Online Crisis Chat

Is typing easier than talking right now?

If you’re in crisis, feeling overwhelmed, struggling with a difficult situation, or supporting someone who is, you don’t have to go through it alone. Connect with a highly trained responder through our free, confidential live chat.

Available:

• Weekdays from 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
• Weekends from 12:00 pm–4:00 pm

Please note: all chats end at the specified times. Chat times may vary depending on staffing availability.
If chat is offline, call the Distress Line 24/7 at 780-482-HELP (4357).

What We Offer

We provide confidential, judgment-free support for anyone facing crisis or distress via live chat. Whether it’s overwhelming emotions, thoughts of suicide, family violence, or anything else that feels urgent to you, our team will listen, talk things through, explore options with you, and connect you with local resources.

Who It’s For

Anyone in the Edmonton region who is experiencing distress or crisis, or supporting someone who is.

How It Helps

When you reach out, we will:

• Listen to your situation
• Provide emotional support
• Explore options with you
• Connect you with local resources and referrals

Our Online Crisis Chat provides:

• Crisis intervention
• Suicide prevention
• Family violence prevention
• Emergency intervention and response
• Emotional support
• Community resource referral

How to Get Connected

• Click Start Chat during the hours above.
• If chat is offline, call the Distress Line 24/7: 780-482-HELP (4357).
• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Why It Matters

It’s not always easy to pick up the phone. Online Crisis Chat gives people another safe, accessible way to reach out for help when they need it most.

Important to Know

Online Crisis Chat is not therapy or medical care. In an emergency, please call 911. By using this service, you agree to our terms and conditions.

Terms and Conditions 

Our Crisis Chat service provides: 

• Crisis Intervention 
• Suicide Prevention 
• Family Violence Prevention 
• Emergency Intervention and Response 
• Emotional Support 
• Community resource referral 

When you reach out, we will: 

• Listen to your situation 
• Provide emotional support 
• Explore options with you 
• Connect you with local resources and referrals 

Limitations of Service

**Please note that crisis chat volunteers do not provide: 

• Therapy 
• Treatment 
• Health care 
• Medical care 
• Advice 

This service does not provide emergency services and does not have police or ambulance capabilities. If you reach out to our services and are facing immediate harm and are unable or unwilling to contact the appropriate authorities, we will engage in life saving measures. 

Under Canadian law, knowledge of child abuse of any kind must be reported to Child and Family Services (Child Abuse Hotline – 1-800-387-5437). If child abuse is reported to our service and the chatter is unwilling or unable to contact Child and Family Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton is legally obligated to report this information to the appropriate authorities. 

Voluntarily Provided Information: If you choose to provide personal information, we will do our very best to protect this information and your privacy. 

Privacy and Security: We take your privacy seriously. Various security controls are in place to ensure the protection of your personal information. Any information you provide to us or that is collected during Crisis Chat will only be shared or disclosed as required by Federal or Provincial laws in place now, or in the future. 

Linked Websites: Any information obtained from website links provided during Crisis Chat is the responsibility of the party operating the linked site, not that of the CMHA Edmonton. The CMHA Edmonton is not responsible for the contents of linked sites or for any harm or injury resulting from their use. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or an endorsement of the views expressed within them. 

Termination of Chats: The following activities will not be tolerated by Crisis Chat volunteers, and are grounds for immediate termination of a Crisis Chat: 

• Abusive behaviour such as name calling, use of defamatory/obscene language, etc; 
• Threats of violence towards our staff or volunteers; 
• Uploading, transmitting, distributing or otherwise publishing material that is pornographic, illegal, or in any way advocates illegal activity; 
• Uploading, transmitting, distributing or otherwise publishing material that is an invasion of privacy; 
• Advertising or soliciting funds, goods, or services; 
• Infringements of intellectual property rights including, but not limited to, copyrights and trademarks of any person or entity 

AGREEMENT: Since your participation in Crisis Chat is voluntary and not related to either medical or mental health care or treatment by CMHA Edmonton, we are not responsible for any decisions you make nor are we responsible for the results or consequences of the decisions that you make related to your chatting with Crisis Chat volunteers. By entering this site, you understand and agree that we at CMHA Edmonton are not responsible for any personal information which you may decide to enter over the Internet during your visit. Despite our efforts to protect your personal information, there is always some level of risk that your information may not be private when communicating over the Internet. By clicking ‘click here’, you agree to all of these terms and conditions when utilizing Crisis Chat services.