Distress Centre Calgary

Not sure where to start?

211 Alberta can help connect you with community, social, health, and government services across the province.

Whether you're looking for support with housing, food, finances, mental health and addiction, transportation, or something else entirely, you don't need to find your way through the system on your own.

Community Navigators are available 24 hours a day to help you identify options, connect you with support, and walk alongside.

✅ Free and confidential
✅ Available 24 hours
✅ More than 170 languages by phone

📞 Call 2-1-1
💬 Text INFO to 211
💻 Chat online

Learn more: ab.211.ca

You don’t have to take the next step alone.

We're looking forward to joining our Calgary community at Recovery Day Alberta on September 20!

Recovery Day brings people together to celebrate, share experiences, and learn about the many supports available across our community.

If you'll be there, stop by our booth to connect with our team! Learn more about the services that help people access community resources and supports across Southern Alberta.

📍 Calgary, 4 St SW between 12 and 17 Ave SW
📅 September 20, 12 – 5 p.m.

We hope to see you there.

Recovery Day Alberta

September is Recovery Month. It’s an opportunity to recognize the journey people take toward the future they want for themselves.

We see every day how important connection can be. Sometimes it's a conversation. Sometimes it's support from family, friends, or community. Sometimes it's finding the right information, resource, or service at the right moment.

We're proud to help people connect with supports and navigate systems that can feel overwhelming to access alone.

This Recovery Month, please join us in celebrating resilience, hope, and the many recovery journeys taking place across our communities.

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day, an opportunity to change the story and start conversations about su***de prevention.

At Distress Centre Calgary, our team of responders bring extensive training and knowledge to conversations with people seeking help. They hear common myths every day, and see how they can prolong emotional pain. They also see what can happen when myths lose their power, and people feel begin to feel safe talking about su***de.

In this blog post from our archives, they shared 4 common myths worth unpacking:

1. “Talking about su***de can cause su***de.”
Asking someone if they're thinking about su***de doesn't put the thought in their head. It can create a sense of safety and relief for someone who's already struggling.

2. “People considering su***de only want to end their life.”
Suicidal thoughts often come from overwhelming emotional pain. A person experiencing these thoughts may want their pain to end, not their life.

3. “People who die by su***de are selfish, cowardly or weak.”
Su***de is connected to profound pain, not to character.

4. “People who talk about su***de are just seeking attention.”
Talking about su***de can be incredibly difficult. These conversations can be an important expression of pain and a way of finding connection.

Want to learn more? Check out the full blog post at https://distresscentre.com/2025/09/10/the-most-common-su***de-myths-debunked-by-crisis-line-responders/

If you need support, or you're worried about someone you know, you don't have to be afraid to start the conversation.
Call or text 9-8-8.

***dePreventionDay

A little rain can't dampen our Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

This year’s tapestry theme was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when we come together. Each thread brings something unique, and when they connect, they create something even stronger and brighter.

For the third year, we were proud to march alongside TransAlta , celebrating the power of our connection. When organizations, partners, friends and family come together in support of kindness, caring, and connection, we help build a community where people feel seen, supported, and welcome.

Thank you to TransAlta for walking proudly alongside us again this year, and to everyone who came out in spite of the rain to celebrate, connect, and add their own threads to the tapestry of our community.

Calgary Pride

We've just launched our refreshed website! The same trusted information and services, with a new look and feel.

Visit us at distresscentre.com.

Got bottles to return? Let them do some good. ♻️💙

With SkipTheDepot, it's easy to recycle your bottles and support your community at the same time.

Simply use the code DONATEDISTRESSCENTRE at checkout, and 100% of your refund will help ensure that no one has to face crisis alone. Your donation helps people find a caring connection, whether that's through a single conversation, counselling support, or help taking the next step forward.

https://app.skipthedepot.com/distresscentre

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the lives lost to overdose and think of everyone who has been affected by substance use, whether personally or through someone they love.

This year's theme is 25 Years On. Still Needed. It's a strong reminder that overdose continues to touch communities across the world, and that compassion, understanding, and support matter. By reducing stigma and helping people connect with services, we can make it easier for people to reach out when they need help.

If you or someone you care about needs support, 211 Alberta can connect you with mental health, addiction, housing, and other community services. Call 2-1-1, text INFO to 211, or visit ab.211.ca.

Last week, we gathered on a beautiful sunny day in Riley Park for a cultural potluck hosted by our DEIA committee. ☀️

Staff, volunteers and their family members came together to share food, stories and games: a little taste of the diverse cultures that make our workplace so special.

From homemade favourites to dishes tried for the first time, it was an afternoon filled with connections, laughter and learning new things about each other.

Thanks to our DEIA committee for planning the event, and to everyone who brought a dish, shared a story, or simply joined in. We’re grateful for the many traditions and experiences that make our team and community what it is!

We extend our sincere condolences to Jim Moore's family, friends, colleagues, and everyone in the community who is affected by his passing.

Jim dedicated himself to creating pathways for people experiencing addiction, homelessness, and difficult moments in their lives. His work was grounded in the belief that every person deserves dignity, compassion and the opportunity to rebuild.

Jim made a lasting mark on Calgary and so many people within it. His legacy endures through the people he helped, the relationships he built, and the belief in recovery that he carried in his work.