Mental Health and Well-Being: External Resources & Links

Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada.

Through our family of 87 local, provincial and national locations across Canada, CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to and in partnership with our communities. CMHAs in 330 communities offer a range of programs, services, supports and expertise, and work in mental health priority areas, including:

100% - Mental Health Promotion
84%  - Suicide Prevention
84%  - Youth
43%  - Campus Mental Health
43%  - Community Research
31% - First Responders and Veterans

Wellness Together Canada was created in response to a rise in mental health and substance use concerns since the COVID-19 pandemic. It is funded by the Government of Canada.

As a country, we are facing challenges at a scale we’ve never seen before, from social isolation and financial insecurity to substance use concerns and racial inequality.

Whatever you’re going through, remember that you are not alone. Wellness is a journey, not a destination. Every day, we can each take a step toward our own well-being. Wellness Together Canada is here to support you on that journey.

Mental well-being or positive mental health impacts how we think, what we feel and the way we act. It also affects how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.

Mental health is deeply influenced by our relationships with friends, family, and our environment. Stresses at school, home, in our communities and beyond can make an impact on our mental health.

We need to take care of our mental health because it's an important part of our overall health.

Feeling anxious or stressed can be a normal part of life. Having these feelings doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. However, when feelings like stress, anxiety or sadness increase to the point where they are impacting daily life, they can become a mental health concern to be taken seriously, and support should be sought when needed.

Mental wellness comes from feeling balanced, connected to others and ready to meet life’s challenges . Mental wellness is affected by our life experiences and daily activities.

For wellbeing, mental health, and substance use supports across B.C., please visit HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca, managed by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

You can also improve your mental wellness by practicing mindfulness, staying connected to others, and cultivating a healthy mind. Doing so can help you build resilience and prepare you for the challenges that life throws your way.

Welcome to HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca, managed by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
Everyone's story is unique – whether you are on a personal journey or are supporting someone who is facing mental health or substance use challenges.

HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca was created because:

People from all over British Columbia should have the tools necessary to navigate accessing the services and resources they need. And sometimes you may not know where to start.
People need access to the right supports, at the right time, that meet them where they are at, easily and quickly.
​The site has over 2600 service listings publicly-funded or not-for-profit mental health and substance use supports and many articles featuring easy to understand language and curated information about commonly searched topics.

Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is an innovative national charitable organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by advancing mental health knowledge in an unique but important way: we ensure the fulsome engagement of people with lived experience throughout the entire research process. We pride ourselves on being nimble, collaborative, forward-looking and committed to excellence in all that we do.

At Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), we do research differently. We prioritize stakeholder engagement and build bridges between research and practice. We do this by ensuring all our funded research projects are lead by co-principal investigators, one in academia and one representing a stakeholder group directly engaged with those who will use the research. In this way, all projects engage people with lived experience throughout the entire research process.

Our mission is to reduce the barrier of anxiety so you can live the life you want. We offer trusted resources and programs to help people better understand and manage anxiety—and find the relief they need.

We provide free and affordable resources for those struggling with anxiety and anxiety disorders. We are a passionate team devoted to providing accessible, science-based anxiety relief to help you live the life you want.

The Crisis Centre of BC is dedicated to providing help and hope to individuals, organizations, and communities.

We are proud to care for residents living in the communities of Richmond, Vancouver, North Shore, Sea-to-Sky Corridor, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola located within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai’xais, Lil’wat, Musqueam, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa’xtsa.

Spanning the spectrum of crisis support, suicide prevention, and postvention, we engage staff and volunteers in a variety of services and programs that educate, train, and support the strength and capacity of individuals and communities.

The Distress Phone Services provide confidential, non-judgmental, free emotional support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair

Our Online Distress Services are a resource where youth and adults in distress can:

GET HELP by having a real-time online chat with a trained volunteer, or by getting email support from the Crisis Centre’s professional staff

LEARN MORE about common issues and concerns such as bullying, disordered eating, depression and self-harm

FIND RESOURCES by connecting to our online library of useful websites and community resources

A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

If you are feeling like you have lost hope and are struggling to cope, if you are dealing with thoughts of suicide, or if you are worried about someone else, 9-8-8 is here for you. When you reach out, a trained responder will listen without judgement, provide support and understanding, and can tell you about resources that will help.

9-8-8 is here to provide moments of connection that create hope, support recovery and save lives. We help people connect to their strengths and find new ways to cope, live and thrive. Our vision is a Canada where suicide is prevented because everyone can access help when they need it the most.

Our services are available to all women who have experienced male violence including wife battering, incest, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and prostitution.

We are the longest standing rape crisis centre in Canada. Since 1973, our group has responded to close to 46,000 women seeking our support in their escape from male violence. Since we opened our transition house in 1981, we have housed over 3,000 women and over 2,600 children.

The operation of our rape crisis centre and transition house are forms of direct action, developed for women by women in the 1970s as a part of the second wave of the North American women’s movement. More than just providing immediate safety, we offer a place to group, analyze, strategize and fight back against male violence.

