3 students walking outside on VIU Nanaimo Campus

Crisis and Emergency

Need help now?

Community Supports and Services

  • Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1.888.494.3888 (24/7)
    Crisis Chat VI Crisis, and text (250.800.3806) 6 to 10 pm, 7 days a week
    Note that due to a staff shortage, chat and text services may not be available
  • First Nations and Inuit helpline and chat is available 24/7. Call 1.855.242.3310 for culturally competent counsellors, services in English, French, Ojibway, Cree and Inuktitut.
  • Here2Talk  Here2Talk is a free and confidential program that provides all students currently registered with a BC post-secondary school access to single-session  of 24/7 mental health support and community referral services via app, phone and web. Call 604.642.5212 or Toll Free at 1-877-857-3397.
  • 9.8.8 - Suicide Crisis Helpline offers phone or text support to people in every province and territory 24/7 and 365 days a year through the Government of Canada mental health support.
  • YouthInBC is a 24-hour suicide hotlone for youth under age 25. Call 1.800.784.2433; chat, 12 pm to 1 am PST.
  • CrisisCentreChat is a 24-hour suicide hotline for adults 25+. 
    Call 1.800.784.2433,  chat 12 pm to 1 am PST
  • CrisisServicesCanada  offers suicide prevention and support. Call 1.833.456.4566 (24/7)  text (4546) and chat (2 to 10 pm PST).
  • Brooks Landing Walk-in Counselling Clinic (Mental Health and Addictions)
    Open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6:15 pm
    203-2000 Island Highway North, See Brooks Landing Access and Crisis Services or call 250.739.5710
  • Haven Society for women who have been sexually assaulted or in situations of domestic violence.
     Call the 24-hour crisis line at1.888.756.0616 or see Haven Society for a variety of services 

Emergency on-campus

For medical emergencies, call 911

If 911 is called, please have someone nearby call 1.250.740.6512 to report the incident to VIU

Emergency, first aid, security, ambulance, fire, police, bomb threat

7 days a week, 24 hours a day

Campus emergency phone numbers

  • Nanaimo Phone: 250.740.6512
  • Cowichan Phone: 1.250.740.6512
  • tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) Phone: 604.485.2878

Emergency off-campus

Police, fire and ambulance services

7 days a week, 24 hours a day

  • Phone: 911

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

7 days a week, 24 hours a day

  • Phone: 250.754.2141
  • Location: 1200 Dufferin Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9S 5R6

Other resources