Additional Resources
local, Provincial & Federal rESOURCES
crisis resources
for immediate help
Central Island Counselling does not provide crisis services. If you are experiencing a crisis and need immediate support please consider the following options.
Call 9-1-1
Present to your local emergency room.
Call the Vancouver Island Crisis line at: 1-888-494-3888
Crisis Walk In Clinic - Nanaimo, BC
Tillicum Lelum Youth Safe House - Nanaimo, BC
Kids Help Phone - Text - 686868
Haven Society Crisis Line - Call - 1-888-756-0616
Trauma resources
Mental health & substance use resources
more support
Crisis Outreach Response (COR) - To access help call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888.
Crisis Walk In Clinic - In person counselling in Nanaimo, BC.
Child & Youth Mental Health - In person mental health counselling in Nanaimo, BC through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Discovery Youth & Family Substance Use Services - In person counselling for youth and families who are using or affected by substance use in Nanaimo, BC through Island Health.
VIU Student Support - Free counselling for VIU students.
Anxiety Canada - Online anxiety resources.
ADDitude - ADD & ADHD Online resource for children, youth, adults and families.
Adult ADHD Explained - Video resource
Canadian Mental Health Association - Online and in person programs and services.
Kelty Mental Health - Online youth mental health resources for children, youth, families and caregivers.
Drug Cocktail Help - Online tool to research drug interactions with prescribed and non-prescribed substances.
Booster Buddy - Mental health app for youth.
Virtual Hope Box - Mental health app for youth and adults.
Calm Harm - App for youth to help reduce and manage self harm.
I Am Sober - App for help to reduce use of addictive behaviours or substances.
Finch Self Care App - App for youth to assist with self care.
Foundry - Online tools and counselling for youth and adults for mental health support.
Wellness Together - Online tools and counselling for youth and adults for mental health support.
VIVRS - Vancouver Island Vocational Rehabilitation Services is a free vocational service for youth and adults with diverse abilities or multiple barriers to employment in Nanaimo. They support the employment process from initial résumé building all the way through to on the job training.
children, youth & familY resources
more support
Youth Wellness Centre - In person wellness assistance in Nanaimo, BC.
Child & Youth Mental Health - In person mental health counselling in Nanaimo, BC through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Discovery Youth & Family Substance Use Services - In person counselling for youth and families who are using or affected by substance use through Island Health.
Eating Disorder Counselling - In person counselling focusing on relationships with food and body image through NARSF.
Living In Families with Teens- LIFT - In person counselling for parents, caregivers and youth focusing on family dynamics through NARSF.
Confident Parents Thriving Kids - Parenting program through Canadian Mental Health Association.
Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada - (CADDAC) Support, tools and strategies for children, youth, adults, and caregivers wanting to learn more about ADHD.
ADDitude - ADD & ADHD Online resource for children, youth, adults and families.
How to ADHD - Youth oriented youtube channel on ADHD with education, tools and strategies.
Nanaimo Youth Services Association - Youth employment and empowerment training.
Triple P Parenting - Professionally facilitated parenting program.
Connect Parenting Program - Professionally facilitated parenting program.
Parenting Together - Professionally facilitated educational and support group for parents and caregivers.
Emotion Coaching Resources- EFFT Parenting Support.
Boy & Girls Club Central Island - Resources for children, youth, parents and caregivers in Nanaimo, BC.
Kids Help Phone - Text - 686868
Parent Support Services Society of BC - In person or online support groups for parents, grandparents and caregivers in Nanaimo and BC.
Transitions - Youth detox and transitional housing through NARSF.
SAIP - Sexual Abuse Intervention Program through NARSF.
Common Sense Media - Resource for parents & caregivers regarding use of media for each developmental age.
Child Development Centre (CDC) - Infant and child development specialists in Nanaimo, BC.
Vancouver Island Children's Assessment Network (VICAN) - Assessment services for children and youth with complex developmental needs using a family and child centered approach in Nanaimo and on the Island.
Rainbows - Supporting children and youth with grieving
Rainbows Nanaimo - Support program for grieving youth and child.
Autism Assessment Grants - Variety Children’s Charity.
Bear Essentials Funding - Funding for children and youth in need of medical care. Includes medical equipment, transportation and accommodations.
CKNW Kids Fund - Funding assistance for families by providing grants for essential specialized medical equipment, therapies, and programs for at-risk youth.
Private Autism Assessment - Provides private autism assessments on Vancouver Island - Dr. Kelly Price & Associates.
Private Autism Assessment - Provides private autism assessments in Kelowna - Okanagan Ability Centre.
At Home Program - The At Home Program is designed to support children and teens with a severe disability or complex health care needs.
Child & Youth Mental Health Toolkits - Online resources for youth mental health.
