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Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU)

Overview

As reported by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in 2021, in any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience mental health concerns or illness. Only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.

There have also been specific impacts on addictions and substance misuse. The most visible is the ongoing opioid crisis, particularly in Vancouver where the number of overdose deaths continue to be reported at horrific numbers.

From a 2008 (but still relevant) Canadian Medical Association report, many Canadians (58%) say they would socialize with a friend who has a mental illness. However, when focusing on addictions, the proportion who say they would socialize with a friend who has an alcohol (32%) or drug addiction (26%) is significantly lower. This suggests that the stigma of addictions is significantly greater than that associated with mental illness, which still requires attention.

The Vancouver Division of Family Practice recognizes the importance of supporting patients through mental health, substance misuse and process addictions within primary care.

An important outcome of this work, has been the development of the tiers of service as a working model for clinical Mental Health navigation in Vancouver. 

Mental Health Resources

Working with the Committee, the Vancouver Division is prioritizing development of MHSU Resources. Please find the latest Resources in the list below. 

Inpatient

Resources coming soon.

Outpatient

  • VCH Access & Assessment Centre
    • Understanding the AAC
    • Referral Form
    • Clinical Paths

Family Doctor & Psychiatry

  • PathwaysBC 
  • RACE Line
  • eCase

Family Doctor

  • PCN Clinical Counselling
  • CBT Skills
  • Community Services Navigation – BC211
  • After Hours support – Healthlink/811
  • Patient Resource to support finding an appropriate Counsellor– Choosing Therapy
  • Patient Mental Health Self Management Resource
  • Contact your CNM for Choosing Therapy Posters & materials for your clinic
  • Child & Youth Mental Health Resource Guide

Self - Care

  • Choosing Therapy
  • Patient Mental Health Self Management Resource
  • Here to Help
  • The difference between Mental Health & Mental Illness

Substance Use

White Paper

The white paper is in progress, please check back soon.

British Columbia Centre on Substance Use

To call the 24/7 Addiction Medicine Clinician Support Line and speak to an Addiction Medicine Specialist, call 778-945-7619.

View the full website.

Alcohol Use Guidelines

In case you missed our workshop ‘Clinical Management of Alcohol Use Disorder’ with BC Centre on Substance Abuse and Dr. Olivia Brooks, here is a collection of information and resources covering the following topics:

  • Overview of the prevalence of alcohol-related harms
  • The epidemiology of alcohol use
  • A review of the Canadian low-risk drinking guidelines
  • Screening and brief interventions
  • Withdrawal management
  • Relapse prevention

View the Initiative

Mental Health & Addictions Committee

To support the Division’s priority, the Mental Health & Addictions Committee was established to improve the delivery of services in Vancouver and growing the capacity of its members in this area of care. The Committee developed a White Paper to support Division advocacy and program development that support family physicians in their practice. Members have told the Vancouver Division* that more than 50% of their panel suffers from mental health and/or addiction conditions. However, appointments related to mental health and addictions take a disproportional amount of time each week.

The Division’s MHA Committee is made up of a dedicated and passionate group of family doctors and who work in tandem with Division staff. To connect with the committee, please reach out to one of the following:

Justin Ho

Director of Membership Engagement & Collaboration

jho@vancouverdivision.com

Anya Phillip

Program Coordinator

aphillip@vancouverdivision.com

Caitlin Houghton

Program Administrator

choughton@vancouverdivision.com

Get In Touch

202 – 777 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7

Main Office: 604-569-2010

Fax: 604-321-5878

 

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Copyright © Vancouver Division of Family Practice. All rights reserved. View the Privacy Policy. Website designed and managed by Rose Agency Inc.

Get In Touch

202 – 777 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7

Main Office: 604-569-2010

Fax: 604-321-5878

 

Contact Us Page

Site Map

  • Work in Vancouver
  • Become a Member
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Are You a Patient?
  • PCN Pages
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  • Initiatives
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Copyright © Vancouver Division of Family Practice. All rights reserved. View the Privacy Policy. Website designed and managed by Rose Agency Inc.

Get In Touch

202 – 777 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J7

Main Office: 604-569-2010

Fax: 604-321-5878

 

Contact Us Page

Site Map

  • Work in Vancouver
  • Become a Member
  • PCN Pages
  • Events
  • Initiatives
  • Resources
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Are You a Patient?
  • Login
Copyright © Vancouver Division of Family Practice. All rights reserved. View the Privacy Policy. Website designed and managed by Rose Agency Inc.
Website designed and managed by Rose Agency Inc.