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Teacher-counsellors can assist with the following:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Provide support to students and their families to foster empowerment towards positive change
  • Assist students and parents to access appropriate school-based educational supports
  • Coordinate district and other community services and agencies for students' individual needs
  • Assist students and parents with transition to high school and the requirements for the BC Graduation Program
  • Assist students with course selections and program planning
  • Assist students with post-secondary planning and transition, including bursaries and scholarships


​Meet your KSS Teacher-Counsellors​​

COUNSELLOR FOR A-G

Jennifer Mackereth

jennifer.mackereth@sd23.bc.ca

250-870-5105 ext. 7497

 
Sandra Curran

sandra.curran@sd23.bc.ca

250-870-5105 ext. 4452

 COUNSELLOR FOR O - Z

Solenn Dishaw

solenn.dishaw@sd23.bc.ca

250-870-5105 ext. 4529​

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24 Hour Crisis​ Support

  • ​​​​​​​MCFD Youth Helpline: 310-1234  (no area code required)            
  • Kelowna Crisis Line: 1-888-353-CARE  (2273)          
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868          
  • Kids Help Phone Web Chat        
  • Crisis Text Line: text CONNECT to 686868
            
  • Mental Health Support: 310-6789  (no area code required)          
  • Suicide: 1-800-SUICIDE  (784-2433)  
            
  • Talk Suicide Canada:  1-833-456-4566
            
  • Youth in BC: 1-866-661-3311          
  • Youth in BC Live Chat​
            
  • Child Welfare Worker 24hrs: 1-800-663-9122 (reporting youth at risk)

            

​​Students can access the Central Okanagan Indigenous Education Department Youth Wellness workers through the KSS Indigenous Student Advocates            


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Community Supp​orts: Supports in our community to call

ARC PROG​RAMS

513 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A7
                                    

250-763-2977​​
                                    

ARC Programs offers Drug and Alcohol counselling for KSS students.  Referrals can come from parents, teachers, administrator or students themselves.  For more information, see your school counselor.                                    

Watch ARC Alcohol & Drug Tutorials (4 videos) 
                                    

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THE BRIDGE YOUTH AND FAMILY SE​​RVICES

#8-2604 Enterprise Way, Kelowna BC ​V1X 7Y5​
250-763-0456​ | info@thebridgeservics.ca                                    

The Bridge Youth and Family Services is a not-for-profit charity that provides innovative quality programming for Children, youth and families.                                    

Services include family counselling, addiction services, children and youth counselling,and parenting support.​
                                
    

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

​​504 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 5X1
250-861-3644                                
    


Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Kelowna provides resources for people to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness.
                                    

CHILD & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

1340 Ellis Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9N1
778-699-2272​                                    

Drop-In hours: Tuesdays @ 9:00-11:00 AM, 1:00-3:00 PM & Thursdays  9:00-11:00 AM
                                    

Child & Youth Mental Health (CYMH) offers community mental health support for youth in B.C.  

Walk-In Clinic:  CYMH offers children, youth and their families walk-in service twice a week where children and youth can receive a same-day initial assessment by a trained professional in a confidential environment.  *No referral needed.​
                                    

ELIZABETH FRY SOCIETY

649 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9S3
250-763-4613 | info.efry@coefs.ca                                     

Support and empowerment for survivors of intimate partner and sexual abuse, exploitation or violence. 

FAMILY SMART

1-(855)-887-8004 | info@familysmart.ca​
                                 
   

Helps families and youth navigate mental health support systems in our community.

​FETCH​


A vast database of Central Okanagan community resources, some of which are listed in the community supports below.




FOUNDRY

#100-1815 Kirschner Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6G3
236-420-2803 | foundrykelowna@cmha.bc.ca                                    

Center hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 
                                    

                                

    


Foundry Kelowna is a wellness centre where any youth (age 12-24) or parent in our community can find easy access to the help they need, when they need it: mental health care, substance use services, primary care, social services, and youth and family peer supports. Services also include youth and family navigation, youth peer support and social services such as housing, income assistance and employment support. It is an integrated youth and family initiative that transforms how mental health care and substance use services are delivered in Kelowna, providing early intervention to support young peoples' wellbeing. Watch Foundry, a video on what Foundry has to offer.
                                    

KELOWNA COMMUNITY RESOURCES

620 Leon Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y 9T2
250-763-8008​                                    

Hours: Monday - Friday @ 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
                                    

Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) is a not for profit agency fostering diversity, collaboration and resourcefulness by tailoring services to meet community, family and individual needs.  Use their "Search Now" tool to connect to local resources, programs and referrals.
                                    