The mission of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania is to promote research, training, education, and the dissemination of Positive Psychology, resilience and grit.

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.

Positive psychology helps to foster happiness and emotional wellness. It does this by helping people capitalize on their strengths, heighten their gratitude and awareness, connect to others, and develop the wisdom needed to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

Welcome to the Authentic Happiness website, a University of Pennsylvania website developed by the Positive Psychology Center. Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman is the Director of the Center, and a Professor of Psychology at Penn.

The purpose of this website is to provide free resources where people can learn about Positive Psychology through readings, videos, research, opportunities, conferences, questionnaires with feedback and more. There is no charge for the use of this site. If you would like to take the questionnaires, you first need to register.

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. This field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of work, love and play.

Welcome to our website, a platform dedicated to making positive psychology accessible to all. We believe in sharing the transformative concepts, ground-breaking research, and empowering theories of positive psychology in a language that is both engaging and easy to understand. Whether you’re a curious learner or someone eager to create positive changes in your personal or professional life, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and practical guidance here. Join us on this journey of discovering what makes life truly worth living and unlocking the keys to lasting happiness and success.

Whether procrastination prevents you from achieving your goals, stresses you out, or hurts you in another way, it can be a painful problem.

Solving Procrastination will help you understand why you procrastinate and how to stop, using research-based insights that are clear and concise.

This will help you do the things you’ve been postponing for too long, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive.

Procrastination is a common part of human behaviour. Often people mistake procrastination for “laziness”. In everyday language people use definitions like, “putting off”, “postponing”, “delaying”, “deferring”, and “leaving to the last minute”. Procrastination is making a decision for no valid reason to delay or not complete a task or goal you’ve committed too, and instead doing something of lesser importance, despite there being negative consequences to not following through on the original task or goal. It is important to remember that everyone procrastinates. However, problematic procrastination can be distinguished from more general procrastination, by how bad the negative consequences are of us not following through on things.

Includes workbooks and worksheets on procrastination.

Many resources on dealing with procrastination.

Sleep problems are fairly common. In fact, one in four people experience sleep
difficulties, which include trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, early morning
waking, sleeping too much, or restless or unsatisfying sleep. Getting a good night’s
sleep can improve your mental well-being and help you to better manage your anxiety.
The good news is that there are things you can do to improve your sleep.

The Canadian Sleep Society advocates for healthy sleep for all Canadians.
Our priorities are to improve sleep for all Canadians through support for research, promotion of access to high quality clinical care, education of healthcare professionals and the public, and advocacy for healthy sleep in schools and the workplace.

CSS Advocacy aims to provide Canadians with evidence-based tools and information they can use to directly and indirectly influence decision makers, stakeholders and relevant audiences. These resources will help contribute to the fulfillment of our overarching goal of Healthy Sleep for All Canadians.

Paying attention to sleep hygiene is one of the most straightforward ways that you can set yourself up for better sleep. Strong sleep hygiene means having both a bedroom environment and daily routines that promote consistent, uninterrupted sleep. Every sleeper can tailor their sleep hygiene practices to suit their needs. In the process, you can harness positive habits to make it easier to sleep soundly throughout the night and wake up well-rested.

Good sleep habits (sometimes referred to as “sleep hygiene”) can help you get a good night’s sleep.

‘Sleep hygiene’ is the term used to describe good sleep habits. Considerable research has gone into developing a set of guidelines and tips which are designed to enhance good sleeping, and there is much evidence to suggest that these strategies can provide long-term solutions to sleep difficulties.

Self-compassion simply involves doing a U-turn and giving yourself the same compassion you’d naturally show a friend when you’re struggling or feeling badly about yourself. It means being supportive when you’re facing a life challenge, feel inadequate, or make a mistake. Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality or getting carried away by your negative thoughts and emotions, you stop to tell yourself “this is really difficult right now,” how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?

Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with your failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?

Since 2010, The Mindfulness Institute.ca (based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) has been dedicated to bringing mindfulness to those in our community and beyond, by providing news and resources on the practice and benefits mindfulness, and by meeting the highest standards for mindfulness training. For more information, see About Us.

We have taught over 2000 students, educators, healthcare and other professionals, helping to foster increased creativity, productivity, and joy in their personal and professional lives. See Our Programs for more information on our seminars, trainings, and customized workshops.

Self-compassion involves being aware of our own pain and suffering, and understanding that this is a hard, but normal human experience. Directing feelings of kindness and care towards ourselves, and focusing our attention and energy on how we might alleviate our pain, are also crucial components of self-compassion. Self-compassion can bring great benefits for our mental health and well-being. Particularly, self-compassion can activate our soothe system, which calms the threat and drive systems. Our threat and drive systems tend to be overactive for many of us much of the time, and responsible for the difficult emotions we may be struggling with (e.g., anxiety, anger, depression). The opposite of self-compassion is self-criticism. This very negative thinking style often links to difficult emotions and mental health problems. Those who are highly self-critical particularly need to develop the ability to relate to themselves in a compassionate way.