The provincial government has launched a program to provide mental health support to post-secondary students in B.C.
The government is spending $1.5 million per year for the next three years on the Here2Talk program.
The system will connect all students registered with a B.C. post-secondary institution to free, confidential counselling and community referral services.
The program is available 24/7 via app, phone and web.
"Until now, post-secondary students have never had access to 24/7 provincewide mental-health support services," said Melanie Mark, minister of advanced education, skills and training.
"Students advocated for years to fill the gap in available mental-health counselling services in British Columbia. Over the past several months, we've been working together to develop this new free service. With the advent of COVID-19 and the increased stress it puts on students, we doubled down to get students the supports they so desperately need. I'm very excited to say that Here2Talk is now available for all 555,000 post-secondary students registered across B.C."
A 2016 national survey found that 44 per cent of post-secondary students, at some point in the past year, felt "so depressed it was difficult to function"
Thirteen per cent had seriously considered suicide, while two per cent had attempted it.
Chat sessions with a trained counsellor can be accessed by downloading the Here2Talk app or visiting: here2talk.ca
Students can speak to a counsellor by phone, toll-free at 1 877 857-3397 or direct 604 642-5212. Students calling from outside Canada can dial 1 604 642-5212 (international calling charges may apply).
