MEDIA ADVISORY: Supporting Mental Health Amid Difficult News Cycles: Crisis Centre of BC Urges Media to Share 310-6789 Crisis Line

Vancouver, BC — June 17, 2025 – With British Columbians increasingly affected by distressing news, including climate-related disasters like wildfires, international conflicts, tariff uncertainty, and political unrest, the Crisis Centre of BC is urging news outlets to include mental health crisis resources in their coverage.

The 310-6789 mental health crisis line is BC’s primary line offering free, confidential, and immediate support to anyone in British Columbia, 24 hours a day. The Crisis Centre encourages journalists, producers, and editors to reference this number in stories covering traumatic or emotionally challenging topics.

“When the news feels overwhelming, many people in our communities experience anxiety, fear, or uncertainty. People directly affected by the events may want help to think through their next steps,” said Stacy Ashton, Executive Director of the Crisis Centre of BC. “We want to remind folks that they are not alone. Support is just a phone call away.”

By integrating mental health crisis resources into media coverage, journalists, editors, and producers can play a pivotal role in connecting individuals to crisis support lines.

Key Information:

• BC Crisis Line: 310-6789 (no area code needed, available 24/7 across BC).
• Who It’s For: Anyone in BC experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, loneliness, fear, uncertainty, or mental health concerns.
• What We Ask: When covering stories related to traumatic events, please include a note encouraging the public to contact the 310-6789 line for support.

Additional Resources in BC

• 1-800-SUICIDE is the BC suicide prevention and intervention phone line.
• 9-8-8 is the national suicide crisis phone and text line.

Media Contact:

Jeffrey Preiss
Director, Development & Communications
jpreiss@crisiscentre.bc.ca