Mental Health REsources

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Suicide Prevention

First, If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts like: 

• “I want to put an end to all this” 
• “I want to kill myself” 
• “You’ll be much better off without me” 
• “I am useless” 
• “I have failed at everything in life” 
• “I’ll be better off dead” 
• “Life is not worth living” ​

Contact 1 866 277 3553 at any time 24/7. 

For more information on suicide visit Quebec.ca 

Employee Assistance Plan - RSB (1 844 880 9142)

There are many mental health challenges that people face that are immediate and require the help of a professional but are not life-threatening. Some examples are personal relationship problems, losing a loved one, conflict at work, and many others. Some signs that you could use some help are: 

• Thinking about or coping with the issue takes up at least an hour each day 
• The issue causes embarrassment or makes you want to avoid others 
• The issue has caused your quality of life to decrease 
• The issue has negatively affected school, work, or relationships 
• You’ve made changes in your life or developed habits to cope with the issue 

(taken from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/why-should-i-go-to-therapy-8-signs-its-time-to-see-a-therapist-0118197) 

In this case, RSB’s EAP is an excellent choice. EAP stands for Employee Assistance Plan. Through this plan yourself and your family have access to 5 hours of therapy per issue. For example, you’ve been feeling pressured at work and it’s stared to affect your ability to relax outside of work. You could use 5 hours of therapy for this. At the same time your child is being bullied at school, they can use 5 hours of therapy for this. Meanwhile, a change in job responsibilities is causing your spouse undue stress, causing irritability, they can use 5 hours for this.  In addition, a family member dies, you all get an individual 5 hours to deal with this issue.  

EAP Confidentiality 

RSB is not informed which employees are using the plan or why. This would breach the prescribed standards of confidentiality set by the Quebec government.(source) Licensed therapists cannot disclose your mental health records any more than doctors can without your consent. If they do, they can be subject to disciplinary actions. This does mean that you cannot ask for your spouse’s or adult children’s records.  

In order to access the EAP service any member of your family can phone 1 844 880 9142 at any time. Your family members simply need to identify which RSB employee they are related to. There is also an app that can be used. Info here. 

Starling Minds - QPAT 

If you want to follow a program on your own time that will help with skills for general well-being and to practice before a crisis, then starling minds may be a good choice. This program is provided to you and your family by QPAT. If you were considering headspace, or other paid for well-being apps, try this one first.  This site is about practising new ways to think, breathe and approach life. It’s a long term endeavour. You don’t wait for the big game to try a slap shot, and the same applies here. Use this program right now! Practice the techniques when life is easier, so that when it’s hard you use them automatically.  

Stay healthy and know that there are help services there for you! 

edited March 24 to make EAP number easier to find. ​