[SupraTTturbo2jz]

does anyone know of a counselor/psychiatrist that provides free support for depression? Been trying to find something but nothing.. This is for a friend, thanks

[bballguy]

does anyone know of a counselor/psychiatrist that provides free support for depression? Been trying to find something but nothing.. This is for a friend, thanks

I don't mean to sound rude so don't take this the wrong way:

Do you have any idea how long it can take to treat someone with depression?...I would be EXTREMELY shocked if anyone was willing to give up that kind of time for free...

That said, this is the best I can do for you: http://www.cmha.bc.ca/...get in contact with them and see if they can help your friend or at least guide him or her in the right direction.

[SupraTTturbo2jz]

yes I do, someone I used to talk to before had depression and he mentioned he saw someone for free for a while. Just wondering if there are others that have offered their services for free..

[Lomac]

Depending on their age, there are youth (26 and under, I believe) clinics around that also have people on staff that deal with that sort of thing.

[SupraTTturbo2jz]

ill have to call around some more tomorrow then..thanks

[AutozamAZ-3]

If he goes to a local public college or university, they all offer free counseling
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

[!SG]

find out for me as well,

i can think of several members whom can use some counseling for a reality check, and grow the fuck up.

not directed towards the op at all, but as i grow older, i am seeing that some so called long time members havent had life council them in those 2 above solutions.

[godwin]

Depression is classified as a mental illness in the DSM manual.. hence it is covered by our Canadian health care system.. see your family doctor.. ask him or her to write you a referral to see a psychiatrist.. it might take a while as there is a waiting list, but it is FREE

If you are in serious distress, go to the ER right away..

[GFunk]

find out for me as well,

i can think of several members whom can use some counseling for a reality check, and grow the fuck up.

not directed towards the op at all, but as i grow older, i am seeing that some so called long time members havent had life council them in those 2 above solutions.

Don't you think this offtopic side rant is a little inappropriate given the serious nature of the thread's topic?

[BaBiE_Bee]

If the person is under 24, then try the Broadway Youth Resource Centre:

Pacific Community Resources - Broadway Youth Resource Centre (http://www.pcrs.ca/broadway_youth_resource_centre)

Youth Counselling Clinic - Free community based counselling through City University for youth and adults - ages 15-24. There used to be a direct number for them but I can't seem to find it on their site right now. Just give the centre a call and ask for the City University counseling.

Or you can also try here: Youth Clinics - Youth - Vancouver Coastal Health (http://www.vch.ca/youth_clinics)

It says " General counseling " under Services offered.

As well, does your friend work anywhere, part-time or full-time? Most places do offer free counseling through an outside company, it's usually a benefit to the employee even if you don't pay for the medical/ dental benefits, it's usually called EAP. (Employee Assistance Program)

Hope this helps! Or PM me if you have any questions - good luck! :)

[yot065]

i believe from high school they told me this place
"http://www.vch.ca/402/7678/?site_id=104"
they offer counselling etc

[GLOW]

if your friend is in the work force, some employers pay for services as part of their benefits. might be worth checking in to.

[Gridlock]

find out for me as well,

i can think of several members whom can use some counseling for a reality check, and grow the fuck up.

not directed towards the op at all, but as i grow older, i am seeing that some so called long time members havent had life council them in those 2 above solutions.

While I totally agree, i must also echo the sentiment that this is just a hair inappropriate.

BUT...maybe a "Grow the Fuck Up" booth at the summer meet?

[Chronix]

i work in sph. just check in through emergency and said you have depression or what not. they will admit you and get you to talk to ER Psych and then he/she can refer you to a free community mental health team. dont go on weekdays though, thats when the mental unit in the hospital is busy and you may have to wait over an hour.

[GGnoRE]

i work in sph. just check in through emergency and said you have depression or what not. they will admit you and get you to talk to ER Psych and then he/she can refer you to a free community mental health team. dont go on weekdays though, thats when the mental unit in the hospital is busy and you may have to wait over an hour.

Shouldn't the emergency department only be used if its an emergency?
I don't like how people just head over to emergency when it isn't really an "emergency" as it can put other urgent patients at a disadvantage.

