Recovery Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff

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We've curated an extensive list of resources and supports - including addiction and recovery supports, crisis and counselling supports, mental health supports and supports for family, friends, and allies.

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If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
If you are in mental health crisis, please contact Alberta 211 or the Crisis Text Line 24/7 by texting CONNECT to 741741.
Alberta 211 provides information, referrals and crisis support by phone (2-1-1), text (2-1-1) and web chat (www.ab.211.ca), including addiction and mental health referrals and resources, available 24/7 anywhere in the province. Alberta 211 provides free, confidential service in over 170 languages.
Albertans living in the north, central and south zones of Alberta can contact AHS’ Access Addiction and Mental Health (1-888-594-0211) for support with mental health and addiction concerns. Callers requiring access to AHS mental health and addiction services will be screened, triaged, and provided with a first appointment booking or information on appropriate community resources. Callers should plan to spend 30-45 minutes with a mental health therapist to complete the screening and intake process.
Albertans seeking treatment for opioid addiction can get treatment on demand through the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program (VODP). VODP provides same day access, with no fees and no waitlist, to evidence based treatment medications for opioid addiction. VODP can be accessed by phone at 1-844 383-7688 or online at https://vodp.ca/.
Alberta’s Digital Overdose Response System (DORS) app allows Albertan’s using opioids or other substances alone to receive support from emergency services if they become unresponsive. DORS is free and can be downloaded to any smartphone from the Google Play or Apple app stores. More information about the app can be found on dorsapp.ca.
Counselling Alberta provides affordable in-person and virtual mental health counselling services anywhere in Alberta. Choose counselling that’s right for you, with no financial barriers or waitlist. Call 1-833-827-4230 or visit Counselling Alberta for more information.
For more information on mental health and addiction programs and services or on Alberta’s approach to ensuring Albertans have the access they need to these essential services, please visit the Government of Alberta’s Alberta Model: A Recovery-Oriented System of Care website.

Support for Supports:

Al-Anon: Al Anon can help people learn how to cope with the challenges of someone else’s drinking. Al-Anon welcomes members of all faiths, or of none. 1-888-4AL-ANON
Family Advocacy Support Centre: A peer empowerment community for people impacted by a parent’s substance use
Holding Hope Groups are peer-led support groups, offered at no cost, to families with loved ones living with addiction (substance use disorder) across Canada.
Healing Hearts: a free bereavement support group specific to those grieving the loss of a loved one due to overdose or substance-use related harms.
Fresh Start Recovery: Provides education, information and support to help families and friends understand addiction and how to live a life in recovery. 1-844-768-6266
Starlings: A peer empowerment community for people impacted by a parent’s substance use.

Addiction & Recovery Support:

Addiction Helpline: 1-866-332-2322: 24-hour, 7 day a week confidential service that provides support, information and referrals to Albertans experiencing addiction and mental health concerns.
Adult Addiction Services: 403-367-5000: Non-medical treatment facility for those experiencing problems related to their use of alcohol, drugs, gambling, or sex addiction; Short-term outpatient counselling, support groups, 4-week intensive day treatment
Canadian Mental Health Association: Peer support service provides the opportunity for anyone – individual, family member, or professional – to speak with someone with lived experiences of mental health or substance use concerns. (403) 297-1402
Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton and surrounding area: Offers a variety of programs and services that assist individuals 16 years of age and older, with reaching their short and long-term mental health goals.
CAPSA All People, All Pathways™ are facilitated peer group meetings for individuals questioning their relationship with substances. In these groups you will find a safe environment to ask questions, free from stigma or discrimination. Individuals seeking help or wanting to help others are welcome.
Recovery Dharma: Using Buddhist principles for addiction recovery. Online meetings, (women’s only, BIPOC, and more available)
SMART Recovery: Self-Management and Recovery Training, Free mutual support meetings offered online and in person
Sober Black Girls Club:  a collective that provides love, support, and resources to Black girls, women, femmes, and nonconforming folks living or considering beautiful sober lives. (BIPOC meetings available)
12 Step Meetings: Free online and in-person peer-led mutual aid meetings dedicated to abstinence-based recovery; Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, GamblersAnonymous, Overeaters Anonymous
Sunrise Healing Lodge: Provides Indigenous based family counselling, sharing circles and education about the effects and consequences of alcohol and other drug use. (403) 261-7921
Recovery Coaching
Adult Addiction Services: (403) 297-3071
Alberta Quits Helpline: 1-866-710-7848

Counselling and Crisis Support:

Access Mental Health: 403-943-1500; Non-urgent service providing information, consultation,and referrals for individuals with addiction and/or mental health concerns
Calgary Counselling Centre: 833-827-4229; Sliding scale counselling services for individuals, couples,parents, families and youth
Calgary Public Library Wellness Desk: 403-299-9699; Free mental health and addictions support, health information, and referrals to services Central Library, Crowfoot Library, and Shawnessy Library
Carya: 403-269-9888; Counselling and other programs for children, adults,families, older adults, and youth; Language-specific counselling available
Centre for Newcomers: 403-569-3325; Sliding scale counselling and psychotherapy for refugee claimants, conventional refugees, permanent residents, and citizens Individual, couples, family and group counselling available
Community Connect YYC: Rapid access counselling, addictions supports, sexual health counselling, domestic violence support, caregiver support, peer support, and counselling for persons with disabilities, and immigrants and first languages, Counselling available for adults, children, youth, and families
Distress Centre: 403-266-HELP (4357); 24 hour crisis support through phone, text, or live chat 211 - call for support with program navigation and information; Free, general, short-term counselling for individuals, families and couples
Eastside Community Mental Health Services: 403-299-9699; Text, chat and in person crisis support; No-cost single session individual, family, and couple therapy available via phone, video, and in-person; Language options available

