Community Connect YYC
Helping Calgarians get access to the resources they need, when they need them
Too often we hear of CUPS clients, and many other Calgarians, struggling to access the support they need, when they need it, and the issues they’re facing are growing more complex. Where to turn for what support? Is it affordable? How long do I have to wait? These are but a few of the barriers that prevent people from seeking help. To support individuals and families persevere through their challenges, CUPS and a number of organizations have joined to launch Community Connect YYC.
An innovative online booking tool, available 24/7, Community Connect YYC makes it easy for Calgarians to access a range of counselling and social supports, from across multiple organizations, with the goal of improving mental health and well being. The barrier-free service connects clients with affordable supports either by phone or video.
Responding to the needs of Calgarians
We recognize that now, more than ever, ensuring that Calgarians have easy access to support is crucial. The COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the challenges facing Calgarians and many organizations across our city are seeing their resources stretched to accommodate an increase in demand. Some of the barriers Community Connect hopes to remove include:
Feelings of shame and anxiety that make it hard to ask for help.
Complex challenges which often require multiple supports.
The expense of private supports.
Waitlists that are weeks or months long with public supports.
Anxiety, grief, unemployment, financial struggles and family stress resulting from the pandemic.
Added burdens that are overwhelming many Calgarians who were managing before.
A dire situation for those who were falling behind before the pandemic.
We know that for those facing a crisis, even the act of booking an appointment to receive support in the next few days can give enough hope to keep someone going — potentially saving a life. Through this tool, Calgarians have access to book an appointment with:
The Canadian Mental Health Association (Calgary) for suicide bereavement counselling and family support for those supporting someone with a mental illness
Carya for general counselling in first languages
The Catholic Family Service for rapid access counselling
The Centre for Sexuality for sexual health counselling
CUPS for initial consultation for low-income family supports
Hospice Calgary for group support for living with cancer, family grief and teen grief; individual and family counselling for children’s grief and advanced illnesses
Immigrant Services Calgary for domestic violence support and other counselling for immigrants and in first languages
Sagesse for intake and assessment for individual and group domestic violence supports
The Alex for rapid access addictions medicine
The YW Calgary for intake services for child and family counselling supports; for individual, group and family counselling; and for Calgarians impacted by domestic violence
Calgary has been and, in many ways, still is a prosperous city. But it’s not a perfect one. Increasingly complex challenges have burdened the mental health and well being of our community and with Community Connect YYC we hope that Calgarians find a “one-stop-shop” for affordable counselling and social supports.
Together, we are building resilience in our community.