Asking for help can be difficult, especially when you’re dealing with a mental health concern. Athletes are often taught to “tough it out” or “suck it up”, but when dealing with a medical condition like depression or anxiety, toughing it out does NOT work – and in fact, it can make things a lot worse. The good news is that help is available.
Involving others in your health – that is, building a support team that includes people such as a coach, parent, or friend – is crucially important. And while friends and family members play a significant role, it’s necessary to also have a health professional on your side – someone who has the training, skills, and experience to support you in your fight for better health.
There are a wide variety of resources at UBC and in the broader community that can be helpful in your journey to recovery from your mental health concern.
Campus Lightbox
- A guide to UBC’s mental health resources created by UBC students seeking to dismantle the barriers between campus mental health resources and those who are in need of them.
Student Health Services
2211 Wesbrook Mall Room M334 Koerner Pavilion | 604-822-7011 | [email protected]
students.ubc.ca/health/student-health-service
- Student Health Services offers healthcare for registered UBC students year-round. Services are provided by doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses
Mental Health Support at Counselling Services
Brock Hall 1874 East Mall Room 1040 | 604-822-3811 (drop-in and by appointment)
Counselling Services Annex 1930 East Mall (right beside Brock Hall office)
students.ubc.ca/health/counselling-services
- A variety of mental health resources and professionals are available at Counselling Services. They work with you to assess your wellness needs, and identify the level of care that’s right for you – from self-directed programs and tools to workshops, group programs, and individual therapy – to help you have the best university experience possible.
- NOTE: Athletes can identify as UBC student-athletes, if you wish, when you present at UBC Counselling Services. You will be directed to appropriate services, including options for specialized support as needed.
Nurse on Campus
Irving K Barber | the First Nations Longhouse | Totem Park | Place Vanier | Walter Gage (depending on the day, schedule on website)
students.ubc.ca/health/student-health-service/nurse-campus
- Brings registered nurses out of the Student Health Services clinic and into student spaces. Nurses offer personalized advice and helpful information on a variety of topics.
Wellness Centre/Wellness Peers
Irving K Barber 1961 East Mall Room 183 | 604-822-8450 | [email protected]
students.ubc.ca/health/wellness-centre
- The Wellness Centre is a friendly, welcoming space for you to ask questions to trained students about things like safer sex, how to manage stress, eating well, and sleep.
SVPRO Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office
6363 Agronomy Road, ROOM 4071 | 604-822-1588 | [email protected]
svpro.ubc.ca
- A safe place for faculty, staff, and students who have experienced sexual assault regardless of identity, expression or orientation, regardless of when or where it took place.
The Kaleidoscope
- A mental health support group on campus that holds weekly meetings to provide a space where students can share ideas and access resources to find effective strategies for managing symptoms and coping with everyday stress.
UBC Psychology Clinic
- The UBC Psychology Clinic is an outpatient mental health and state-of-the-art training clinic. Our team of professionals are dedicated to excellence in the assessment, treatment, research and training of clinical psychology.
Psychological Services & Counselling Training Centre
2125 Main Mall Scarfe Building | 604-827-1523 (by appointment only)
ecps.educ.ubc.ca/counselling-centres/psychoeducational-research-and-training-centre
- Psychology Master’s students in training will offer counselling on areas such as stress management, relationships, and depression. All counsellors are supervised by a registered psychologist.
UBC Student Assistance Program (SAP)
1 833 590 1328
students.ubc.ca/health/ubc-student-assistance-program-sap
- A free, 24/7 wellness resource for domestic and international students. Services include personal counselling, life coaching, group programs and more based on your needs.
- Can be accessed on the phone, via website, or mobile app.
UBC Okanagan Health and Wellness
UNC 337 – 3272 University Way | 250-807-9270 | [email protected]
students.ok.ubc.ca/health-wellness/
- Provides year round support for UBC Okanagan students and includes a health clinic, counselling, and campus health offices.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office
Nicola Townhome 120 – 1290 International | 250-807-9640 | [email protected]
svpro.ok.ubc.ca/
- Safe place for faculty, staff, and students who have experienced sexual assault regardless of identity, expression, or orientation.
UBC Student Assistance Program (SAP)
1 833 590 1328
students.ubc.ca/health/ubc-student-assistance-program-sap
- A free, 24/7 wellness resource for domestic and international students. Services include personal counselling, life coaching, group programs and more based on your needs.
- Can be accessed on the phone, via website, or mobile app.
Foundry Kelowna
100 – 1815 Kirschner Road | 236-420-2803 | [email protected]
foundrybc.ca/kelowna
- Local mental health support centre focused on providing support for young people between the ages of 12-24.
Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna
504 Sutherland Ave | 250-861-3644 | [email protected]
cmhakelowna.com
- Local centre providing resources for maintaining and improving mental health in the community.
- Focuses on building capacity, influencing policy, providing service, and developing resources for those in need.
Canadian Centre for Mental Health and Sport
- The CCMHS is a not-for-profit organization supporting the mental health and performance of competitive and high-performance athletes and coaches.
- Foundry offers young people ages 12-24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in six communities across BC.
- The AnxietyBC site contains a wealth of information to help people learn about and practice effective strategies to manage anxiety on their own, at their own pace. All content is grounded in scientific research and developed by professionals who specialize in helping people with anxiety.
- Provides confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support, to anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
- For Men. About Men. Health strategies for managing and preventing depression.
- Peer-to-peer organization dedicated to the mental health of university students.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
- Patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA works to ensure that people living with mood disorders are treated equitably.
Families for Depression Awareness
- Helps families recognize and cope with depressive disorders.
- A program by the University of Arizona C.A.T.S. Life Skills Program and the NCAA to raise awareness of helping behaviours, increase motivation to help, develop skills and confidence when responding to problems or concerns, and ensure the safety and well-being of self and others.
- An online resource center for university student mental health and emotional well being, aimed at students and campus professionals.
- Call 911
- Provincial Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)