The holiday season brings joy and celebration, but it can also bring about challenges—from changes in health care schedules to added emotional stress. Planning ahead for your physical and mental well-being is essential. Whether it’s refilling prescriptions, knowing where to find care, or taking steps to manage stress and stay connected, Island Health encourages everyone to prepare for a safe and healthy holiday season.
Plan Ahead Before the Holidays
- Refill prescriptions early to avoid running out during closures or busy periods. Pharmacists can also prescribe for contraception and many minor ailments including urinary tract infections and pink eye. Check pharmacy hours for their holiday and weekend schedules.
- Book appointments now with your family doctor or care provider for routine needs, such as flu immunizations, prior to office closures.
Prioritize Mental Health
- Stay connected: Combat winter isolation by connecting with friends, family, and community—virtually or in person. Social connections promote mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
- Support vulnerable populations: Check on neighbours who may need support, and those who may have limited mobility, and live alone. They may need extra help staying safe during the winter months. Download tips on Winter Readiness for Older Adults.
- Stay active: Try activities such as ice skating or walking through neighbourhoods decorated with lights. When the weather is too harsh outside, find ways to stay active indoors such as yoga, dancing, or using home exercise equipment. Exercise can increase your self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety.
- Eat well and hydrate: Balanced meals and plenty of water improve energy and focus. Eat protein-rich foods, and choose particularly made from plants, as much as possible. Whole grains help maintain steady blood sugar levels, preventing mood swings. Explore more at Canada's Food Guide.
- Manage seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Winter SAD is a type of depression that usually begins in the fall when the days get shorter and lasts through the winter. Look into spending more time outside, light therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy and other strategies to help alleviate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
When to Seek Emergency Care
Should you or someone in your care have a critical or life-threatening condition such as a major injury, trouble breathing, symptoms of a stroke or heart attack, loss of consciousness or severe bleeding, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Your Care Options for Non-Urgent Needs
- Contact with your family doctor or primary care provider for non-urgent concerns.
- Connect with a virtual care option: See a Doctor or Nurse Online (Virtual Care)
- Call 1-833-688-8722 when Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCC) open to book an appointment at a UPCC. Opening hours for each UPCC are listed on Same-Day and Next-Day Care. You can also visit a walk-in clinic for same-day care.
- First Nations people and their families can call 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment through First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day. The program includes doctors of Indigenous ancestry. All doctors and allied health care professionals are trained to follow the principles and practices of cultural safety and humility.
- Call Service Link at 1-888-855-8824 to talk to an addictions and recovery worker and discover local mental health, substance use, harm reduction, treatment and recovery resources care options. If a call is not answered, callers may leave a message and will be contacted later that day or the next day.
- Call HealthLink BC at 811 to speak with a nurse, 24 hours a day.
Crisis Supports
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of British Columbia: 1-800-SUICIDE
- A confidential, 24-hour toll-free crisis line for people who are feeling suicidal, are concerned for someone who might be suicidal, or for emotional support.
- Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888
- For emotional support and connection to local services 24-hours a day, every day of the year.
- Crisis Chat: vicrisis.ca available 6 – 10 p.m.
- Crisis Text: 250-800-3806 available 6 – 10 p.m.
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8
- A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
- For Indigenous people on Vancouver Island and across the province, support is available 24-hours a day, every day of the year.
- Adult Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
- Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
- Métis Crisis line: 1-833-638-4722
Respiratory season illness symptoms
Most adults can recover from illnesses like flu and COVID-19 at home by resting, drinking lots of fluids, and taking non-prescription medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen to manage symptoms. Most adults recover from the flu in seven to 10 days. People should go to the emergency department if they find it hard to breathe, have chest pain, can’t drink anything, are confused, or feel very sick.
For children, the symptoms to watch for include:
- Not waking up or interacting with others
- Having difficulty breathing
- Not drinking or eating as usual
- Not wanting to play or be held (irritable)
Ensure that any over the counter medication which is provided is appropriate for children. Children should be taken to the emergency department if they are feeling very sick or caregivers are concerned.
Alcohol and substance use
Get help if you’re concerned about alcohol and/or substance use - For additional information or help navigating services, call Island Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use Service Link at 1-888-885-8824 for information and navigation of local services. Visit for more info at Mental Health & Substance Use Services.