Resources
Resources for You
Looking to further your cannabis or mental health & psychosis knowledge? Several other organizations have put together incredibly helpful tools and resources to help you navigate these complex topics.
If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your local emergency department. Our Distress/Crisis support section also provides options if you’re having a hard time and want to talk to someone. Even if you’re not sure if your situation is “bad enough” to call or chat with someone, we suggest you give it a try.
Resources for You
Looking to further your cannabis or mental health & psychosis knowledge? Several other organizations have put together incredibly helpful tools and resources to help you navigate these complex topics.
If you or someone you care about is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your local emergency department. Our Distress/Crisis support section also provides options if you’re having a hard time and want to talk to someone. Even if you’re not sure if your situation is “bad enough” to call or chat with someone, we suggest you give it a try.
Crisis & Distress Support
Crisis & Distress Support
If you’re looking for mental health and referral services for children and youth:
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868
Kids Help Phone is a national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth.
You can connect with them by text, phone, or live chat – whatever makes you most comfortable.
If you’re looking for mental health resources in your community:
Ementalhealth.ca
An online portal to find mental health services, support and help in your community.
If you’re Indigenous and looking for mental health resources:
The Hope for Wellness Help Line
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada.
If you’re afraid you or someone you love might hurt themselves:
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
A database of services including hotlines you can call for crisis support.
If you, or someone you know is in crisis right now, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
If you’re worried about your drug use, or need support for addiction:
Drugs: Help and Referral
A bilingual helpline you can call 24/7, for free, to talk to a counsellor about your drug use and/or addiction. They will answer your questions and refer you to the appropriate resources.
If you’re not sure who to call:
211 Distress line
Just dial 2-1-1 (available in NS, QC, ON, SK, AB, B.C.)
24-hour information and referral line connecting you to social, health, and government services. Call now and get connected.
If you need immediate distress support:
Distress Centre – Calgary
Crisis Line – 403-266-HELP (4357)
Hearing Impaired – 403-543-1967
A collection of resources based in Alberta (24/7 hotline, chat, or face to face in Calgary) to support whichever immediate crisis you’re going through.
If you need immediate support as a teenager:
Connecteen
403-264-TEEN (403-264-8336) – 24 hours
A collection of resources specifically for teens based in Alberta (24/7 hotline, chat, email, text) to support anything you might be going through and need to talk about.
If you need immediate distress support:
Canada Suicide Prevention Service
Toll-free: 1-833-456-4566 Available 24/7
The new Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS), by Crisis Services Canada, enables callers anywhere in Canada to access crisis support by phone, in French or English.
You can also visit their website to find a crisis line closer to you.
Mental Health & Psychosis Resources
Mental Health & Psychosis Resources
If you’ve experienced psychosis and need support:
Epion
EPION is a network of people who work in early psychosis intervention (EPI) services in Ontario, individuals who have received EPI services, and their family members and caregivers. EPION’s site includes an interactive map showing early intervention services across Ontario, and has a page of external inks for those living outside Ontario.
If you’re looking for help in supporting someone through difficulties with their mental health:
Be There
BeThere is a site designed to help young people learn the basics about reaching out and supporting friends who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. An amazing resources full of practical ideas and stories to help you be present and informed.
If you’re looking for help in supporting someone through difficulties with their mental health:
Jack.org
Jack.org is a movement that trains and empowers youth to become mental health leaders and advocates, promoting open dialogue about mental health and reducing stigma in communities and on campuses across Canada
How Do I Get Help For My Loved One?
British Columbia Schizophrenia Society
This page on the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society’s website provides guidance on ways to get help if you think a loved one is experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
If you’re looking for information on early intervention in psychosis:
Canadian Consortium on Early Intervention in Psychosis (CCEIP)
CCEIP’s website contains valuable resources and links to early intervention programs across Canada With resources designed to meet the needs of youth, family members and clinicians.
Additional information about psychosis and schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia Society of Canada
SSC is a national organization that supports people living with psychosis and schizophrenia through research, advocacy and information. SSC’s website contains many valuable resources and programs.
If you need support specifically for psychosis or schizophrenia:
Ask The Expert – Web and Telephone Support
1-855-449-9949
Ask the Expert (ATE) assists people living with schizophrenia and psychosis and their families across Ontario through telephone, online and in-person support. ATE is staffed by a team of trained mental health counsellors who provide customized, supportive counselling, advice on the mental health system in Ontario and connects people to local resources and services available throughout the province.
