Psychiatric Emergency Services

holding hands

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital PES in Nanaimo

PES is accessible 24 hours/day, 7 days/week to provide specialized emergency psychiatric and substance use care to adults experiencing emergent mental health and substance use-related crises, in alignment with legislative requirements of the Mental Health Act. 

Types of Services Offered

  • Thorough and rapid specialized assessment, crisis management, and initiation of treatment for mental health and substance use-related crises
  • Diagnosis, support and education, and crisis intervention:
    • De-escalation and symptom management
    • Medication initiation
    • Recovery planning
    • Review of individuals’ existing resources/support networks in the community
  • Substance-use screening, risk assessment, and determination of the most appropriate intervention including harm reduction services
  • Referrals to the most appropriate level of care, including inpatient admission or referral to outpatient services and community resources
  • Safety and discharge planning

Eligibility Criteria 

  • No referral is necessary to come to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital; transfers to PES are determined by the Emergency Room Physician following assessment 
  • Adults 17 years or older experiencing emergent mental health and/or substance use-related crises

How to Access 

  1. Go to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
  2. Speak to the Emergency Triage nurse who will assess current emergency health needs
  3. Remain in the main Emergency Department for further assessment and treatment for any physical health conditions 
  4. The Emergency Department physician will determine if a patient is to be assessed by a psychiatrist (not every patient who presents to PES will be assessed by a psychiatrist).

If you are in a situation that involves immediate risk of harm to self or others, please call 9-1-1.

As always, please remember to use your EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT wisely.

right-care-right-place.jpg

General Information on Psychiatric Emergency Services

Referral Required?
Not required

Learn About

News & Events

people walking from helicopter

Herculean effort supports cancer patients during Highway 4 wildfire closure 

The impact of the Cameron Lake wildfires and resulting Highway 4 closure on people living and working in Port Alberni, Tofino and other nearby communities has been immense, including those requiring specialized cancer care. Despite being cut off from the critical medical services they needed, the devoted cancer care teams at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) and BC Cancer – Victoria jumped into action to ensure cancer patients got the care they needed.

Read more

temporary service interruption extended

Temporary Saanich Peninsula Hospital Emergency Department Service Hours Extended 

Due to ongoing physician recruitment challenges and to continue to support local residents with health-care service access they need during daytime and evening hours when the Saanich Peninsula Hospital (SPH) emergency department is busiest, Island Health is extending a temporary overnight closure of the emergency department.

Read more

image of temporary service interruption

Temporary service interruption at Port Hardy Hospital emergency department

Due to a temporary shortage of nursing coverage, the Port Hardy Hospital (PHH) emergency department (ED) will be closed for the remainder of August 17, beginning immediately.

Read more