Resources and Services

On June 19, 2020, Dr. Turpel-Lafond, an independent reviewer, was appointed by British Columbia’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Adrian Dix, to conduct a review of Indigenous specific racism in the provincial health care system. 

Close to Home details the challenges family members and caregivers face when seeking to support loved ones who struggle with substance use disorders. It also outlines priorities and action items for the BCCSU Network of Family Members and Caregivers, the Provincial Government, and the regional health authorities.

Canadian Health Advocates Inc. (CHAI) has a growing network of health advocates in British Columbia and across Canada. Our advocates have years of experience and have developed a deep understanding of the best way to navigate the BC health care system. Your British Columbia patient advocate can help ensure you or your loved one access the highest level of public and private care that BC has to offer as well as offer virtual (online) support to patients in rural areas.

Read our guide, Obtaining and Providing Mental Health Information: A Guide For Families & Learn about the use of Ulysses Agreements.

An MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) is elected by the public in his/her constituency or electoral division, to serve as a representative in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly.

CPHA is the independent national voice and trusted advocate for public health, speaking up for people and populations to all levels of government. We champion health equity, social justice and evidence-informed decision-making. We leverage knowledge, identify and address emerging public health issues, and connect diverse communities of practice. We promote the public health perspective and evidence to government leaders and policy-makers. We are a catalyst for change that improves health and well-being for all.

Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes.

The Concurrent Disorders Webinar Series has been developed by the Health Literacy Working Group, a patient- and family-led committee working to advance health literacy across BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services and beyond. The free, quarterly webinar series aims to help patients and families better understand topics relating to mental health and substance use issues, or concurrent disorders.

The Concurrent Disorders Certificate Program is designed to help participants gain skills and knowledge to better identify, assess and provide treatment to people with concurrent disorders. This program requires the completion of a core course followed by two electives, plus a learning contract assignment (details will be provided at the start of the core course). All the courses are offered online.

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Concurrent Disorders.

When a family member suffers from a mental illness, one of the most important things to do is to take the time to learn about the disorder. By educating yourself as much as you can about the mental or substance use disorder, you can take an active role in your family member’s recovery. The Family Toolkit was designed to assist families in caring for a family member with a mental illness by providing information and practical resource

Experiencing worsening symptoms for a short period of time is a normal part of the recovery process. Sometimes we need outside help when symptoms become worse. Some people may also need urgent emergency help if they’re at risk of hurting themselves or others. Fortunately, we can take steps to help control mental health crises and emergencies. Explore this resource to learn more.

National Harm Reduction Coalition’s mission is to promote the health and dignity of individuals and communities affected by drug use. As a national advocacy and capacity building organization, we aim to shift power and resources to people most vulnerable to structural violence and racialized drug policies.

The Crisis Centre of BC is dedicated to providing help and hope to individuals, organizations, and communities. Spanning the spectrum of crisis support, suicide prevention, and postvention, we engage staff and volunteers in a variety of services and programs that educate, train, and support the strength and capacity of individuals and communities.

In BC, mental health, substance use and addictive behaviour are within the scope of the organization. Through our family of over 100 local, provincial and national locations across Canada, CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to and in partnership with our communities. 

On June 19, 2020, Dr. Turpel-Lafond, an independent reviewer, was appointed by British Columbia’s Minister of Health, the Hon. Adrian Dix, to conduct a review of Indigenous specific racism in the provincial health care system. 

The UNITE project features a three-part mini-documentary series based on the related stories of people living with mental health and addiction challenges. Each video is six minutes long and features the voices of patient partners Chris, Charles and L.T. bravely sharing how stigma in the healthcare system has impacted their lives, what has helped bridge these gaps, and what their hopes are for the future.

To combat stigma around mental health and addiction, we must listen and learn from those who experience it directly. The UNITE mini-documentary series at BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services is helping people do just that.

National Harm Reduction Coalition’s mission is to promote the health and dignity of individuals and communities affected by drug use. As a national advocacy and capacity building organization, we aim to shift power and resources to people most vulnerable to structural violence and racialized drug policies.

A 15-25 minute interactive lesson on how to respond to an overdose.

.211 is a free and confidential service that connects people to helpful and vital resources in their community. We provide information and referral to a broad range of community, government, and social services that assist with: basic needs like food and shelter, mental health and addictions support, legal and financial assistance, support for seniors, and much more.

All assisted living residences are required to be registered with the Assisted Living Registrar.

The provincial crown agency that develops, manages and administers a wide range of subsidized housing options for those in greatest need.

For information regarding emergency shelter, visit this website.

