Life at ECU | Student Services

Student Support

Two students chat and smile in a bright lounge space, creating a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
Life at ECU | Student Services

Student Support

Counselling Services + Wellness

Students reach out for counselling for many reasons, including stress, anxiety, depression, loss, relationship issues, trauma, or experiences of marginalization related to race, gender, sexual orientation and more.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, support is available. ECU’s counselling services are free and confidential for all students.

Painting of green rolling hills.

Book an Appointment

We offer free, confidential 55-minute phone or in-person counselling sessions for enrolled full and part-time degree students residing in B.C. and most provinces. Appointments are available Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

To book an appointment, you can:

  1. Email counselling@ecuad.ca. We will respond to your email within 24 hours during weekdays.
  2. Visit us in person during office hours, at Counselling Services, level 2, D2380.
  3. Use the online scheduler.

What We Offer

Mental health support for marginalized students.

We recognize the impacts of trauma and systemic oppression on mental health and are committed to challenging discrimination, fostering inclusion and examining our practices to create a safer, more supportive campus.

Confidential counselling for all kinds of issues.

What you share is confidential and won’t be shared without your consent, unless there’s risk of harm, abuse of a minor or a legal obligation to disclose.

Policy Navigation

The Student Resource Coordinator offers guidance and support when you’re facing academic or personal challenges. They can help you navigate conflict, understand your rights and connect with the resources you need.

Wellness Programming

Our programs support your well-being and success across seven areas of wellness: emotional, psychological, physical, financial, environmental, cultural and social, helping you manage stress and build balance.

In the Wellness Kitchen (Room A2056) you’ll find cook + connect programming, popcorn and button making and skills hare workshops facilitated by students.

Oasis Student Wellness Lounge (Room D2392)

Drop by for Dog Therapy and the Nap Room. The Oasis is your space to gather, hang out, or just be.

Scenes from the Oasis Student Wellness Lounge

Community Resources from Across the Country 

Crisis support – Available 24/7 

9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Website or call/text 9-8-8 

  • Crisis support for anyone who is struggling to cope, having thoughts and/or plans of suicide, or worried about someone else who is having thoughts and/or plans of suicide. 
  • When you call or text 9-8-8, you will reach a trained responder at one of nearly 40 local, provincial and territorial, and national crisis lines, who co-deliver the service. 
BC Crisis Centre 

https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help/ 
Call: 1-800-784-2433 

  • Crisis support for anyone who is having thoughts of suicide. 
Beendigen Crisis & Talk4Healing Lines 

https://www.beendigen.com/
Call: 1-888-200-9997 
Talk4Healing: 1-855-554-HEAL 

  • Crisis support and talk healing from Fort William First Nation, Ontario. 

Talk4Healing is available to all Beendigen Crisis & Talk4Healing Lines 

  • Aboriginal women living in urban, rural and remote communities, both on and off reserve, throughout Northern Ontario. Services in English, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, and Cree. 
Here2Talk 

https://here2talk.ca/home  

Call: 1-877-857-3397 (Canada Wide) 
+1-604-642-5212 (Outside of Canada, long distance fees may apply) 

  • Connects students with mental health support. 
  • Open to all students registered in B.C. post-secondary institutions. 
  • There may be wait times depending on time of day. 
Indian Residential School Survivors Society 

https://www.irsss.ca/counselling 
Call: LAMATHUT – 24/7 SUPPORT: 1 (800) 721-0066 

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial and non-profit organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma. 
KUU-US Aboriginal Crisis Line 

https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.com/ 
Call: 1-800-588-8717 

  • Crisis support to Indigenous-identified folks anywhere in B.C. . 
Métis Nation of BC 

https://www.mnbc.ca/ 
Call: 1-833-638-4722 

  • Crisis line for Metis people. 
The Canada Suicide Prevention Service 

https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ 
Call: 1-833-456-4566 
Text: 45645 

  • Crisis support to anyone anywhere in Canada thinking about suicide. 
VictimLinkBC 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/victims-of-crime/victimlinkbc 
Call or text: 1-800-563-0808 

  • Information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services. 
  • Services in up to 150 languages, including many North American Aboriginal languages.  
Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre 

https://www.salalsvsc.ca/
Call: 1-604-255-6344 
Toll-free: 1-877-392-7583 

  • Trauma-informed feminist support to survivors of sexualized violence. For cis and trans women, Two-Spirit, trans and/or non-binary people. 
Greater Vancouver Crisis Line 

