Call-takers staffing 24/7 mental health phone lines say they are speaking with more people than normal, with most wanting to talk through their anxieties over the COVID-19 pandemic. On Vancouver Island, operators have seen a six per cent increase in calls compared to this time last year, with 409 COVID-19 calls since January. The service, run by the Vancouver Island Crisis Society, is taking 100 calls a day on average. In Vancouver, calls are fielded from a distress centre that has 10 workstations. "We are rising to the challenge," wrote Elizabeth Newcombe, executive director for the Vancouver Island Crisis Society.

Source: CBC News April 05, 2020 13:52 UTC