Intervening early
Intervening early to help people access care sooner.
Foundry
Young people deserve the best possible start in life but the last few years have not been easy on young people. Studies have shown us that youth were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
To help connect youth to peers and the support they need, Government is expanding Foundry Centres across the Province.
Foundry is a province-wide network of youth wellness centres, in partnership with local community organizations and online supports that removes barriers, and provides free and confidential mental health and addiction supports, as well as physical and sexual health care, peer support and social services to young people between the ages of 12-24 – all in one location.
There are Foundry centres open in 16 communities throughout the province, with more in development, for a total of 35 centres province-wide once complete.
To find a Foundry centre near you, visit foundrybc.ca
For those who cannot access a Foundry centre, Foundry provides provincial virtual services through the Foundry BC App, by phone or through the foundrybc.ca website.
Integrated Child and Youth Teams
Families in B.C. are facing huge challenges right now. Rising inflation and interest rates have created more financial stress and worry for many families. Families deserve strong and integrated health care services so they can get the help they need, when they need it, including access to mental health and substance use supports, prevention and early intervention, where every door is the right door.
The Province is creating new Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams in communities across British Columbia. ICY teams work to fill gaps in mental health and substance use care, removing roadblocks, bringing providers together and delivering better care.
On the ground, these teams help families navigate services and provide mental health and substance use supports for children and youth.
There are already five ICY teams operating in school districts across the province, with more to come. In total, the Province will be implementing teams in 20 school districts by 2024, to be fully operational by 2025.
Community counselling
When people make the courageous decision to reach out for help, vital services need to be accessible and available. Government is working to ensure people from all walks of life, including those in rural, remote and Indigenous communities, can access free or low-cost counselling services, when and where they need it.
Since 2019, the Province has invested $19 million to support a total of 49 community counselling agencies throughout the province.
Community counselling provides flexibility for counsellors to truly meet clients where they are at, whether that’s through outreach, in person counselling or through virtual supports.
To find counselling services near you, visit Community Action Initiative Community Counselling Grants (caibc.ca)
Confident Parents/Thriving Kids
Raising a child doesn’t come with a manual or a playbook. There are times when parents need to access help to guide a child through a difficult time in their life.
Confident Parents, Thriving Kids offers telephone-based supports for parents of children (aged three to 12 years) with anxiety and behavioural challenges.
The programs, delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association-B.C. Division, coach parents on childhood anxiety and behavioural issues that may arise during specific situations, such as getting ready for the day or being dropped off at school.
The phone-based coaching empowers parents, helping them develop skills and strategies to help support their child. Learn more by visiting welcome.cmhacptk.ca
School Mental Health Supports
School districts and independent schools are receiving funding for programs focusing on problematic substance use prevention and mental health and wellness promotion.
We Are Indigenous: Big Worries/Fears Parent/Caregiver Support Program
Building off the evidence-base and success of the Confident Parents Thriving Kids Anxiety Program, the development of the Big Worries/Fears program was guided, created, and developed through Indigenous perspectives for Indigenous families.
This program acknowledges the strong spiritedness of Indigenous families, the importance of supporting First Nations in their wellness wisdoms, as well as the disruptive influences of colonization on Indigenous families.
Crisis Lines
When people are in crisis because of mental health or addiction challenges, they need to be met with care and compassion.
Crisis lines provide a vital service to residents of British Columbia who need mental health and or substance use support.
The toxic drug crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in unprecedented call volumes for B.C.’s crisis lines.
That’s why Government is expanding and strengthening crisis lines by investing more than $2.47 million into crisis line providers to support them through the pandemic and ensure people can get the help they need and deserve.
Get help at:
- 1 800 SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
- Mental Health Support: 310-6789
- Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868
- The KUU-US Crisis Response Service, which provides culturally safe crisis support to all Indigenous people of BC. That number is 1-800-588-8717
- Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service: 1-800-663-1441
