Emotional health includes a person’s emotions, thoughts, feelings, and the ability to solve problems and socialize with others.
Tips & Links
Coping with emotions when facing health changes, a new diagnosis, or ongoing health challenges can be very difficult. Learn about strategies to help you cope with your feelings and services to support your emotional and mental wellness.
Learn About
- Learn about the warning signs of depression, anxiety, and suicide from HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca.
- If you are feeling mentally or emotionally unwell, contact your physician or nurse practitioner for an assessment or referral.
- Learn about the roles of a clinical counsellor, psychologist, and psychiatrist, and the types of guidance and support they can offer.
- Learn how to reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation, and depression from Healthlink BC.
- Visit the Government of BC mental health website for information and resources at HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca.
- Be aware that family care partners and caregiving can be very stressful. Know that there is a CaregiverBC Support Line toll-free at 1-877-520-3267, support groups, and learning resources from the Family CaregiversBC.
Things To Do
- Learn about your diagnosis or health condition to help you feel more in control as this can help reduce feelings of anxiety or depression.
- Practice mindfulness to help you stay in the present moment, which can be useful when you feel overwhelmed by anxiety or fear about the future.
- Use deep breathing techniques as they can help calm your nervous system and reduce feelings of stress or panic.
- Define and protect your personal boundaries and privacy and confidentiality. Know what you want to share, when, and with whom.
- Consider complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or aromatherapy to help relieve stress and physical discomfort.
- Consider trying yoga, chair yoga, pilates or tai Chi to learn relaxation and breathing techniques. Many classes are available online at no charge.
- Explore ways to share your feelings and needs with others you trust.
- Look into condition-specific support groups, online or in person, to meet with others who are going through similar experiences.
- Practice self-compassion by giving yourself time and space to deal with the potential changes in your health and lifestyle plans.
- Share with your physician or nurse practitioner counselling and new therapies you are exploring.
Find Help and Support
- Check out the list of virtual mental services including how to get immediate help, free or low-cost counselling, workplace supports, and targeted services for youth, students, seniors, and indigenous people from the Government of BC.
- Call BC211, a free, confidential helpline that can connect you to a wide range of mental health resources and services available in your area.
- Check out HelpStartsHere.gov.bc.ca from the Government of BC for a comprehensive list of walk-in clinics and resources.
- Find a clinical counsellor, psychologist, or art therapist who can provide counselling or therapy listed by Counselling BC.
- Explore the list of emotional health and counselling services provided by ‘Pathways’ from the Doctors of BC.
- For youth 12 -24 years of age – find support for your emotional health at the Foundry.
- Check to see if you have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) at your workplace which offers confidential counselling services.
- For students, ask if your university or college offers free, confidential one-on-one sessions for students in crisis.
- If you or someone you care about talks about feeling helpless or is showing warning signs of suicide, find help right away. Call the BC Crisis Line at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.
Mywell Health helps you learn about and organize your health information in one place. Add your emotional health information into your Health Profile fillable PDF tool and save it in your print or digital files under My Health Information.