UCalgary Recovery Community:

Weekly Recovery-4-All Meetings,
Substance-free events and outreach,
Volunteer opportunities for those in recovery as well as allies,
Recovery-focused trainings and workshops

Student Wellness Services: 403-210-9355

Triage appointments for students in elevated levels of crisis
Free and confidential counselling
Coordinated care with a team of Student Support Advisors to help with any issues keeping students from personal or academic success

Peer Support:

Visit with a trained student volunteer who is ready to listen and talk about concerns
Peer listeners are knowledgeable about resources available

Wellness Workshops:

Learn skills to improve emotional well-being through a variety of wellness workshops
Workshops include: Pushing Through Perfectionism,Boosting Self-Compassion, Managing Stress and Anxiety, Motivation and Procrastination, Healthy Thinking, Changing Unhealthy Habits, Discover Your SelfCare, Reducing Exam Anxiety

Group Programs:

Build skills through group programs facilitated by the mental health team
Groups include: Finding Emotional Balance,Mindfulness, Happiness Basics

Harm Reduction:

Harm Reduction Support Advisor
Fentanyl Test strips available at Student WellnessServices, Varsity Pharmacy, and residence buildings
Naloxone training and Safer Substance Use training
Safer use supplies (call 403-220-4182 to arrange confidential pick up)

The Peer Support Centre:

The Peer Support Centre (PSC) is a Students' Union service that offers a free, confidential, and non-judgmental place to talk to someone for support. Trained volunteers offer peer support, crisis management, information and resources, and provide students with a safe place to talk.

Counselling and Clinical Services:

Providing free, confidential counselling and psychiatric services for a range of student mental health concerns.

Initial Consultations (IC) - An IC is the first step in the help-seeking process. All students seeking an individual or group/couple therapy or psychiatric support are required to do an IC. The Initial Consultation involves meeting with a mental health clinician where you will share your main reason for seeking help. The clinician will ask you a series of questions to better understand your concerns and use these details to help you come up with a plan for how to move forward. This appointment typically takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes. Please note that students who do an IC may get further services at CCS or may be referred to community services; however, doing an IC does not guarantee further services at CCS. Read more about ICs.
Individual & Couple Therapy - Short-term individual and couple therapy is provided by Registered Psychologists, Psychology Interns, and Practicum Students. Common reasons students seek therapy include: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress management, suicidal thoughts, self-esteem, perfectionism, family issues, and trauma.
Couple therapy is available to any couples where at least one member is a registered student at the University of Alberta. Please note that accessing individual or couple therapy requires completing an Initial Consultation prior to attending a therapy session.
Group Therapy - a common and effective method of treating different mental health concerns. You do not need to attend an Initial Consultation to attend group. Learn more about group therapy at CCS.
Drop-In Workshops - Workshops are casual seminars that teach participants practical and realistic strategies to deal with a particular mental health topic, such as mood, anxiety, perfectionism, self-compassion, and body image. Please note that students who want to attend our Drop-In Workshops only are not required to attend an IC. Find out more and register for workshops.

Therapy Groups for Mental Health:

Therapy groups are an excellent way to address some common psychological issues and problems such as depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and perfectionism. Unlike workshops, groups meet regularly for a predetermined period of time (usually 4 to 8 weeks). Groups offer a supportive and safe environment to learn strategies to overcome psychological challenges and to interact with other students who have similar challenges.

2023-2024 Therapy Groups:

Anxiety Group ("Worrying that Works") - Learn practical skills to manage your anxiety. They aim to help students be more aware of their thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety and to understand effective behavioral responses to anxiety. The group focuses on relaxation strategies, controlled breathing strategies, thought checking/challenging/changing, and exposure to feared situations. The group is based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or “CBT.”

Grad Student Support Group - The GSSG is a confidential place for graduate students to join together to give and receive support, and strategize, about making their way through the challenges of graduate school. Mental health, supervisory relationships, imposter syndrome, juggling responsibilities at home and school, and the additional hurdles that BIPOC folks and women face, are all possible topics. They are also here to celebrate successes, too! Some group meetings will focus on a specific topic, others will provide more time for general support and discussion. This group runs twice a month throughout the fall and winter semesters.

Break-up Boot Camp - This group is designed for individuals who have experienced a difficult break up (recently or in the past) or those who are having difficulty moving on following a break up. The focus of this group will be on building coping skills for grief and loss, developing more helpful and adaptive perspectives, and reconnecting to yourself as an individual. This group is open to those who have ended their relationship in addition to those whose partners ended their relationship.

The Landing:

The Landing is a gender and sexual diversity service that offers a wide range of programming. This includes peer mentorship support, a lending library with over 200+ books, drop in hours to the community building space, a dedicated low sensory space, an online discord server, awareness campaigns and educational sessions, free safer sex supplies, and specific programming such as frequent STBBI testing and voice training in partnership with OUTspoken.

Campus Community Recreation - Wellness 101 Course:

CCS Drop-in Workshops - Free workshops providing strategies to help manage and promote mental well-being.
Unwind Your Mind - Developed as a way to support students during stressful times, Unwind Your Mind transforms campus libraries into spaces that make it easier for students to be well physically, socially, and emotionally. The initiative has been designed to foster student connectedness and bring resources to where students are studying. Year-round, library-based activities to help students de-stress.
Community Helpers program - Free training in supportive listening and suicide prevention.
Suicide Prevention Training - Free suicide prevention and gatekeeper training program.

Recovery on Campus

2500 University Drive NW

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LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, the Stoney Nakoda (the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations), and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.