In response to the ongoing announcements of the many unmarked Residential School graves across Canada, the TWN Mental Wellness team is here to provide support services.
The ćećǝwǝt lelǝm Helping House Mental Wellness Team provides Mental Wellness programs and resources that are compassionate, culturally appropriate, strength-based and community focus. All programs work to empower community members to be resilient, self-determined, and connected.
Mental Wellness intake/referral phone number: 236-335-5783
Our email: mentalwellness@twnation.ca
TWN Mental Wellness Brochure
List of External FNHA Funded Counsellors
(Recommended by the TWN Mental Wellness Team)
Clinical Counselling
Counselling supports are available to Nation members of all ages. A strengths-based, client centered approach is used to support clients through difficulties such as grief and loss, trauma, addictions, Residential and Day School, and other challenging times of transition.
Addictions Counselling
Through a compassionate and culturally appropriate approach, Alcohol and Drug counselling services are available to community members, with services including assessment and treatment referrals, pre-treatment and post treatment follow up, alcohol and drug education and prevention, and harm reduction education.
Harm Reduction Resources:
First Nations Health Authority – Indigenous Harm Reduction Principles & Practices
First Nations Health Authority – Overdose Prevention
First Nations Health Authority – Talking About Substance Use
First Nations Health Authority – 5 Myths About Addictions
First Nations Health Authority – Indigenous Harm Reduction in Action: Community Wellness Education
Vancouver Coastal Health – Harm Reduction
Lifeguard App for Overdose Prevention
Catie – Harm Reduction Fundamentals
Expressive Arts Therapist & Counsellor
Expressive Arts Therapy, which includes writing, storytelling, visual art, movement, sounds, photography, connection with nature, or therapeutic conversation, is an experiential type of counselling where clients are invite to engage in the creative process as a frame for self-discovery. This allows the client to reflect on their habits, discover personal strengths, address challenges, and build resilience.
Peer Support
Supports with coordinating the giving and receiving of non-professional and non-clinical assistance from community members with similar conditions or circumstances to help contribute to positive outcomes. The peer support worker supports with referral based programming to support the community member in pursing their best possible health outcomes.
Crisis Support
If you or someone you know is experience a mental health crisis outside of regular working hours, please call 9-1-1 or go to the closest Hospital Emergency Room. Other crisis response supports include:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 988
- BC Crisis Line: 1-800-SUICIDE 1-800-784-2433
- Kuu-Us Aboriginal Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program: 1-877-477-0775
- Hope For Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
- Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society: 1-888-403-3123 Cultural support & outreach services. Website: tsowtunlelum.org / Facebook Page: facebook.com/ttllnanaim)
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health Support Services: 1-855-550-5454
- First Nations Health Authority – Culturally Safe Supports: fnha.ca/mental-health-and-wellness-supports
Racist Incident Helpline: 1-833-HLP-LINE (1-833-457-5463) – Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. This is a culturally safe and trauma-informed resource for anyone who has experienced or witnessed an act of racism. It is free and confidential, and provides access to information and safe supports from anywhere in BC, in over 240 languages. Visit: racistincidenthelpline.ca.
Peer Assisted Care Team – North Shore PACT (Thursday – Monday Evenings)
Connect with a peer support worker at PACT, who respond to crisis calls related to mental health or substance use. They provide trauma-informed, culturally-safe support for North Shore residents ages 13+.Hours: Seven days a week, 8AM – 12:30AM. (Canadian Mental Health Association)
Call: 1-888-261-7228 / Text: 778-839-1831 / North Shore PACT Website
External Mental Wellness Programs & Practitioners
Mental Wellness Programs – Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society
North Shore Mental Wellness Contacts & Counsellors
If you or anyone you know is looking for culturally relevant mental support services for counselling, please reach out to one of the listed mental health contacts. These practitioners have met the First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB)’s eligibility criteria and are actively registered with and covered by the FNHA.
Healing In Colour
A local resource of BIPOC therapists, where BIPOC, in all intersections, can have access to therapy that is committed to anti-oppressive values and supports healing and liberation.
Support Network for Indigenous Women & Women of Colour
SNIWWOC offers online virtual peer support & free counselling, plus many other programs.
North Shore Group Supports
Group Support – Canadian Mental Health Association – North Shore
All groups are free and open to everyone. Most groups remain online, but some groups have an in-person option and require registration. If you have any questions about joining the groups or using Zoom, please contact 778-246-6062 or keltyhope@cmha.bc.ca
Hollyburn Family Services
Hollyburn Family Services is a multi-service agency that has been providing support to children, youth, adults and families in the Greater Vancouver region.
Hollyburn provides a range of professional counselling services to individuals, couples and families, supports families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders, provides residential care for children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, and offers training and support to foster parents and extended families.
Group Programs – Family Services of the North Shore
Group programs start dates are determined by enrolment numbers, so once you have been enrolled in a group, the facilitator will contact you to confirm the exact start dates. Call 604-988-5281, ext. 226