Sparrow Neuropsychology · Vancouver

Depression and Anxiety Resources

Organisations, information, and support for people living with depression and anxiety in BC, Canada

These resources are oriented towards people living with depression or anxiety in British Columbia, Canada. This page brings together high-quality information, treatment resources, and peer support for individuals and their families. It is intended as a starting point — not a substitute for advice from your own mental health or medical team.

Depression is more than persistent sadness. It is a serious condition characterised by low mood, loss of interest and pleasure, fatigue, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, and — in severe cases — thoughts of death or suicide. Depression has clear biological underpinnings: it involves changes in neurotransmitter systems, alterations in neural circuits regulating mood and reward, and measurable effects on brain structure and function. It is among the most common and disabling conditions in the world, affecting roughly one in five Canadians at some point in their lives. It responds well to treatment — but many people wait years before receiving adequate help.

Anxiety encompasses a family of related conditions — generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, health anxiety, specific phobias, and others — each with distinct features but sharing a core of excessive, persistent fear or worry that is disproportionate to actual threat and significantly interferes with daily life. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Canada. It frequently co-occurs with depression, and the two conditions share overlapping biological mechanisms, risk factors, and treatments. Anxiety is not weakness or excessive worrying: it reflects a dysregulated threat-detection system in the brain, and it responds well to targeted psychological and pharmacological treatment.

Both conditions are real, biological, treatable — and both can significantly impair thinking, memory, attention, and everyday functioning in ways that are often not well recognised or taken seriously.

What a neuropsychological assessment can offer

Neuropsychological assessment is not always necessary for depression and anxiety — and for many people, effective treatment through a psychologist, counsellor, or psychiatrist is what is needed. But there are specific circumstances where a formal neuropsychological assessment provides information that cannot be obtained any other way.

An assessment can:

Distinguish depression-related cognitive difficulties from neurodegenerative disease — severe or longstanding depression can produce significant memory and concentration problems that closely resemble early dementia; a neuropsychological assessment can identify the cognitive profile characteristic of depression (“pseudodementia”) versus patterns more consistent with genuine neurodegeneration — a distinction that directly shapes treatment and prognosis
Characterise the cognitive impact of depression or anxiety — both conditions impair attention, processing speed, memory, and executive function in ways that are measurable, that affect daily life and work, and that benefit from being formally documented; people are often surprised to find that their cognitive complaints are fully validated by objective testing
Differentiate ADHD from anxiety — attention difficulties and concentration problems are common in both anxiety and ADHD, and adults seeking ADHD assessment frequently have anxiety as the primary driver; a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment untangles the contribution of each and guides appropriate intervention
Clarify complex diagnostic presentations — when depression or anxiety co-occurs with other conditions (acquired brain injury, neurological illness, learning disabilities, autism), a neuropsychological assessment characterises the full picture and helps identify what is driving which symptoms
Support return to work or disability applications — a neuropsychological assessment provides formally validated, professionally documented evidence of cognitive functioning for conversations with employers, insurers, and disability programs — particularly important where cognitive complaints are not otherwise visible or documentable
Assess decision-making capacity — severe depression can affect a person’s ability to make major medical, financial, or legal decisions; a formal neuropsychological capacity assessment provides an objective, specialist evaluation when this question arises
Inform and monitor treatment — baseline cognitive assessment in complex cases allows the tracking of cognitive change over time, including whether functioning improves with treatment or whether additional intervention is warranted

Your family doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist can refer you for a neuropsychological assessment. You can also contact us directly.

Understanding depression and anxiety

What is depression? — Anxiety Canada’s accessible overview of what depression is: its symptoms, how it differs from ordinary sadness, how it is diagnosed, and what causes it. Anxiety Canada is a Vancouver-based organisation that is among the most respected sources of mental health information in Canada.
What is anxiety? — Anxiety Canada’s overview of anxiety: what it is, why it develops, how it differs from everyday worry, and when it constitutes a disorder that warrants treatment.
What is the relationship between anxiety and the brain? — Anxiety Canada’s accessible explanation of the neuroscience of anxiety: how the brain’s threat-detection circuitry can become dysregulated and produce anxiety symptoms.
Why do we feel depressed? — Anxiety Canada’s explanation of the biological and psychological mechanisms that contribute to depression, including neurotransmitters, life events, and cognitive patterns.
What causes anxiety? — Anxiety Canada’s overview of the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to anxiety disorders.
What is the link between anxiety and depression? — Anxiety Canada’s explanation of why anxiety and depression so frequently occur together, what they share biologically and psychologically, and how this shapes treatment.
What are the types of anxiety disorders? — CAMH’s overview of the anxiety disorders, covering generalised anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, and their distinguishing features.
What is generalised anxiety disorder? — Anxiety Canada’s guide to generalised anxiety disorder: pervasive, uncontrollable worry across multiple areas of life.
What is social anxiety disorder? — Anxiety Canada’s guide to social anxiety: intense fear of social situations, judgement by others, and embarrassment — the most common anxiety disorder.
What is panic disorder? — Anxiety Canada’s guide to panic disorder: recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of further attacks.
What is health anxiety? — Anxiety Canada’s guide to health anxiety: excessive worry about having or developing serious illness, often accompanied by checking or reassurance-seeking behaviour.

