Child and youth mental health and substance use resources

Vancouver Couple and Family Institute

Provides individual, couple and family therapy to reach personal goals and build strong bonds in the most important relationships

Families Change

Provides age-appropriate information to help kids, teens, and parents deal with a family break up.

Parenting After Separation Courses (PAS)

Milieu Children and Family Services

Milieu provides family counselling and mediation services to youth and families in Vancouver.

Vancouver Couple and Family Institute

Provides individual, couple and family therapy to reach personal goals and build strong bonds in the most important relationships.

Family Smart

Provides relevant information and support for families parenting young people with mental health concerns.

Wise Parenting

The CART WiseParenting Group is a skills-based program that draws from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

Connect Parent

The Canadian Society for Information Children

Provide information, support and referrals to parents and caregivers related to the care and well-being of families with children 12 years and under.

BC Council for Families

Parents in the Know

Parent Support Services Society

Parent in Residence Program

A Child's Song

Private organization that provides consultation, education, and therapy to families joined through adoption which offers various supports and services.

Confident Parents Thriving Kids

A skill-building program designed to help parents support their children aged 3–12 who are experiencing mild to moderate behaviour challenges.

Sashbear Family Connection

Provides skills, support and hope for family members or friends of someone with emotion dysregulation, to regain balance in their lives.

Here to Help

BC Bereavement Helpline

Resource hub that provides information about where to access grief and loss-specific support.

Charlene Reaveley Children’s Charity Society

Burnaby Hospice

This free group is for teens 13 to 19 who have experienced loss through the death of someone significant through art and music activities, as well as individual sharing and group discussions.

The Lower Mainland Grief Recovery Society

Vancouver Hospice Society

Dealing with Depression Antidepressant Skills for Teens

Information about low mood and depression and practical self-help skills that may be helpful in managing low mood.

Mind Over Mood

Information that help you to understand how we think can significantly influence how we feel.

Mental Health Support

Autism BC

Pacific Autism Family Network

Canucks Autism Network Virtual Youth and Adult Program

Autism Support BC

Autism Information Services British Columbia (AIS BC)

ABLE Clinic - Offices in Surrey, Richmond and West Vancouver

ASD private assessment option.

Westcoast Child Development: Vancouver

ASD private assessment option.

Compass Clinic

Dr. Ryan Chan

Pathfinder Clinic

Dr. Wong & Associates

ASD private assessment option, available in Mandarin.

QMUNITY

A non-profit organization that works to improve LGBTQ2SAI+ lives.

Four Feathers Society

The Four Feathers Society is a tribe of Aboriginals living in British Columbia who self-identify as being two-spirit, gay, lesbian, Transgender, Bi-sexual, Intersex, and/or Queer. The society strives to provide opportunities to its members to strengthen and heal their spirits, hearts, minds and physical well-being.

Catherine White Holeman Wellness

Provides low-barrier wellness and legal services to Two-Sprit, transgender and gender non-conforming people in a way that is respectful and celebratory of clients’ identity and self-expression.

Trans Care BC

Information about mental health and wellness for trans and gender diverse people.

Trans Families

Provides information and support to parents and caregivers, as well as answers to frequently asked questions around gender identity. Offers the option of joining their program to access groups, events, and forums.

Children’s Hospital Gender Clinic

Provides treatment with puberty blockers and/or gender-affirming hormones for transgender and gender-questioning youth.

https://www.vancouversymphony.ca/event/loud-and-queer/

BC Suicide Helpline

Kelty Mental Health | Self-injury

Kelty Mental Health | Suicide

COMPASS Mental Health

Genecept Assay

A genetic test used to inform decision-making when clinicians are prescribing medications and treatments for psychiatric conditions.

BC Children’s Outpatient Psychiatry Referral

Has to be referred by a family doctor.

BC Children Outpatient Clinic

Three Story Clinic

Offers private and public mental health services for children, youth and families

BCACC

All licensed Clinical Counsellors practicing in BC must register with this association. Search on their website by practice and location, a private counsellor in the meantime if you feel an immediate need for counselling.

BC Association of Social Workers

Search on their website by practice area and location.

CMHA Arts and Expressive Therapy

The Art and Expressive Therapy program helps children, ages 6-12, explore their creative selves while nurturing their emotional health.

Counselling BC

Expressive Arts Therapies use digital media or traditional arts and crafts materials to help clients express themselves more effectively.

