[News] Ongoing support, services benefit adults with mental-health issues

“When someone takes the courageous step of reaching out for mental-health support, services must be there for them,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Over the past six years, thousands of people across B.C. have received low- and no-cost counselling, many for the very first time. With this investment, we’re ensuring that people can continue to find affordable, life-changing mental-health care when they need it most.”

Since the Province launched low- and no-cost counselling services in 2019, organizations have provided more than 362,000 counselling sessions, with 72,000 people accessing counselling for the first time.

Government is investing $6.7 million to continue providing free or low-cost adult mental-health or addictions counselling services. Forty-four community-based organizations in all health authorities in the province, including urban, rural and Indigenous communities, will receive funding to provide supports.

The Community Action Initiative (CAI), which is a non-profit organization that provides grant and training opportunities for organizations across B.C., administers the funding through the Community Counselling Fund. Since 2019, the Province has invested more than $43 million in counselling capacity in communities. The most common needs this year have been trauma, grief and loss, isolation, and economic hardship.

Providing counselling services is one part of government’s work to build a full continuum of mental-health and addictions care that works for everyone. In addition, the Province continues to add and expand care, including early intervention and prevention, treatment and recovery services, supportive and complex-care housing and more.