Resources
RAINN
Web: www.rainn.org
RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, is an American national anti-sexual assault organization, that operates a variety of National Sexual Assault Hotlines, on the phone and by online chat.
RAINN’s services include:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline – 1-800-656-HOPE (in USA) – A national network of member centres providing free, confidential advice, 24/7.
- National Sexual Assault Online Hotline – online.rainn.org – A live, anonymous & confidential online hotline, answered by trained volunteers. (learn more)
- Information on sexual assault, and what can be done about it
- A directory of national and international resources – A listing of rape crisis centres for the whole world, as well as crisis centres and crisis counselling for the US.
Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch.
Phone: 604-687-8868
Address: Suite 300, 853 Richards Street (City Centre skytrain)
Web: www.youthsearch.ca
Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch. (GHYS), stands for Youth Seeking Employment and Resources for Change. They run several different long-term employability programs for youth (15-30). Call or drop by to set up an appointment with their staff to see if there’s a program that’s right for you.
Currently, some of their active programs are:
- Skills Link – a 16-week for unemployed youth who are not currently receiving employment insurance benefits
- Community Assistance Program – a 52-week program for youth who receive income assistance
CAVE Youth Employment
Phone: 604-438-3045
Address: #202- 4250 Kingsway, Burnaby BC
The CAVE is a resource centre for youth, 15-30, located in Burnaby. Though it’s run by Douglas College’s “The Training Group”, you do not need to be a student to use the services. They offer a wide variety of services and information to assist in job searching, career planning & development and career management.
Services include:
- Case Managers, who can offer 1-on-1 career coaching
- Access to computers, fax, job postings, workshops
- Bi-annual job fairs
Youth Spot Employment Centre
Phone: 604-253-9675
Address: 15 Victoria Drive, Vancouver BC
Web: www.youthspot.ca
Youth Spot Employment Centre is designed to help youth at-risk between the ages 15-30 obtain sustainable employment. Their client-centred approach emphasizes the provision of support, education and resources within their drop-in centre in East Vancouver and through 1-on-1 employment assistance.
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Services include:
- A drop-in resource room with access to computers, internet, fax, phones, job postings and a generally chill space
- Case Managers, who can meet 1-on-1 with you to help identify the barriers that are keeping you from employment and help plan a way to overcome those barriers and develop.
- Access to employability programs
- Workshops, around subjects like resume or interview prepping, work safety, etc.
Youth Spot is an off-shoot of the Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House.
GNE Toolbox
The G.N.E. Toolbox is a hub to find information, agencies and services to help youth become independent adults. Set up by the GNE Alternative School, it features a pile of documents and links themed around:
- Substance use (including setting up a self-treatment)
- Employment resources
- Tips for finding and maintaining a place of your own
- Different sports and activities to unwind, including ways to access them in the East Vancouver area
CARE Program
Phone: 604-875-2022 Toll-free: 1-888-300-3088 local 2022
Address: BC Women’s Hospital, Vancouver BC
Web: www.bcwomens.ca/Services/PregnancyBirthNewborns/AbortionAndReproductiveEducation
CARE stands for Comprehensive Abortion and Reproductive Education, and is a service run out of the BC Women’s Hospital. They offer an array of caring, professional and confidential services around abortion & reproductive education including:
- Counselling services, both for emotional support and information around pregnancy options, including abortion and birth control
- The Pregnancy Options Line, an information and referral service to help women make informed choices around pregnancy: 604-875-3163 or (toll-free) 1-888-875-3163.
- Medical services, including abortion, tubal ligation and birth control.
.
Phone hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Here To Help
Web: www.heretohelp.bc.ca
Email: bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca
Here to Help is a collaboration of seven mental health and addictions nonprofit organizations. It is a web site with up-to-date information, publications and stories on mental health and substance use, as well as resources like life skills and other coping-related “toolkits”, plus a discussion forum where you can connect with others.
Health Hotlines
Very nearly wherever you are in the world, there is likely agency that answers a 24/7 hotline, offering free health advice or consultation. In Canada, this line is answered by registered nurses, though depending on where you are your mileage may vary. Here are as many as we could find:
Canada
- AB – Health Link – 1-866-408-LINK
- BC – Healthlink – 811
- MB – Health Links Manitoba – 1-888-315-9257
- NB – Tele-Care/Télé-Soins – 811
- NL – Healthline - 1-888-709-2929
- NT/NU – Health Line – 1-888-255-1010
- NS – Healthlink – 811
- ON – Telehealth Ontario – 1-866-797-0000
- QC – Info-Santé – 811
- SK – Healthline – 1-888-800-0002
- YT – Healthline – 811
Australia
- Healthdirect Australia – 1800 022 222
UK
- NHS Direct – 0845 4647
USA
- Probably best would be to call 1-800-273-TALK. This will give you the closest crisis centre, who should be able to tell you if there is a local or state-wide hotline.
SFU Health Promotion
Simon Fraser University’s Health and Counselling Services offers services to address both the physical and mental health of the school’s students. Clinics, vaccinations, counselling and physiotherapy are all available to currently enrolled students.
In addition, the department’s Health Promotion section also features some excellent web-based resources: