August 2021 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Distress Centre continues to support Calgarians by providing 24 hour crisis and 211 phone support, daily chat and ConnecTeen text support. Counselling sessions are being conducted by phone and video. If you need help, please reach out. Distress Centre also has several programs available at SORCe for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Please note that 211 does not book vaccine appointments. Call 811 or book online. You can contact 211 to connect to resources for transportation to vaccine appointments, including a recent partnership with Uber.

The following report details the COVID-19 related crisis and 211 contacts responded to by Distress Centre Calgary in July 2021:

• The volume of high-risk contacts has increased. In July, we experienced a 20% increase in suicide related contacts compared to July 2020. YTD, we have experienced 34% increase in suicide related contacts compared to the same period last year. 
• In July 2021, Suicide Ideation remained the 3rd top issue on crisis contacts. While we continue to see an increase in the volume of suicide-related contacts over 2020, we have not seem commensurate increase in volume of reportable disclosures in 2021. 
• We have started to see a decline in contacts with COVID as a primary contact issue. In July, 16% of 211 contacts and 4% of crisis contacts were related to COVID-19 largely related to supporting Albertans with accessing isolation supports and transportation to vaccination appointments. 
• Our 211 contact volumes have increased YTD, however July marked the first month where we saw a decrease in volumes, primarily related to the easing of public health restrictions and provincial COVID support programs. 
• We experienced a 43% decrease in 211 contacts in July 2021 compared to July 2020. YTD 211 contact volume has seen an increase of 50% over 2020. 
• In July, COVID-19 was no longer in the top ten issues on our crisis services. 
• The top issues on COVID-19 related crisis contacts were Family Relationships, Anxiety and Depressed Mood. The top issues on all crisis contacts were Anxiety, Depressed Mood and Suicide Ideation. 

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For additional information on Distress Centre’s monthly data and trends by program (Crisis and 211), please visit Monthly Data Reports.

Anyone interested in learning more about needs and unmet needs across the province can visit the 211 Alberta COVID-19 Data Dashboard.