KI-LOW-NA FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

442 Leon Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6J3
250-763-4905                                    

The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society will provide for the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of all peoples through the development of community-based services, while encouraging the community to preserve, share and promote Aboriginal cultural distinctiveness.​
                                    

KELOWNA PRIDE SOCIETY

​​info@kelownapride.com​
                                    

Provides opportunities for the LGBT2Q+ community and beyond to meet, provide support for each other, socialization, celebrate and create community in safe spaces.   

 Please visit our Facebook page​.    

                                    

OPT - OPTIONS FOR SEXUAL HEALTH​

Kelowna OPT Clinic - Rutland Aurora Health Center​
#102-285 Aurora Crescent, Kelowna, BC V1X 7N1
250-491-1100                                    

Drop-in Hours: Thursday @ 6:00-9:00 PM
                                    

Offer sexual health services, support information for people of all ages, genders and orientations. OPT will educate and offer non-judgmental counselling and low cost contraceptives, STI care, PAP screening, pregnancy testing and drop in pregnancy options counselling.

No service fees with valid MSP coverage not including contraceptives.

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY


​Find detailed listings for mental health professionals in the Kelowna area.

Search therapists by location.  Additional filters available.

RECONNECT​ 

250-868-8541  

250-869-4433 (Gayle) | 250-870-7231  (Mike) | 250-859-2524 (Victoria)
Leave a message and someone will return your call. ​                                    


                                    

RECONNECT is a program of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs that provides outreach, support, referral, mediation and advocacy for high-risk youth that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, aged 13 to 18 years. Reconnect offers mobile youth workers who can come to the youth (ie: meet at a Tim Hortons or other mutually agreed upon location) for services and supports. Parents may contact for more information.                                    

  • Provides short-term service to youth ages 13-18
  • Parent Teen Mediation
  • Residency Issues
  • Alcohol and Drug Referrals
  • One on One Support/Counseling
  • Hygiene and contraceptive education and products
  • Street Outreach

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Web-Based Su​pports

ANXIETY CANADA


                                    

Anxiety Canada is  a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about anxiety and support access to proven resources and treatment for children, youth and adults.                                   

CANADIAN VIRTUAL HOSPICE

                                        

Losing someone is hard. Mygrief.ca will help you understand and work through your grief. It was developed by families and grief experts and there are stories from people who have "been there." BC programs and services also linked to this website.                                    

CHILD & YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Complete list of the Government of BC mental health resources.                                    

COLLABORATIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE

Child and youth mental health "toolkits" that provide resources and information on a wide variety of mental health related issues.                                    

COPING WITH SELF-HARM: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

An informational resource for parents and caregivers aimed at helping parents, family members, friends cope when a young person is self-harming.                                    

ERASE = Expect, Respect and A Safe Education

ERASE (Expect Respect and A Safe Education) is part of the Province of British Columbia's efforts to personalize learning and supports for all students.                                    

JACK.ORG

A variety of mental health resources including topics such as – depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm etc.​
                                    

KELTY EATING DISORDERS

Kelty Eating Disorders connects you with resources and information for every stage of the eating disorder journey.                                    

QMUNITY

A non-profit that works to improve queer, transgender and two-spirit lives.  Provides a safe space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their allies.                                    

SOGI 123

SOGI- wants to create inclusive and safe schools for students of all sexual oritentation and gender identities.  Information and resources available for students, parents and educators.                                    

TEST ANXIETY

This booklet available on Anxiety Canada's website is designed to support students working specifically with test anxiety.  It has helpful information and activities for students and parents!  
                                    

Test Anxiety Booklet
                                    
   

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App-Based Supports: Download apps onto your personal device

BREATHWRK APP 

Breathing Exercises for anxiety sleep and energy breathwork and breathing exercises.
                                    

HEADSPACE APP

 
                                    

Meditation has been shown to help people stress less, focus more and even sleep better. Headspace is meditation made simple. We'll teach you the life-changing skills of meditation and mindfulness in just a few minutes a day.                                 

INSIGHT TIMER APP

Home to thousands of free guided meditations on topics such as self-compassion, nature and stress.                                 

MINDSHIFT CBT APP​

                                  

This App is from Anxiety Canada and is the #1 psycho-educational app in the WORLD right now! Designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.  This App includes strategies to help you take charge of your anxiety.
                                 

                                  

There are numerous apps available online to help and support mental wellness.