This is a collection of recommended patient resources/handouts for healthcare professionals to provide to their patients. Patient handouts/links are organized in alphabetical order. Please note that this webpage does not substitute for professional medical advice, that resource recommendations should be individualized, and thus not recommended to share this webpage directly to patients.

Tip: Please use Ctrl+F function to find certain sections on this long webpage

• Government of Western Australia Center of Clinical Interventions Patient Mental Health Handouts (patient teaching handouts, worksheets, and workbooks on various mental health topics)
• AHS Help in Tough Times Website
• HelpGuide.Org
• eMentalHealth.ca Website
• NIMH Publications (for introductory patient information handouts on specific mental illnesses)

1st choice for intimate partner violence in Calgary, AB, Canada:

• List of intimate partner violence resources handout
• Connect Family and Sexual Abuse Network (website)

Domestic Violence Shelters in Calgary, AB, Canada:

• Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter
• Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society Emergency Shelter (website)
• Sheriff King Home (women’s shelter)
• Strathmore Shelter – True North Society (old aka Wheatland Crisis Society)

Additional resources for sexual abuse victims in Calgary, AB, Canada:

• 1st choice for counselling/crisis support services for those affected by sexual assault/abuse: Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse (CCASA; brochure; website; 24/7 services available)
• Additional acute resources for acute sexual assault:
  • Calgary Sexual Assault Response Team (includes medical team, crisis counsellors, police; can assess patients recently sexually assaulted within 7 days of assault; located at Sheldon Chumir Urgent Care or outreach to other hospitals)
  • STI Clinic (1-855-945-6700)
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic (403-955-6500)
• General directory in AB: Alberta One Line for Sexual Violence (1-866-403-8000; website)
• For escaping sex industry (including at risk for prostitution; self-referral):
  • RESET Society of Calgary (old aka Servants Anonymous Society; website)
  • Next Step Ministries (website)

Additional resources if Indigenous

• Telus Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk (website; free phone + 1 yr subsidized phone plan to Indigenous women fleeing domestic violence)

• Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide (2020) Booklet by WHO (accompanying audio exercise files and other version in multiple different languages available on its webpage)

• Open Arms Patient Advocacy (website; general healthcare patient advocate eg navigate healthcare system, accompany pts as a 3rd party on healthcare visits, assist with complaints, etc)

• Seasons Therapy Anger Management Workbook
• For Calgary, AB: Carya Anger Management Workshops
• See “Assertiveness” section below
• See “Distress Tolerance” section below

• 1st choices (all of the following)
  • www.anxietycanada.com website (especially refer patients to “Free Downloadable PDF Resources” section, “My Anxiety Plan” section, and MindShift App)
  • Relaxation skill handouts
    • AnxietyCanada Calm Breathing Teaching Handout
    • Gov of Western Australia CCI Progressive Muscle Relaxation Handout
  • Mindfulness Resources (see respective section)
  • Distress Tolerance Skills, especially crisis survival skills for anxiety attacks (see respective section).
  • Emotion Regulation Skills, especially ABC PLEASE for basic self care (see respective section).
• 2nd choices (one or more of the following):
  • The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund Bourne (requires purchase)
  • 10 Simple Solutions to Panic by Martin Antony Book (requires purchase)
  • AnxietyCanada Progressive Muscle Relaxation Teaching Handout
  • Tourette OCD Alberta Network (website)
  • International OCD Foundation (website)

• 1st choice (online and free): Gov of Western Australia CCI Assertiveness Workbook
• 2nd choice (requires book purchase): The Assertiveness Workbook by Randy Paterson

• Autism Calgary (website; includes webpage of list of parent/caregiver respite and support resources)
• Sinneave Family Foundation (website)

1st choices for Calgary programs to help provide routine & structure (one or more of the following)

• CMHA Recovery College (website and 2023 brochure; good for mental health skill building programs)
• Elements Calgary Mental Health Centre (website and brochure; good for mental health skill building, recreational programs, general mental health/addiction peer support groups)
• CASS Creative Community Living Activities (website; recreational day program for 30+ yo including those with intellectual disability)
• Kerby Center (website; if 55+ yo)
• For those interested in employment training: see below section on Employment Training

