General Health Issues
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:
Lower Mainland Youth Health Clinics
Youth clinics (up to age 19 or 24, depending on the clinic) are free and confidential, and offer counselling and support on all medical, health, sexual and wellness-related issues. No appointment (usually), Care Card or parental accompaniment required.
Schedules vary tremendously. It pays to call them in advance to see when their drop-in and appointment-only hours are!
Youth clinics offer services on:
- Birth control options
- Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP)
- Condoms
- Pregnancy testing
- HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing
- Pap tests
- Stress
- Drug & alcohol/Addictions counselling
Vancouver:
- English Bay Youth Health Centre (West End) – 1655 Barclay St. – 604-736-9844
- Three Bridges Youth Health Services (West End) – 1290 Hornby St. – 604-736-9844
- East Van Youth Clinic (Commercial & Broadway) – 1669 E. Broadway – 604-675-3986
- Broadway Youth Resource Centre Youth Clinic – 2780 E. Broadway – 604-786-2228 (link)
- Boulevard Youth Clinic (Kerrisdale) – 2110 West 43rd Ave. – 604-261-6366
- Knight Street Youth Clinic (Knight & 49th) – 6405 Knight St. – 604-321-6151
- Pender CHC (Stadium Skytrain) – 59 West Pender St. – 604-669-9181
- Downtown CHC (DTES) – 569 Powell St. – 604-255-3151
- Pine Free Clinic (Kitsilano) – 1985 West 4th Ave. – 604-736-2391
Richmond
- Richmond Youth Clinic – Moves around! Please see our listing for Richmond Youth Clinic.
North Shore: (for info, contact the public health nurse at 604-983-6700)
- John Braithwaite Youth Clinic (near Lonsdale Quay) – 145 1st St W (link)
- West Vancouver Youth Clinic (near 21st street) – 2121 Marine Drive (link)
- Parkgate Youth Clinic (what’s a good way to describe this?) – 2425 Mount Seymour Parkway (link)
Fraser Health has its own set:
- Burnaby Youth Clinic (Royal Oak or Metrotown Skytrain) 4734 Imperial St. – 604-293-1764
- New West Youth Clinic (New West Skytrain) 38 Begbie St. – 604-329-1875
- Vine Youth Clinic (Peace Arch Hospital) 15455 Vine Ave. – 604-542-3926 (our entry)
- Surrey Youth Clinic (Surrey Memorial Hospital) 13750 – 96th Ave. – 604-585-5999
- Iron Horse Youth Clinic (Maple Ridge) 11925 Haney Pl. – 604-463-6268
Town Plaza Medical Clinic (Whistler)
Phone: 604-905-7089
Address: #40 – 4314 Main St., Whistler BC
The Town Plaza Medical Clinic in Whistler provides health care services to residents and visitors seven days a week. In addition to general practice and family medicine, the clinic also provides urgent care, minor emergency services, counselling, travel medicine (including immunizations), prenatal & baby care, and occupational health care.
No appointment necessary; Mon to Sat 9a-5:30p, Sun 10a-4p.
Three Bridges Community Health Centre
Phone: 604-736-9844
Address: 1292 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC
Provides free primary care health services by an interdisciplinary team to marginalized populations residing in the West End, Yaletown, Fairview Slopes, downtown Vancouver business district, and downtown South
The clinic operates by appointment Monday to Saturday, and on a drop-in basis 8:30 am to 9:30 am Monday to Friday.
- Pride Health Services offers counselling and confidential health services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals, including confidential HIV/AIDS health care services.
- Infant, Child and Youth (ICY) Program provides services including newborn home visits, child health clinics, parent-infant/toddler groups, speech/language services for children up to age five, child and adult immunizations, and health programs in schools.
- The Adult and Older Adult Program provides services for seniors and people with disabilities, including home nursing, home support, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy; and referrals to meal programs, adult day centres, and assisted living and residential care facilities. Also initiates home-based palliative care and referrals to hospices. This is also a designated agency responsible for looking into reports of suspected abuse and neglect of adults who cannot seek help for themselves.
- The centre also houses the Boys R Us drop-in centre for male and transgendered sex trade workers in Vancouver, particularly the downtown south area. Open 7 pm to 9 pm Tuesday to Thursday, offers a safe and confidential place for connecting with others, including social activities such as dinner and movies. Helps individuals access resources such as health care, housing, and other community services.
Qmunity
Phone: 604-684-5307 (see below for Prideline)
Address: 1170 Bute St, Vancouver BC
Web: www.qmunity.ca
Qmunity (also known as The Centre or The LGTB Community Centre ) is a community centre that provides services to the lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual (queer) community of Vancouver.
Services include:
- Prideline BC – Qmunity’s peer support, information & referral line (weeknights, 7pm-10pm) 1-800-566-1170
-
Bute Street Clinic – A free drop-in STI and HIV testing clinic for gay, bisexual, transgendered, and lesbian people. No fee, no ID needed. (weekdays, 11:30am-6:30pm) 604-707-2796.
- GAB Youth – A safe space for queer youth (25 and under), with a weekly drop-in (Wed 4-6pm & Fri 7-10pm), 1-on-1 support, leadership training and special events.
- A wide variety of support groups and resources
Vine Avenue Youth Wellness Drop-In
Tel: 604-542-3926
Address: 15455 Vine Avenue, White Rock BC
Web: www.vineyouthclinic.com (often down, but it exists!)
Email: info@vineyouthclinic.com
Hours of operation: Monday 3:30-6:30pm, 4th Wednesday of each month 3:30-6:30pm
Provides free and confidential health care for youths aged 12-21. Doctors and Youth Workers provide consultations to address your physical and mental health concerns, including general medical issues, sexual health (including free STI testing and free birth control), mental health assessments and referrals, as well as addictions assessments and counselling.
Ability Online
Web: www.abilityonline.org Email: information@abilityonline.org
Phone: 416-650-6207 Toll-free: 1-866-650-6207
A place where young people with disabilities and illnesses can connect with each other, get tips from mentors and engage in a virtual space that is available 24-hours a day and is monitored by caring, responsible volunteers.
Provides opportunity to share your experiences and stories and find information in a caring environment, as well as support for parents of kids with learning disabilities.
HealthLink BC
Phone: 8-1-1
TTY/TDD (deaf & hearing-impaired): 7-1-1
Web: www.healthlinkbc.ca
HealthLink BC provides 24-hour, confidential non-emergency health information and advice. Registered nurses available to speak to you 24 hours a day; pharmacists available from 5pm-9am every day, and dietitians from 9am-5pm M-F.
You will be asked for your Personal Health Number, but you will NOT be denied service if you don’t provide it. You can ask nurses any questions regarding health topics or procedures, identify symptoms and get help deciding when you need to see a health professional. Translation services are available.
This service combines several resources formerly known separately as: BC Nurse Line, Dial-A-Dietitian, Pharmacist After Hours, and BC HealthGuide
Young Adult Cancer Network
Phone: 604-732-0633
Web: www.callanish.org/yacn_meetings.aspx Email: info@yacn.ca
A support group devoted to 18-30′s diagnosed with cancer.
Meetings are held monthly at the Callanish Healing Society, consult the web site for the next meeting. No fee for participation, though donations are appreciated.
