for the Calgary & Southern Alberta Area: EDSNA offers a comprehensive list of care providers in the Calgary area who are able to provide eating disorder support to any/all Albertans who are struggling. For reference, providers on this list include registered psychologists, counsellors, social workers, dietitians and paediatricians.
Link to EDSNA's care providers list: ​https://edsna.ca/southern-alberta/
Theravive: this is a website dedicated to help people find licensed counsellors, therapists and psychologists in their area, for online or in-person support (at no cost).
Link to Theravive's website: https://www.theravive.com/ ​
Need help finding a specific mental health service?
To aid your search for a specific mental health service in Calgary, feel free to use any of the following free resources or helplines.
211 Alberta: this highly underrated resource allows Albertans the opportunity to search through a variety of services from across the province and offers them the opportunity to speak to specialists who can assist them in their search. As an added bonus- this resource is free, confidential, available 24/7 and is accessible via phone, text message, website or online chat.
Link to 211's website and chat service: ab.211.ca
To call dial: 2-1-1
For text messaging: text INFO to the number 211
Alberta-Wide Addictions/Mental Health Helpline: this 24/7 helpline can also assist Alberta with referrals for the appropriate mental health and addictions services.
Helpline number: 1-866-332-2322
Community Connect YYC: this new website helps connect Calgarians needing rapid access to affordable counselling and mental health supports with as few barriers as possible.
Link to website: https://www.communityconnectyyc.ca/​
Health Link 811: this 24/7 hotline is a great resource to access if you are interested in knowing more about specific services that are provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
To call Health Link dial: 8-1-1​
InformAlberta.ca: this website is an online province-wide directory, created to help Albertans find information about community, health, social and government services- including mental health ones.
Link to this provincial directory: https://informalberta.ca/public/common/search.do;jsessionid=A0C38C6248EFA153884A0D1984D9E564
RESILIEN Wellness Wayfinder: this website is a great resource to access if you need help connecting with service providers of all price points that can help support you with your basic needs, developmental disability, mental health, neuro-injury, or substance-use disorder.
Link to RESILIEN’s website: https://resilien.ca/
eMentalHealth.ca: this website dedicated to provide information on mental health services, resources and organizations across Canada. Although limited, there is some information on relevant Calgary services here.
Link to this website: https://www.ementalhealth.ca/
Crisis Supports (Crisis Counselling, 24/7 Helplines)
Need to see someone right away? The following crisis supports might be the most helpful.
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Need Rapid Access to Counselling?
YYC Community Connect: is a good resource to access for rapid access to counselling (within 3 business days).
YYC Community Connect website link: https://www.communityconnectyyc.ca/#OurServices
24/7 Helplines:
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24/7 General Crisis Helplines & Supports:
CMHA's distress and suicide prevention line (24/7):
CMHA’s Toll-free number: 1-888-787-2880​
CMHA’s local Calgary crisis line: 403-327-7905​
Health Link 811: this helpline is great to access for 24/7 suicide/mental health/eating disorder support.
To access this helpline dial: 8-1-1.
Woods Homes Crisis Helpline, Text, Chat, Counselling & Family Supports:​
Helpline (24/7): 1-800-563-6106​
Text service: text "HELP" to 587-315-5000
Chat service link: https://www.woodshomes.ca/
To access free single session therapy or mobile family crisis support call: 403-299-9699
Mental Health Helpline (24/7): 1-877-303-2642
Canada Suicide Prevention Service (24/7):
Toll-free number: 1-833-456-4566
Text service: text "help" to 45645 (available from 4pm-12am ET)
Distress Centre Calgary Helplines, Text Supports, Chats & Crisis Counselling: ​
Distress Centre Helplines:
24/7 crisis line (services available in over 200 languages): 403-266-4357.
Teen line: 403-264-8336.
Hearing-impaired line: 403-543-1967
Distress Centre Text Supports & Chats:
To text for support (3-10pm on weekdays & 12-10pm on weekends): use the number 587-333-2724
2 online crisis support chats:
Adults chat link:www.distresscentre.com/need-help
Teens chat link: www.calgaryconnecteen.com
Distress Centre Crisis Counselling (free, but not 24/7): for immediate counselling support individuals can access this resource by visiting the following website to fill out an intake form: https://www.distresscentre.com/need-help/ or they can call the crisis line at 403-266-4357 and ask to complete an intake for counselling.
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Human Trafficking or Sexual Exploitation Helplines:
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: this line is confidential, multilingual and can help connect victims and survivors with social services, law enforcement and emergency services as well as receive tips from the public.
1-833-900-1010 (Toll-free & 24/7)
Crisis line for sexual exploitation: 403-710-2879
Toll free number: 1-888-753-8575
Abuse/Violence Helplines:
Connect Family & Sexual Abuse Network: good to call for questions or support for sexual abuse/sexual assault.
1-877-237-5888 (Toll-free & 24/7)​
24 Hour Family Violence Helpline: good to call for questions or support for domestic/relationship abuse.
1-866-606-7233 (Toll-free & 24/7)
Elder Abuse Resource Line: good to call for questions or support for elder abuse.
403-705-3250
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter line: this helpline offers support and free counselling for women escaping family violence.
403-234-7233 or 1-866-606-7233 (toll-free)​
For support with safety planning/outreach services call YWCA Sheriff King Home emergency shelter at: 403-266-0707 (24/7)
For a comprehensive list of supports for domestic violence (including legal, financial and numbers for emergency shelters) please visit the following Calgary Police Service website: https://www.calgary.ca/cps/community-programs-and-resources/victims-of-crime/victim-resources-domestic-violence.html
Addiction Helplines
Addiction Helpline: good to call for questions or support for addictions.
1-866-332-2322 (Toll-free & 24/7)
Downtown Outreach Addictions Program (DOAP): ​good to call for questions or support for addiction service referrals for shelters, treatment centres and service agencies, transport and crisis counselling.
DOAP Outreach Line: 403-998-7388 (cell) – Operates 24/7
DOAP Encampment Team Line: best number to use for people sleeping outside: 403-805-7388 (cell) (Operates Monday-Friday 8 am-4 pm)
First Nation Helplines
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline: this helpline and chat service offers immediate help to all Indigenous peoples across Canada by providing counselling and crisis intervention 24/7. Translations are available.
Toll free number: 1-855-242-3310
online chat service: www.hopeforwellness.ca
IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivors Society) Emergency Crisis Line (24/7): this line is a great resource to access for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his/her Residential school experience.
Toll-free numbers to call: 1-800-721-0066 or 1-866-925-4419.
For youth in crisis, call 1-800-668-6868 or text "HELP" to 68668
Faith-Based Helplines:
Crossroads Canada Mental Health Prayer Line (24/7): this is a great line to access for crisis Christian mental health support and prayer. Open to all, even if not Christian.
1-866-273-4444
Jewish Family Services Calgary Mental Health Support Line: this is a great line to access for crisis Jewish mental health support. Open to all, even if not Jewish.
403-287-3511
Nisa Helpline (27/7): assists Muslim women across North America with peer-to-peer counselling on a variety of issues. Open to all, even if you are not a woman.
1-888-315-6472
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Crisis Helplines for Youth & Parents:
Boys Town National Hotline (24/7): good to call if you need to speak to a counsellor or need parenting advice 1-877-303-2642
Youth Unlimited's Streetlight Crisis Lines (24/7): good to call for/if you are a youth in distress or crisis: 403-470-9322​
Kids Help Phone: good to chat, text or call, for/if you are a youth in distress or crisis.
Free text service (24/7): text "CONNECT" to 686868​​
Crisis line: 1-800-668-6868
Link to chat service with a counsellor (available from 7pm- 12am): https://kidshelpphone.ca/need-help-now-text-us/ (once on the site be sure to click on the "I Need Help Now" button)
General Crisis Text Supports:
The Colour Project: A Canadian free anonymous text-support service for mental health.
For more information or to sign up, please visit The Colour Projects's website at: https://www.thecolourproject.ca/
Canadian Mental Health Text Service: If you text "Help" to 45645 from 5pm-1am ET in Canada when you are feeling suicidal/depressed a crisis worker will text you back for further support.
Helpline for Crisis Nursery, Respite Care & Family Support:
Children's Cottage at: 403-233-2273
Helpline for Emergency Pet Boarding:
Calgary Humane Society: 403-205-4455
If you or someone else you know are: in a position of imminent risk, unable to wait to speak to someone or are feeling doubtful/unable of keeping themselves safe then call 9-1-1. Or ask someone close to drive you to your nearest hospital for support. If you are feeling this way, please do not attempt to drive yourself.