2nd choices for Calgary programs (one or more of the following)

• Alcove Centre for the Arts (website; low barrier art workshops)
• CanLearn Society (website; good for literacy programs)
• Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society Senior Social Supports Programming (website; companionship programs for 65+ yo to minimize isolation)
• Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens’ Association Adult Day Program (website; recreational day program for Chinese elderly 50+ yo)
• Aboriginal Friendship Center for Calgary (website; programs targeted towards Indigenous cultural reconnection/education)

Other

• Mental Health Works (website; CMHA resources focusing on workplace mental health, including return to work toolkit)
• Here To Help (website)
• Mental health support groups
  • Momentum Counselling Groups (includes support groups for women, bipolar, first responders, psychoed seminars, etc; website)
  • Alberta 211 (website; general directory of mental health support groups and programming)
    • 2nd choice: InformAlberta.ca (website; general search for community programming eg support groups)

• 1st choice for handouts (online and free): Gov of Western Australia CCI Bipolar Teaching Handouts, Workbook, and Worksheets
• NIMH Bipolar Disorder Patient Information Handout (introductory brief overview of bipolar disorder) or website
• CAMH Bipolar Disorder Patient Information Handout (detailed overview of bipolar disorder; includes chapter for loved ones)
• BDWellness.com (website touching various broad topics regarding quality of life with bipolar)
• Peer support groups for mood disorders in general: Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders (OBAD) Peer Support Groups
• Momentum Counselling Healthy Living with Bipolar Virtual Peer Support Group

• For Calgary: Heart to Heart Support Society Calgary (support group for patients and their families with heart disease)

• 1st choice in Alberta:
  • Children’s Cottage Society (website; respite childcare services up to 3 continuous days for children 9 yo or younger; Brenda’s House Family Homeless Shelter; family housing supports, various parenting support; Hope’s Cradle infant safe surrender site)
  • Families Matter (website; parenting programs/workshops/classes)
• YWCA Effective Parenting Group in Calgary, AB (brochure; website)
• Hull Services (website)
  • Hull Services Lasting Impressions (website; family support for parents with mental illness; self-referral)
• The Hub Family Resource Center (website)

• Calgary AHS Chronic Pain Centre (AB Referral Directory website)
• Alberta Virtual Chronic Pain Program (AHS website; AB Referral Directory website; self-referral)
• Alberta Healthy Living Program (Calgary website for general description; Calgary course registration website; Alberta general website)
• The Mindfulness Solution to Pain: step-by-step techniques for chronic pain management (Amazon link; requires book purchase)

• Neurosymptoms.org website
• https://fndhope.org/ website

• Options for low barrier counseling
  • Low income Calgary counseling services handout
• Free counseling
  • Walk in option
    • Eastside Community Mental Health Services (walk in)
    • South Calgary Health Center
    • Sheldom M Chumir Urgent Care
  • Distress Center (1-6 free sessions)
  • Kindred Rapid Access Counseling (free single session counseling for parents with children < 18 yo or is < 18 yo themselves)
  • Sliding scale counseling
    • Cultivate (https://www.growthelife.com/; evidence based counseling modalities)
    • Calgary Counseling Centre
    • YW Calgary
    • Calgary Narrative Collective (narrative therapy modality)
    • CARYA Calgary (8-10 sessions for 65+ yo or families)
    • Family physician run virtual therapy clinics
      • OWL POD Clinic (website; GP run mental health clinic offering psychotherapy for mood and anxiety disorders)
      • Hello Mental Health (website; similar to OwlPod Clinic with no maximum number of therapy sessions but currently not accepting new referrals as of April 2022)
      • Eunoia Medical Clinic (women only)
    • Community Connect YYC (website; website that triages patient to low-barrier counseling; not comprehensive website)
• Access Mental Health (403-943-1500; brochure; main referral method to outpatient psychiatrist)
  • Access Mental Health Resource Database
• AHS “Know Your Options” brochure (Aug 2023 version) for Calgary Area Crisis and Walk-In Mental Health Services (highlight 24/7 phone number for Distress Center (403-266-HELP), walk-in counseling services, and Access Mental Health (403-943-1500)). Latest brochure can be found here.

