Community partner spotlight: Primary Care Alberta’s Addiction and Mental Health Help Lines

Every hour of every day, Primary Care Alberta’s Addiction and Mental Health Help Lines (AMHHL) provides confidential, over-the-phone support for Albertans experiencing mental health or addiction-related concerns.

AMHHL is part of Health Link 811 — a provincial-wide resource for trusted health advice, wayfinding services, and specialized programs. It is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of registered health professionals, including nurses, psychiatric nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and psychologists, who work to support Albertans through every step of their health journey.

Since 2020, more than 283,000 calls have been received, with requests for support, information, and resources. Substance misuse and other mental health concerns are top reasons for calling.

AMHHL has two help lines available — one for mental health and one for addictions.

The Mental Health Help Line provides support, information, and referrals to Albertans experiencing mental health concerns, including:

• Crisis support
• Screening assessment of mental health symptoms
• General information about mental health conditions
• Information about mental health programs and services and how to access them
• Strategies people can use at home to support their mental health

The Addictions Help Line, which also includes support for gambling, offers information and referrals for:

• Crisis support
• Addiction screening and assessment over the phone
• General information about addiction
• Information about local service options for addiction and how to access them
• Strategies people can use at home to manage addiction concerns

Eligibility: All Albertans, in all age groups, who are experiencing mental health or addiction-related concerns — including family members or caregivers seeking support or information — can call AMHHL.

Access is available 24/7, 365 days a year without a provider referral by calling:

• Mental Health Help Line directly at 1.877.303.2642
• Addiction Help Line directly at 1.866.332.2322
• Health Link at 811, option No. 2 (clinical services), option No. 3 (addiction and mental health)

For more information, visit primarycarealberta.ca/811 or email [email protected].

You can find and reference previously spotlighted services in the community partner spotlight archive.