Resources for those distressed by the recent residential schools coverage
Content warning: the following section discusses wrongful death and abuse suffered under residential schools.
We were heartbroken to learn of the confirmation of the burial site of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Our thoughts are with the families, the communities, residential school survivors and all who mourn. If you need support, we recommend you reach out and get help from these UBC and community resources:
- Employee and Family Assistance Program: 1-800-387-4765 (free and confidential, 24/7)
Community resources for Indigenous people:
- Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. It is available 24/7 and services are offered in English and French, and by request in Inuktitut, Cree, Ojibway. Call the toll-free Help line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca
- National Indian Residential School Crisis Line (IRSSS)
Access emotional support and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419 - KUU-US Crisis Line Society operates a 24/7 Aboriginal crisis line serving the entire province. Please see more online information at https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.ca/
- BC Wide Toll Free: 1-800-KUU-US17 (1-800-588-8717)
- Métis Crisis Line BC Toll Free: 1-833MétisBC (1-833-638-4722)
- BC Crisis Line, 1-800-SUICIDE
If you are in distress or are worried about someone in distress who may hurt themselves, call anytime 24 hours a day to connect to the Crisis Line. - The Crisis Line Association of BC, 310-Mental Health
Call 310-6789 (no area code needed) toll-free anywhere in BC 24/7 to access emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health and substance use issues. - First Nations Health Authority
The FNHA, located in West Vancouver, provides information about health programs for First Nations across BC including mental wellness and substance use, you can access a list of providers registered to offer services through their mental health benefits program at www.fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health or call 1-855-550-5454 for more information.