Mental Health Resources
Supporting Mental Health in the Guiding and Climbing Community
Below you will find resources to help ACMG members, colleagues, and their families navigate mental health challenges. Here you will find practical tools, information on support services, and guidance on where to turn when you or someone you know is struggling. Whether you are looking for confidential crisis support, strategies for managing stress, or ways to foster resilience, these resources are here for you.
If you are unable to find a suitable resource, we encourage you to contact [email protected].
Provincial and Federal Mental Health Support
Online Directories and Resources
Counsellors and Therapists
Your mental health is crucial to your overall well-being during challenging and stressful times. Choose a therapist or counsellor who resonates with you. Some therapists have offered reduced rates for ACMG members.
Simon Parboosingh Assistance Fund
Simon Parboosingh was a dedicated guide candidate, taking part in an Apprentice Alpine Guide exam on Mt. Athabasca in 1994, when he tragically lost his life in an avalanche. His passing left a deep impact on all who knew him. The Simon Parboosingh Assistance Fund was established in 1996 and is supported through the generosity of Simon’s family, ACMG members, and members of the public. ACMG members, their clients, and family members, as well as ACMG staff and volunteers, can apply for emergency funding from the Simon Parboosingh Assistance Fund in the event of a personal crisis.
Summary of SPAF Donations, Distributions, Income and Balance
| Year | Donations | Distributions | Income | Balance |
| 2017 | $ 100 | $ (7,747) | $ 1,353 | $ 62,918 |
| 2018 | $ 1,062 | $ (7,536) | $ (4,821) | $ 51,622 |
| 2019 | $ 7,354 | $ (9,335) | $ 25,316 | $ 74,957 |
| 2020 | $ 4,770 | $ (6,700) | $ (247) | $ 72,780 |
| 2021 | $ 16,377 | $ (23,132) | $ 13,975 | $ 80,000 |
| 2022 | $ 6,348 | $ (19,096) | $ (12,252 | $ 55,000 |
| 2023 | $ 7,189 | $ (12,770) | $ 8,584 | $ 58,000 |
| 2024 | $ 12,010 | $ (18,455) | $ 18,205 | $ 69,760 |
Canadian Mountain Community CISM
The Canadian Mountain Professional CISM team of peer responders was developed by professional mountain associations in Canada to offer debrief and defusing services, follow-up peer support, and other resources to mountain professionals who have experienced critical incidents.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is designed to prevent or mitigate development of post-traumatic stress after critical incidents, including injury or death of a client or colleague in the field, multi-casualty incidents, body recovery, suicide of a colleague, or other consequential events. Trained peer responders lead sessions immediately after the incident, where the affected group comes together in a supportive, confidential environment to talk about their experiences, roles, and reactions, without blame.
Mountain Muskox
Mountain Muskox offers circles of support for people who have been impacted by loss or trauma in the mountains.
Mountain incidents can be traumatic for those involved and those who are connected through community. The impacts can overwhelm an individual's ability to cope, cause feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and diminish a sense of self.
Inspired by the protective circle of the muskoxen, peer circles can provide healing safety, connection and support. Mountain Muskox is a group of mountain community members coming together with professional facilitators to create a sustainable support network for those who have gone through a traumatic event in the mountains.
Staying Well in the Avalanche Industry: Improving Regulation and Operational Levels – Sydney Badger
This presentation explores well-being and career sustainability in the avalanche industry through the lens of polyvagal theory and nervous system regulation. By understanding how we are wired, individuals and organizations can implement simple changes with the potential for significant impact. Interviews with workers from ski guiding operations, industrial programs, highways and patrol help to illustrate how nervous system patterns like chronic activation can be interrupted to support individual and organizational resilience. Ultimately, the goal of this presentation is to illustrate that there are opportunities in daily and weekly workflows to improve regulation, even in the height of winter operational pressures.
This website does not provide medical advice. It is a source of information and resources for mental health. The resources listed are offered for informational purposes only. Information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health care provider with any questions you may have.
Taking care of your mental health is not a sign of weakness—it is an essential part of being a strong, capable professional and community member. We encourage you to explore these resources and to reach out when you need support. You are not alone.