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After Hours & Critical Incidents

For on-campus emergencies, contact:

BCIT Safety, Security, and Emergency Management
SW1–1000 (Burnaby campus)
604-451-6856 (24 hours/day)

Crisis intervention & suicide prevention

The following crisis and information lines are open seven days a week during the times listed. All of the lines will take calls from anywhere in the Lower Mainland. In a dangerous situation, call 911 or the local emergency number in your phone book.

Community services

  • Information on community and government services and programs BC211
    Dial 211, e-mail help@bc211.ca, or text 604-836-6381 (24 hours/day)
  • Alcohol and drug information and referral service
    Lower Mainland: 604-660-9382 (24 hours/day)
    Outside Lower Mainland: 1-800-663-1441 (24 hours/day)
  • Crime and violence
    Crisis support and information regarding family violence, sexual violence, and all other crimes
    Province wide: 1-800-563-0808 (24 hours/day)
  • First Nations and Inuit hope for wellness line
    Nationwide: 1-855-242-3310 (24 hours/day)
  • Problem gambling help line
    Province wide: 1-888-795-6111 (24 hours/day)
  • Sexual assault service
    BC Women’s Hospital: 604-875-2881 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
    Vancouver General Hospital Emergency Department: 604-875-4995 (24 hours/day)
  • Sexual assault crisis and information
    WAVAW (Women Against Violence Against Women): 604-255-6344 (24 hours/day)
  • Sexual assault information
    UBC Sexual Assault Information
    604-822-9090 (recorded information 24 hours/day)
  • Spousal abuse/family violence transition houses
    Vancouver: 604-872-7774 (24 hours/day)
    Burnaby: 604-298-3454 (24 hours/day)
    Richmond: 604-270-4911 (24 hours/day)
    North Vancouver: 604-987-3374 (24 hours/day)

Critical incidents

Occasionally, an event is experienced by an individual as sudden, unexpected, incomprehensible, shocking, and personally upsetting (dependent on that individual’s personal threshold and past experiences). These incidents have the potential to result in physical and/or emotional distress which can affect day-to-day functioning. Sometimes the effects of a critical incident don’t appear immediately but rather several days or weeks, even months later. Critical incidents that require a response depend on the size, scope, and severity of the incident and may include, but are not limited to:

  • Sudden death
  • Suicide or threat of suicide
  • Life threatening injury/illness
  • Sexual assault
  • Mental health crisis
  • Drug/alcohol overdose
  • Violent or threat of violent crime on campus
  • Campus disturbance/riot
  • Natural disasters

Any member of the BCIT community (including students, employees, contractors, and visitors) should report a critical incident as soon as possible to an instructor/chief instructor/program head, supervisor, education manager, or administrative manager, who is then responsible for reporting the incident to BCIT Safety, Security and Emergency Management.

If circumstances or urgency preclude such a referral, individuals may contact BCIT Safety, Security and Emergency Management directly at 604-451-6856 (24 hours/day – Security Office Non-Emergency line) or 604-456-8009 (Security Manager).

The following excellent resources describe common responses and coping to distressing events and outline returning to work following a critical incident:

Common Responses to Distressing Events and Helping Others [PDF]

Coping With and Returning to Routines After a Critical Incident [PDF]