Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 10 minutes ago
Getting a heart failure diagnosis, a major change in your treatment plan, a worsening of your condition or hospitalization can be distressing and emotional. The heart failure journey has peaks and valleys over time. There are practical strategies to cope and adapt to tough emotions, including:
- Managing worry
- Reducing stress
- Building new habits
- Considering different viewpoints
Additional Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and coping, the resources below are some of the many pathways to mental health and coping information and help.
Tools for finding mental health support in your community:
- BC Help Line has a multilingual referral service including links to mental health support. Call or text 211, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or connect with an Information & referral specialist online at: bc.211.ca/contact/, between 8:00 am -11:00pm, 7 days a week
- Counselling BC: counsellingbc.com/counsellors
- FNHA Mental Health Benefits: Status First Nations individuals in BC who are registered with the Health Benefits program have coverage for counselling with a registered provider: fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health
Online courses:
- Bounce Back: a free virtual health skill-building program that helps people who are experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety: bouncebackbc.ca
- Mind Space BC Skills for Wellbeing: 8-week course to help with anxiety and depression: cbtskills.ca
Mental health information:
- Heretohelp: Mental health and substance use information you can trust: heretohelp.bc.ca
- MindHealth BC: This website provides mental health resources available in your community. You will find mental health and substance use information, self-help resources, online programs, and support groups. mindhealthbc.ca
Crisis lines:
If you are feeling in crisis, including thinking of ending your life or harming yourself, please contact a crisis line or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
- BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- KUU-US Crisis Line Society: Toll-free at 1-800-588-8717; Adults and Elders at 250-723-4050; Children and Youth at 250-723-2040
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society – Lamathut Crisis Line: 1-800-721-0066 or 604-985-4464
Chapters:
0:00 Coping and grief
2:31 Living with heart failure
5:09 Managing worries
7:11 Managing depression, anxiety and anger
7:51 When to seek help for your mental health
9:31 Tools for coping with tough emotions
12:23 Examples of unhelpful thoughts
14:00 Tara's experience coping with heart failure
16:32 Carmen's experience coping with heart failure
Getting a heart failure diagnosis, a major change in your treatment plan, a worsening of your condition or hospitalization can be distressing and emotional. The heart failure journey has peaks and valleys over time. There are practical strategies to cope and adapt to tough emotions, including:
- Managing worry
- Reducing stress
- Building new habits
- Considering different viewpoints
Additional Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and coping, the resources below are some of the many pathways to mental health and coping information and help.
Tools for finding mental health support in your community:
- BC Help Line has a multilingual referral service including links to mental health support. Call or text 211, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or connect with an Information & referral specialist online at: bc.211.ca/contact/, between 8:00 am -11:00pm, 7 days a week
- Counselling BC: counsellingbc.com/counsellors
- FNHA Mental Health Benefits: Status First Nations individuals in BC who are registered with the Health Benefits program have coverage for counselling with a registered provider: fnha.ca/benefits/mental-health
Online courses:
- Bounce Back: a free virtual health skill-building program that helps people who are experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety: bouncebackbc.ca
- Mind Space BC Skills for Wellbeing: 8-week course to help with anxiety and depression: cbtskills.ca
Mental health information:
- Heretohelp: Mental health and substance use information you can trust: heretohelp.bc.ca
- MindHealth BC: This website provides mental health resources available in your community. You will find mental health and substance use information, self-help resources, online programs, and support groups. mindhealthbc.ca
Crisis lines:
If you are feeling in crisis, including thinking of ending your life or harming yourself, please contact a crisis line or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
- BC Suicide Prevention and Intervention Line: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- KUU-US Crisis Line Society: Toll-free at 1-800-588-8717; Adults and Elders at 250-723-4050; Children and Youth at 250-723-2040
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society – Lamathut Crisis Line: 1-800-721-0066 or 604-985-4464
Chapters:
0:00 Coping and grief
2:31 Living with heart failure
5:09 Managing worries
7:11 Managing depression, anxiety and anger
7:51 When to seek help for your mental health
9:31 Tools for coping with tough emotions
12:23 Examples of unhelpful thoughts
14:00 Tara's experience coping with heart failure
16:32 Carmen's experience coping with heart failure
