In the wake of the confirmation that 215 First Nations children are buried in a mass grave near a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., countless Indigenous communities are struggling not only with grief, but the resurgence of intergenerational trauma stemming from these schools.
Around 150,000 Indigenous children were separated from their families and forced into residential schools starting in the late 1800s, where they faced sexual and physical abuse.
Indigenous communities have spoken for years about mass graves at residential schools and survivors have reported that the number of known deaths does not represent the truth.
Although the discovery of these remains brings that truth to light, it also is a traumatic reminder for survivors of what they lived through.
The following is a list of resources and hotlines dedicated to supporting Indigenous people in crisis. The list also includes some other provincial and national mental health help resources.
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program
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24/7 supports:
1-800-588-8717
Indian Residential School Survivors and Family
1-866-925-4419
Mon – Fri, 8am – 8 pm PT:
Weekends, 10 am – 2pm PT:
1-888-403-3123
British Columbia Resources
604-675-2551 or 1-866-884-0888
Canadian Mental Health Association - British Columbia Division
1-800-555-8222
1-800-661-2121
National Crisis Hotlines
1-800-668-6868
1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line
1‑855‑242-3310
