"Help is available." That's the message Premier Jason Kenney wants to send to Albertans who feel that the COVID-19 pandemic is having a negative impact on their mental health.

The provincial government conducted a public opinion survey over the past week and the results show the majority of Albertans are feeling the effects mentally.

"It indicates that 74 per cent of Albertans feel that their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic and 34 per cent report that they are feeling depressed or hopeless at least some days every week," Kenney says. "Many people are feeling nervous, scared, or lonely and almost half of those surveyed are worried about their future."

In response, Kenney says the government will spend more than $53 million to implement more online, phone, and in-person mental health and addiction recovery supports. "It will hugely expand Albertans access to online and virtual mental health and addictions services, supports, and resources no matter where people live in Alberta."

The funding is broken down as follows:

$21.4 million to improve access to phone and online supports with existing helplines, including the Addiction Helpline, the Mental Health Helpline, the Kids Help Phone and the Community and Social Services Helpline (Alberta 211)

$2.6 million to expand individual and group treatment to address family violence, addiction and mental health for Albertans

$4.2 million to expand the addiction and mental health support available through Primary Care Networks

$25 million for a new community grant program to enhance community mental health and addiction recovery for the public, including Indigenous communities, seniors, families and people experiencing social barriers, who are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

“The need for mental health supports as a result of this very stressful situation are increasing daily and will continue to do so long after this outbreak has ended," says Rob Yager, president & CEO, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.

"This funding from the Alberta government means we can increase the 211 crisis lines, hire staff so people can reach a live person as well as provide support to those staff who are answering the calls, which can be very stressful in itself. This is vital funding that will make a difference in the lives of so many Albertans.”

Katherine Hay, president & CEO of Kids Help Phone says they are grateful to continue partnering with the provincial government. “We have been supporting young people for over 30 years, but in partnership with the Government of Alberta, this will be the first time we will be able to leverage our experience to support Albertans of all ages.”

"If you're feeling anxious, depressed, scared, or lonely, if you feel you can't cope or take the pressure any longer, if you're turning too often to alcohol or drugs, please know this: that help is available," Kenney says.

Albertans can access the following resources:

Alberta’s Mental Health Helpline is available 24-7 toll-free and offers confidential support for mental health concerns: 1-877-303-2642

Alberta’s Addiction Helpline is available 24-7 toll-free and offers confidential support for alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and problem gambling: 1-866-332-2322

The Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 and offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people by texting CONNECT to 686868

The Crisis Text Line Alberta is a service available 24-7 that offers information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support for Albertans of all ages, by texting CONNECT to 741741

Alberta 211 is a free helpline that connects Albertans to community and social services in their area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages