24-Hour Crisis & Suicide Prevention

The Williams Lake Crisis Line Program offers services on a continuous basis. The Program has regular office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. As the need for crisis and/or supportive counselling does not always occur during office hours, a volunteer counsellor is always available to provide immediate service, either over the telephone, in our offices, the home, hospital, or any other place that may be required. All calls receive caring attention.
Volunteers have specialized training in the area of crisis intervention and supportive counselling. Staff members of the Canadian Mental Health Association supervise the volunteers. Call 398-8224.

Call Alert System

This service provides immediate crisis/emergency response to individuals registered on the Call Alert System. At the request of an individual, or an agency acting on behalf of the individual, the Crisis Line workers record specific instructions regarding the required response should the caller be unable to give any more information other than their name, due to unsafe or unstable circumstances in their life. A typical response may be to initiate RCMP intervention or as a suicide watch for individuals who are in crisis.

Short-Term Counselling

Our counsellors can provide short-term (usually a maximum of 10 weeks or 10 visits) counselling to individuals, couples or families who are experiencing stressful or difficult situations in their lives. Counsellors make visits to the home, hospital, schools, or any place appropriate for those unable or unwilling to come to the office. Most of the program's case-load is face-to-face counselling and is offered during regular office hours with provision for after-hours interviews when required. Typical areas of concern include emotional distress, depression, loneliness, grief, adolescent problems, marital and/or parenting difficulties, and trauma resulting from being a victim of sexual or physical assault. Clients may be accompanied to court, the hospital, RCMP, Emergency Shelter, Ministry of Social Services, etc. when this is deemed helpful. The counselling is supportive and educational in nature.

Information & Referral

The program provides community information and referral services to its telephone and face-to-face clients. The counsellors are trained to make assessments and to either provide the services required or make referrals to appropriate organizations.

Telephone Contact Service

This service provides daily contact with the aged, the handicapped or those alone who for medical or social reasons feel isolated from the community and wish a check of their well-being. It may be used for those needing daily reminders to take medication. In cases where an emergency has occurred, appropriate action which has been previously recorded on the Call Alert System will be initiated.

Rape-Support-for-Victims-Program (RSVP)

The Rape Support System operates in conjunction with the 24-hour Crisis and Counselling Program. The RSVP volunteers have been fully prepared to provide the specialized support needed for victims who have experienced this crime. The team consists of two volunteers so that assistance can be given to family members as well, if needed.

Volunteer Training Program

The professional staff of the Canadian Mental Health Association - Family & Community Services - offer a counselling training program for agency volunteers. This program includes information on basic counselling and interviewing techniques, communication skills, self awareness, victimization, drugs and alcohol, crisis intervention, suicide intervention, and information on community services. When space and time allow, other community agencies' personnel may participate in the training program.

For More Infomation on any of these Family & Community Services programs Telephone: 250-398-8220.