Resources Around Me search tips

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    Are you looking for help researching mental health and well-being supports on Kids Help Phone (KHP)’s Resources Around Me (RAM) tool? For ideas on how to maximize your experience with RAM, you can browse the search tips below!

    How can I search for resources?

    There are two ways that you can access support and resources that fit your needs and location: searching by keywords or through our guided search!

    Searching by keyword

    Image of the search bar used for Kids Help Phone's directory of trustworthy resources called

    1. Tap the “Select an access point” dropdown to choose how you’d like to access a resource. The options are “in person,” “virtually or by phone,” “apps or digital resources,” and “in person or virtual.” When making your selection, think about which way of getting support would be most accessible and comfortable for you.
    2. Tap to type a keyword(s) in the search box. Write in your own words the support you’re seeking. Try to keep the words short and simple to maximize search results! Some search term examples include:
      1. grief and loss counselling
      2. eating disorders
      3. legal aid
      4. newcomer services
      5. pre-job guidance
      6. thoughts of suicide
      7. vaping
      8. wellness programs
      9. youth shelters
    3. Tap the last text box to enter a location. You can search by city, postal code, landmark or address. Once you start typing a location, dropdown suggestions will appear. Please choose the dropdown option that best matches the location you’re looking for.
    4. Tap on the search button with the icon of a magnifying glass symbol to explore a list of resources that best match the information you entered.

    To help you get the most out of your search, you can try to use specific language and experiment with different ways of expressing what you’re looking for. Here are some tips you can try to improve your search results:

    • try a different spelling of your keyword(s)
    • try a different keyword(s)
      • e.g. instead of typing “help,” try typing the form of support you’d like, such as “counselling”
      • e.g. instead of typing “I need a youth shelter,” try typing just the term “youth shelter”

    Search using the guided search feature

    Image of guided search feature on Kids Help Phone's Resources Around Me directory

    1. Tap the “Access point” box to choose how you’d like to access a resource. The options are “in person,” “virtually or by phone” and “apps or digital resources.”
      1. If you select “in person,” an additional text box will appear below. Please enter a city, postal code or address. The place you enter is used to help identify resources closest to the area you typed in. If you’re not comfortable using an exact address, you can use a landmark or just the name of a city / town to start the search.
    2. Tap “next question.”
    3. Tap to choose a category, subcategory and resource type you’d like to explore.
      1. If you’re unsure which category, subcategory or resource type to select, you can tap “Start search with current options” to explore some resources. It may be helpful to read through the short descriptions of each option to understand which kind of support might fit your interests or needs.
    4. Each time you select an option, tap “next question” to continue to the next choice.
    5. Once you select a resource type, you’ve answered the last question. To review a list of resources that best match your choices, tap on “submit search.”

    If at any point you’d like to go back to change or review an option, you can tap on “previous question.” You can also navigate back to previous questions and review your earlier responses by using the menu at the top of the guided search and tapping on the options you’d like to return to.

    How can I navigate the results?

    Resources Around Me has filters to help you narrow down your search results. Using the filter menu on the left side of the search results page, you can filter by distance, location, access type, language, community(s) supported, and more. You can also sort the results by “nearest” to you or “recommended” depending on your preferences.

    If there’s a resource you’d like to learn more about while scrolling through the results, you can tap on the name of the resource. Once you open a resource listing, you’ll be able to review details about it, including its contact information, cost, eligibility requirements, application process and necessary documents. You can also use our interactive map to understand where the resource is located, if it has a physical site.

    If you can’t find what you’re searching for or would like to connect with someone at KHP about a specific resource or for wellness support, you can contact our e-mental health services.

    How can I save a resource within the tool?

    If you’d like to save a resource and come back to it later using Resources Around Me, you can tap on the bookmark symbol beside a resource to add it to a saved list. To review your saved resources, you can tap on the “view saved” button at the top of the filter menu. This will take you to a page showing the resources you’ve added during your search. Please note that, to protect your privacy and safety, this list of resources is not saved if you leave the tool, close your browser tab or exit the window.