Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU)

The Vancouver Division of Family Practice offers comprehensive DBT resources and innovative training programs to elevate patient care, support healthcare providers, and improve practice environments.

With funding from Shared Care, we provide capacity-building opportunities through individual and cohort-based learning programs that equip primary care providers with evidence-based tools to effectively manage Affective Instability.

Learn more about the DBT initiative and access educational resources here.

In 2024, the MHA Committee reserved 80 seats for a two-part webinar series on the assessment and treatment of Adult ADHD in primary care, hosted by psychiatrist and nationally recognized ADHD expert Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall. The sessions supported family physicians in building confidence around identification, diagnosis, and management—including medication strategies and psychoeducational supports.

To keep the learning going, we’re now highlighting a series of ADHD Case Discussion Lunch & Learns hosted by Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall: a chance for providers to bring real-world questions, explore clinical scenarios, and learn together in a supportive, peer-based environment.

The Vancouver Division of Family Practice, in partnership with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) service providers across Vancouver, is working to improve support and care for patients with AUD in primary care settings. Guided by Canada’s Alcohol and Health Guidelines from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), this initiative aims to strengthen case management and social prescribing for AUD, with a long-term goal of reducing pressures on substance use programs in the healthcare system by 2027.

Learn more about this Shared Care project here.

It is hard enough carrying mental health concerns, finding the right kind of therapy shouldn’t be. Choosing Therapy helps individuals seeking private therapy navigate to the right support. It also explains the differences between psychologists, clinical counsellors, and psychiatrists to help patients make informed choices. Listings are sourced through professional associations and shared in partnership with the Vancouver Division of Family Practice.

The FP Collaborators Network prototype tested the feasibility of virtual mental health assessment and treatment planning for Vancouver primary care providers and their patients. From April 2023 to March 2024, four specially trained family physicians with an interest in mental health (the FP Collaborators) were supported to offer 104 virtual clinical sessions to assess and develop treatment plans for patients with mild to moderate mental health concerns, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, and bipolar disorder.

Referrals were made through the existing IPT system. Of 102 total referrals, 61 patients were assessed. Evaluation findings showed strong uptake, positive feedback from both patients and providers, and broad support for continuing and scaling the model.

For more information about this pilot project, visit here.

Physicians don’t have to navigate challenges alone. Our Peer Support Program offers confidential, 1:1 non-clinical support from trained physician peers who understand the unique stresses of medical practice.

Click here to make a request for peer support for yourself or for a colleague.

Learn more about the program here.