• Wellness Together Canada Website
• Alberta specific: AHS Help in Tough Times Website

• Counselling / peer support programs in Calgary for
  • South Asians: Punjabi Community Health Services (brochure; website)

• For Calgary: Alzheimer Calgary
• Alzheimer Society of Canada (refer patient to their local branch through the First Link Program; Alberta Branch website)
• The Alzheimer’s Store (to purchase various dementia-related gadgets/tools)

• 1st choice for patients (one of the following):
  • Gov of Western Australia CCI Depression Teaching Handouts, Workbook, and Worksheets
  • Simon Fraser University / BC Mental Health and Addictions Antidepressant Skills Workbook (comprehensive CBT for depression workbook)
    • Audio version
• 1st choice for family and friends (one of the following):
  • DepressionHurts.ca Website
  • Supporting Someone with Depression Handout
• Other
  • Mood Disorders Society of Canada (website)
  • MoodGym (website; interactive online CBT self-help program; private cost of $39)
  • eCouch (website; online CBT self-help program)
  • 7 Cups of Tea (website)
  • Antidepressant Skills at Work workbook
  • The Happiness Trap 8 Week Online Program (private cost of $295)

• BC Here to Help BPD Patient Information Handout
• Self-help resources (one or more of the following):
  • Fulton State Hospital DBT Workbook (comprehensive DBT workbook)
  • dialecticalbehaviortherapy.com website
  • DBTselfhelp.com website
• See individual sections on
  • Distress Tolerance Skills
  • Mindfulness Skills
  • Emotion Regulation Skills
• DBT counselling in Calgary, AB:
  • Subsidized full DBT programming (but tend to have lengthy waitlists)
    • Bridging the Gap (website; brochure; for 16-24 yo; free; in person / online format as of Nov 2021; self-referral; 15 mo waitlist as of Nov 2021)
    • Sheldon Chumir DBT Program (covered through AHS but for patients with severe BPD; lengthy waitlist)
  • Private full DBT programming (shorter waitlists)
    • Inner Solutions (DBT groups and individual DBT counselling; private cost)
    • Modern Solutions Counselling (DBT groups and individual DBT counselling; private cost)
    • Inspired Minds Wellness Center (full DBT program; private cost)
  • DBT skills group only (often times private cost but may have subsidized option available)
    • McMan DBT Skills Groups (website; for youth/adults; self-referral; private cost $995 for 12 week session but can apply for their fee assistance program; online/in-person formats as of July 2023 ; up to 2-3 mo waitlist)
    • Skipping Stones DBT Skills Group (for LGBTQ+; groups start in January, April, and September)
    • YWCA Calgary Counselling Groups (website; offers counselling groups based on DBT-principles eg Build Healthier Relationships Group / Mindfulness Group but not formal DBT skills group; private cost but offers sliding scale)
• For friends/family:
  • CAMH BPD Information Guide for Families booklet
  • BPD Family (website)

• DBT Crisis Survival Skills Handout.
• Government of Western Australia Center for Clinical Interventions Tolerating Distress Modules
• 54321 Handout
• See “DBT” section

• Surviving a Relatinship Break-Up Top 20 Strategies Handout by McGill University Counselling
• Alberta Families Change Website (online guide to separation / divorce for parents and children)
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: a practical guide from the country’s foremost relationship expert by John M Gottman (Amazon; self-help book).

• DriverCheck Calgary (previously called DriveAble; website for Calgary office)

• National Eating Disorder Information Centre
• Silver Linings Foundation (website; peer support groups)

• DBT Emotion Regulation Handout.
  • DBT Identifying Emotions Handout.
• Chain Analysis
  • Cochrane Counselling Chain Analysis Handout
  • DBTselfhelp.com Chain Analysis Worksheet (webpage explaining same)
• See “DBT” section

