Province adds $5M to expand virtual mental health services

Photo: CTV News

Premier Horgan

The provincial government is spending $5 million to expand mental health services to the virtual realm.

"Everyone is feeling stress, anxiety, depression and disconnection from what the world was supposed to be," said Premier John Horgan during a teleconference announcing the new programs.

"We can't necessarily go and visit people face-to-face, we can't meet people in large groups, but we can certainly meet with people with technologies that have proven to be very, very effective, not just for front line workers and continuing our interaction in the work world, but with schools and social interaction."

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy indicated the province is working with several agencies, including the Canadian Mental Health Association and BC Psychological Association to deliver the new, and expanded services.

The programs announced Thursday include:

• Providing more access to online programs for mental health by expanding the BounceBack program. BounceBack provides online coaching and the Living Life to the Full program, which helps people deal with life challenges and learn self-management skills (CMHA-BC)
• Expanding access to no- and low-cost community counselling programs, including those that serve immigrant and refugee populations, and enabling them to be delivered virtually
• Increasing access to online peer support and system navigation (CMHA-BC)
• Providing virtual supports for youth aged 12 to 24 by making Foundry services available around the province through voice, video and chat (FoundryBC)
• Providing more online tools and resources to help people assess and manage their own mental health
• Supporting front-line health-care workers through a new online hub and providing virtual peer support (CMHA-BC)
• A new online psychological support service for health-care workers (BC Psychological Association).

"While we know these physically distancing measures are temporary and in everyone's interests, it's important to recognize both the immediate and long-term impacts this pandemic can have on people's mental health and well-being," said Darcy.

"Front-line services providers are giving everything they possible can, they're pouring their hearts and their souls into meeting the growing and changing mental health needs in our communities. But, they cannot keep pace with the growing demands for help.

"We know staying connected, while staying apart is more important now than ever before."

Several of the services are available online now, while others will become available April 20.

Click here for more information on program availability.