Sandstory Psychology Services

Sandstory utilizes evidence-based approaches, such as CBT, narrative, & play, to support a wide range of challenges.

Vancouver Art Therapy Institute

Offer both onsite and virtual art therapy sessions in our clinic staffed by students from both of our programs for children over 5, adolescents and adults.

Kids Sports Canada

Athletics4Kids

BC Children’s Hospital OCD Clinic

Provides provincial specialized consultation for children and youth age 6-18 with complex obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders who have not responded to community treatment resources.

International OCD Foundation

Typical treatment approaches may include Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Exposure-and Response Prevention (“ERP”), and may also include medication prescribed by a Doctor or Pediatrician.

Mental Health Literacy

Provides information, recommended strategies, and a child/youth-friendly video about what it can be like to experience OCD.

About Kids Health

Article that provides information for parents about how best to support their child with OCD symptoms.

Anxiety Canada - OCD

Article that provides information for parents about how best to support their child with OCD symptoms.

Book | The OCD Workbook for Kids: Skills to Help Children Manage Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviours

Book | Breaking Free from OCD for Teens: A CBT guide for Young People and their Families

Book | Brain Lock: Free yourself from obsessive-compulsive disorder

Book | Understanding OCD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals

UBCO Psychology Well-Being Clinic

Talk privately about depression, anxiety, substance use, stress and more with a supervised graduate student clinician.

Moving Forward Family Service

Free/sliding scale services. 1:1 mental health coaching, educational and support group, individual, couples and family counselling.

Wellness Together Canada

24/7 virtual support for mental health and substance use for all ages.

Kids Help Phone

Phone: 1-800-668-6868 | Text: 686868

Youth Space

Free online crisis and emotional support chat service for youth under 30 across Canada. IM Chat through website or text 778-783-0177

Mental Health Support Line

Trained workers providing emotional support and resources to those in distress or just needing someone to talk to.

Here2Talk

BGC South Coast BC

PEERS Social Skills Program

A program that is focused on developing and strengthening friendship skills and teach important social behaviours.

Brain Boost Education

Brain Boost offers customized learning programs built around collaboration and engagement.

Constructive Pathways Behavioral Consulting

Happy Oak Behavioral Consulting

Girl Guides of Canada

Girls 5-17 can join and women can volunteer to enjoy camping, travel, educational activities and community service.

Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland

Provide supportive mentoring relationships to youth who may be facing challenges like bullying, isolation, poverty, abuse, social anxiety, low self-esteem, and more.

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver

Empower children and youth to reach their full potential through mentorship.

BeaYOUtiful Foundation

Offers workshops and other youth programs that promote self-esteem and confidence-building in young girls.

KidStart

Provides 1:1 volunteer mentoring program for children 6 to 12 (may extend) who face challenges at home, school, or community.

ArtsUmbrella

Offer various programs to cultivate young people’s creativity in dance, theatre, art and design.

Vancouver Public Library Programs

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

The PEACE Program provides culturally sensitive, trauma-informed and child-centered services for children and youth, aged 3 to 18. Email traumaservices@fsgv.ca or call (604) 874-2938 ext. 4141

Crime Victim Assistance Program

Assists victims, immediate family members and some witnesses in coping with the effects of violent crime.

PLEA ONYX Program

No barrier, fast-response service that aims to educate youth ages 13 to 18 about sexual exploitation and how to stay safe. They offer tailored services to fit youth’s strengths, needs, and circumstances.

Haven

Low-barrier access, under 19, and in active addiction.

Safehouse

Emergency resource, max. timeline is a month. Goals are re-assessed weekly.

Covenant House

Aboriginal Safe House

BYRC – Broadway Youth Resource Center

Oakridge Pediatrics

Granville Pediatrics and Family Clinics

Sunny Hill Health Centre

Occupational Therapy Resources

Look into Occupational Therapy at CAOT

Occupational Therapy Resources

Find OT services at BC Children’s Hospital Occupational Therapy

Speech and Hearing BC

Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in private practice.

BC Cerebral Palsy Association

Services are built on assessing needs and identifying the strengths in our members of all ages.

BC Learning Centers for Children with Dyslexia

Improve the lives of at-risk children identified with dyslexia by providing free of charge tutoring by educators trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach, a proven method that accommodates their specific learning disability.

LDS

Offers inclusive, comprehensive, and expert learning and related supports for learners with suspected or diagnosed learning differences.