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness is the largest national research institute devoted to homelessness in Canada. The COH is the curator of the Homeless Hub – a library of over 30,000 resources.

Housing First involves moving people experiencing homelessness —particularly people experiencing chronic homelessness—rapidly from the street or emergency shelters into stable and long-term housing, with supports. Stable housing provides a platform to deliver services to address issues frequently faced among the chronically and episodically homeless. The goal is to encourage housing stability and improved quality of life for persons served by Housing First and, to the extent possible, foster self-sufficiency.

We are experiencing a housing affordability crisis in BC. Many people are unable to afford housing, let alone suitable housing that meets their needs. Homelessness, risk of homelessness, and inadequate housing affects a diverse and growing population and is often the result of a cumulative impact of several factors, rather than a single cause. Recognizing the need for long-term supports, we offer a continuum of housing and wraparound services across BC that meet people where they are at and support their evolving needs. This ensures that we can support people to not only secure but to maintain safe, affordable housing

Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) programs help people who have recently started to experience psychosis symptoms. The Early Psychosis website can help you find services or programs in BC. They also offer information about psychosis, assessments, managing psychosis, and supporting someone who experiences psychosis. 

Helping Families Find A Reason To Hope. If you don’t know where to turn and are at a loss of what to do next to help someone you love who lives with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness. Talk to a BC Schizophrenia Society Regional Educator. They can help you figure out next steps and help you learn about what you can do to help yourself and your loved one.

In BC, mental health, substance use and addictive behaviour are within the scope of our organization. CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to and in partnership with our communities. For example, this page provides an overview of Psychosis. 

In BC, mental health, substance use and addictive behaviour are within the scope of the organization. Through our family of over 100 local, provincial and national locations across Canada, CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to and in partnership with our communities. 

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Concurrent Disorders.

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Personality Disorders.

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Psychosis. 

Knowing that knowledge is power, our hope for these tutorials is twofold. One, that you come away with a greater understanding of the core concepts presented. And two, that they help you and those around you begin to break down barriers and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, and help bring these issues into the daylight where they belong. We have several topics for you to explore – click here for information on Schizophrenia.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis. Course participants will learn how to recognize signs that a person may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis and encourage that person to: Talk about declines in their mental well-being; Discuss professional and other supports that could help with recovery to improved mental well-being

Reach out to these supports; Assist in a mental health or substance use crisis;

Use MHFA actions to maintain one’s own mental well-being.

The rights materials on this site were created by the Mental Health Act Rights Advice (MHARA) research team, which formed in fall 2017 at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

The “Guide to the Mental Health Act” provides information about British Columbia’s Mental Health Act (the Act). The Mental Health Act has significant implications for those whose lives it touches — those who receive involuntary treatment under the Act, their families, the public and those who use the Act.

The Guide has two purposes: 

1. Making the Act more understandable; and
2. Promoting consistency in interpreting the Act so people who need involuntary psychiatric treatment receive help in a responsible and lawful manner.

Information on Community Living ACT.

Representation agreements and enduring powers of attorney are two types of legal documents which allow individuals to plan for the possibility of future incapability. Find out more here.

This resource helps to explain the fundamental principles embedded in the adult guardianship legislation.

Committed to Change: Protecting the Rights in Involuntary Patients under the Mental Health Act is a report on a systemic investigation conducted in 2019 into the extent to which health authorities, and the psychiatric facilities they operate, are complying with their obligation to complete Forms 4, 5, 6, 13, 15 and 16 in relation to involuntary admissions.

This handbook was written by the BC Centre on Substance Use in collaboration with the BC Bereavement Helpline and the Affected Persons Liaison with the BC Coroners Service. The handbook was created with the guidance of Leslie McBain and Jennifer Woodside, who generously shared their stories and experiences and what they wish they had known in the immediate days after they lost children to drug-related harms, as well as what they wished the 

had known in the months and years after.

This resource is intended for families of people dealing with a mental illness. The focus is on helping families to be informed caregivers, particularly around the necessity to care for themselves and other family members, whose needs are as important as those of the ill relative.

An Act of Parliament created the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) in 1988 as a non-governmental organization to provide national leadership on substance use and to advance solutions to address alcohol- and other drug-related harms. To learn more about Substance Use Disorder (SUD), explore this online module.

The Lifeguard Digital Health App was developed by a digital health company that aims to create life-saving apps and assists to promote safer living. Their goal is to reduce harm and prevent unintentional deaths for people of all ages. This app was developed in response to the opioid crisis.

This page contains important information about staying safe. Use this page for the latest alerts, and tips on how to stay safe.