BC Mental Health Support Just Got A $5 Million Boost & There's So Many Free Programs

If you've been feeling stressed or are struggling with mental health, help is on the way. The provincial government just announced they're giving a giant boost to mental health support in B.C. And best of all, the programs are all free or at low cost.

"This is huge, and this will help so many people in our province," said B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Judy Darcy at a news conference on Thursday, April 9.

Speaking to the media, Darcy and B.C. Premier Horgan said that the $5 million will target support programs for all kinds of people, but especially young people and medical workers.

That said, these programs are accessible to anyone in the province, and many are open now.

If you're experiencing anxiety, stress, or mild to moderate depression, give BounceBack a try.

The free program can pair you up with an online coach for in-depth sessions, or supply you with a wealth of knowledge through activities and videos.

Or, if you're looking for more human contact, the government is also expanding their free-to-low-cost community counselling program.

Now that many people have more time on their hands, you can even give their free eight-week practical skills program a try. Led by a trained professional, the course teaches stress management, mood boosting, and problem solving skills.

There's a whole lot more of these courses for every type of person and different kinds of struggles, and you can check out the full list on their website.

"People have different mental health journeys just as they have different physical health needs," said Darcy. She explained that's why they've introduced so many different programs, to help as many people as they could.

B.C. isn't the only province to offer free mental health support to locals either. Earlier, Ontario promised free therapy for anyone older than 10 in the province.

Outside of the government, Canadian non-profits and other independent organizations are also working to connect people with mental health support, at low or no cost.

Other organizations are cutting out the middle man and starting up their own services, also free of charge.

At the end of the day, this is a tough time to live in. Anxieties are high and moods are low, said Darcy.

"Now more than ever we have to take care of ourselves and we have to take care of each other."