Albertans looking for mental health and addiction support now have one number to call: 211.

The province has made 211 Alberta the main access point for mental health and addiction services, replacing a fragmented system that previously required people to navigate multiple phone numbers and entry points — a particular challenge for those reaching out during difficult moments.

The 211 service has been around in Alberta since 2004, when it launched in Edmonton, expanding provincewide and becoming 211 Alberta in 2020. At its core, it's designed to be a trusted, go-to number for anyone — or anyone helping a friend, family member, or neighbour — who needs to find the right community resource quickly.

Through 211, callers are connected with trained community navigators who can link them to clinical services, peer support, crisis support, and affordable professional counselling through Counselling Alberta. The service also connects people to a broad range of community resources, including housing, employment, financial assistance, and food support, as well as specialized services for children and youth, families, and Indigenous communities.

The service is delivered in partnership by three organizations: United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, the Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region, which handles contacts from northern Alberta, and Distress Centre Calgary, which covers the central and southern regions of the province. In 2025, 211 Alberta responded to more than 121,000 interactions.

The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in more than 240 languages, and is free and confidential. Albertans can call or text 211, or chat online at ab.211.ca. Existing mental health and addiction phone lines remain operational, and 988 continues to provide dedicated suicide crisis support.

For broader health information and advice, Albertans can also call Health Link at 811, a free 24/7 telephone service providing clinical services including nurse triage, health advice, and system navigation. Health Link covers a wide range of services, from symptom assessment and virtual physician referrals to addiction and mental health triage, dementia advice, and tobacco cessation support through AlbertaQuits.