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Sometimes, you need more than what a school counsellor can offer, or you need help outside of school time. Here are some services that students (and their Big People) can access, free of charge, and confidentially.
The Kids' Help Phone offers a lot of different options for connecting with someone who can help when you are going through a difficult time. You can find their website at https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Here are some of the ways you can contact them:
How does Live Chat counselling work?
Choose the “Tap to Chat” button on your screen (you’ll see it during Live Chat’s daily open hours). You’ll be asked to fill out a short survey, and then you’ll be entered into a lineup to wait for a counsellor.
A pop-up window will let you know where you’re in the lineup. You may have to wait for a counsellor to join the chat. The average wait time to connect with a counsellor is about 30 minutes. You may find it beneficial to use this time to think about what’s important to talk about with the counsellor.
If you’re using a computer, it’s OK to open other web pages while you wait, but don’t forget to check the chat window from time to time. If you’re using a mobile phone, please avoid navigating away from the chat window — doing so will end your chat session.
When it’s your turn to chat, you’ll see a message from a counsellor in the chat window. Please respond to the counsellor within one minute to keep your session active. An average chat session is about 45 minutes, but it’s important to go at your own pace.
Please note that we’ll be accepting new chats until 12:15 a.m. only, in order to ensure that all conversations are responded to by midnight. We’re hopeful to respond to you if you’re in the queue by 12:15 a.m.
After your counselling session, you’ll have the opportunity to fill out a confidential and anonymous post-chat survey. Your opinions can help us improve our service for young people across Canada. Just click the “X” in the top right corner of your chat window to view and complete the survey. Thank you!
To start using the texting service, text CONNECT to 686868. The first few texts you receive will be automated messages from Kids Help Phone giving you more information about the service and our Privacy Policy.
After that, you’ll be connected to a volunteer crisis responder who can talk to you about any issue — big or small. You can end the conversation at any time by texting the word STOP. (This means that we won’t send you any more messages unless you text again.)
What happens when you call
First, you’ll hear a message that goes, “Hi! Welcome to Kids Help Phone.” You will then be asked to select from the following:
If you are Indigenous, please press 3
For support in additional languages including Arabic, Mandarin, Ukrainian, Russian, Pashto and Dari, please press 4
Listen as a counsellor greets you in English
Let the counsellor know which language you’d like to use
Stay on the line as the counsellor places you on a brief hold while they connect with an interpreter
Follow prompts from the counsellor / interpreter to start the counselling session
This page contains many links that are recommended by the Nova Scotia Department of Mental Health and Well-Being. Many of those links are for both adolescents and adults facing challenges in their lives. In particular, you might find these ones helpful:
988: Suicide Crisis Helpline
988: Suicide Crisis Helpline
The 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline provides urgent, live, trauma-informed support by phone and text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line
If you’re experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or are concerned about someone who is, the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call toll-free: 1-888-429-8167
The IWK Mental Health Supports website contains information on a wide variety of mental health challenges, including:
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