Client confidentiality has always been foundational to Distress Centre’s work. Occasionally callers or counselling clients choose to make their stories public, to increase awareness of the service, or help with fundraising. It seems important to include at least one client story, as clients represent the heart and purpose of the work. Many thanks to Judy...
All over the world, people are coming together in support of the black community and in protest of oppression, racism and police brutality. For those of us who do not identify as black, this is a time to reflect on how we can be a better ally to this community. At Distress Centre, we strive to...
Our office remains closed but all of our services are open and available by phone or online, including our crisis line, online chat, ConnecTeen, 211 and counselling services. If you need help, please reach out. We’re proud that we’ve been able to support Calgarians through such a difficult time. Here is one story of how we...
Counselling and public education continued to be a significant part of the Distress Centre/Drug Centre's (DC/DC) services. Fred Burns was Clinical Supervisor, and Suzanne Rosebrugh the Drug Counsellor. Along with five crisis counsellors they saw a variety of clients, usually within the week of them calling the crisis line. 1991 recorded 3900 hours of counselling offered, with 25% of a counsellor’s time spent in support of volunteers and 20% in public education. [caption id="attachment_19935" align="alignleft" width="411"] From...
In January of 1994, AADAC added a province-wide Gambling Line to their services. The government had put newly available VLTs in all the bars and casinos and people were getting hooked on them, something which is still true today. Gaylene Heidt, who became the first co-ordinator, remembers: “AADAC was giving funding for problem gambling. When AADAC trained...
Guest Post: Simryn Thind Mental health is often a topic that is neglected or not prioritized, when it should in fact, be at the top of our list in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In our society many hold stigmas around mental illness. This is especially true for middle-aged men who are in fear of...
Every second counts when you're in crisis. That's why we're always here to listen. In 2019, we received more suicide-related contacts than ever. [edgtf_button size="" type="" text="See our 2019 Report to the Community" custom_class="" icon_pack="font_awesome" fa_icon="" link="https://2019.distresscentrear.com/" target="_blank" color="" hover_color="" background_color="" hover_background_color="" border_color="" hover_border_color="" font_size="" font_weight="" margin=""]...
With its roots as a Drug Information Centre, Distress Centre has always had addiction support as a mandate. In September of 1990, as part of the desired expansion of services, there was a return to the use of young recovering addicts via the start-up of a new Youth Drug Line (YDL). As Jeanette noted, drug...
CALGARY – Distress Centre Calgary is reporting a rising number of crisis contacts related to COVID-19, a caseload that is expected to continue growing over the coming months and even years as the pandemic, and its long-term effects, continue to impact Albertans. The Centre received its first COVID-19 related call on January 26, and as of April 28 received over 37,000 contacts on its 24 hour 211 and crisis lines, daily...
Happy Anniversary! Twenty years after its beginnings as the Drug Information Centre, Calgary Mayor Al Duerr proclaimed Distress Centre/Drug Centre week, March 18-24, 1990. Jeanette commented on various highlights over time. After 20 years, staff with higher qualifications were being hired, responding to much broader crises concerns, and offering a more diverse crisis counselling service. In...