• If artistic = Prospect Art Recruits (website; job training through art programming)
• If wants to find a retail/warehouse job = WINS Retail Ready and Warehouse Ready Employment Program (website)
• If 15-29 yo and enjoys cooking = Wood’s Home Youth Culinary Arts Program (website; provides culinary training for 15-29 yo)
• If Indigenous and wants a job in trades (boilermaker, ironworker, carpenter, plumber, steam/pipefitter, welder) = Aboriginal Futures Trade Winds for Success (website)
• In general
  • Potential Place (brochure; good for mental health employment supports and job training)
  • Champions Career Center (website; employment assistant for those with disabilities)
  • Prospects (website)
  • Calgary Youth Employment Center (website)
  • MCG Calgary Career and Employment Centre (website)

• Here to Help Family Self-Care and Recovery from Mental Illness modules (general self-care modules for caregivers)
• CMHA Capable Carers Therapy Group (8 week group; website)
• Caregivers Alberta
• Autism Calgary list of parent/caregiver respite and support resources

• To find a family physician in Alberta: https://albertafindadoctor.ca

For low-income resource navigation in Calgary, Alberta:

• 1st choice:
  • In general: 211
  • If already homeless: SORCe (website)
  • If 55+ yo = Kerby Center (website)
• Family and Community Resource Centre (website)
• Mustard Seed Wellness Center advocates (website; appointment line = 587-393-4020; can help even if housed)
• Calgary Resource Guide

For income assistance in Alberta:

• Alberta Works aka Alberta Supports (webpage; general inquiry line = 1-877-644-9992; tell patient to call this 1-877 line asap as it simply puts them on the waiting list for them to call back – patient can then start to gather necessary information within these 5 days; generally hear back re applications within 5 days)
• AISH (webpage)

For medication coverage options in Canada

• 1st choice:
  • Alberta Works aka Alberta Supports (webpage; if low income)
  • Alberta Adult Health Benefit (webpage; if low income)
• Innovicares (website; allows patients to pay certain brand drugs at generic cost in Canada)
• AISH (webpage)
• Private health care coverage e.g. Alberta Blue Cross, Alberta Non-Group Coverage

For housing difficulties in Calgary, Alberta:

• 1st choice = Calgary Housing Program (website; offers subsidized housing, rent supplements, and near market rentals)
  • Subsidized housing application (long waitlist; can complete application online on computer or phone via PDF app)
• The Basic Needs Fund (through 211 or Calgary Distress Centre (403-266-4357; offers emergency one-time grant for e.g. damage deposit, one-time utility bill; webpage for further information)
• Metis Urban Housing Corporation (website)
• If sleeping rough: Alpha House Encampment Team (website; 403-805-7388)
• Calgary Homeless Foundation Cold Weather Emergency Supports for Calgarians Experiencing Homelessness Resource List (website)
• See “Hoarding” section for resources on unlivable living conditions

For financial literacy programs in Calgary, Alberta:

• 1st choice (one of the following)
  • Momentum (website; financial literacy programs, matched savings program, job skills training, support for entrepreneurs)
  • Money Mentors (website; brochure; financial literacy programs, individual debt counselling, Orderly Payment of Debts program)

For employment assistance in Calgary, Alberta: See above section on Employment Training

For food insecurity in Calgary, Alberta:

• 1st choice: Calgary 211 Access to Food website (list of options to obtain food)
• Calgary Food Bank (website)

Other low income resources in Calgary, Alberta:

• City of Calgary Fair Entry program (website; subsidized recreational programs, bus pass, senior home maintenance services, property tax assistance program, low cost internet/mobile phone/TV services for low-income individuals)
• Rise Calgary (website; basic needs support/funds; Earn and Learn program)
• Telus Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk (website; free phone + 1 yr subsidized phone plan to Indigenous women fleeing domestic violence)
• List of Cold Weather Emergency Supports for Calgarians Experiencing Homelessness (2023-2024 edition)

For grief counselling in Calgary, AB, Canada:

• Calgary Grief Support Program (brochure; website)
• Momentum Counselling 6 week Grief/Loss Virtual Psychoeducation Group (not restricted to death of loved one)
• Griefshare.org (in-person / online support groups; self-help material; Christian Church based, but does not require you to be religious)
• For children: Hospice Calgary Children’s Grief Centre (website)
• Closed since Mar 2023: CMHA Suicide Bereavement and Family Support (bereavement support for family/friends of those who had died by suicide)