If you’re looking for mental health and/or addictions support in Nova Scotia:
Nova Scotia Health
NS Health provides connections to mental health and addictions professionals who provide support, programs, and services to Nova Scotians across the province.
If you are looking for multicultual and BIPOC resources
Muticultural Mental Health Resource Centre
This directory provides links to services that address cultural diversity in mental health.
University of Waterloo – Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Resources
A non-exhaustive list of resources intended to help students, faculty, and staff at the University of Waterloo in developing a deeper understanding of anti-Black racism, racism toward Indigenous folks and people of colour.
CRE- Canadian Roots Exchange
CRE builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in Canada by facilitating dialogue and strengthening relationships through leadership programs.
Healing in Colour
Healing in Colour envisions a world where BIPOC, in all our intersections, have access to therapy that supports our healing and liberation.
Black Therapist List
Mental health is often something that goes unspoken in black communities and there are many barriers to seeking support. Black Therapist List is designed to eliminate some of these challenges by making it easier for people who are looking specifically for a black therapist in their area.
Canadian Mental Health Association – BC Division
Cross-cultural Mental Health – Our communities are culturally diverse. We know that mental health and substance use problems affect everyone, regardless of their background, culture or ethnicity, but current mental health and substance use services may not be able to respond to the diverse needs of our community members. While some services are underway, we still need to increase our awareness of cultural factors so we can help all community members equally.
If you are looking for LGBTQ2S resources
Youthline
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services
Pflag Canada
Pflag Canada is a national charitable organization, founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their LGBTQ2S children.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for transgender people experiencing a crisis.This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender. They are a grassroot organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
Queer Asian Youth
ACAS’ Youth Program is a space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, queer, or questioning East and Southeast Asian youth. Some of the supports they offer include resources, providing social spaces, capacity development, and peer support for LGBTTQQ+.
Salaam Canada
Salaam is a volunteer-run national organization dedicated to creating space for people who identify as both Muslim and queer and trans. They offer a variety of supports and services such as peer support groups (one-on-one) in Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver.
Cannabis Resources
Cannabis Resources
If you’re looking to get started in your learning about cannabis, or looking for a resource to share with someone who wants to learn the basics about weed:
Canadian Public Health Association’s (CPHA)
A 14-page information package that provides an introduction to the plant and its derived products, methods of consumption, understanding consumption (why people choose to use), and harm reduction.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
If you’re looking for a robust resource that examines the research around cannabis and health, a large review document of 10,000 research articles on cannabis and its health effects is available. The entire report is long and needs to be purchased at the link below.
Some key highlights of the report can be found in this PDF (No purchase required).
Teen Mental Health
This infographic can help sum up some of the general questions about cannabis use.
McCreary Centre Society
The McCreary Centre Society has just launched its second full-length report about cannabis use among youth in BC.
If you’re looking for some quick harm reduction tips, there are a few to choose from:
Health Canada
Health Canada’s 10 Ways to Reduce Risks when Using.
The Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia & Vancouver Coastal Health
The Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia & Vancouver Coastal Health “Take Care with Cannabis” Handout.
If you want to check in with where you’re at with your use:
First Nations Health Authority
The First Nations Health Authority has developed a series of fantastic resources including a completely anonymous questionnaire to help you assess where you’re at with your use..
If you’re looking for help to cut down on your cannabis use:
If you’re confused about the regulations around legal cannabis across Canada:
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has an interactive, extensive map of the different regulatory frameworks across all the provinces and territories.
Health Canada
Health Canada also has a wealth of information on the law and cannabis.
If you’re looking to hear some discussions about cannabis from experts:
CBC Radio
CBC Radio’s White Coat, Black Art: Everything you wanted to know about pot: Your questions answered
If you’re looking for tips on talking about cannabis with youth (depending on what the youth calls it, maybe calling it weed is actually the first step!)
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s Cannabis Education Toolkit
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s “Talking Pot with Youth” Kit
If you’re wondering about edibles:
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has 7 Things You Need to Know about Edible Cannabis.
Learn more about cannabis and driving:
If you’re looking to start a conversation this is a great tool kit:
Get Sensible
The Sensible Cannabis Education Toolkit aims to support adults in having informed and non-judgmental conversations with young people about cannabis.
