Resources
Crisis Centre BC.
The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC (Crisis Centre) is a non-profit volunteer organization to help people in crisis. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week the Crisis Centre provides emotional support to youth, adults and seniors in distress.
Website: https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/ | Phone: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), 310-6789 (Mental Health Support Line; no area code needed)
Pacific Postpartum Support Society.
Community organization which provides telephone and text support, weekly women's support groups, partner education sessions, community trainings and resource materials. Groups include a mother’s support group, a province wide group, and a 2sLGBTQ+ group.
Website: http://postpartum.org/ | Phone: 604-255-7999, M-F 10am-3pm.
Postpartum Support International.
A non-profit organization dedicated to helping families suffering from postpartum depression, anxiety, and distress. Promotes awareness, prevention, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Offers support for mothers, fathers, partners & families, queer parents, loss & grief, adoptive & birth mothers, among others. Has an an online provider directory.
Website: https://www.postpartum.net/ | PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773.
Access and Assessment Centre (AAC).
Provides a range of mental health and substance use services for Vancouver residents. Staff includes registered nursed, registered psychiatric nurses, and social workers, psychiatrists and reception staff who are here to help. This is an alternative to the Emergency department for people having a non-life threatening mental health and/or substance use issue.
Phone: (604) 675-3700 | Walk-in (7:30 a.m. - 11 p.m): Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre, 803 West 12th Avenue, Level 1 East Entrance, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1N1. Entrance located at the back of health centre building; access through laneway/service road.
Baby Go Round.
Non-profit organization which provides essential baby items for families in need, such as gear, diapers, clothing. Requires referral by partner agency (see website).
Website: https://babygoround.ca/
Reproductive Mental Health Program.
The BC Reproductive Mental Health Program is part of BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. A team of specialized and multidisciplinary professionals support women and their families who are dealing with mental health challenges or disorders and emotional difficulties related to the reproductive life cycle. This includes women who are pregnant, postpartum, and with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). A healthcare provider referral is required. Psycho-educational information is available on the website.
Links to self-care guides, including: Coping with Depression During Pregnancy and Following the Birth, Coping with Anxiety During Pregnancy and Following the Birth, Celebrating the Circle of Life- Coming Back to Balance and Harmony (for Indigenous women and their families).
Website: https://reproductivementalhealth.ca/
Fertility Matters Canada.
Fertility Matters Canada (FMC) is the national organization that empowers Canadians to help reach their reproductive health goals by providing support, awareness, information and education; and promoting equal access to fertility treatments. Support group directory.
Website: https://fertilitymatters.ca/
Pregnancy Loss.
Empty Cradle: A peer support group for parents who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss. Meets twice a month via zoom; offers links to resources/ articles.
Website: http://emptycradle.bc.ca/index.html
Butterfly Run Vancouver: Raises awareness around infertility, pregnancy loss, and infant loss through several avenues, such as the annual butterfly run. Offers a free bi-monthly support group for individuals who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss.
Website: https://www.butterflyrunvancouver.com/
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Clinic (BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre): Provides assistance to women and their partners regarding pregnancy loss. Services include gynecologic consultation, investigation of recurrent early or late miscarriage, medical testing and treatment, ultrasound monitoring, education, and referrals for emotional support, grief and loss counselling.
Website: http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/gynecology/recurrent-pregnancy-loss
BC Bereavement Helpline: Provides a confidential telephone helpline to connect individuals with grief support services in BC. Trained volunteers provide emotional support, and information on bereavement support groups, agencies, peer-based support, and community events.
Website: https://www.bcbh.ca/index.php | Phone: 1-877-779-2223
Options for Sexual Health.
Options for Sexual Health offers sexual health care, information, and education from a feminist, pro-choice perspective. Options for Sexual Health is the largest non-profit sexual health organization in Canada. Clinics provide birth control counselling, low-cost contraceptives, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, cervical screening, pregnancy testing, pro-choice pregnancy options counselling, and general sexual health information and referrals. Services are LGBTQ2S+ friendly and for all ages in most locations.
Website: https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org | Phone: 1-800-739-7367 (1-800-SEX-SENSE)
HealthLink BC.
HealthLink BC provides reliable non-emergency health information and advice in British Columbia. Information and advice is available by telephone, online via the website, a mobile app and a collection of print resources. You can connect with a registered nurse, registered dietician, qualified exercise professional, or a pharmacist. Topics related to perinatal and reproductive mental health include miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, infertility, colic, postpartum depression, baby blues, childbirth, grief, parenting, breastfeeding/ formula feeding, etc.
Links to Baby's Best Chance: Parents' Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care, Toddler's First Steps: A Best Chance Guide to Parenting Your 6-to-36 Month-Old Child, etc.
Website: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/ | Phone: 8-1-1
VCH Pregnancy & Early Childhood.
Easily accessible online information about pregnancy, new parents & baby, infants to 18 months, toddlers, preschoolers, breastfeeding, etc.
Website: http://www.vch.ca/public-health/pregnancy-parenting
Purple Crying.
The Period of PURPLE Crying starts when your baby is around 2 weeks old and generally ends when they reach their 3- or 4-month birthday. Many babies will go through a period of “purple crying,” when they cannot be easily soothed and cry often. “Purple crying” is an acronym that stands for: P (peak of crying) - U (unexpected) - R (resists soothing) - P (pain-like face) - L (long lasting)- E (evening).
Website: http://www.purplecrying.info/
Breastfeeding Support.
Vancouver Breastfeeding Clinic: In-person and virtual breastfeeding clinic of Family Physicians with specialized training in Breastfeeding Medicine. Helpful videos and handouts available under the resource section.
Website: https://breastfeedingclinic.com/
La Leche League Canada: Offering one-on-one support and free breastfeeding classes. Offers helpful information sheets.
Website: https://www.lllc.ca/bc-support
Childbearing Society: Offers prenatal and postpartum classes, including breastfeeding support.
Website: https://www.childbearing.org/
Speech & Language Support
Wee Talkers: Pediatric speech therapists offering support for your child’s language development using quick and easy tips & simple strategies. Check out their website for course and membership offerings.
Website: https://www.weetalkers.com/
Local Resources
Melissa Rodrigues Yoga: Offering live online and in person yoga classes for prenatal, baby and me, yoga flow, kids yoga, and chair yoga.
Website: https://melissarodriguesdoula.wordpress.com/
Kim Forrester Photography: Mobile photography specializing in maternity, family, and baby photos. Take a look at Kim’s special projects on pregnancy through a pandemic, parenting through a pandemic, and pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility.