What to expect in a time of emergency Stress is when you have more demands on you than you can cope with. Stress can affect your body, your mind and your daily life. Stress is a normal reaction to a difficult situation or crisis. If you are feeling stressed, you are not alone. Almost everyone […]Continue readingEmergencies are stressful: What to expect and what can help
Published July 2024. You may have already read or heard many things about living in Canada. But it can help to remember some common things Canadians think, believe and do. Indigenous Peoples are the original inhabitants of the land that is now called Canada. Canada is also home to people from many different countries and […]Continue readingThings to know about Canadian Ways
Published July 2024. Trauma is something that happens that is very difficult and scary. It may happen directly to us or we may see it happen to someone else. Many of us have survived war, abuse, neglect, disease, loss, and other traumas. It takes time and effort to heal from trauma, especially if there are […]Continue readingNewcomer stress: Big moves are hard but there is help
Published July 2024. “I don’t feel well. Who can help me? I need to talk to someone right now.” Talk to a nurse. Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1. Available any time day or night in 130 languages. Start by saying your language (e.g., “Punjabi” or “Mandarin”). Call 2-1-1 or search bc.211.ca to learn about health […]Continue readingWho can help me? Learning the health system
We are more tuned in to world events than ever before—in fact, it can be difficult to avoid hearing and learning about what is happening across the world, in your country, or local community. Stories and headlines can be overwhelming at times, but you can take action to care for yourself and your community while […]Continue readingDistressing world news and mental health: Finding balance
There are a variety of reasons we might consider adjusting how, how much, why and whether we drink alcohol, whether due to health, lifestyle, financial or other personal factors. When we think more intentionally about our decisions around alcohol, we are being mindful drinkers. Mindful drinking is a practice of thinking about why and how much you drink. You may have also heard the term sober curious, which refers to a lifestyle practice of drinking […]Continue readingMindful Drinking
We all have a role to play in erasing stigma, promoting health, and supporting our loved ones. Here is how you can be a More Than Substance Use Advocate/Supporter: Share de-stigmatizing information about substances and using substances on social media so people have correct information and know where to get help. Have supportive conversations with […]Continue readingThe Role We Play
Our substance use can impact our mental health. We may also use substances to cope with how we are feeling. If you need someone to talk to, help is available. KUU-US Crisis Line: Call toll free 1-800-588-8717 BC Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required, local volunteers) YouthinBC.com: Online chat service for youth, […]Continue readingNeed Help Now?
If you are using substances, there are steps you can take to support yourself and those around you: from knowing how to identify the signs of an overdose to keeping Naloxone on hand, and finding where to test substances. Understand the basics of substance use and get tips for reducing risk of harm from Foundry. […]Continue readingUnderstanding Substances
Hearing from others who have lived experience using substances can give us an understanding of what can contribute to substance use, what the recovery journey can look like and can also validate our experience based on what others have been through. I’m Riding This Thing, It’s Not Riding Me is one young person’s story of […]Continue readingNot Using Substances, but Curious?