If your a youth aged 12 to 24, this is a free national education prevention initiative:
YMCA’s Youth Cannabis Knowledge Hub
The Youth Cannabis Awareness Program (YCAP) offers free programming to youth aged 12 to 24, as well as adults (parents/guardians and professionals) involved in the lives of youth.
If your looking for statistics, here is a great resource:
Statistics Canada
Looking back from 2020, how cannabis use and related behaviours changed in Canada.
Statistics Canada
How cannabis use changed in Canada, 2018 to 2020.
Not looking for a specific document, or just browsing?
Here are some organizations that have useful, frequently-updated content:
Santé Cannabis
Santé Cannabis, a medical cannabis clinic and contract research centre, has a helpful FAQ section: santecannabis.ca/en/resources/frequently-asked-questions/
The Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids (CCIC)
The Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids can lead you to a variety of educational resources.
Health Canada
Health Canada has some key points about the most recent medical cannabis regulation and has an extensive repository of resources related to cannabis.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine recently published “The therapeutic effects of Cannabis and cannabinoids: An update” which reviews the evidence on medical cannabis for different health issues.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) publishes several primary research and review pieces on cannabis.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) frequently deals with the intersection of mental health and substance use, as evidenced by their cannabis legalization and mental health brief. The CMHA also has briefs on psychosis, schizophrenia, and concurrent mental illness and substance use problems.
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) authors documents such as the Cannabasics mentioned above, and houses references to a number of other non-stigmatizing cannabis education resources, as well as a variety of tools to screen for problematic cannabis use.
The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) can connect you with several peer-reviewed journal articles and reports.
Health Canada
Health Canada’s “Does cannabis use increase the risk of developing psychosis or schizophrenia?” report, as well as their general Cannabis & Mental Health information page.
The Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION)
The Early Psychosis Intervention Ontario Network (EPION)’s My Cannabis IQ page contains information for youth, families, and clinicians.
Here to Help
A quick brief on cannabis and psychosis: heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/cannabis-vol5/cannabis-and-psychosis
Child Mind Institute
A quick read on the link between cannabis and psychosis: childmind.org/article/marijuana-and-psychosis
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
A database of all the research on cannabis that’s going on in Canada: ccsa.ca/database-cannabis
YouthRex- Youth Research and Evaluation eXchange
A resource for an Ontario where shared knowledge is transformed into positive impact for all youth! youthrex.com/area-of-interest/cannabis-use/
A free certificate training for youth workers around cannabis, legalization and how it affects young people: youthrex.com/cannabis-and-youth-certificate
Featured Resources
Featured Resources
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Resources
Wellness Together Canada
The Government of Canada has come out with a new resource to address the significant strain that COVID-19 has placed on individuals and families across the country. Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help Canadians get back on track. These include modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues.
ca.portal.gs
Covid & Cannabis Report
This report examines the reasons why participants were using cannabis (recreational or medical purposes, or both), how COVID-19 affected cannabis consumption amongst participants, if harm reduction methods were used and what this might mean for us moving forward.
Covid & Cannabis Report.pdf
DESTA Black Youth Network
Information about new government programs as well as access to additional resources & online tools
destabyn.org/covid19-resource-hub
Takecare19
Accessible & Inclusive Mental Health Resources for Coping Through COVID‑19
takecare19.com
The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Impacts of COVID-19 on Substance Use
ccsa.ca/Impacts-COVID-19-Substance-Use
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Caregiving in the era of COVID-19: What to expect, and how to cope
mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2020-04/fact_sheet_caregivers_eng.pdf
COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub
A hub of resources to help you take care of yourself and look out for the people you love during this challenging time.
jack.org/COVID
We Gotchu
Have questions or looking for support around COVID-19? We Gotchu is a wonderful collection of youth-oriented resources with a focus on BC.
wegotchu.ca
Centre for Online Mental Health Support
Providing useful tools helping individuals and families manage through this difficult time.
comhs.health
Mental Health Foundation
A text-based tool supporting mental health and wellness in a time of stress and isolation.
mentalhealthfoundation.ca/text4hope/
MTL COVID Youth Chatline – Never Alone
Anyone can call Never Alone. The Chatline’s resources are focused on youth in Montreal. covidchatmtl.com
BC Schizophrenia Society
Some tips and strategies for families, caregivers, and people living with schizophrenia or other serious mental illness.
bcss.org/covid-19-supporting-someone-living-with-schizophrenia/