November 2021 Update: Distress Centre’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Distress Centre continues to support Calgarians through the pandemic by providing 24 hour crisis and 211 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.
The following report details the COVID-19 related crisis and 211 contacts responded to by Distress Centre Calgary in October 2021:
- The volume of high-risk contacts continues to see in an increase, in October we experienced an 8% increase in suicide related contacts compared to October 2020. YTD, we have experienced 21% increase in suicide related contacts compared to the same period last year. In October 2021, Suicide Ideation was 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. YTD, volume of reportable disclosures in 2021 is 7% less than was reported in the same time period in 2020.
- We have started to see a decline in contacts with COVID as a primary contact issue from earlier this year. In October, 14% of 211 contacts and 6% of crisis identified COVID-19 as a primary concern.
- Our 211 contact volumes have increased YTD. We experienced a 12% increase in 211 contacts in October 2021 compared to October 2020. YTD 211 contact volume has seen an increase of 29% over 2020.
- The top issues on COVID-19 related crisis contacts were Isolation and Loneliness, Anxiety and Depressed Mood. The top issues on all crisis contacts were Anxiety, Suicide Ideation, and Depressed Mood.
- In October, the top needs on COVID-19 related 211 contacts were Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance, Information Sources, and Banking and Financial Services. The top needs on all 211 contacts were Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance, Information and Referral and Basic Income Maintenance Programs
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.