For self-help resources:

• MyGrief.ca (free online modules on grief; website)
• “On Grief and Grieving: finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss” by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler (requires book purchase)

• Hoarding Disorder Foundation of Alberta online support/psychoeducation groups
• CARYA Making Room 10 week program
• Laws for Landlords and Tenants in Alberta (website; for information on tenant/landlord rights in Alberta)
  • FAQ regarding Minimum Housing and Health Standards webpage
  • To notify AHS Environmental Public Health for public health inspector about unlivable living conditions: call Health Link (811) or submit online form (email SafeHealthyEnvironments@ahs.ca for questions)

• Indigenous Support Line (1-844-944-4744; brochure)
• First Nation Client Liaison (brochure)
• AHS Elbow River Healing Lodge (website; primary care)
• AHS Indigenous Mental Health Program (website)
• Aboriginal Friendship Center for Calgary (website; programs targeted towards Indigenous cultural reconnection/education)
• Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society (website)
• Miskanawah (website)
• Telus Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk (website; free phone + 1 yr subsidized phone plan to Indigenous women fleeing domestic violence)

• Legal Aid Alberta (website)
• Calgary Legal Guidance (website)

• Skipping Stones (website; wrap-around services for LGBTQ+ individuals ages 12+ yo and family/friends including individual peer support, DBT groups, support groups, gender affirming resources)
• 2018 The Queer & Transgender Resilience Workbook by Anneliese Singh

• Headspace App (popular meditation app)
• Calm App (popular meditation app)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Resources (see respective section)

• rTMS Patient Information Handout
• ECT Psychoeducation Video
• ECT Patient Information Handout

• Adult Weight Management Learning Module
• Alberta Healthy Living Program (Calgary website for general description; Calgary course registration website; Alberta general website; includes various modules for weight management and supervised exercise programming)
• Prescription to Get Active (website; requires a special prescription from a physician)
• PaRx (website; prescription to access Canada Natural Parks)

• Calgary Humane Society Emergency Boarding
• SPCA Animal Protection website (for information on if animals in distress have been seized by Peace Officers)

• Alberta Healthy Living Program (Calgary website; includes supervised exercise programming)
• Ambulatory Community Physiotherapy (website; needs to be within 12 weeks of injury/surgery)
• See TBI Resources below

• Practical Problem Solving Workbook by Dr. Chris Williams

• 1st choices (one or more of the following):
  • For teaching handouts: Early Psychosis Intervention website (especially under Resources & Downloads tab for their Dealing with Psychosis Toolkit; also has information section for family members)
  • For teaching handouts: Canadian Consortium for Early Intervention in Psychosis Website
• For peer support: Schizophrenia Society of Alberta

• Nightmare protocol handout
• AnxietyCanada.com Self Help Strategies for PTSD Handout
• See individual sections on
  • Anxiety
  • DBT

• 1st choice (either one or both):
  • Gov of Western Australia CCI Self-Esteem Teaching Handouts, Workbook, and Worksheets
  • Gov of Western Australia CCI Self-Compassion Teaching Handouts and Workbook

• #1: Insomnia Coach phone app (daily 5 week program based on CBT for insomnia)
• CBT-i Coach phone app (free CBT for insomnia adjunct)
• Sleepio website (online CBT for insomnia)

• 1st choice for Albertans = Alberta Quits website

• See “Smoking Cessation” section above for tobacco use disorder specific resources
• Government of Canada “Get Help with Problematic Substance Use” General Information Webpage

Harm reduction programs in Alberta:

• AHS Opioid Poisoning Prevention Handout
• Safeworks Harm Reduction Program (website; needle exchange program in Calgary, Alberta)
• Digital Overdose Response System (DORS; website; info handout for clinicians; app that provides virtual supervised consumption of substances in Calgary & Edmonton, Alberta; good option for those w/out phones but have access to internet)
• National Overdose Response System (NORS; website; 1 888-688-NORS(6677); 24/7 peer-run phone service that will activate emergency response PRN while a patient is using substances)
• Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP; website; outreach team for homeless individuals struggling with addictions in Calgary, AB)