[Chronix]

....pysch emergency is different than the normal emergency area. two separate areas. handles by different specialized psych nurses and drs.

[will068]

Here you go dude. Hope your friend gets better. This is from my workplace. I believe you're not required to state your name. Just say you're from ABB Canada if ever they ask (I don't think you're required to as well). Just call the number below

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Morneau-Shepell, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helps you :

Achieve Personal Well-Being
Manage Relationships and Family
Get Legal Clarity
Get Financial Clarity
Research Child and Elder Care Resources
Address Workplace Challenges
Tackle Addictions
Understand Nutrition
Get Healthcare Advise

For more information, we invite you to take a look at the Employee Assistance brochure (available below) and read our Employee Assistance Program policy.

You can also contact Morneau-Shepell by phone at 1-800-387-4765 or by visiting Morneau-Shepell's website: Shepell·fgi (http://www.shepellfgi.com/EN-CA/)

[Meowjin]

if anyone says mental disabilities don't exist, I will find you and fuck you up.

If you go to the health and wellness forums I was recently Diagnosed with something, I suggest if you are in school to go see the doctors in the health center and they will move you in the right direction.

Be warned to see a psych the waitlists are long. I was seeing the doctor on january 6th and didnt get an appoitment till february 28th. Also when you see the psych if you have something that they can deal with they will help you, but if its something that they can't they will just throw you to councelling. So be very careful with your words, because I almost got thrown to the school's councilling department before they discovered what was wrong with me.

[Meowjin]

find out for me as well,

i can think of several members whom can use some counseling for a reality check, and grow the fuck up.

not directed towards the op at all, but as i grow older, i am seeing that some so called long time members havent had life council them in those 2 above solutions.

With this type of attitude, its the reason why we have the DTES.

I mean once I told my brothers I was suffering with a mental disability, I was disowned, my godparents borderline disowned me and my own father wont talk to me anymore.

The sad part is once I started getting medicated my productivity shot up 100% and I'm getting alot of shit done.

So I guess what I have isn't real :rolleyes:

[B!tch]

Depending where your friend lives....

Fraserside Community Services Society (http://www.fraserside.bc.ca/about/services.htm)

Fraser Health - Our Services (http://www.fraserhealth.ca/find_us/services/our_services?program_id=8708)

Rapid Access Psychiatric Clinic | Rapid Access Psychiatric Clinic (http://www.mdabc.net/Rapid-Access-Psychiatric-Clinic/rapid-access-psychiatric-clinic.html) see clinic at bottom of page for referal

some websites to visit

Getting Help: When & How (http://cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=4-37&lang=1)

Patient and family resources (http://www.psychiatry.ubc.ca/patients/resources.htm)

Counsellors charge less than pyschs and some work on a sliding scale:

BCACC | Find A Counsellor (http://bc-counsellors.org/general/find-a-counsellor#action=AdvancedSearch&cid=186&did=35&listingType=A)

[Meowjin]

^if you have been depressed for a long period I don't recommend counsellor's.

[Ri2]

OP, tell your friend go to their family doctor and get a referral. for the most part, therapy can be charged on a sliding scale if it is not free and is relatively affordable. my family doctor is in Vancouver and it took her a few days to research and find something that is free in my area. my dr's office arranged the appt and all i had to do was call to confirm. she also gave me a dvd and an online workbook to work on before my session.

hope this helps :heartsmile:

[Durranne]

great resources

[LIKEABOSS]

Depression/mental illness can often be more debilitating than physical illness. It's a sad fact that the general population doesn't understand this. Props to you and the people in this thread for helping out.

[SupraTTturbo2jz]

thanks for all the help, I've notice my friend has been suffering for a few years now (5-10yrs) and its time that I do something to help. Are the counselors usually female or male because my friend would prefer female. I just need to slowly suggest to them for this help. My friend did show interest when I did bring it up. I didn't know before how serious of an illness it is but the past months I've been doing research and yeah, people like this are suffering and need this support.

