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COVID-19's sudden resurgence is fuelling pandemic fatigue. These free mental health resources can help

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After months of optimism fuelled by lower case numbers and rising vaccination rates, Canada appears to have entered a fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, one marked by the highest daily case numbers seen yet.

Now, as a growing number of stricter restrictions are introduced country-wide, many Canadians are struggling with feelings of anxiety, isolation and depression, adding to the mental health crisis experts say is largely driven by “COVID-fatigue.â€

CTVNews.ca has compiled a list of free mental health resources you can turn to if you’re struggling amid the latest surge in cases.

IF YOU’RE IN CRISIS

If you’re in crisis, immediate danger, or need urgent medical support, always call 911.

You can access support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for confidential chat sessions or phone calls by texting WELLNESS to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults.

Youth and young adults aged five to 29 can also access 24 hours a day for confidential and anonymous care from professional counsellors. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.

If you’re struggling with suicidal thoughts, offers 24-hour bilingual support at 1-833-456-4566.

The Help Line also offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples. Phone and chat counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut at 1-855-242-3310.

CANADA-WIDE RESOURCES

The federal government has a dedicated that offers several different resources, including those for Indigenous peoples, youth and seniors. But there are several different nationwide services that offer mental health resources and support for Canadians.

As part of its COVID-19 response, the has launched a website for Canadians grappling with pandemic-related issues such as stress and anxiety, loss and grief, stigma and prejudice, and quarantine and isolation.

This free online resource offers coping strategies and personal assessment tools to help you manage your stress and anxiety, as well as support mechanisms for supporting your loved ones who are struggling during this time.

also has several resources for coping with COVID-19, including links to various national services like Kids Help Phone.

The also has a mental health resources page on its website, with recommendations for healthy parenting, diet advice, and physical activity recommendations all tailored for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, most experts recommend that those struggling with mental health keep up their daily routines as much as possible, exercise regularly (even if that means you have to make adjustments for home-based workouts), stay informed but reduce the amount of news and social media content you consume to avoid anxiety and burnout and keep up forms of social contact, even if that means calling a friend or loved one on the phone.

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