How depression and anxiety affect thinking

The cognitive effects of depression and anxiety are real, measurable, and often underestimated — by those experiencing them and sometimes by clinicians.

Depression and cognition

Depression consistently impairs a range of cognitive functions that are central to daily life, work, and relationships. These cognitive effects are not just subjective: they are detectable on objective testing and reflect real changes in brain function.

Attention and concentration are among the most commonly affected functions in depression; it becomes harder to sustain focus, filter distractions, and follow complex information
Processing speed is typically slowed — thinking, reacting, and responding all take more effort and more time
Memory is often affected, particularly working memory (holding information in mind while doing something with it) and the encoding of new information; people with depression often describe forgetting things they were just told, losing track of conversations, or being unable to remember what they read
Executive function — the capacity to plan, organise, prioritise, and make decisions — is frequently impaired; this affects not just complex professional tasks but everyday activities like managing finances, planning meals, or completing multi-step tasks
In severe and longstanding depression, cognitive difficulties can become significant enough to closely resemble early dementia — a presentation sometimes called pseudodementia; neuropsychological assessment is particularly valuable in this context

Anxiety and cognition

Anxiety hijacks attention. The threat-detection systems that generate anxiety are powerful and intrusive — they constantly scan for danger, pulling attentional resources away from the task at hand. This is why people with anxiety find it hard to concentrate, hard to stay in the present moment, and hard to complete cognitively demanding work.

Attention is heavily affected: anxious minds are preoccupied with threat and prone to distraction; sustained attention and focus are difficult to maintain
Working memory is impaired when anxious thoughts fill the available cognitive space, leaving less capacity for the task at hand
Decision-making is affected by the overestimation of risk and the difficulty of tolerating uncertainty that characterises anxiety
In performance contexts — exams, presentations, assessments — anxiety can produce significant acute cognitive impairment that does not reflect actual underlying ability
What does depression do to cognitive functioning? — CAMH’s comprehensive overview of depression, including its cognitive and biological effects.
What are the symptoms of depression? — Beyond Blue’s guide to the signs and symptoms of depression, including cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioural changes. Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health organisation with internationally recognised, evidence-based resources.
What are the symptoms of anxiety? — Beyond Blue’s guide to anxiety symptoms across emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioural domains.
How does depression relate to physical health? — Beyond Blue’s overview of the relationship between depression and physical health, including sleep, fatigue, pain, and long-term health risks.
What does depression feel like — and how is it diagnosed? — Here to Help BC’s introductory information sheet on depression, written for a general BC audience.
What are anxiety disorders — and how are they diagnosed? — Here to Help BC’s introductory information sheet on anxiety disorders, covering the main types and how they present.

If you are concerned that depression or anxiety is significantly affecting your thinking, memory, or ability to function at work or at home, a neuropsychological assessment can provide objective, documented information about your current cognitive profile. Please contact us or submit a referral.

Psychological adjustment and living with depression and anxiety

Recovery from depression and anxiety is not simply a matter of removing symptoms — it involves rebuilding confidence, re-engaging with life, and often rethinking long-held patterns of thought and behaviour that have contributed to the illness.

Unhelpful thinking patterns are central to both conditions. Depression reliably generates thinking that is negatively biased, self-critical, and hopeless: that things will always be this bad, that you are uniquely failing, that nothing you do will make a difference. Anxiety generates thinking characterised by overestimation of threat and underestimation of one’s ability to cope. Both patterns feel completely convincing when you are in the middle of them — which is what makes both conditions so difficult to live through, and what makes cognitive-behavioural therapy so effective in addressing them.

