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Seeking
Additional Support

This page identifies some of the other services and supports that you may choose to access.

Indigenous Mental
Wellness Organizations

Helplines

The National Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available to former students of Indian Residential Schools and their family members 24/7 at
1-866-925-4419

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis line is available 24/7 at
1-844-413-6649

Local Supports

The Hope for Wellness Helpline counsellors can help you identify specific supports in your community or area.

Some suggestions of where to start looking for support in your area are:

Mental Health Counselling

These services are primarily provided by regulated health professionals (i.e. psychologists, social workers) who are in good standing with their provincial or territorial regulatory body and are registered with Indigenous Services Canada.

Mental health counselling services are available to:

  • Status First Nations, and Recognized Inuit through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program;
    AND:
  • Regardless of Indigenous status (status or non-status First Nations, Inuit or Métis, or non-Indigenous), or place of residence within Canada, to:
    • Former students of Indian Residential Schools, including Indian Day Scholars, and their families;
    • Former students of Federal Indian Day Schools and their families; and,
    • People impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

To learn more, you can contact an Indigenous Services Canada regional office, or the BC First Nations Health Authority.

Community-Based Cultural
and Emotional Supports

These community-based helpers are available across Canada through a number or different Indigenous organizations that are funded by Indigenous Services Canada. They include:

  • Elders
  • Traditional Healers
  • Knowledge Carriers
  • Trained Indigenous Health Workers
  • Peer Counsellors

For more information on accessing community-based cultural and emotional supports, contact an ISC regional office, or the BC First Nations Health authority.