Detox services in Calgary, AB, Canada and surrounding area:

• 1st choice in Calgary, AB: Renfrew Detox (brochure; medical detox)
• 2nd choice in Calgary, AB: Alpha House (medical detox offered; last confirmed Jul 2025)
• 3rd choice in Calgary, AB: Calgary Drop-In Centre (medical detox for DI clients)
• Foothills Detox Center (brochure; in Fort Macleod, AB)
• Thorpe Recovery Center (in Blackfoot, AB; website)

AGLC’s Self-Exclusion Program (website; to ban self from all Alberta casinos / racing entertainment centers for gambling disorder)

Outpatient non-residential addiction services in Calgary, AB, Canada:

• Peer support self-help groups eg
  • 12 step programming (spirituality based, helpful to highlight it is not a religious organization)
    • Alcoholics Anonymous (website; brochure)
    • Sexaholics Anonymous (Calgary website; international website)
    • Gamblers Anonymous (Alberta website)
  • SMART Recovery (CBT based; website; brochure)
  • Recovery Dharma YYC (mindfulness based; website)
• 1st choice for professional outpatient addiction services for seniors: Substance Abuse in Later Life (SAILL; brochure)
• Professional outpatient addiction services for adults:
  • Sheldon Chumir Opioid Dependency Program (ODP)
  • Calgary Adult Addiction Services (AASC, old aka AADAC; variety of counselling formats and navigation through various addiction services; website; brochure)
    • RAAM/Adult Addiction Services Recovery Coach (healthcare professional referral form)
  • Addiction Recovery and Community Health (ARCH)
  • The Alex Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic (handout)
  • FMC Adult Addiction Services (referral through Access Mental Health)
  • Other
    • Health Upwardly Mobile (HUM; website; private)
    • Northeast Addiction and Mental Health Centre for Holistic Recovery (private; website)

Adult residential treatment centers in Calgary, AB, Canada and surrounding area:

• Lander Treatment Center (only non-12 step residential program and shortest duration of 18-24 days; website; brochure)
• Claresholm Concurrent Disorders Program (website)
• Women-only addiction residential treatment centers:
  • Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women (website)
  • Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions (website)
• Indigenous residential addiction treatment centers:
  • Sunrise Healing Lodge (website)
• Other northern AB options:
  • Thorpe Recovery Center (in Blackfoot, AB; offers medical detox as well; website)
• Comprehensive list of inpatient addiction centers in Alberta, Canada

Child & adolescent addiction resources in Calgary, Alberta:

• Residential: AHS Recovery, Stabilization, and Detox (RSD) program (brochure; voluntary 14 day stay 6 bed unit for 12-18 yo; requires referral by healthcare professional)

Resources for family:

• Al Anon (website; highlight spirituality aspect of program, not the same as religious organization)
  • Gam-Anon (website)
• SMART Recovery

Psychoed handouts:

• Cannabis and Psychosis Website
• Opioid Agonist Therapy CAMH Information Handout
• Problem Gambling Resources Network Website

• 1st choices (all of the following)
  • Safety Plan Template (USA suicide prevention hotline replaced with Calgary Distress Center)
  • Safety Proofing Teaching Handout
  • AHS “Know Your Options” brochure (Aug 2023 version) for Calgary Area Crisis and Walk-In Mental Health Services (highlight 24/7 phone number for Distress Center (403-266-HELP; includes access to Mobile Response Team or Psychiatric Outreach Response Team), walk-in counselling services, and Access Mental Health (403-943-1500)). Latest brochure can be found here.
    • 24/7 Suicide Crisis Helpline (P: 9-8-8; website)
  • Distress Tolerance Handouts (see respective section)
• If completed suicide: CMHA Suicide Bereavement and Family Support

• MotherToBaby Medication Factsheets

• ARBI (Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured; website)
• Alberta Brain Injury Network Initiative (network of agencies in Alberta that assist survivors and their families in accessing supports from various programs and community resources across the province)
  • Calgary branch = SABIS