Health & Wellness

Crisis Lines & Support Resources

youthspace.ca  
youthinbc.com  
Native Youth Crisis Hotline 1-877-209-1266

KUU-US Crisis Lines:
Adult Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
BC wide: 1-800-588-8717

Urban Indigenous Wellness Report: A BC Friendship Centre Perspective

In 2019-2020, BCAAFC embarked on a mission to identify needs, priorities, gaps, promising practices, and recommendations related to the health and wellness of urban Indigenous peoples in B.C. This work is a response to the pressing mental health and substance use issues – notably the opioid crisis B.C. has been facing since 2016 – that disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples living off-reserve and in urban areas.

The Urban Indigenous Wellness Report, informed by the collective experience and expertise of individuals within the BC Friendship Centre movement, lays the foundation and necessary groundwork for how we achieve transformational change that contributes to healthy and thriving Indigenous communities. To improve health outcomes of urban Indigenous peoples, all partners and stakeholders must come to the table and work together.

Extreme Heat Resources

Extreme heat events are becoming more common and more severe. BCAAFC, alongside the BC Centre for Disease Control, First Nations Health Authority, Métis Nation in BC and the BC Government have developed Indigenous-specific extreme heat resources. Please feel free to print these resources as posters for your Friendship Centre or place of work.

• Extreme Heat Poster 

• Extreme Heat Information Sheet 

• Extreme Heat Colouring Sheet 

For up-to-date information on Extreme Heat Warnings in British Columbia, visit: https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/ 

• Prepared BC Extreme Heat Guide 

Disability Resources

BC Aboriginal Network for Disabilities Society (BCANDS):
Disability services, Monthly Nutritional Supplement (MNS) program, health resources, support and information.

BC Wheelchair Sports:
Find support resources and access the equipment loan program.
Contact: btg@bcwheelchairsports.com

Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation

Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (ISPARC)

• Community Sport Development

• Performance Sport Programs

• Healthy Living Activities

• Grants & Recognition

• Events

2SLGBTQQIA Resources (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual)

Trans Care BC: Local groups and initiatives, books, online resources, films and academic articles.

Cancer Care

BC Cancer: Improving cancer control for Indigenous people
Improving Indigenous Cancer Journeys in BC: A Road Map (2017)

Counselling for MMIWG Impacted Individuals

Free counselling services in BC are available to survivors, family members and individuals affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. People of all genders are encouraged to connect to this counselling. Individuals do not need to have status and can live on or off reserve.

This counselling program is administered by FNHA through the Health Benefits team, and counselling is offered by providers who are registered with FNHA’s Mental Health Provider List. This list is updated regularly: http://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-First-Nations-Health-Benefits-Mental-Health-Provider-List.pdf.

Individuals who would like to access counselling are encouraged to connect directly with a mental health provider from the above list to schedule an appointment. The provider directly bills FNHA, so there is no upfront cost to the individual to access counselling.

For more information about this program, visit: http://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-MMIWG-Counselling-Program-FAQs.pdf.

Please feel welcome to contact the First Nations Health Benefits team with any questions that you might have at 1-877-477-0775.

Suicide Awareness

Suicide is a leading cause of death among First Nation, Inuit, and Métis youth in Canada (BMC Public Health, 2018).

Indigenous Suicide Prevention Toolkit: Suicide awareness resource toolkit (Centre for Suicide Prevention, 2013).

Hope, Help and Healing: A planning toolkit for First Nations and Aboriginal communities to prevent and respond to suicide (First Nations Health Authority, 2015).

Together to Live: A toolkit for addressing youth suicide in your community.

Pathways to healing from pandemic stress and loss

COVID-19 has caused stress and loss for many people. First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples also continue to navigate the historic and ongoing experiences of colonization and racism.

This resource aims to help individuals find ways to improve their mental health and well-being. It is acknowledged that communities also need improved services and policies to address this complex issue.

• Open PDF in colour

• Open PDF in black and white

Mpox (monkeypox)

Have you ever been curious about Monkeypox (Mpox)? It’s a virus that can cause sores on your skin and can also make you feel like you have the flu. People can experience symptoms differently. For more information on Mpox, including how to get vaccinated, contact HealthLink BC or call 811.

Learn about what is mpox (monkeypox), how it spreads and what to do if you test positive.

Open PDF in colour

Open PDF in black and white