Urgent Support for Students
Facing a crisis or an urgent situation? You’re not alone.
We're here to listen, explore your options, and connect you with support.
Start here: what to do first
If you’re facing a crisis, urgent situation, or major disruption, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Get help with....
If you’re dealing with a crisis or urgent situation, there are many ways UCalgary can help. Explore support in these key areas:
On-campus
- Student Wellness Services: Medical and mental health care. Same-day access is available, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Student Mental Health Services: Mental health support and improving your understanding of mental health
- Student Medical Services: Need to see a doctor?
- Student Wellness Peer Support: Find a fellow student to talk to who may have had similar experiences
- Safer Substance Use: Harm reduction education, support and resources
- Sexual and Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Office: If you've been impacted by sexual or gender-based violence, the university can connect you with services, inform you of your rights, discuss options, or listen.
- For Graduate Students with GSA’s health and dental plan can also access 24/7 online confidential counselling at (https://studentbenefits.ca/studentwellness)
Off-campus
- After-hours support directory: A list of available resources for after-hours wellness, well-being or mental health support
- Calgary Distress Centre: 24/7 crisis support. Phone/text: 403-266-4357
- Wood's Homes Community Mental Health Support: Call 403-299-9699(available 24/7) for immediate support.
- Text: 587-315-5000 (available daily, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.)
- Live chat: Available daily (9 a.m.–10 p.m.) via the Wood’s Homes website
- Community Counselling Services: Off-campus affordable and barrier-free access to in-person, phone or video counselling
- SU Mental Wellbeing Grant: To offset some of the costs for students who need to access mental wellbeing supports off campus
- Emergency Financial Assistance: Emergency loan or other funding resources through the Enrolment Services
- When: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- SU Hardship Fund: Students who have exhausted all other forms of student aid and emergency assistance may be eligible
- When: Last-resort funding; may take 1–2 weeks for review
- Graduate Students can also apply for GSA’s financial support at (https://gsa.ucalgary.ca/financial-support/)
- Faculty Advising: Each faculty has program advisors you can speak to about course planning
- Chancellor Cuthbertson Student Success Centre: provides inclusive advising and academic support services
- Student Accessibility Services: Support student’s academic and personal development by creating an accessible, equitable and supportive learning environment
Self-guided academic resources:
- Troubleshooting course challenges: If an unexpected challenge with a course arises
- Course Interruptions: When unexpected circumstances interrupt your studies
- Registration changes and exemptions: Make registration changes, including adding, dropping, and swapping courses, during the course change period at the beginning of each term
- Important academic dates: Deadlines for course changes within the term
- How to withdraw from a course: Step-by-step procedure to withdraw from a course online
- Food Security for Students: A dedicated webpage outlining the available resources for getting enough food
- Grocery gift cards: Students can access grocery gift cards in two ways:
- Through Student Wellness Services (SWS): Make an appointment by calling 403-210-9355 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), booking online, or emailing SWSmentalhealth@ucalgary.ca. Cards may also be available through the Student Greatest Needs (SGN) program, which provides immediate support for students facing unexpected challenges.
- Through Enrolment Services: Contact Enrolment Services at 403-210-7625 or by emailing financialsupport@ucalgary.ca (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) and connect with Student Financial Support.
- Campus Food Hub: For students, providing food for relief from the challenges of food insecurity
- When: Open during business hours
- SU Campus Food Bank: Support the community to achieve food security for all together
- When: Available within 1–2 business days
- Calgary Food Bank: How to apply for an Emergency Food Hamper
Off-campus housing: For information on housing search, understanding tenant rights and responsibilities, and more. Visit website for email offcampushousing@ucalgary.ca.
Residence Services – Emergency Contacts
Off-campus housing support
- Find shelters in Calgary: Individuals and families can access emergency shelters and temporary housing when facing family violence, domestic violence, or homelessness.
- International Students Services: Advice and programs to support international students as they adjust to their UCalgary studies and life in Canada
- When: Response time: 2–3 business days
- Immigration Advising: A wide range of support is available to all UCalgary international students in the areas of academics and transitional support
- Writing Symbols Lodge: provides academic, personal, and cultural support services and programs to prospective and current First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students
Not sure if it’s a crisis? Here’s how to tell.
