School counsellors are teachers who also have a Master’s level degree in Counselling Psychology. As educational and mental health professionals, school counsellors support students with their educational, social, physical, and mental health challenges. They also provide guidance in course selection, planning, and applying for post-secondary education. Counsellors help students who have ongoing mental health needs access free counselling services provided by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Students can be connected to VCH mental health services such as: 

• Child and Youth Mental Health (click here for intake appointment online booking)
• Youth Concurrent Disorder Counsellors 
• Child and Adolescent Response Team (CART) 
• Centralized Addiction Intake Team (CAIT)

As well, VCH's East Van Youth Clinic can support students with physical health concerns, including sexual health and vaccinations.

Additional free public mental health services:

• Foundry 
• QMUNITY

Urban Native Youth Association counselling support (for self-identifying Indigenous youth):

• Intake form can be found here
• Youth that complete the intake form will be place on the waitlist until one of UNYA's counsellors has availability to see them as a regular client.
• Youth are able to seen sooner through the drop-in appointment options, which can be scheduled at this link. 

**UNYA strongly recommends that youth who wish to be connected to a long-term counsellor begin by completing the intake form and then proceeding with booking drop-in appointments in the meantime.

Crisis Lines

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Crisis Centre of BC: 604-872-3311

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 988

KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717 (Indigenous support)

In the event of an emergency, call 911.

List of resources and where to get additional help: VCH Family Resource Guide.pdf

City of Vancouver Youth Resource for crisis, health and other categories.

Generally, counsellors work with the same grade until graduation. Please contact your child's counsellor for any questions about mental health support! 

Our Counselling Suite