The B.C. government has launched a 24/7 counselling service to provide post-secondary students with mental health support as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The service, called Here2Talk, connects students with mental health support when they need it, according to the government. The government is providing $1.5 million per year for the service.
Through the program, all students currently registered in a B.C. post-secondary institution have access to free, confidential single-session counselling services, available 24/7 via app, phone and web.
“Until now, post-secondary students have never had access to 24/7 provincewide mental-health support services,” Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training said Thursday.
“Students advocated for years to fill the gap in available mental-health counselling services in British Columbia. Over the past several months, we’ve been working together to develop this new free service. With the advent of COVID-19 and the increased stress it puts on students, we doubled down to get students the supports they so desperately need. I’m very excited to say that Here2Talk is now available for all 555,000 post-secondary students registered across B.C.”
The government says the program includes crisis intervention, available night and day via phone and chat. No appointment will be needed to access a counsellor.
The service, operated by Morneau Shepell, can also refer students to local resources in their communities.
Visit the Here2Talk website here for web access and information on downloading the app.
Students can speak to a counsellor by phone, toll-free at 1-877-857-3397 or direct 604-642-5212. Students calling from outside Canada can dial 1 -604-642-5212 (international calling charges may apply).
Web, phone and chat services are currently available in English and French. Phone services are also available in additional languages upon request.
More to come
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