THESE RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO REPLACE PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE. PLEASE ALWAYS CONSULT A TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TREATMENT OF YOURSELF OR OTHERS.
The Outlet and its Editors do not recommend one resource over another listed here. Inclusion in this list does not signify our endorsement nor does omission of a resource signify our lack of endorsement.
We have taken care to provide you with the most up-to-date and reliable resources and information available to us. However, since the mental health system and its resources change so rapidly, omissions and errors are inevitable.
List of contents (which just happen to be in alphabetical order too so that you can more easily find them)
> Advocacy (see below)
> Assistance with Finances (see below)
> Clinical & Counselling Services (coming)
> Complementary Therapies (coming)
> Counselling Low Cost or Free (see below)
> Crisis Information Lines (coming)
> Crisis Lines (see below)
> Disability Assistance (coming)
> Educational Resources (coming)
> Employment Services (coming)
> Family Support (coming)
> Housing (coming)
> Legal Resources (coming)
> Medication Information (coming)
> Multicultural Services (coming)
> Professional Standards Associations (coming)
> Recreational Services (coming)
> Senior Support (coming)
> Suicide Information (coming)
ALSO at the end of the list is...
> New health centre
> How to get the ACCESS 2 Entertainment Card
> Poverty Survival Guide
> Living Wrap DVD
Each picture denotes a new section & topic
ADVOCACY
IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
In the Vancouver, BC, Canada, Coastal Region
Advocacy means:
Raising concerns
Asking for policy changes
Requesting new or enhanced services
Helping dispel stigma and prejudice
WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
(BCCPD) 604-872-1278
We champion issues impacting the lives of people with disabilities through our direct services, community partnerships, advocacy, research & publications.”
Provincial Disability Benefits Advocacy Program
Helps people access the following benefits at application, reconsideration & tribunal stages:
Ø The Persons with Disabilities benefit (PWD)
Ø The Persons with Persistent & Multiple Barriers to employment benefit (PPMB)
Ø Medical services & supplies provided by the BC Ministry of Housing & Social Development to PWD & PPMB recipients
They also help people to
Ø Resolve issues relating to assets, earnings exemptions, eligibility & reporting requirements for PWD & PPMB benefits
Ø Complete applications for BC Housing
Ø Understand the Registered Disability Savings Plan
Ø Connect with community resources including free BC Hydro Energy Savings Kit, Quest Food Exchange’s low-cost grocery store & more
The Coalition also has publications on line such as
Ø BC Disability Benefits Help Sheets
Ø BC Disability Benefits Application & Appeal Guides
Ø CPP Disability Information & Assistance Series
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
Vancouver 604-736-2033
North Shore 604-988-3131
BC Ministry of Health
Enquiry BC:
A provincial call centre that provides services to all BC residents
Vancouver 604-660-2421
Victoria 250-387-6121
Elsewhere in BC 1-800-663-7867
Outside BC 604-660-2421
To contact your MLA:
Enquiry BC 604-660-2421
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
(Families Organized for Recognition & Care Equality)
They do support & advocacy work by helping families advocate for their children, provide emotional support and provide ways for families to meet other families, such as support groups, with similar experiences.
To contact them 604-878-3400
BC Review Board 604-660-8789
An independent tribunal set up under the Criminal Code of Canada. It has ongoing jurisdiction to hold hearings and review orders where individuals charged with criminal offenses have been given verdicts of not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder or is unfit to stand trial on account of a mental disorder.
ARA Mental Health Action Research
& Advocacy Association 604-689-7938Toll Free 1-866-689-7938
Email: advocacy@aramentalhealth.org
They provide crisis intervention for consumers/survivors preventing exploitations and harm at the hands of the system, including
> Finances
> Housing
> Referrals
> Child apprehensions
> Locating resources
> Appeals & tribunals
Kettle Friendship Society
Advocacy Services 604-253-0669Provides information, support & representation to resolve income, housing & family law problems. They also help to resolve debt, welfare, tenancy, and child & family disputes.
They work to ensure that people with a mental illness have access to housing, financial supports, legal & mental health resources and are treated fairly in their interactions with government, community & the mental health system.
Self-Advocates: This is a program made up of six active & long-term Kettle members and consumers of mental health services who meet every week. They also plan, organize & facilitate Information Sharing Meetings on topics which the group believes will benefit consumers/survivors within the Kettle and within the community.
Motivation, Power, and Achievement Society (MPA)
Mental Health Empowerment AdvocatesProgram (MHEAP) 604-738-5770
http://www.mpa-society.org/advocacy.php
Provides legal aid, financial advocacy, education & workshops, tenancy rights, research
MPA Court Services 604-688-3417
Or 604-660-4292
Provides on-site court advocacy, community outreach, law reformPovNet Advocates Database
This is a database of income advocates around BC
This website also provides an extensive list of advocacy services throughout the Lower Mainland
ASSISTANCE WITH
FINANCES & TAXES, etc
In the Vancouver, BC, Canada, Coastal Region
FINANCIAL LITERACY
bcacornva@acorncanada.org
Acorn is an independent national organization of low & moderate income families. The organization is in the process of creating classes for formal financial literacy as well as asset development classes for people on low income.
http://www.fsgv.ca/courses/course.php?id=251
Also offers “Money Skills (The Financial literacy Program) which teaches people about banking, budgeting, consumerism and credit. Go to the above link to find out when and where the courses are offered.