Children’s Variety Charity Counselling Grant - Up to $2,500 per year toward mental health counselling for qualifying families that earn less than $85,000 per year.
indigenous supports
morE support
Tillicum Lelum Friendship Cenre - Online and in person resources and supports for Indigenous Peoples in Nanaimo, BC and beyond.
Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services - Resource dedicated to the well-being of all children in its nine member Nations. Its mission is to work towards children’s right to live with dignity, the integrity of the family, the parents right to care for their children, within the standards of the community.
Kackaamin Family Development Centre - Individual and Family Healing program located in Port Alberni, BC.
Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society - Trauma and substance use program located in Nanoose Band Reserve Land on Vancouver Island, BC.
Residential School Survivor Support - Indian Residential School Survivor Society.
Jordan’s Principle - Funding for service for Indigenous Children.
Residential School Support - Through First Nations Health Authority.
Mental Health Supports - Through First Nations Health Authority.
first responders
more support
VAC Benefits Navigator Tool - Online tool for searching benefits you may be entitled to as a retired veteran of the RCMP or CAF.
Veterans Ombudsman - Assistance with appeals that have been through two denials external to VAC.
OSI Clinic Information - Operational Stress Injury support for RCMP and CAF veterans.
BC Fire Fighters Resiliency Program - BC First Responder Resiliency Program provides a peer-based support program for Fire Fighters primarily.
Wounded Warrior Canada - Online support including crisis support and group support.
RCMP Mental Health Support - Mental Health support for RCMP and their family members.
Atlas Institute for Veteran’s and Families - Mental Health support for veteran’s and their families.
VAC Mental Health Support - Immediate mental health support over the phone support for Veterans. This includes Canadian Armed Forces Veterans, Former members of the RCMP, their families, and their caregivers.
Veteran Farmer - Several clinics all over Canada including Comox, BC on Vancouver Island. They provide cannabis products and direct support for VAC paperwork, assessments and support navigating VAC processes.
Camp Aftermath - Camp Aftermath seeks to support military members, veterans, first responders and Fronline Workers living with PTSD or experiencing mental health problems as a consequence of their duties in public safety roles.
Veterans Transition Network - Canadian charity delivering mental health services specifically for Veterans from coast to coast.
BC Professional Fire Fighters - Online information and support.
BC First Responders Mental Health - Online information and support.
First Responders First - Online information and support.
PTSD Service Dogs - PADS Program. Low cost.
PTSD Service Dogs - Wounded Warriors Program. Low cost.
PTSD Service Dogs - Operation Freedom Paws Canada. Low cost.
Veterans Wellness Clinic - Prairie Veteran Wellness Clinic in Alberta - can help with VAC paperwork and VAC process. Highly recommended by other Veterans.
Two-Spirited and LGBTQQIA
more support
Generation Q - In person weekly support group and much more in Nanaimo.
Gender Journeys - Free Nanaimo peer support groups for Transgender, Nonbinary & Gender Diverse Folks in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.
Trans Care BC - Online information and support.
BC’s Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirited Resource Centre - Online information and support.
Life Outside the Binary - Non-binary, Transgender online information centre.
BC Children’s Gender Resources - Online resources for youth and their families.
BC Children’s Family Support and Resource Centre - Search our collection of print books, eBooks, CDs and DVDs, games, and teaching tools on trans health.
More Support
Vancouver Island Voices for Eating Disorders - VIVED provides education, support and virtual support groups for those struggling with eating disorders or wanting to learn more about eating disorders.
National Eating Disorder Information Centre - NEDIC provides education and support for those struggling with eating disorders or wanting to learn more about eating disorders.
Island Health Eating Disorder Services - Eating disorder services provided by Island Health includes counselling and education.
Eating Disorders
free or low cost counselling
local & provincial
Child & Youth Mental Health - In person mental health counselling in Nanaimo, BC through the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Discovery Youth & Family Substance Use Services - In person counselling for youth and families who are using or affected by substance use through Island Health.
Eating Disorder Counselling - In person counselling focusing on relationships with food and body image through NARSF.
Living In Families with Teens- LIFT - In person counselling for parents, caregivers and youth focusing on family dynamics through NARSF.
Nanaimo Family Life - In person counselling for children, youth, adults and seniors in Nanaimo, BC.
The Men’s Centre - In person counselling and support for Men and their families in Nanaimo.
Crisis Walk In Clinic - In person, crisis walk in or short term counselling for mental health concerns in Nanaimo, BC.
Nanaimo Community Hospice - In person counselling for children, youth and adult who are grieving in Nanaimo, BC.
Bound Back - Counselling program for adults and youth through Canadian Mental Health Association.
Living Life to the Full - Counselling program through Canadian Mental Health Association.
Haven Society - In person counselling for women, children and youth who have experienced domestic violence in Nanaimo, BC.
VIU Student Support - Free counselling for VIU students.
financial resources
where to look
Accessibility Parking Permit - All of BC
BC Housing Accessibility Rebate - Rebate for home adaptations including creating a sensory room for autism support.