The cycle of avoidance is a key mechanism in both anxiety and depression. In anxiety, avoiding feared situations provides short-term relief but maintains the anxiety in the long run, because avoidance prevents the natural process of learning that feared outcomes are either unlikely or manageable. In depression, withdrawal from activities and social engagement reduces the sources of positive experience and connection that would otherwise support recovery. Treatment for both conditions involves, in different ways, gradually re-engaging rather than pulling back.

Shame and self-blame are significant burdens for many people with depression and anxiety. Depression generates the belief that one is weak, lazy, or lacking willpower — rather than that one has a treatable condition. Anxiety generates shame about the fear responses themselves. These beliefs are understandable but incorrect, and they delay help-seeking.

The relapsing nature of depression — and, to a lesser extent, anxiety — means that recovery involves not just treating the current episode but learning to recognise early warning signs, building sustainable habits, and having a plan for managing future episodes.

What treatments are available for depression? — Beyond Blue’s overview of evidence-based treatments for depression, including psychological therapies, medication, and lifestyle approaches.
What treatments are available for anxiety? — Beyond Blue’s overview of treatments for anxiety: psychological therapies, medication, and self-management strategies.
What is cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)? — Anxiety Canada’s explanation of CBT — the gold-standard psychological treatment for both anxiety and depression — including what it involves and why it works.
What are the psychological treatments for depression? — Beyond Blue’s guide to psychological treatment approaches for depression, including CBT, interpersonal therapy, behavioural activation, and others.
What are the psychological treatments for anxiety? — Beyond Blue’s guide to psychological treatments for anxiety, including CBT and exposure-based approaches.
What medications are used for depression? — Anxiety Canada’s overview of antidepressant medications: how they work, what to expect, and how they fit alongside psychological treatment.
What medications are used for anxiety? — Anxiety Canada’s guide to medications used for anxiety disorders, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and other options.
What recovery from depression looks like? — Beyond Blue’s guide to recovery from depression: what it means, what helps, and the role of self-care, support, and treatment.
What does anxiety recovery involve? — Beyond Blue’s overview of what recovery from anxiety involves, including how and why change happens and what supports it.

Impact on partners and families

Depression and anxiety do not affect only the person who has them. Partners, family members, and close friends are consistently impacted — sometimes significantly — and their needs deserve acknowledgement and support.

Living with someone in a severe depressive episode can be exhausting, emotionally draining, and at times frightening. Partners often take on additional responsibilities, absorb the emotional weight of the situation, and struggle with the gap between the person they know and the person depression has temporarily made them. The unpredictability of mood, the withdrawal, the hopelessness — all of these are difficult to be close to.

Anxiety in a partner or family member can reshape daily life in ways that are often gradual and only recognised in retrospect. Avoidance is contagious: when someone with anxiety avoids situations, family members may accommodate the avoidance — declining social invitations, restricting travel, managing triggers — in ways that reinforce the anxiety rather than helping the person confront it. Families may feel that they are walking on eggshells; they may feel guilty for having any needs of their own.

Both depression and anxiety can significantly affect intimacy, communication, parenting, and the ability to share life in the ways that partners hope to. These effects are real, and they warrant support — for the person with the condition and for those close to them.

What are common questions about depression and anxiety? — Anxiety Canada answers common questions about depression and anxiety from the perspective of both people experiencing them and those supporting them.
Where can carers in BC find support? — Family Caregivers BC supports unpaid carers across the province with one-on-one coaching, peer support, and navigation of community services. Caregiver Support Line: 1-877-520-3267 (Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Common concerns

People living with depression or anxiety — and those close to them — often share similar worries. Some of the most common:

