| Contact | 1 (866) 724-2684 |
| Information | BOTG provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline from which they can receive peer support. |
| Service area | Alberta |
| Resource type | Telephone |
| Support type | Peer support |
| Target demographics | Military members and Veterans, public safety personnel |
| Serves children (0–12) | — |
| Serves youth (13–17) | — |
| Serves adults (18+) | Yes |
| Serves families | — |
| Language spoken | English 🍁 |
Resources: Military members and Veterans
Help is within reach. Use this directory to connect with mental health supports
About this directory of supports
Navigating mental health support can be challenging during emergency situations, such as Canada’s ongoing wildfires. This comprehensive guide aims to simplify that journey by providing a curated list of evidence-informed and free mental health and well-being resources available across Canada to all communities.
Whether you or your family members are in need of immediate assistance through crisis support, seeking ongoing wellness supports, requiring tools to help navigate further resources, or looking for counselling services, this resource list is designed to help you find the right support to maintain and enhance your mental well-being before, during, and after an emergency.
Although the majority of these resources are tailored to meet the needs of the broader community in Canada (adults, youth, children, and families), a smaller subset of these resources are tailored to specific occupational groups — including public safety personnel (PSP), health care providers (HCP), military members and Veterans — as well as to equity-deserving groups like Indigenous populations, BIPOC communities, and LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals.
Please select the resource that is best tailored to your own needs.
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Boots on the Ground Alberta
Provides first responders and military members with an anonymous helpline wherein they can receive peer support
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Employee Assistance Program
An online chat that can be used to get a referral for counselling sessions with a mental health professional. For current/former CAF or RCMP members and their families
Contact health.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/employee-assistance-services/contact-us/chat-step-1-3.html Information An online chat that can be used to get a referral for counselling sessions with a mental health professional. For current/former CAF or RCMP members and their families. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Lifewise NL First Responder Warm Line
Staffed by first responders who have their own experiences. Open from 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Contact 1 (709) 237-4180 Information Staffed by first responders who have their own experiences. Open from 12 p.m.–12 a.m. Service area Newfoundland and Labrador Resource type Telephone Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, public safety personnel, health care providers Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Language spoken English 🍁 -
Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS)
A national peer support network for CAF members, Veterans, and their families who are experiencing an operational stress injury
Contact cfmws.ca/support-services/health-wellness/mental-health/operational-stress-injury-social-support-(osiss) Information A national peer support network for Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans, and their families who are experiencing an operational stress injury. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
OSI-CAN Alberta
Free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
Contact osicanab.ca Information OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. Service area Alberta Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN British Columbia
OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
Contact osicanbc.ca Information OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. Service area British Columbia Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN Manitoba
In-person peer support for Veterans, first responders and public safety personnel living in Manitoba
Contact osicanmb.ca Information A free, confidential, community-based Peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders and public safety personnel. Service area Manitoba Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
OSI-CAN Saskatchewan
OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel
Contact osicansk.ca Information OSI-CAN is a free, confidential, community-based peer support initiative for Veterans, first responders, and public safety personnel. Service area Saskatchewan Resource types Online service, in-person service Support type Peer support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Strongest Families
A resource of programs to support for military members, Veterans, and their families’ mental health
Contact strongestfamilies.com/military-and-veterans/ Information A resource of programs to support the mental health of military members, Veterans, and their families. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Trenton Military Family Resource Centre: Mental Health Team
Mental health professionals that support military family members, offering various services for adults, couples, teenagers and children
Contact trentonmfrc.ca/mental-health-services Information The MFRC has a team of mental health professionals that support military family members, offering various services for adults, couples, teenagers, and children. Service area Ontario Resource type In-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) Yes Serves youth (13–17) Yes Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Veteran Crisis Helpline
A confidential and free service available 24/7
Contact 1 (800) 268-7708 Information A confidential and free service for Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members, and caregivers. Available 24/7. Service area National Resource type Telephone Support type Crisis support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Veterans Affairs Canada Mental Health Services
Information on how to access mental health and wellness support for Veterans
Contact veterans.gc.ca/en/mental-and-physical-health/mental-health-and-wellness Information Information on how to access mental health and wellness support for Veterans. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Veterans Affairs Canada: OSI clinics
A navigation tool to find local operational stress injury (OSI) clinics
Contact veterans.gc.ca/en/mental-and-physical-health/mental-health-and-wellness/assessment-and-treatment/osi-clinics Information A navigation tool to find local operational stress injury (OSI) clinics. Service area National Resource type Online service Support type Counselling Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️ -
Wounded Warriors Canada: C.O.P.E.
A couples-based trauma program for Veterans and first responders affected by operational stress injuries
Contact woundedwarriors.ca/our-programs/couples-overcoming-ptsd-everyday Information C.O.P.E., or Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday, is a couples-based trauma program for Veterans and first responders affected by operational stress injuries. Service area National Resource type In-person service Support type Wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, military families, public safety personnel, public safety personnel families Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families Yes Language spoken English 🍁 -
Wounded Warriors Canada: Trauma Resiliency Program 1 and 2
Group counselling program for Veterans and first responders; focuses on acquiring tools to overcome the effects of trauma exposure
Contact woundedwarriors.ca/our-programs/trauma-resiliency-program-trp1/ and woundedwarriors.ca/our-programs/trauma-resiliency-program-trp2/ Information TRP1 is a three-day group counselling program for Veterans and first responders; focuses on acquiring tools to overcome the effects of trauma exposure. TRP2 is a four-day group counselling program for individuals who complete TRP1. Service area National Resource type In-person service Support types PTSD support, wellness support Target demographics Military members and Veterans, public safety personnel Serves children (0–12) — Serves youth (13–17) — Serves adults (18+) Yes Serves families — Languages spoken English 🍁, French ⚜️