At UCalgary, a serious event can be considered as any unexpected crisis or disruption. This can include, but is not limited to, political unrest, personal or family emergency or a natural disaster. Such events may impact your well-being, safety, finances or studies.
Below are some examples that can help you decide:
Who can I talk to for help?
These campus contacts can help by providing you with well-being support, counselling, or help navigating academic concerns:
- Student Support Advising or Peer Support: Talk to a fellow student trained to listen and help
- UCalgary Counsellors (Student Wellness Services): Free, confidential support from mental health professionals
- Faculty or Program Advisors: Get help with academic concerns and options
Self-guided resources
Help that's here when you're ready
You may not need urgent help but still want support. Or maybe you’re ready to take the next step after things settle down. We offer tools and resources you can explore at your own pace.
Discover additional tools and resources
Long-term support
Support beyond the immediate crisis
Once the urgent situation has passed, you may still need support as you plan your next steps. Long-term support is available to help you recover and move forward.
If you need academic planning, wellness or well-being care or financial support, connect with the respective office to find out what long-term/regular supports they offer.
FAQs
Get answers to common questions about finding support during a crisis.
A serious event is any unexpected disruption—like political unrest, natural disaster, or personal/family emergency—that affects your well-being, safety, finances, or ability to study.
Examples can include flooding in your home area, family illness, or political unrest in your home country.
- Right now: Contact the Distress Centre or Wood's Homes as they have 24/7 supports
- Same day: Drop in or book same-day, urgent appointments with Student Wellness Services during services hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
- Within 1–2 days: Connect with your faculty advisor for academic concerns or Enrolment Services for financial questions
- Ongoing: Longer-term supports are available once your immediate needs are addressed
- Calgary Distress Centre: Call or text 403-266-HELP (4357) – available 24/7
- Wood’s Homes: Call 403-299-9699 (8 a.m.–11 p.m.), text 587-315-5000 (9 a.m.–10 p.m.)
- Student Wellness Services: Drop-in during business hours (MacEwan Student Centre, Room 370)
For all available supports, visit the health and well-being section above.
- Mental health support (more listed under health and well-being supports)
- Urgent care at Student Wellness Services
- 24/7 mental health support: Calgary Distress Centre, call or text 403-266-4357
- Peer support
- Financial help (more listed under finances)
- Emergency financial assistance: Through Enrolment Services
- Grocery gift cards: Two supports available. Connect with Enrolment Services or book appointment with Student Wellness Services for help.
- SU Hardship Fund grants
- Academic options (more listed under academics)
- Enrolment Services: For help navigating course accommodations, withdrawals, advising
- Basic needs (more listed under food and housing needs)
- Food Security for Students: Food resources on and off campus
- International Students Services: Immigration advising, transition help
No. You can share only what you’re comfortable with. Staff will help you figure out next steps based on what you’re ready to share.
Yes. Whether you’re a friend, roommate, or peer, you can reach out for support on someone’s behalf and learn how to guide them to the right resource.
Refer to the Course Interruptions webpage where you will find resources and information to help you determine what steps you can take.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, unsafe, or struggling to focus, it’s okay to reach out no matter what. You don’t need to wait for things to get worse to ask for help.
After-hours support is available if you’re seeking immediate help outside of standard university hours of operation, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding university closures specified in the academic schedule).
- Distress Centre (24/7): If you are in crisis and need immediate support, call or text 403-266-HELP (4357)
- Wood’s Homes: Extended evening hours are available. Call 403-299-9699 (8 a.m.–11 p.m.) or text 587-315-5000 (9 a.m.–10 p.m.)
- Campus Security: For safety concerns on campus, call 403-220-5333
- Self-guided wellness tools: Available anytime through Student Wellness Services' learning resources
Long-term support is available to help you recover and move forward. It's there if you need academic planning, wellness care or financial support—connect with the respective office to find out what long-term/regular supports they offer.