Is what I am experiencing actually depression or anxiety, or is it just stress? Both depression and anxiety exist on a continuum with ordinary sadness and worry. What makes something a clinical condition is not the intensity of the experience at a single moment, but the persistence, pervasiveness, and degree to which it is interfering with daily life, work, and relationships. If symptoms have been present for weeks, are not lifting, and are affecting your ability to function, they deserve proper assessment and treatment.
Why can’t I just think my way out of this? Because depression and anxiety involve real changes in brain function that significantly alter the way you perceive yourself, the world, and the future. Telling yourself to “just think more positively” when you have depression is like telling yourself to see more clearly with a broken pair of glasses. The thoughts feel completely true. Effective treatment — particularly CBT — works with the structure of these thoughts, not by simply willing them away.
I’m struggling to think clearly and remember things. Is something wrong with my brain? Yes — in a very real sense. Both depression and anxiety impair cognitive functioning through their effects on brain systems. This is not permanent in most cases, and cognitive functioning typically improves with treatment. A neuropsychological assessment can formally document what is happening cognitively and distinguish depression-related changes from other causes.
Could my memory problems be early dementia rather than depression? This is a question that comes up particularly for older adults. Severe depression can produce memory and concentration difficulties that are difficult to distinguish clinically from early dementia. Neuropsychological assessment is specifically valuable here: the cognitive profiles of depression and neurodegenerative disease differ in characteristic ways that testing can identify.
I have tried medication and it hasn’t worked. What now? Treatment-resistant depression is real and well-recognised. Options include changing medications, combining medication with psychological therapy (which is consistently more effective than either alone), considering augmentation strategies, or pursuing specialist assessment. A psychiatrist with expertise in treatment-resistant mood disorders is the most appropriate clinician for this situation. Don’t give up after one treatment approach.
My anxiety is stopping me from doing things I want to do. Will this get better? Yes. Anxiety disorders respond very well to evidence-based treatment, particularly CBT with exposure components. The key is that recovery requires gradually approaching feared situations rather than continuing to avoid them — which is uncomfortable, but effective. Working with a skilled psychologist or counsellor significantly increases the likelihood of lasting improvement.
Can I get better without medication? For mild to moderate depression and most anxiety disorders, psychological therapy — particularly CBT — is as effective as medication for many people, and has better long-term outcomes because the skills learned in therapy continue to offer protection after treatment ends. For moderate to severe depression, the combination of therapy and medication is generally more effective than either alone. The decision is always personal, and always worth discussing properly with a doctor or psychiatrist.
How do I support someone I love who is depressed or anxious? The most important things are consistent, non-judgmental presence; not trying to argue someone out of their experience; not simply telling them to think positively; encouraging professional help without issuing ultimatums; and taking care of yourself. You cannot fix this for them — but being reliably present matters.
I have been struggling for a long time and nothing seems to help. Where do I start? Start with your family doctor, who can provide a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist, or access the Bounce Back program (a free, evidence-based CBT coaching program delivered through CMHA BC). Anxiety Canada’s MindShift CBT app is a well-validated free tool you can use while waiting. And consider whether a formal psychological or neuropsychological assessment would help clarify the full picture.

Getting help in BC

Psychologists and counsellors

A psychologist has completed a doctorate in psychology (PhD or PsyD) and is registered with the College of Psychologists of BC. Psychologists provide evidence-based therapy for depression and anxiety — particularly CBT and its variants — and can also formally diagnose mental health conditions and conduct psychological assessments. A psychologist is the most appropriate clinician when you need therapy combined with formal psychological or neuropsychological assessment.

A Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) typically holds a master’s degree in counselling and is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. RCCs provide effective, evidence-based therapy for depression and anxiety and are well-suited for most people seeking psychological support. Many specialize in CBT.

To find a psychologist or counsellor in BC:

How do I find a registered psychologist in BC? — BC government resource listing registered psychologists, searchable by location, specialty, language, and availability.
How do I find a Registered Clinical Counsellor near me? — The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors’ searchable directory of RCCs across BC. Filter by location, session style (in-person or online), and areas of practice.
Where else can I search for a counsellor or psychologist? — CounsellingBC is a searchable directory of counsellors and psychologists across BC.
How do I find a therapist who specialises in anxiety or depression? — Anxiety Canada’s therapist finder to locate CBT-trained clinicians across Canada.

Most extended health benefit plans cover counselling or psychology sessions up to a set dollar amount per year. Check with your benefits provider or HR advisor before your first appointment.

Psychiatrists

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has completed specialist training in mental health. They can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and work alongside your therapist or GP. Psychiatrists are particularly valuable for moderate to severe depression or anxiety, for treatment-resistant cases, and for complex diagnostic presentations.

Depression has a neurobiological basis — it involves disruption to specific neurotransmitter systems and brain circuits involved in mood, motivation, sleep, and cognition — and it often responds well to medication. The decision to try antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication is personal and worth discussing properly; for many people, medication lowers the floor significantly and makes psychological therapy more effective.

To access a psychiatrist in BC, ask your family doctor for a referral. You can also call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) for guidance on mental health services in your region.

