• My Student Support Program: Professional counselling services and 24/7 phone or chat support for all GPRC students.
• Mental Health Helpline. 24/7 crisis and support helpline - call 1-877-303-2642. Call if you need to talk to someone. No problem is too small. They will connect you with resources that meet your needs.
• First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness. 24/7 helpline – call 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat. Immediate counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Language options include Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.
• Alberta Health Services Addictions Helpline. 24/7 helpline – call 1-866-332-2322. Free addictions support, information and referral to services including free addictions counselling.
• HealthLink. – call 811. A free 24/7 telephone service providing advice from a nurse.

GPRC offers short-term personal counselling for students at Grande Prairie Campus. Students at all Grande Prairie, Fairview, and West Yellowhead sites also have access to E-Counselling Services. Please see information on e-counselling below.

This service is available by appointment only. We book appointments in person or over the phone. Call or visit reception at Student Experience to book an intake appointment. Appointments cannot be made via email or text.

Contact Information and Location

What can I expect?

You first appointment will be an intake appointment. These appointments are shorter than regular appointments, lasting about 20 minutes. Please arrive a few minutes early to complete some paperwork. During your appointment, you and your intake counsellor will explore your concerns and goals. The counsellor will then help you book a regular appointment, where you will start working towards those goals. If your concern is something that we are unable to assist with, or requires long term counselling, the counsellor will assist with referring you to other resources that are appropriate for your needs.

After your intake, regular appointments typically last 50 minutes. You are able to access up to 6 regular sessions with your counsellor. If you need longer-term counselling, your counsellor will assist with referring you to other appropriate resources.

What About Confidentiality

• Counselling sessions and counselling records are confidential.
• No information about you is provided to third parties outside of GPRC Mental Health Services without your consent, except in the following situations where we are legally required to share information:
  • You or another person is at imminent risk of harm.
  • Child abuse or neglect is suspected or disclosed.
  • A court of law subpoenas information obtained in counselling.
  • Where concerns for the safety of yourself, another person, or the GPRC community arise. In such cases, the concerns may be reported to GPRC Enterprise Risk Management and Security.

My SSP is free to use and your information is kept private. You have unlimited access to articles, tools, resources, and dedicated My SSP Advisors/Counsellors that can help you succeed during your studies at GPRC.

My SSP Advisors/Counsellors can help with:

• Adapting to college life
• Frustration, concern, or uncertainty about any aspect of your life
• Worries about upcoming exams or disappointment with academic performance
• Stress related to procrastination and time management
• Maintaining balance between home, work, and school
• Being successful at school and post-graduation
• Relationships with friends and family
• Stress related to finances and juggling multiple responsibilities
• Being mentally healthy and much more!

Confidentiality

Counselling sessions and counselling records are confidential. No information about you is provided to third parties, unless you choose to tell them.

Legally, counsellors may be required to share information without your consent in the following situations:

• You or another person is at imminent risk of harm
• Child abuse or neglect is suspected or disclosed
• A court of law subpoenas information obtained in counselling
• Where concerns for the safety of yourself, another person, or the GPRC community arise. In such cases, the concerns may be reported to GPRC Enterprise Risk Management and Security

Tips for talking to someone who might be struggling

The most important information to convey to someone else is that they matter, and that you care about them. By talking to others on campus when you notice they are struggling, we promote a safe, caring, and mentally healthy campus.

Approach

• Express concern in a private, one-on-one conversation.
• Be specific about the behaviour that concerns you.
• Don’t be afraid to discuss mental health openly. This actually reduces stigma around seeking support!
• Sample script: “I noticed you left class crying yesterday. That’s not really like you, and I’m concerned.”

Listen and Support

• Listen openly and without judgement on what they tell you.
• Acknowledge the person’s feelings in a compassionate way.
• Sample script: “It sounds like you’ve been dealing with a lot lately, and are feeling overwhelmed. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Refer

• Provide the person with resources that are appropriate for them. See the For Students, or For Staff and Faculty sections of this page for appropriate referral information.
• Offer to sit with them, or support them while they call the resource.
• Sample Script: “Asking for support can seem scary, but it’s really a sign of courage and strength. If you’d like, I can give you some information on who to call for help. I could even sit with you while you contact them if you’d like the support.”

What if a person says no to a referral?

• Respect the person’s decision. Accessing assistance is a person’s choice. They have the right to refuse resources or support, except in certain emergency situations where a person’s life (or the safety of others) is in danger.
• Know that the person’s response to you is not personal.
• Don’t’ force the issue, and don’t try and trick the person into going.
• Try to leave the door open for the future
• Sample Script: “I respect your decision, maybe these options will be helpful in the future. My door is open if you change your mind.”