Fraser Health Crisis Line open through holidays

This time of year can be stressful for many, but the operators of a locally-run crisis line say they’re ready to answer your call.

Staff and volunteers at the Fraser Health Crisis Line offer emotional support, crisis intervention, and community resource information.

Program Manager Julianna Baker says feeling stressed or burnt out is normal around the holidays.

“Pretty much everybody is feeling that way. And if you need somebody to talk to, you’re not bothering us. We are there to take those calls,” Baker explained.

“We want to talk to you and help you through it, even if it’s the middle of the night, and you just want to vent about what you’re going through, there’s somebody there to listen, and we’re there to support you through that.”

She says the Fraser Health call-takers receive special training to handle grief, including how it manifests through specific types of losses like overdose deaths or suicide.

“We don’t diagnose anything, we’re just trained volunteers and responders listening to these things. It’s more so just a guide of where to help callers go and get that support and then validating them for feeling that way as it comes up.”

This year, Baker says financial hardship has been the subject of a growing number of calls.

“Before [the COVID-19 pandemic], it was kind of like, ‘Yes, I’m feeling like I’m having some mental health concerns or I’m having thoughts of suicide, I’m concerned about somebody else.’ But then, and also ‘I have the worry about the economy, or I’m struggling financially, or I can’t take time off work because I can’t pay my rent.’ So, it’s definitely increasing in how it comes up in calls all year round.”

Baker says the line is proud to be the first contact for many people in crisis, helping them connect to more help.

“As well as everybody knows, it is really challenging to navigate the system when you’re going through anything at all. What we want is to be able to link people and do those referrals with them.”

Operated by Options Community Services, the Fraser Health Crisis Line is free, confidential, and open 24/7, 365 days a year. You can call 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444.