Mental health resources and tools for volunteers
Mental health resources
Wellness Together Canada was created in response to a rise in mental health and substance use concerns. It is funded by the Government of Canada. This is an excellent and free resource open for all Canadians that are looking for mental health supports.
Canadian Mental Health Association’s Online Hub
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Online Hub has expanded online resources to include information to improve psychological and social supports and provide strategies to help you take care of your mental health and well-being.
Care for Caregivers
This site provides a diverse collection of quick and easy resources to support your mental health.
- This handout provides techniques to help reduce symptoms of acute anxiety and other emotional distress.
Going Home Checklist
How do you switch off from the workday’s events? This Going Home Checklist (pdf file) highlights simple steps to support you in deliberately transitioning from the demands of work to going home to rest and recharge.
Before you go home, take a moment to think about the following today:
- Acknowledge one thing that was difficult on your shift.
- Consider three things that went well today.
- Be proud of the care or service you gave today.
- Check in with your colleagues before you leave – how are they doing?
- I will switch my attention to home – to rest and recharge.
Fraser Health’s Psychological Health and Safety E-Learning Modules
This course introduces you to psychological safety: what it is, why it’s important and how to create psychologically safe spaces. You will also learn about the importance of establishing a personal resilience practice, and walk through some resilience-boosting resources.
Mental Health Continuum Guide
This mental health continuum guide (pdf file) can help you determine whether your mental health might be at risk and provides quick tips and tools for how you can help yourself depending on where you land on the continuum.
Five-minute Relaxation Exercise (Take five)
Increase your personal resilience by following a short guided exercise that uses your breathing to calm and focus yourself during stressful times (Video exercise takes 4 minutes).
In-person and Peer Supports
Critical Incident Stress Management
Have you experienced a stressful event in the course of your work? Fraser Health’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team assists employees, medical staff and volunteers who are experiencing strong reactions to a significant event (or series of events) that occurred while in the workplace. Services are available 24 hours a day. To request help, please consult with your manager and call 1-844-880-9142 (press 1, then 3).
Virtual peer support service
A phone and text-based peer support service, staffed by former long-term care and home support workers, to provide confidential emotional support to current workers, and referrals to other services and supports.
Peer-to-peer psychological first aid
Peer-to-peer psychological first aid provides simple guidance if you need to provide an in-the-moment response to colleagues or staff member who needs support. Refer to the peer-to-peer psychological first aid tool (pdf file) to learn more about the three Fs: Facts, Feelings and Future.
We also recommend registering for their 30-minute “Introduction to Psychological First-Aid" webinar.