April 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.

On Tuesday we announced that Jerilyn Dressler is leaving Distress Centre: Read the announcement.

Please be aware of our “Dos” and “Don’ts” when using this data.

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

• The volume of high-risk contacts has increased.
• We experienced a 31% increase in suicide-related contacts in March 2021 compared to March 2020.
• We have experienced a 27% increase in suicide-related contacts YTD, following a 41% increase from January 26-December 31 2020.
• In March 2021, Suicide Ideation remained the 3rd top issue on crisis contacts. To our knowledge, January 2021 marked the first time that suicide entered the top 3 issues on Distress Centre’s crisis lines.
• COVID-19 remains a top issue on Distress Centre’s 211 contacts.
• In March, 45% of 211 contacts and 10% of crisis contacts were related to COVID-19.
  • The increase in COVID-19 related contacts in 211 can be attributed to 211 supporting Albertans with accessing isolation supports and transportation to vaccination appointments.
    Our 211 contact volumes have increased – we experienced a 59% increase in 211 contacts in March 2021 compared to March 2020, following a 72% increase in 211 contacts from January 26-December 31 2020.
• In March, COVID-19 was the 10th top issue on crisis contacts. The top issues on COVID-19 related crisis contacts were Anxiety, Isolation/Loneliness and Depressed Mood.
• The top issues on all crisis contacts were Anxiety, Depressed Mood and Suicide Ideation.
• In March, the top needs on COVID-19 related 211 contacts were Information Sources, Communicable Disease Control and Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance.
• The top needs on all 211 contacts were Information Sources, Information and Referral and Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance.

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

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