Look inside, see the signs and take care of your mental health.

What's "normal?"

Whatever you're feeling is perfectly normal.

That said, signs of good mental health include being aware of your abilities, being able to cope with the stresses of daily life, being able to work productively, and being able to participate in your community.

If you feel detached from the people around you, overwhelmed by stress, or too distracted or distraught to be productive, those are all signs that your mental health may be struggling.

If you see the signs, there are resources and support services available to you.

The 6 Pillars of Mental Health

Look inside, see the signs.

If these are familiar thoughts, you might be struggling.

“I’m lonely but I don’t have the energy to be around people.”

“All I feel like doing is crying. I can’t remember the last time I laughed.”

“My chest feels tight and there are so many racing thoughts in my head.”

Every year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health or a substance use concern.

Sign 1

Feeling low-energy, withdrawn, or alone.

Sign 2

Frequent crying and overwhelming sadness.

Sign 3

Anxiety, nervousness, and racing thoughts.

Feeling unsure? Take the quiz!

If you aren’t sure how you’re feeling, this quick quiz can help. You’ll answer some simple questions, learn about your mental well-being, and get suggestions for what to do next.

The pressures of everyday life can be the cause of a lot of distress. If you’re having thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital. Help is available.

Self-care resources

Start right at home with easy-to-access resources.

Community supports

Find wellness services in our community.

SeetheSigns.ca

A wellness campaign by Bow Valley communities and residents.

Free counselling in the Bow Valley

Walk-in Mental Health Clinics

Talk to a mental health clinician every day from 2-9pm at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital and Canmore General Hospital.

Visit the front desks at the hospitals to access.

Recovery Alberta – Bow Valley Addiction and Mental Health

Offers counselling and talk therapy for mental health and addiction concerns for all ages at offices located in Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise.

Call Access Mental Health at 403-943-1500 for questions and to self-refer.

Bow Valley Primary Care Network

Offers short-term counselling for adults (18+) to support emotional well being at offices located in Canmore.

Call the PCN at 403-675-3000 for questions and to self-refer.

Family Connection Centre

Offers individual support and counselling for youth ages 7-18 and their families at an office located in Canmore.

Call the FCC at 403-678-2529 for questions and to self-refer.

Stoney Health Centre

Offers counselling to children, adults, couples, and families living in Mînî Thnî.

Call or text Stoney Health at 403-801-3484 for questions and to self-refer.

In distress? You can talk to someone right now.

Call/Text 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline to get support during crisis

Call/Text 211 Alberta to get help finding mental health, addiction, community, and social support services

Calling 988 and 211 provides interpretation and translation in 200+ languages.

Feeling suicidal? Please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital right away.

Share See the Signs across the Bow Valley!

1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health or substance use concern every year, so chances are a few of your friends, family, or coworkers may be struggling right now. Of those struggling, 1 in 3 folks are unlikely to reach out for support due to factors like stigma, unawareness of resources, or not thinking their experiences are serious enough to seek help. However, by sharing campaigns like See the Signs, we can work towards reducing the stigma around mental health and increasing knowledge of free local resources that offer support!

Visit the Partners Toolkit for a library of free and shareable posters, postcards, social media posts, newsletter and marketing content.