Outpatient Treatment for Mental Health

Urgent and Adult Short Term Assessment and Treatment

Short Term Assessment and Treatment programs provide specific therapy to deal with acute mental health issues. Clients are assessed by a clinician and may receive brief problem focused one-to-one or group therapy and/or psychiatric consultation. If appropriate, individuals may be referred on to other services.

Urgent Short Term Assessment and Treatment (USTAT) Victoria

Urgent Short Term Assessment and Treatment (USTAT) provides short-term individual psychotherapy for patients in crisis, at risk, or in severe distress.  With this service, clients are assigned to a primary therapist who does an initial assessment and establishes treatment goals.  A team of psychiatrists is available as needed for consultation and follow up.   

1250 Quadra St.
Victoria, BC  V8W 2K7
Phone:  250.519-3544
Fax:  250.519.3545

Access to USTAT Victoria is via a primary care provider referral faxed to Intake.

Adult Short Term Assessment and Treatment (ASTAT)

The Adult Short Term Assessment and Treatment (ASTAT) team provides short term services to adults with serious mental health conditions.  Staff members are educated in both mental health and substance use issues.  Attendance is voluntary.  A therapist works with individuals to help them achieve their mental health goals.

Services Provided:

  • Individual therapy
  • Group psycho-education
  • Psychiatric assessment
  • Community resource information
  • Connecting individuals to other appropriate services

Counselling Services – Community Based 

In partnership with community-based service providers, Island Health is expanding access to counselling services for people experiencing moderate severity mental health and/or substance use concerns. A range of counselling services are available depending on the contracted service provider. Services include in-person and/or virtual counselling. Counselling sessions are time limited: Up to 12 sessions are available. These services are in addition to counseling services provided through MHSU programs.
Referrals to these counselling services is required. This occurs through the local Island Health intake office. 

Mental Health Counselling Services:  

•    For youth and adults aged nineteen (19) and older who require mental health counselling and support services to manage issues of moderate severe mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety and situational crisis.
•    Clients with mild mental health concern may be referred for services in order to address the concern before it escalates in severity; these are assessed on a case-by-case basis as capacity for services permits. 

Substance Use Counselling Services:  

•    Services to youth and adults aged nineteen (19) and older who require substance use counselling and support services to treat or manage substance use issues of moderate severity. This is defined based on the DSM 5 as individuals with three to five (3-5) symptoms, indicating moderate substance use disorder. 
•    Clients must be interested and able to engage in addictions counselling in regards to their substance (ie able to attend sessions not in withdrawal or intoxicated). 
 

Campbell River
207-1040 Shoppers Row
Campbell River, BC V9W 2C6
Phone: 250-850-2620
Fax: 250-850-2464 

Courtenay
941C England Avenue
Courtenay, BC V9N 2N7
Phone: 250-331-8524
Fax: 250-331-8525 

Duncan
3088 Gibbins Road
Duncan, BC V9L 1E8
Phone: 250.709.3040
Fax: 250.709.3045

Nanaimo
3151 Barons Road
Nanaimo, BC
Phone:  250.739.5880
Fax:  250.739.5879

Port Alberni
4780 Roger Street
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3Z2
Phone: 250.731.1311
Fax: 250.731.1312

Port Hardy
Port Hardy Mental Health and Substance Use Services
7070 Shorncliffe Avenue
Box 1290
Port Hardy, BC   
V0N 2P0
Phone:  250.902.6051
Fax:  250.902.6052

Port McNeill
Port McNeill Mental Health and Substance Use Services
2750 Kingcome Place
Box 548
Port McNeill, BC   
V0N 2R0
Phone:  250.956.4461
Fax:  250.956-6813

Salt Spring Island
102 – 321 Lower Ganges Road (Also the 3rd floor)
Ganges BC  V8K 2V4
Phone: 250-538-4849
Fax: 250-538-4816

Ucluelet
272 Main Street, PO Box 277
Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
Phone: 250.726.1282
Fax: 250.726.2681

General Information on Outpatient Treatment for Mental Health

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Please see above for location details.

News & Events

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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Nanaimo’s Car 54 partnership drives care and connections for people in crisis

Nanaimo’s Car 54 partnership drives care and connections for people in crisis

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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man in white t-shirt looking into camera

New Resilience and Safety Grants

In order to expand collaborative opportunities, Island Health is allocating up to $1 million for a new grant program aimed at helping improve mental health, mitigate the harms associated with illicit substance use and build youth resilience.

Read more