Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) at Vancouver General Hospital
- 803 West 12th Ave. Vancouver, BC V5Z 1N1
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- Main: (604) 675-3700
- Fax: (604) 675-3705
Need help immediately?
If there is a life-threatening safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433
BC Crisis Line: 310-6789
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717
Harm reduction: Toward the Heart
The AAC helps individuals and families access mental health and substance use services in Vancouver. Services include referral intake, on-site assessment, crisis intervention, and short-term treatment.
The goal is to connect a person to the right services and resources at the right time. We strive to provide low-barrier access to client-centred care and support. Service is available by phone or walk-in, in the Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre building on the Vancouver General Hospital campus.
Services provided at AAC
Services can be provided by phone, in the office, virtually or by outreach.
- Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) assessments.
- Referral to Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) MHSU services.
- Information and support to access VCH Addictions Services.
- Admissions to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) inpatient psychiatry.
- Crisis intervention and support.
Any family, caregiver, or concerned other can call AAC to report concerns, provide information and request services for a person requiring mental health intervention. Family, caregivers or concerned others can also receive information, education and support. AAC can inform and collaborate with family and caregivers within the limitations of maintaining client confidentiality.
Services not provided at AAC
Services not provided by AAC include:
- Prescription refills
- Counselling or referral to counselling services
- ADHD assessments
- Referral to private psychiatrists as this must be provided through a family physician
- Medical notes for work or school (can be provided by a family physician)
- Housing applications
- Disability applications
- Court-ordered assessments
- Second opinion
Access and intake process
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Check eligibility
Vancouver residents aged 17 and over experiencing non-life threatening mental health and substance use issues.
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Call or walk in for intake
Call or walk in to initiate your care through the AAC.
Walk-in: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 7 days a week.
Phone availability: 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 365 days a yearIntake will begin with a screening and assessment conducted by an AAC clinician (nurse, social worker or MHSU clinician). The clinician will then determine the appropriate care pathway in collaboration with the client and caregivers. This applies to any client contacting AAC as a walk-in or by phone. Most people do not see a psychiatrist on their first visit to the clinic unless the client requires urgent intervention and is likely in need of hospitalization. The wait times for walk-in clients can be highly variable and unpredictable.
Translation services are available at AAC as needed. Translators are available either in person, virtually, or by phone.
Eligible adults
Self-refer to the AAC by calling or walking into the clinic.Family physicians and external agencies
Call the AAC to discuss a patient’s care and send relevant collateral via fax. Please fill the AAC referral form.
The RACE (Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise) line is also available for family physicians seeking psychiatry expertise Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.http://www.raceconnect.ca/
Local Calls: 604-696-2131
Toll Free: 1-877-696-2131
Hours of operation
- Monday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Walk-in: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. 7 days a week. Phone availability: 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 365 days a year
How to get here
Joseph & Rosalie Segal Family Health Centre 803 West 12th Avenue, Level 1
If walking up from Broadway St, turn up Willow St and walk uphill, crossing West 10th Ave. Walk along the green space pathway until you see our building on your right-hand side. This is the East entrance on Level 1 of the building.
If walking down from West 12th Ave, use the crosswalk located between Heather St and Laurel St to cross West 12th Ave, walking downhill. Our building is visible from here, straight ahead as you are crossing the street. This is the South entrance on Level 2 of the building.
Parking
If you are using a VCH Parkade, locate your parkade on the map and follow the red arrows to our building. Accessible parking zones are located within each parkade.
Drop-off zone
If you are using the patient drop-off zone on the South side of the building, enter the VGH campus from Heather St. Drive straight until you can turn right, following the building along your right-hand side. You will see a covered area on your right-hand side for drop-off and pick-up.
Please note: There is no parking in the drop-off and pick-up zone. Vehicles parked in this area will be towed at the owner's expense.
Message from our psychiatrists
We are honoured at the Access and Assessment Centre to provide an accessible, integrated, interdisciplinary coordinated continuum of care as a single point of service access for adults in Vancouver.
As psychiatrists, we conduct comprehensive assessments utilizing non-urgent, urgent and emergency inventions with the aims of early service provision and fostering stability in the community. We are a group of experienced physicians with a keen desire to help others and various interest areas and specialty backgrounds.
Resources
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Access & Assessment Centre brochure
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Vancouver Coastal Distress Line
24/7 provincial access for anyone thinking of or affected by suicide or concerned about others’ safety.
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Mental Health Support Line
24/7 provincial access to emotional support, information and resources.
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Online crisis support for youth
12:00 pm to 1:00 am daily
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Online crisis support for adults aged 25 and over
12:00 pm to 1:00 am daily
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ACCESS Central
A screening and referral line for different detox services.
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Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
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bc211
Information and referral services for specialized helplines. Dial or text 211.
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BC Schizophrenia Society
(604) 270-7841 / 1-888-888-0029
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Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)
Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.