Youth FAQ

Don’t wait.

Call 9-1-1, or go to the nearest emergency department, or follow the emergency instructions provided by your doctor, mental health professional or care team.

Talk to someone right away.

Crisis line staff are there to help. They are professionally trained and have the resources and information to help you.

Call 1-800-668-6868. Kids Help Phone. Available 24/7. To use text, text CONNECT to 686868.

Kids Help Phone is there even if you’re not in crisis. You can call or text for information on local services or if you just need someone to talk to.

No, there is no cost to participate. BounceBack^® is totally free thanks to financial support of the Ministry of Health and Social Services. We believe that BounceBack^® provides core skills that should be available to anyone, regardless of their financial situation.

BounceBack^® works for many people. Many BounceBack^® participants say that they improved their confidence, they felt less worry, and they experienced fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially those who had these feelings to a mild or moderate degree.

In addition, BounceBack^® is based on research that shows that simple skills and techniques help people overcome low mood and worry. The BounceBack^® approach is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT has been shown to be just as effective as medication for treating depression and anxiety disorders.

In counselling, the clinician – such as a social worker, psychologist, or a registered counsellor or psychotherapist – is responsible for both teaching and supporting you through the process. On the other hand, BounceBack^® involves self-led learning with added supportive coaching. Think of the workbooks as the teacher and the coach as your guide.

BounceBack^® is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT helps us understand how the way we think (“cognitive”) and the way we respond (“behavioural”) affect each other. An exercise might help you see how this works: imagine you’re walking in a park. You see a friend. The friend walks by, but doesn’t acknowledge you. One way to think about this situation is to assume that your friend doesn’t like you. This way of thinking might then lead you to get angry or feel hurt. BUT you could also assume that your friend is having a tough day and missed you because they were preoccupied with a difficult problem. The second thought might lead you to feel concerned for your friend rather than upset. If you dismiss the first thought and concentrate on the second thought, it’s possible you’ll stop feeling angry or hurt and make the effort to connect with your friend instead.

We suggest that you spend 20-30 minutes, two or three times a week on the materials. We know everyone’s life is different and so are your commitments. What’s important is finding a pace that works best for you. Practicing what you learn in BounceBack^® is ongoing. Maintaining mental health is a daily process and we hope the program will help you build this routine into your own life.

Your first call with your coach is an opportunity for you to get to know each other, learn more about the program, and ensure that BounceBack^® is the right fit for you. You will work with the same coach for the entire program and have control over your scheduling. Your phone sessions will usually be 20-25 minutes long and are typically scheduled every 2-3 weeks. You can choose which booklets you want to focus on. You will work on the materials between sessions and during your call your coach will guide you to reflect on your progress.

No, you don’t need a diagnosis to participate in BounceBack^®. At times, the program may ask you to fill out a questionnaire. This helps us figure out how the program is helping you and keeps your coach up-to-date on your progress. Keep in mind that although these questionnaires are similar to those used for diagnosis, BounceBack^® and BounceBack^® coaches are not meant to provide a diagnosis; it’s best for you to speak with your primary care provider about that.

No, you do not need permission from a parent or guardian to participate. You will be asked to provide a parent or guardian’s contact information. Unless they believe you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else, your coach will not contact your parent or guardian, and will never share any personal or private information about you without your permission. If you are at risk, your coach will tell you if your parent or guardian will be contacted prior to contacting them.

Read more about our Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

During your first session, your BounceBack^® coach will ask you how much information you would like your coach to share if your parent or guardian contacts them. At most, with your permission, a coach would only share general facts about your participation, like the topics you’ve chosen to work on. That’s it. Involving a parent or guardian can be beneficial, but it’s up to you to decide how much you would like to share and with whom.

We will not send you any mail to your home address, unless you specify that you would like something mailed to you. For instance, you have the option to receive the booklets in the mail or view them online. Your coach will confirm where you would like your booklets mailed prior to sending them. If you do not want materials sent to your home address, you can ask your school counsellor if they can be sent there instead.

Read more about our Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Protecting your privacy is very important to us. All information that we collect from you in the BounceBack® program is stored electronically on a secure Canadian-based server. Our coaches are trained to ensure that your privacy and confidentiality are upheld to the highest standard.

Read more about our Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Many options are available. Here are a few we suggest:

• Talk to a doctor or your school counsellor
• Visit Kids Help Phone by calling 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868. It is available 24/7
• If you have questions about medication, you can ask your pharmacist.