Mental Health

Our mental health and healing.

Our mental health changes and fluctuates over time affecting our thinking, feeling, behaviour, and/or mood. If you don’t take care of your mental health, you’ll often find mental health concerns will have a ripple effect on your physical health. Even if someone has been diagnosed with a mental illness (for example, anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorder, or addiction), they can be well with appropriate coping strategies, treatment, and supports.

While experiencing changes to mental health or a mental illness can be very difficult, supports and services are available. Indigenous Peoples may seek formal counseling with Indigenous or non-Indigenous trained counselors and psychologists and/or traditional healing and wellness through ceremony, plant-based medicines, art, song and/or dance.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or the number for emergency services in your community.

Our Mental Health

We still got hope, … and I hope that some of these young children learn little more about the subject of a Treaty and why it’s like that, you know. There’s a lot of questions yet it has to be taught.”

- Pat Daigneault

Resources

  • Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program

    Counselling, as well as cultural and emotional support, is available through the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program for eligible former students and their families. This phone line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their Residential School experience. Call 1-866-925-4419.

  • Hope for wellness

    If you’re experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. It’s toll-free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  • Circle of Wisdom Elders & Seniors Centre

    Provides Indigenous seniors in Calgary and area with programs and support in advocacy, traditional teachings, ceremony, and community engagement. Visit circleofwisdom.ca

  • The Elbow River Healing Lodge

    Offers a full range of primary care services and visiting specialists to First Nations (Status and Non-Status), Métis, and Inuit people and their families. Visit AHS

  • Native Counseling Services of Alberta

    Provides emotional health and wellness support, including: Referrals to healing and wellness programs and supports; Emotional support at community events; Circle Facilitation; and Hearings as requested by Health Canada. Call to speak to a support worker: (780) 451-4002. Visit https://www.ncsa.ca/

  • Wellness Desk

    Visit the Calgary Public Library’s Wellness Desk, available on a drop-in basis. A variety of mental wellness resources are also available to you for free with your Library card.

  • Miskanawah

    Provides a variety of programs and supports for children, youth, adults, seniors, and families. Visit miskanawah.ca

  • Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse

    Supports are available through the Distress Centre, Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse. Visit calgarycasa.com

  • Kids Help Phone

    Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual and confidential support to help all young people Feel Out Loud. 1-800-668-6868 / kidshelpphone.ca

HOW TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING BENEFITS THROUGH NIHB:

You can access mental health counselling benefits from an eligible provider. Every 12 months, an eligible client can receive up to 22 hours of counselling performed by an eligible provider. Additional hours in the same 12 month period may be provided on a case-by-case basis.

  • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Guide

    For more information on specific benefit policies and requirements, refer to the Guide to Mental Health Counselling Benefits.

  • Express Scripts Canada NIHB

    Counsellors enrolled with the program generally send claims to bill the program directly with NIHB. Claims processing services are provided by Express Scripts Canada. Information can be found on the Express Scripts Canada NIHB provider and client website.

  • Client Reimbursement

    If your counsellor does not bill NIHB directly, you may also submit reimbursement requests yourself. Claims cover costs that are eligible for reimbursement under the program as per established fee guides. See Client reimbursement for more information.