Mental health and substance use services in Vancouver

Access Central

A phone line providing screening and information to substance use services and resources for adults ages 19+, with a focus on bed-based withdrawal management (detox).​ Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Voicemails left after-hours are answered the following morning.

Substance Use Counselling

Central Addiction Intake Team (CAIT)

Supports clients with their recovery goals. CAIT coordinates the referrals to VCH Vancouver Substance Use Support Recovery and Treatment beds programs. CAIT allied health staff ensure that clients are matched to the recovery bed-based program that aligns with their goals and needs.

Vancouver Adult Substance Use Counselling and Groups

How to access Vancouver adult substance use counselling and groups.

Addiction Medicine - Multiple Vancouver locations

Access to methadone treatment programs for adults ages 19+ with opiate addiction living in Vancouver. Offers clinical assessment, counselling, specialized treatment planning, aftercare, and follow-up. Various interventions to address medical, psychological, social, and emotional concerns are used.

Downtown Eastside Connections

Drug checking - various locations

Drug checking is a harm reduction service that allows people to determine what is in their substances and potentially take action to reduce the risk of any associated harms.

Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (DTCV)

DTCV is an alternative court that uses a therapeutic, problem solving approach to sentences clients who have a history of addiction. VCH is contracted to provide the treatment program. Learn more on the Provincial Court of British Columbia website.

Harm Reduction Supplies & Needle Distribution Sites - various locations

Needle exchange services for anyone wanting to dispose of used needles safely and legally. We also provide clean needles, sterile water, alcohol wipes and health information to encourage safer injecting practices. The goal of our needle exchange services is to reduce the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and other diseases. Needle exchange services also reduce the number of discarded needles in public and the incidence of needle-stick injuries.

Innercity Intensive Case Management Team (ICMT)

Intensive Case Management Teams (ICMT) provide a support role for people who experience severe substance abuse problems, chronic unmet medical needs, and multiple barriers for accessing services. Services are offered on a completely outreach basis and the goal is to stabilize clients and connect to appropriate long-term services.

Overdose Outreach Team

Pregnancy Outreach Program at Sheway

Health and social service support to pregnant women and women with infants dealing with drug and alcohol issues.

Sisters Together Active in Recovery (STAR)

An outpatient treatment program that offers free treatment options for women having problems related to the use of drugs or alcohol.

Substance Use Treatment & Response Team (START)

Urgent and Primary Care Centres

Vancouver Addiction Matrix Program (VAMP)

A 16-week abstinence-based intensive day treatment program for adults aged 18 and over living in Vancouver. VAMP also offers a youth stream that serves young adults aged 16 to 25 years old.

Rapid Access Addictions Clinic (RAAC)

Located in St. Paul's Hospital (Providence Health Care)

Detox services - various locations

Adult withdrawal management services, also known as detox, provide nursing care and physician support for a safe, supportive environment for people experiencing acute withdrawal from substances.

Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

Helps people ages 17 to 64 access mental health and substance use services in Vancouver. The AAC is located in the Joseph & Rosalie Segal and Family Health Centre at Vancouver General Hospital. Services include referral intake, on-site assessment, crisis intervention, and short-term treatment.

Acquired Brain Injury Inpatient Program at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Referrals required. Provides specialized rehabilitation services for older adolescents and adults who have sustained a brain injury.

Acquired Brain Injury Outpatient Program at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

Referral required. Provides time-limited, goal-oriented outpatient assessment and intervention for people living with brain injury.

Adult Mental Health Team - Raven Song

West End Mental Health Team - Three Bridges

Adult Mental Health Teams - Kitsilano-Fairview

Strathcona Mental Health Team

Grandview-Woodlands Mental Health Team

South Mental Health & Substance Use Team

Northeast Mental Health Team

Adult Intensive Tertiary Mental Health Rehabilitation at VGH

Inpatient service for people ages 19 and up with complex mental illness that has stabilized to the degree that acute treatment is no longer required but rehabilitation is still required.

Adult Tertiary Mental Health Assessment & Treatment Service at VGH

Referral required. Specialized services for people ages 19 and up with serious and long-lasting mental illnesses. Some people may also have needs related to drugs or alcohol.

Alzheimer's Disease Related Disorders Clinic at UBC Hospital

Referral required. Provides assessment, diagnosis, care and support for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders and their families.

