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Feeling low-energy, withdrawn, or alone.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 is available!

Recovery Alberta Bow Valley Addiction and Mental Health

Offers free counselling and talk therapy for mental health and addiction concerns, with 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 free, short-term counselling to support emotional well being with offices located in Banff and Canmore.

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

Walk-in Mental Health Clinic

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

In distress? You can talk to someone right now.

Call/Text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8

Call/Text the 24/7 Distress Centre Helpline at 403-266-4357

Call the 24/7 Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642

The Suicide Crisis Helpline and Mental Health Helpline offer translation for help in languages beyond English.

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.