If you are in distress, you can text WELLNESS to 741741 at any time. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency department.

Home › Resources › British Columbia – focused Mental Health and Substance Use Services and Supports for People Leaving Correctional Settings

British Columbia – focused Mental Health and Substance Use Services and Supports for People Leaving Correctional Settings

There are five Regional Health Authorities (RHA) inBritish Columbia, in addition to the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). Each RHA provides mental health and substance use programs and services in its geographical jurisdiction. Services are broad, including community, acute, and tertiary. The FNHA provides mental health and substance use services for Indigenous clients across the province.

There are also six forensic regional clinics throughout the province that are part of the PHSA and help connect individuals with local and community services, providing a variety of supports while they are transitioning. Community Transition Teams (an extension of the PHSA’s Correctional Health Services) are a unique service in this area, with pilot teams at five correctional facilities. These teams provide supports for individuals transitioning into the community who need resources for opioid use and overdose prevention.

Another notable service is the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction (bcmhsus.ca/our-services/provincial-integrated-mental-health-addiction-programs/burnaby-centre-for-mental-health-addiction).

This unique program is for people living with complex and severe mental illness and substance use needs who have experienced several returns to substance use or whose treatment needs are beyond what local community health resources or health authority can offer. The centre accepts people on probation as well as people using methadone or Suboxone.

Note: this province-specific resource comes from the National Inventory of Mental Health and Substance Use Services and Supports. On that page, you will find the national inventory and links to the inventories for the other provinces and territories.

Download the PDF

Feedback Form

Hey, thanks for checking out this resource. After you’ve seen it, we’d love to learn a bit more about your interests and how you found us. Was the information what you looking for? Was it helpful? We’ll use any feedback you provide to further improve what we do. In appreciation, you’ll be automatically entered in a contest where you could win a cash prize or gift certificate. *

Disclaimer:

  • Completion of the form is voluntary.
  • The information collected by the Mental Health Commission of Canada will only be used for the purpose described above.
Are you willing to be contacted within 3 to 6 months for a short follow-up survey?
In case of “Yes” – please provide an email address
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

SHARE THIS PAGE

RELATED

Anti-Stigma Research Backgrounder
This backgrounder highlights emerging data on structural and self-stigma experienced by individuals with mental health or substance use disorder in Canada. The backgrounder provides an overview of purpose, key findings,...
READ MORE

Fact Sheet: Common Mental Health Myths and Misconceptions
What am I getting wrong about mental health? While people in Canada are talking about mental health more than ever, misconceptions in the media and elsewhere are keeping the stigma...
READ MORE

Veteran Experiences with Cannabis and Mental Health
Despite the strong interest in the relationship between cannabis use and mental health in the Veteran and Veteran family community, published research on the topic in Canada is limited, with...
READ MORE