Help and Support
You do not need to have the right words, a diagnosis, or a plan before asking for help. Choose the starting point that fits what you need today.
If you need help right now
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 in Canada or the United States, or your local emergency number elsewhere. You can also go to the nearest emergency department.
If you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone who may be:
- Canada: Call 988 or text 988. The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24 hours a day, every day, in English and French.
- United States: Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate phone, text, or online chat support.
- Other countries: Find A Helpline lists support by country and topic. Availability and contact options vary by service.
Please contact a support service directly. DocChristine.com, email, and video comments are not crisis services.
If you are struggling and need ongoing support
A primary care provider or mental health professional can help you understand persistent or worsening changes in your mood, sleep, energy, or ability to manage everyday life. You can ask someone you trust to help you make contact or come with you.
- Nova Scotia: The provincial mental health and wellbeing resource page explains publicly funded care, self-referral, peer support, and community services. You can contact Mental Health and Addictions Intake directly; a doctor's referral is not required.
- Elsewhere in Canada: Your provincial or territorial health service can help you find publicly funded options. Ask what is available while you wait for an appointment.
- United States: The National Institute of Mental Health's guide to finding help explains routes through primary care, local services, insurance, schools, and employee assistance programs.
If cost is a barrier, ask about publicly funded services, sliding-scale fees, community programs, or peer support. Availability varies, but you can ask what options exist before committing to a fee.
If you need someone to listen
You might begin with a trusted friend, a peer supporter, a grief group, or a compassionate faith leader if faith matters to you. These forms of connection can sit alongside professional care.
You could say: “I have been having a hard time. Could you listen for a few minutes before we talk about solutions?”
If the first conversation does not help, you can try another person or service. You deserve to be taken seriously.
Questions about meaning and your next step
Illness, loss, and major changes can bring questions about identity, belonging, faith, and purpose. You can explore those questions while also getting the support you need.
Recover Your Sparkle offers educational stories and reflections about hope, meaning, and manageable next steps. Start with one question that feels useful today.
About this page: Dr. Christine Sauer is a German-trained physician, retired from clinical practice, and an educator. This page provides educational information and links; it does not provide individual diagnosis, treatment, or emergency care.
Resource information checked October 5, 2026. Service details can change; the linked providers give current information.