Mental Health and Substance Use Services

Anyone in the Island Health region can now contribute data to help inform potential drug poisoning overdose advisories. 

A pair of Cowichan-based Island Health employees are cycling across Canada this summer to raise funds and awareness about mental health, homelessness, substance use and brain injuries - and how these issues are so connected. 

Residents of Vancouver Island living with moderate mental health and substance use challenges now have improved access to publicly-funded, community-based counselling.

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. Niki Ottosen, the creator of an initiative to help people living without homes and Emily Olsen, the founder of a mental health platform to support, educate and destigmatize mental health issues are the winners of Island Health’s 2023 Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Community Service Awards.

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

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.

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.

People can now be alerted via text message about drug-poisoning advisories in the Island Health region thanks to an innovative partnership. 

Thanks to generous financial support from the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, a mobile service for youth wellness will soon be hitting the road.

Sadly, the drug poisoning crisis continues. Innovative actions are underway to address this complex issue.