Free and low-cost options in BC

What is Bounce Back BC? — Bounce Back is a free, evidence-based skill-building program delivered by telephone coaching, designed to help adults and youth managing low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress, or worry. It is available to all BC residents through a referral from a health care provider. The coaching is based on CBT and is provided by trained coaches at CMHA BC.
How does Bounce Back coaching work? — Details on what the Bounce Back coaching sessions involve, how they are structured, and what to expect from the program.
What is the MindShift CBT app? — MindShift is a free, evidence-based app developed by Anxiety Canada using CBT principles to help people manage anxiety. It provides tools for relaxation, thought challenging, and gradual exposure.
Where can I find mental health programs in my community? — The Canadian Mental Health Association BC can help you find mental health programs and peer support across BC.
Where can I find BC-specific mental health information and self-assessments? — Here to Help BC provides mental health information, self-assessments, and connections to local services across BC.
Is there a crisis or distress line I can call? — The Crisis Line Association of BC maintains a directory of volunteer-operated crisis and distress lines across British Columbia.
What if I need immediate emotional support right now? — Call or text 310-6789 (310 Mental Health Line, no area code needed) for free, 24/7 emotional support and mental health referrals anywhere in BC.
What if I am in crisis? — Call or text 9-8-8 (toll-free, 24/7) for immediate support.

Support groups and peer connection

Connecting with others who understand your experience — people who are not trying to fix you but who genuinely know what it is like — can be among the most meaningful forms of support available.

Are there support groups for anxiety and depression in BC? — Anxiety Canada’s listing of anxiety and depression support groups across Canada, including BC, with guidance on finding a group near you.
What peer support does the Mood Disorders Society of Canada offer? — The Mood Disorders Society of Canada provides peer support resources and information on support groups for people living with mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.
Where can I find mental health peer support and groups in BC? — CMHA BC’s directory of mental health programs, including peer support and group programs across British Columbia.
Is there an online community for people with depression and anxiety? — Beyond Blue’s moderated online forums for people experiencing depression, anxiety, and related conditions — a large, active, supportive international community, accessible from BC.
What support does Anxiety Canada offer for self-help and connection? — Anxiety Canada’s self-help resources for adults managing anxiety, including guided strategies, tools, and community connection.

Podcasts and media

The Anxiety Canada Podcast — Anxiety Canada’s podcast featuring clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience discussing anxiety, depression, treatment approaches, and recovery. Among the most directly relevant English-language podcast resources for anxiety and depression, produced by one of Canada’s leading mental health organisations.
Looking Up — CAMH Podcast — CAMH’s mental health podcast, featuring candid conversations about mental illness, treatment, research, and recovery — including episodes on depression and anxiety.
All in the Mind — BBC Radio 4 — Long-running, award-winning BBC Radio 4 podcast hosted by psychologist Claudia Hammond, exploring mental health, neuroscience, and brain conditions — with a large archive of episodes relevant to depression, anxiety, and cognitive change.
All In The Mind — ABC Radio National — ABC Australia’s weekly podcast on the mind, brain, and behaviour, with episodes covering depression, anxiety, cognitive science, and mental health treatment.

Organisations

In British Columbia

What does Anxiety Canada offer? — Anxiety Canada is a Vancouver-based national charity dedicated to providing evidence-based anxiety and depression information, self-help tools, and support to Canadians. Their resources are developed by clinicians and researchers and are among the best available in Canada.
What does Bounce Back BC offer? — Bounce Back is a free telephone-based CBT coaching program for BC residents, delivered through CMHA BC, for people managing mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or stress.
What does Here to Help BC offer? — Here to Help is a BC-based mental health information initiative providing accessible, evidence-based information, self-assessments, and local resource connections.
What does the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre offer? — Kelty Mental Health is a BC Children’s Hospital resource centre providing information on mental health conditions including depression and anxiety, primarily oriented towards children, youth, and families, but with resources relevant to adults and carers.
What does CMHA BC offer? — The Canadian Mental Health Association BC provides community mental health programs, peer support, and advocacy across British Columbia.
What does HealthLink BC offer? — HealthLink BC provides health information and navigation by phone (8-1-1), by web, and through pharmacists and dietitians across BC.

National and international

What is CAMH? — The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and research centre, with comprehensive, evidence-based patient information on depression, anxiety, and their treatments.
What is the Mood Disorders Society of Canada? — The Mood Disorders Society of Canada advocates for people living with mood disorders including depression and anxiety, and provides peer support resources and information.
What does the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) offer? — NIMH (USA) provides comprehensive, research-based information on depression and anxiety disorders, including the latest evidence on causes, treatments, and research directions.
What does Beyond Blue offer? — Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health organisation with internationally respected, evidence-based information on depression, anxiety, and their treatment.

If depression or anxiety is affecting your cognitive functioning — your memory, concentration, decision-making, or ability to work — and you would like a formal, objective assessment of your current cognitive profile, please contact us or submit a referral.