Hero Animation
Hero Image

Distress Centre launches 24 hour crisis chat and text

Distress Centre launches 24 hour crisis chat and text

Distress Centre launches 24 hour crisis chat and text

At Distress Centre, we know that crisis can occur at any time of the day and it’s important to offer Calgarians multiple ways to contact us to remove barriers to accessing help. That’s why we are excited to announce that our online services – crisis chat and text – are now available 24 hours a day!

Text 403-266-4357 to speak with a volunteer or chat online through the chat portal below (and at the top of every page).

Phone support also remains available 24/7, as it has been since 1975. Call 403-266-4357 if you need to talk.

As our Interim Director of Programs, Mike Velthuis Kroeze, said in our crisis text announcement, Distress Centre must adapt its services as communication preferences change over time. Research also shows – and we’ve seen in our own data – that people are more likely to discuss difficult topics like suicide over text or chat, versus on the phone.

We introduced crisis chat in 2012 and text was added in September 2021. Launching 24 hour online services today is the result of the hard work of staff and volunteers at Distress Centre over many years.

“Thanks to the continued hard work and collaboration of so many people at Distress Centre and through funding from the City of Calgary, we have finally made our vision a reality.” – Robyn Romano

“This launch is incredibly special to Distress Centre,” said Robyn Romano, Interim Executive Director at Distress Centre. “Having all of our crisis services available 24/7 is critical to providing the highest quality of support to our service users. When we first launched crisis chat in 2012, we had the vision of all service 24/7 by 2017. Little did we know at the time how resource intensive providing online services would be. However, we never gave up and thanks to the continued hard work and collaboration of so many people at Distress Centre and through funding from the City of Calgary, we have finally made our vision a reality.”

We know how difficult times have been for Calgarians. If you need support, please reach out to us 24/7, by phone, text or chat.

Want to help? Apply to volunteer or donate.

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, Distress Centre Calgary would like to honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.