COVID-19: Taking care of your mental and physical health during the pandemic

Q: If you are in crisis

If you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911. If you are experiencing gender-based violence, you can access a crisis line in your province or territory. You may also access support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls by texting WELLNESS to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults. The Wellness Together Canada portal for mental wellness and substance use issues also offers a wide range of resources and support for Canadians.

Q: More ways to get help

If you need help, you can call your primary health provider, a registered psychologist, or another mental health provider in your community. Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors. Hope for Wellness Help Line: Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat. Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Experienced and culturally sensitive help line counsellors can help if you want to talk or are distressed. Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut. Crisis Services Canada: If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566. Available to all Canadians seeking support. Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you.

If you're in crisis

If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.

If you're experiencing gender-based violence, you can access a crisis line in your province or territory.

You may also access support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls by texting WELLNESS to:

686868 for youth
741741 for adults

For a wide range of resources and support for Canadians:

Wellness Together Canada portal for mental wellness and substance use issues

Fear, stress and worry are normal in a crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes. You might feel like you're no longer in control of things. It’s normal to feel sad, stressed, confused, scared or worried. People react in different ways. Some common feelings include:

a sense of being socially excluded or judged
concern about your children's education and well-being
fear of getting sick with COVID-19 or of making others sick
worry about losing your job, not being able to work or finances
fear of being apart from loved ones due to isolation or physical distancing
helplessness, boredom, loneliness and depression due to isolation or physical distancing

Tips for taking care of yourself

Stay informed but take breaks from social media and the news.
Practise physical distancing, but stay socially connected to friends and family through:
- email
- phone calls
- video chats
- social media
Practise mindfulness by:
- stretching
- meditating
- taking deep breaths
Try to:
- eat healthy meals
- exercise regularly
- get plenty of sleep
Follow safe food handling and cooking practices to keep you and your family safe by killing the virus and lowering your risk of infection.
Think about how to use any unexpected flexibility in your daily routine.
Focus on the positive aspects of your life and things you can control.
Be kind and compassionate to yourself and others.
If you can, limit your use of substances.
- If you do use substances, practise safer use and good hygiene.

More ways to get help

If you need help, you can call:

your primary health provider
a registered psychologist
another mental health provider in your community

Suicide prevention

Crisis Services Canada

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566.

Available to all Canadians seeking support. Visit Crisis Services Canada for the distress centres and crisis organizations nearest you.

For Indigenous peoples

Hope for Wellness Help Line

Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat.

Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada who need immediate crisis intervention. Experienced and culturally sensitive help line counsellors can help if you want to talk or are distressed.

Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. On request, telephone counselling is also available in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.

Access programs and services to improve your mental health and help prevent suicide in Indigenous communities.

For youth and young adult

Kids Help Phone

Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

Available 24 hours a day to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors.

Download the Always There app for additional support or access the Kids Help Phone website.

Youth mental health links

Access resources for youth on how to protect and improve your mental health.

For parents and guardians

It's normal for you or your children to feel overwhelmed, stressed, confused, scared or angry during this time. Take time to understand how your child is feeling as well as your own feelings and needs.

For seniors

Older adults may be more likely to experience feelings of isolation that can impact mental health. We've put together a list of easily accessible resources to help seniors.