In Hospital Care

Acute & Short Term Services

Acute Inpatient Services

Acute psychiatric hospitalization provides multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment services to stabilize acute symptoms in a safe environment.

After stabilization, inpatient services link the patient to community mental health and substance use services for follow-up and continued treatment and recovery.

Communities with acute inpatient services:

Addictions Medicine Consult Service - South Island

An Addiction Medicine Consult Service (AMCS) is available for patients with, or with suspected, Substance Use Disorder admitted to Victoria General, Royal Jubilee or Saanich Peninsula hospitals. The service is available through referral by a patient’s physician while in hospital.

The service supports assessment and diagnosis; symptom management; harm reduction, treatment initiation and discharge planning.

The service includes an Addiction Medicine Physician, an Addiction Social Worker and a Peer Support member from the Umbrella Society. Considering that addiction is a chronic medical condition, the service has a particular emphasis on robust discharge planning so that patients can be strongly connected with a variety of long term addiction support and services in the community.

General Information on In Hospital Care

Referral Required?
Not required
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Present to your nearest hospital if you are in crisis, at risk, or in severe distress.

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News & Events

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Initiatives helping people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges earn Island Health awards

In conjunction with Mental Health Week, Island Health is recognizing two individuals for their efforts to create meaningful change for people struggling with mental health and substance use challenges.

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Nanaimo

Centralization of walk-in mental health and substance use services in Nanaimo

Island Health is centralizing walk-in mental health and substance use (MHSU) services in Nanaimo to one location beginning March 15, 2023.

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Enhanced services are available for people in Nanaimo experiencing mental health and/or substance use crises, thanks to Car 54 – a full-time mental health mobile program that launched in October 2022.

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