It is a challenging and unprecedented time for all of us. There are a lot of useful resources to help you navigate this world health event we’re facing – please explore them:

Mental Health Support
It’s normal for you to feel stressed, overwhelmed, or worried about how COVID-19 will impact your studies, your health, and those around you. There are resources to provide strategies for dealing with this world health event:

Langara Counselling Department

The Counselling office is unavailable for face-to-face service but students can connect with a Counsellor or Advising Assistant for support via telephone, email, or a secure online platform (Zoom). Please email counselling@langara.ca or call 604.323.5221 and leave your name, student ID, and a brief summary of what you would like assistance with. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Visit the Counselling website for more information.

Other Resources

  • Here2Talk: a confidential, free single-session counselling service by app, phone, or online chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Moving Forward Family Services: Our fully insured, fully supervised counselling interns are available to provide free, temporary telephone support to anyone who may be struggling emotionally while in self-isolation. Anyone wanting this service can call and leave a message, requesting telephone support, at 778.321.3054 or by email at counsellor@movingforwardfamilyservices.com. 
  • BounceBack: a free, community resource that can point you toward steps you can take to start feeling better.
  • One Voice Canada: a non-profit organization that focuses on bridging gaps between the local communities and international students.

Crisis Support

  • Call 9-1-1.
  • Empower Me: 24-hour helpline for anyone in crisis. Free counselling for students enrolled in LSU Health & Dental Plan. Call 1.844.741.6389 (toll-free). 
  • Access & Assessment Centre (VGH) – For individuals living within Vancouver for acute mental health and addiction support including suicidality, psychiatric crises, intake, and referral. Note: As of April 3, the AAC is experiencing high demand on their services and has sometimes been challenging to access. Students are encouraged to try another resource included here if they have difficulty accessing services at the AAC. Call or walk-ins from 7:30 am–11:00 pm. Located in the Segal Family Health Centre – 803 W 12th Ave. (First Floor) – 604.675.3700
  • Burnaby Outpatient Mental Health – call to make an appointment: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–4:30 pm – 604.453.1900

Crisis Lines

Food Insecurity

Langara Community Cupboard

The Langara Community Cupboard provides one week’s worth of non-perishable food items per student per week. Students can access the Community Cupboard through the Bookstore Monday to Friday from 10:00 am–3:00 pm. The Community Cupboard is not open on weekends, statutory holidays, or during campus closures. Students are asked to complete the Community Cupboard Online Form, before accessing their bag of non-perishable groceries.

Local Food Banks

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank serves Vancouver, the North Shore, Burnaby, and New Westminster.

  • Beginning on April 1, existing and new members need to register for a membership.
  • Please bring government identification and proof of address.
  • Members may visit one Food Bank site per week. 
  • All sites are closed the week social assistance cheques are issued.
  • Dates, times, and locations are subject to change without notice so check the Greater Vancouver Food Bank website regularly.  
  • Members can also pick up an Annual Grocery Bag from the main office one (1) time every 12 months.

The following food banks are run by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank:

Other Food Banks not part of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank:



Emergency Funding

Langara Emergency Funding
The deadline to apply for the emergency financial aid was April 20, 2020. If you are registered as a full time, domestic, student for the Summer 2020 term, you may be eligible to apply for our general bursaries. Bursary applications are due no later than May 15, 2020.

Provincial Emergency Funding
On April 2, 2020 the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training announced new financial supports for students. As part of that funding, Langara has received a total of $419,000, allowing us to provide more emergency financial assistance to students, including specific Indigenous Emergency Assistance Funds. Students who require emergency aid should email us at finaid@langara.ca from the email that is listed in your Langara account (@mylangara.ca).

The funding also provides resources to enhance the educational experience and outcomes for Indigenous learners and supports for students with disabilities in programs with high labour market demand.

Federal Emergency Funding
As of April 22, the Government of Canada announced plans for new supports to assist students and recent grads negatively impacted by COVID-19. The supports include additional funding and grants, broadening eligibility for student financial assistance, and enhancing the Canada Student Loans Program.

The six-month freeze to student loan payments announced on March 30 and the improvements to the Canada Summer Jobs program for students announced April 8, also remain in place.  

Canadian Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
On May 13, the Federal Government announced that Canadian post-secondary students and recent graduates who have lost income or summer jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply to receive financial relief from an emergency aid program. Applications for this program open this Friday, May 15. Eligible students are encouraged to register with the Canada Revenue Agency ahead of time, if they have never filed a Canadian tax return. Depending on their eligibility, qualifying applicants will receive either $1,250 or $2,000 per four-week period for which they’re approved.

Learn how to apply.