1 800 784 2433 

Distress Supports 

Access & Assessment Centre 

http://www.vch.ca/locations-services/result?res_id=1186 

Call:1-604-675-3700 

Visit: 803 West 12th Avenue Vancouver, BC 

  • Short-term treatment for mental health/substance use challenges on-site, walk-in or by telephone for Vancouver residents. 
Battered Woman Support Service (BWSS) 

https://www.bwss.org/about-bwss/

Call: 1-604-652-1867 

  • Non-profit organization that provides a crisis line for women who are experiencing domestic violence. 
Chimo Crisis Line & Live Chat 

http://www.chimoservices.com/get-help/crisis-line

Call: 1-604-279-7070 

  • Emotional support for people in distress, crisis, or just needing someone to talk to. 
  • Staffed by professionally trained volunteers. 
Elimin8hate 

https://www.elimin8hate.org/ 

File report online 
https://www.elimin8hate.org/fileareport 

  • Anonymously report incidents of racism, hate and violence experienced by the Asian diaspora in Canada. 
SUCCESS Chinese Helpline 

https://successbc.ca/counselling-crisis-support/services/help-lines/ 

Cantonese: 1-604-270-8233 

Mandarin: 1-604-270-8222 

  • Crisis support for Chinese Canadians. Staffed by trained volunteers.  
The Trans Lifeline 

https://translifeline.org/

Call: 1-877-330-6366 (Canada) 

1-877-565-8860 (US) 

  • Trans Lifeline provides peer support for the trans community. 
  • Run by and for trans people.  

Free and Reduced-cost Counselling 

The Trans Lifeline 

The Foundry 

https://foundrybc.ca/ 

  • Counselling, health and wellness services and resources for youth ages 12-24. 
Willow Tree Counselling 

https://willowtreecounselling.ca/wp-content/themes/willowtree/reduced-cost-counselling.pdf

  • A resource list of lower-cost, sliding-scale and free counselling services in Metro Vancouver (primarily Vancouver). 
  • Updated quarterly. 

Community Resources 

Anxiety Canada

https://www.anxietycanada.com/

  • Free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on navigating anxiety. 
Asian Mental Health Collective 

https://www.asianmhc.org/

  • Building a community for Asian mental health support. 
  • Access to Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory in Canada 
WISH Bad Date Reporting 

Report online, by email or in person.

https://wish-vancouver.net/program/bad-date-reporting/ 

  • Sex worker reporting service for bad dates. 
BC 211 

https://bc.211.ca/

  • Non-profit organization that provides free, confidential, multilingual service that links people to resources for help. 
BC Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Network  

https://www.butterflysw.org/ 

Call: 1-416-906-3098 

Email: cswbutterfly@gmail.com 

  • Support and advocacy for Asian and migrant sex workers 
Healing in Colour 

https://www.healingincolour.com/

  • National directory of BIPOC therapists with anti-oppressive values 
BC Legal Aide  

https://lss.bc.ca/

  • Non-profit organization provides legal advice, information and representation. 
Mindhealth BC 

http://www.mindhealthbc.ca/ 

  • Online directory of resources for mental health and substance use support 
Mobile Access Project 

https://wish-vancouver.net/program/mobile-access-project-map-van/

1-604-720-5686 

  • Mobile support women for sex workers in Vancouver. 
  • Services provided include: snacks, hot and cold beverages, harm reduction supplies, referrals and support, clothing, bad date reporting and basic first aid supplies. 
BC Human Rights Tribunal 

https://www.bchrt.bc.ca/

  • The BC Human Rights Tribunal’s purpose is to accept, screen, mediate and adjudicate human rights complaints. 
Qmunity 

Qmunity Website

  • Non-profit organization that works to improve queer, trans and Two-Spirit lives. 
Red Canary Song 

Red Canary Song Website

  • Grassroots Chinese massage parlor worker coalition in the U.S, organizing transnationally with Asian sex workers across the diaspora in Toronto, Paris, and Hong Kong. 
Sher Vancouver

Sher Vancouver Website

  • Peer and other supports for South-Asian members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Food Resources 

Greater Vancouver Food Bank 

Greater Vancouver Food Bank Website

  • Provides healthy food to those in need. 
Quest Food Exchange 

Quest Food Exchange Website

  • Helps to provide food assistance to individuals, families and non-profit organizations in the Lower Mainland through non-profit grocery markets. 

Health Care

BC Medical Services Plan 

BC Medical Services Plan Website

  • Information on how to apply for the Mental Health Benefit through FNHA. 
Green Shield 

Green Shield Website

  • Information for Emily Carr students regarding their Health and Dental Benefits from Green Shield. 
BC Medical Services Plan 

BC Medical Services Plan Website

  • Application for Medical Services Plan (MSP) and information about provincial health coverage.