[twitchyzero]

Depression/mental illness can often be more debilitating than physical illness. It's a sad fact that the general population doesn't understand this.

i dont think anyone's trying to discredit mental illness...if it's an emergency i dont think OP would've posted on an internet forum asking for resources

then again they are people that post shit on here when they should've called icbc asap

[bballguy]

As someone else mentioned, I wouldn't recommend a counsellor but rather a psychiatrist for an illness such as depression.

[godwin]

You are legally limited to what you can do as a friend. The only thing you can do is to encourage him/her.

If you want your friend to get free help. The easiest way is for him/her to talk to your friend's family doctor. Any type of counselling (psychologists / psychiatrists) is FREE as long as there is a GP's referral. Again, you can't do much other than accompany him/her to the appointments. I do not recommend free services like UBC / SFU Psychology department that don't require referrals.. as the doctoral students / therapists there are very transient (they are usually on their final year or 2 of practicum), depending on your friend, it is way better to do it on a long term basis via a psychiatrist / psychologist who can see how your friend is doing on the long term.

I would also be reluctant to go through work insurance, even though it is illegal to discriminate based on mental illness; Once a problem is noted on file, you never know who / where it might end up. Especially since the universal healthcare probably won't be around forever. Right now your workplace only need to know you are sick or not sick with a doctor's note, they are not supposed to dwell any deeper than that.

Considering the students in PhD program the majority are female, there is a good chance you will be able to find a female counsellor. However I think it should be the least of your issues right now. You should get your friend to see his/her GP and get the GP to refer your friend to a female counsellor.

The link to resources above are all good and well.. but the fact is still if your family physicians deem you need mental health help, it will be covered by the Health Act, which we are paid for via MSP. If you go to any counsellor's office willy nilly, you will get charged full price usually $150+ / hour.. just like you walk into a MRI lab and want a full body MRI without a referral or request for diagnostic from a family physician.

Get your friend to see his / her family doctor ASAP.

thanks for all the help, I've notice my friend has been suffering for a few years now (5-10yrs) and its time that I do something to help. Are the counselors usually female or male because my friend would prefer female. I just need to slowly suggest to them for this help. My friend did show interest when I did bring it up. I didn't know before how serious of an illness it is but the past months I've been doing research and yeah, people like this are suffering and need this support.

[godwin]

Well it depends, psychiatrist can prescribe a medication that can alleviate the symptoms quickly (a few months for the person / doctor to tune the dose).. However you still need to deal with the fundamental issue of why the person is depressed, that can be done via psychologists.

There are limited number of psychiatrists in Vancouver (I know a few friends that consistently work from 8AM - 9PM 6 days a week), so for the later issues, psychologists will probably be easier. The treatment plan should be done with the GP who is supposed to be the gatekeeper / coordinator of all treatment for the friend.

Coles notes: Involve your family doctor, keep records of your visits and your health. Be an advocate for your own heath and let your GP deal with any treatment that you need.

As someone else mentioned, I wouldn't recommend a counsellor but rather a psychiatrist for an illness such as depression.

[Meowjin]

UBC has a great anxiety clinic out of richmond hospital. The waitlist is based on seriousness though. When I first approached my doctor in November of 2010 (school allieviated my anxiety for 6 months before it hit me like a truck agian) he sent me there as an outpatient but I never got a call until 6 months later.

I don't think government covers CBT/Psychologists, but don't quote me.

edit: on a sidenote I had a friend who had manic bi-polar Disorder and his meds bankrupted him. He was paying 1k a month before pharmacare kicked in.

[godwin]

It depends if the person needs it or not.. hence why I keep saying talk to your GP. Gov pay for CBT/psychologist: Court required anger management or gambling addictions etc. If there is a need and it affects your life, Canadian healthcare system will take care of you.

don't think government covers CBT/Psychologists, but don't quote me.

[Meowjin]

^^ good to know.

[RabidRat]

Great thread.

There's been a request to move this to the Health and Wellness subforum. I'm inclined to leave this here for about a week for it to get the traffic/attention it deserves, and I'll move it then.

Let me know if there are objections.