FREE TAX PREPARATION
http://www.acorncanada.org/financial-literacy-and-free-tax-prep
Acorn also does free tax preparation for people on low and moderate incomes. They also point out benefits that people may not realize they can get such as GST credit, CCTB and the Canadian Employment Credit. They are open six days a week at tax season
OTHER FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Canadian Support Services 1-888-YES-CSS0
http://www.canadiansupportservices.com/#!This organization helps people with disabilities (including mental illness) to find support & benefits they need. The types of benefits available include are Canada Pension Plan Disability claims, dental insurance, disability insurance, disability tax credits, legal counsel benefits, medical expense refunds, medical insurance, personal income taxes filing, registered disability savings bonds, registered disability savings grants and working income tax benefits.
They can help you get approved for government benefits that are available to the disabled. They also do referrals to legal agencies, social networks and medical professionals.
They do charge for their services but offer a free initial consultation with them.
CRISIS LINES
In the Vancouver, BC, Canada, Coastal Region
or see the numbers below
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC,
Regional Distress Line
Vancouver, Bowen Island, Burnaby,
North Vancouver city & district,
West Vancouver 604-872-3311
Toll Free: 1-866-661-3311
TTY 604-872-0113
Toll Free: 1-866-872-0113
All available 24 hours
Burnaby Toll Free number à 1-866-661-3311
Also serves Powell River, Sunshine Coast,
Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton,
Howe Sound
Available 24 hours
Also:
Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster,
Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam 604-951-8855
Available 24 hours 1-877-820-7444
Available 24 hours 1-877-820-7444
CHIMO Crisis Services
Serves Richmond, South Delta,
Ladner, Tsawwassen 604-279-7070
Available 9am to midnight
Fraser Valley
Fraser Health Crisis Line 604-951-8855
Or 1-877-820-7444
Available 24 hours
Central Fraser Valley Telecare Crisis Line:
Abbotsford 604-852-9099
Available 24 hours
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Chinese Help Lines
Cantonese: 604-270-8233
Mandarin: 604-270-8222
Available 10am to 10pm
Or go to www.crisiscentre.bc.ca/get-help
For numbers in Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Northern BC/Cariboo, and the BC Interior
OR
Provincial Suicide Helpline 1-800 SUICIDE
Available 24 hrs 784-2433
ALSO AVAILABLE
An online service for youth
An online service for youth in distress
Online chats with trained volunteers
Email support from Crisis Centre’s professional staff
Learn about common issues like bullying, disordered eating,
depression, and self-harm
Find resources in their online library
The Red Book Online
An online database of information about community, social and government
services
For Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Squamish-Lillooet Regional Districts,
British Columbia, Canada
Topics include housing, emergency shelters, services for persons with
disabilities, home support, legal assistance, child care, job searches,
financial assistance
Most services listed are non-profit, community-based or government
organization
OR you can simply call them 2-1-1
- free, confidential, multilingual,
Available 24 hours
Women Against Violence Against
Women (WAVAW) Crisis Line
& Rape Crisis Centre 604-255-6344
Available 24 hours
MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY SERVICES
Vancouver:
Mental Health Emergency Services 604-874-7307
(Known as Car 87)
Available 24 hours
North Vancouver:
Lions Gate Hospital
Psychiatric Emergency Nurse 604-331-9031
9:00am – Midnight, 7 days/week
Richmond:
Chimo Crisis Line 604-279-7070
9:00am – Midnight, 7 days/week
Richmond
Mental Health Emergency Services 604-244-5562
Available 5:00pm to 1:00am
CRISIS INFORMATION LINES
In the Vancouver, BC, Canada, Coastal Region
Mental Health Information Line 604-669-7600
www.heretohelp.bc.ca 1-800-661-2121
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention
Centre of BC 604-872-3311
Alcohol & Drug Information
& Referral Service 604-660-9382
BC Nurse Line 604-215-4700
Health & Senior Information Line 1-800-465-4911
Alcohol & Drug Information
& Referral Service 604-660-9382
Problem Gambling Information Service 604-874-2938 ext. 126
Problem Gambling Help Line – 24 hrs 1-888-795-6111
VictimLINK – 24 hr Help &
Information Line 1-800-563-0808
Youth Against Violence Line 1-800-680-4264
Vancouver Child & Youth Mental Health
Services Referral Line 604-709-4111
North Shore Child & Youth Mental Health
& Addiction Network Referral Line 604-984-3770
Kid’s Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
Dial-a-Dietitian 604-732-9191
FREE & LOW COST
COUNSELLING SERVICES
IN VANCOUVER
The following is from www.spotlightonmentalhealth.com
I thought I’d put it in almost exactly as on the website. [Caer]
There was recently a question regarding the availability of free and low cost counselling services in Vancouver, particularly for those people who may benefit from counselling but will not be seen by a mental health team. Typically, these services are best suited to people with mental health problems that are less severe (for example, not psychotic) and who want to address their mental health symptoms. The list is not exhaustive of all free/low cost counselling in Vancouver, but these are some of the better ones.