BC Centre for Sexual Medicine (BCCSM) at Blusson Spinal Cord Centre - VGH

Referral needed. Provide consultations and short-term treatment recommendations for most patients with sexual problems, including those of interest, arousal, ejaculation, orgasm and/or sexual pain. Therapy is possible in this clinic for some, but not all, sexual concerns.

Community Rehabilitation and Resource Team

Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI)

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital

Contemporary ECT is a safe and effective medical procedure involving the production of a controlled therapeutic seizure while the client is asleep. A psychiatrist referral is required.

Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC Hospital

The outpatient Ketamine Intervention Program helps adults who have not benefited from other antidepressants and therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD). Talk with your psychiatrist to discuss eligibility for the Ketamine Intervention Program at UBC.

Mental Health and Substance Use Outpatient Services at VGH

Provides assessment, consultation and time-limited group therapy treatment for adults ages 19 and up.

Mental Health & Substance Use Supported Housing (MHSUSH)

Mood Disorders Clinic at UBC Hospital (UBCH)

Provides a consultation clinic focusing on depression and bipolar disorders, in which clients receive careful assessment, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations. Referrals are made by Family Physicians, psychiatrists, and other specialists.

Primary Care Clinic - Raven Song Community Health Centre

Primary Care Clinic - Three Bridges Community Health Centre (West End)

Primary Care Clinic - Pender Community Health Centre

Primary Care Clinic - Downtown Community Health Centre

Primary Care Clinic - Heatley Community Health Centre

Primary Care Clinic - West Vancouver Community Health Centre

Regional ADHD Clinic at Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre (VGH)

Referral needed. Short-term voluntary, evidence-based ADHD assessments and treatment to people ages 17 to 35 living in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region who present with symptoms consistent with ADHD.

STEPS Mental Health Rehabilitation Program

STEPS provides a wide range of individual and group mental health rehabilitation services in the areas of personal life, leisure, education and work.

Suicide Attempt, Follow-up, Education & Research (S.A.F.E.R.)

Trout Lake Tertiary Rehabilitation Unit - Lakeview Care Centre

A specialized facility that provides 24-hour care to clients with chronic mental illnesses. The unit mainly serves clients with a Self Induced Water Intoxication diagnosis and a diagnosed chronic mental illness.

Vancouver Integrated Supervision Unit (VISU)

Vancouver Junction

Vancouver Mobile Crisis De-Escalation Team (MoDe)

Provides non-police same-day mental health and substance use crisis support to people ages 17 and older in Vancouver.

Venture Crisis Home

A short-term crisis intervention, counselling and stabilization program for mental health clients ages 19 and over as an alternative to hospitalization. Referrals are made by Mental Health Team case managers, and hospital clinical nurse leaders or clinical manager leaders.

Residential Historical Abuse Program (RHAP)

RHAP funds trauma-specific counselling for adults who were sexually abused as children or youth while living in the care of the British Columbia provincial government in placements including foster homes, group homes, and certain residential facilities.

CMHA Vancouver-Fraser

Provides mental health promotion and mental illness recovery-focused programs and services for people of all ages and their families.

Mental wellness - YMCA BC

Offers support for those who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety or stress.

MoodFx

An interactive website designed to help people with depression and anxiety by providing simple and scientifically valid methods.

MDABC

A nonprofit organization that provides treatment, support, education, and hope of recovery for people living with a mood disorder.

Spotlight on Mental Health

Issues, Events and Ideas that Sustain Our Community

Looking Glass Foundation

Support individuals affected by eating disorders and disordered eating through innovative, accessible programs and services.

QMUNITY counselling program

QMUNITY is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives.

Toward the Heart

BCCDC harm reduction services

Young Bears Lodge

A culturally-based, holistic healing lodge for Indigenous youth looking to make changes to their relationship with drugs or alcohol.

Watari Counselling & Support Services Society

Provides community programs and a counselling team to people in the downtown eastside and the surrounding communities.

Mental Health and Counselling - Jewish Family Services

Mental Health and Counselling programs provide therapy services to youth, adults, seniors, couples, and families.

The Kettle Society

Empowers people facing mental illness and substance use challenges by meeting urgent needs and connecting them to long-term support.

Vancouver School Board

British Columbia ACT Advance Practice

Provides enhanced, wrap-around care and treatment to people living with complex mental health or concurrent mental health and substance use disorders.