July 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. You can contact 211 to connect to resources for transportation to vaccine appointments, including a recent partnership with Uber.

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

• The volume of high-risk contacts has increased.
• In June, we experienced a 38% increase in suicide related contacts compared to June 2020. YTD, we have experienced 36% increase in suicide related contacts compared to the same period last year.
• In June 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.
• Although we have started to see a decline in COVID related contacts, it remained a top issue on Distress Centre’s 211 contacts.
• In June, 26% of 211 contacts and 5% of crisis contacts were related to COVID-19. The increase in COVID-19 related contacts in 211 can be largely attributed to 211 supporting Albertans with accessing isolation supports and transportation to vaccination appointments.
• Our 211 contact volumes have increased – we experienced a 16% increase in 211 contacts in June 2021 compared to June 2020.
• In June, COVID-19 was no longer in the top ten issues on our crisis services. 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 June, 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, Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance and Information and Referral.

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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.