A typical client who may benefit from these services would be someone with depression, anxiety, social isolation, passive thoughts of suicide who is reasonably cognitively intact and who wants to address their symptoms. Other people who could benefit would be someone who is going through a difficult time, but who may not be clinically diagnosable, for example, grief, loss, life transitions, relationship conflict, stress management, self esteem issues, assertiveness skills, social skills training, or trauma issues.
Oak Counselling Services Society
949 West 49th Ave
Vancouver, BC
604-266-5611
www.oakcounsellingservices.com
Offers professionally supervised counselling for issues such as grief, relationships, and life transitions, by volunteers with a Master's degree in counselling or related discipline.
Appointments are available between 9:30 am to 8 pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Fridays.
Sliding scale, with fees waived for people receiving social assistance or provincial disability.
Catholic Family Services
150 Robson St
Vancouver, BC
604-443-3220
www.rcav.bc.ca/cfs
Provides professional counselling, including individual, marriage, and family
counselling. Also offers support groups and skills training sessions.
Office hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday.
Nonprofit organization. Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vancouver, but does accept and welcome a diversity of clients.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
1616 West 7th Ave
Vancouver, BC
604-731-4951
www.fsgv.ca
Community-based, nonprofit organization providing social services to children,
youth, adults, and families across the lower mainland. Services range from prevention to intervention, including: addiction services, adoption services, counselling services, employment/vocational services, family support services, personal development, victim services, and youth services. Services are delivered in English, with some also offered in other languages, including Cantonese, Croatian, French, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Serves Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey.
* Very good for addiction, family issues and life transitions
Stewart and Associates
227-1118 Homer St
Vancouver, BC
604-687-7171
www.stewartassoc.com
Provides counselling to a broad range of clients for stress, anxiety, addiction, First Nations issues, Gay and Lesbian issues, chronic illnesses, relationship problems, anger management, personal growth and more.
Offers a variety of services, which includes one-to-one, couple, family, and group counselling.
The company has a number of counsellors available with expertise in areas such as family violence, cultural issues (interpreter services available), and ritual abuse. A diversity of therapeutic styles represented including art therapy, brief solution focused, family of origin, Satir model, and play therapy. Some services provided by counselling interns who are providing service as part of their counselling program under the supervision of an experienced faculty member or counsellor.
Provides counselling using a sliding scale fee which charges differing
amounts based on gross monthly income.
* Very good for individual counselling, depression, anxiety, life transitions, & grief
Vancouver Christian Counselling Centre
Vancouver, BC
604-688-3945
Counsellors provide individual, relationship, and family counselling. People of any
religious or cultural background; Christian perspective is available if desired.
Counsellors have Master or Doctorate level qualifications.
Counselling hours are flexible, including evenings.
Fees on a sliding scale.
Serves the Lower Mainland. Nonprofit organization.
A NEW HEALTH CENTRE
IN VANCOUVER
Some of the services in the building are:
Addiction Services 604-675-3990
Health Team 604-675-3990
Education & Research) 604-675-3985
MAIN SWITCHBOARD: 604-675-3980
ACCESS 2 ENTERTAINMENT CARD
Card can be used at the following places: H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Aquarium, National Geographic IMAX Theatre, Pacific Cinémathèque, Science World
AND THEATRES: Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Galaxy Cinemas, Famous Players Cinemas, SilverCity Cinemas, Colossus Cinemas, Coliseum Cinemas, Empire Theatres, Landmark Cinemas, Rainbow Cinemas, Magic Lantern Cinemas, AMC Theatres
There are no agency cards. There are two sections that need to be completed: Applicant (persons with a disability) and health care provider.
Please refer to website: http://www.access2.ca/applications.html
A POVERTY SURVIVAL GUIDE
Mental Health and Poverty Survival guide that was put out by the Newton Advocacy Group.
It is a little out of date (2005) so income assistance rates are a bit off, but overall is really helpful in listing all the things folks
are eligible for from Income Assistance.
New Living WRAP DVD
Living WRAP is an updated version of the popular Coping with Depression video with Mary Ellen Copeland. The original video was produced and directed by William Hood in 1991. This video continues to be well-used by individuals, agencies and organizations, and in-patient and out-patient mental health facilities.
The new version incorporates footage from the original video with the addition of footage that describes Dr. Copeland’s more recent findings, including the key concepts of mental health recovery, the evidence-based Wellness Recovery Action Plan and many, many wellness tools.
Produced and directed and edited (off line by William J. Hood, Peregrine Productions Services) Videography of historic footage by Lamar Bloodworth. Edited by IMR Films
ISBN 978-0-9795560-5-0Color/67 minutes
$19.95
10+ $17.95
To purchase go to http://mentalhealthrecovery.com/store/product39.html
