24-Hour Support for the Community
If you need to talk, Distress Centre is here to listen. Distress Centre provides 24 hour crisis support by phone, text and chat to Calgary and southern Alberta. Anyone can contact Distress Centre when they’re in crisis to speak with a highly trained responder, receive emotional support and feel heard. All conversations are confidential.
Phone or text: 403-266-HELP (403-266-4357)
Online Chat: To begin, select the message icon in the bottom right of the screen.
Youth and Teen Support
Distress Centre’s youth program, ConnecTeen, provides a safe space for youth to address any problem they have in life, big or small. Youth can contact ConnecTeen 24/7 by phone, chat or text. ConnecTeen offers daily peer support hours – you can talk with a youth peer volunteer who is close in age and better understands what youth are dealing with.
Text: 587-333-2724
Chat: CalgaryConnecTeen.com
Phone: 403-264-8336
Youth peer support is available from 3-10 pm on weekdays and 12-10 pm on weekends. Outside of peer support hours, adult responders answer the contacts.
988 Suicide Crisis Helpline
9-8-8 is a new national three-digit helpline that provides urgent, live support by phone and text for anyone who is thinking about suicide, seeking crisis support, or who is worried about someone they know.
Phone or text: 9-8-8
Distress Centre Calgary is a 9-8-8 partner and part of the network of crisis lines across the country whose responders take 9-8-8 calls and texts.
Opportunities to Help
Our volunteer opportunities allow you to provide support in various ways, including over the phone and via chat, text, or email. We also provide extensive practical and ongoing training.
As Calgary’s only 24-hour crisis agency, we are often the first point of contact for those seeking help. Make a career out of making a difference!
Distress Centre is committed to furthering the field of social work, and we view practicum students as a great asset to our team. Practicum opportunities exist year-round within the Crisis Line Program and Counselling Program, along with other opportunities.
Check Out Our Blog
Explore what’s new in the community and important updates from Distress Centre.
Our Impact Funders
we want you to know that your donation is currently supporting someone in crisis. thank you for your contributions.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, Distress Centre Calgary would like to honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3 within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.
Help is Here