MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
free child and youth mental health services
Confident Parents: Thriving Kids
Confident Parents: Thriving Kids helps parents develop skills and strategies to support children aged 3-12 years to manage anxiety or behaviour challenges, through a series of online videos (for anxiety) or workbooks (for behaviour) and activities, supported by coaching sessions by phone.
Coaching sessions can be scheduled during day, evening and weekend hours. Both program streams are based on strategies shown to be effective.
The service is free to all residents of British Columbia. A doctor's referral is required
Confident Parents: Thriving Kids helps parents develop skills and strategies to support children aged 3-12 years to manage anxiety or behaviour challenges, through a series of online videos (for anxiety) or workbooks (for behaviour) and activities, supported by coaching sessions by phone.
Coaching sessions can be scheduled during day, evening and weekend hours. Both program streams are based on strategies shown to be effective.
The service is free to all residents of British Columbia. A doctor's referral is required
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
A provincial resource centre that provides help navigating the mental health system. They provide information and resources on a wide range of mental health and substance use challenges affecting children and youth, peer support from Parent Peer Support Workers (FamilySmart® Parents in Residence), resources and information for individuals of any age with an eating disorder or a disordered eating concern, options for support, treatment and networks in BC and free educational events for parents, as well as school and health professionals. Parents, caregivers and trusted adults can contact the service for help and advice.
Address: Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
BC Children's Hospital, Healthy Minds Centre, Entrance #85, Room P3-302, 3rd floor
4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
A provincial resource centre that provides help navigating the mental health system. They provide information and resources on a wide range of mental health and substance use challenges affecting children and youth, peer support from Parent Peer Support Workers (FamilySmart® Parents in Residence), resources and information for individuals of any age with an eating disorder or a disordered eating concern, options for support, treatment and networks in BC and free educational events for parents, as well as school and health professionals. Parents, caregivers and trusted adults can contact the service for help and advice.
Address: Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
BC Children's Hospital, Healthy Minds Centre, Entrance #85, Room P3-302, 3rd floor
4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
- Phone: 604-875-2084 or Toll-free from anywhere in BC: 1-800-665-1822 Email: keltycentre@cw.bc.ca
- Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Closed on statutory holidays)
- Use of the Kelty Mental Health Resource is free
Foundry BC
Foundry offers young people aged 12-24 years health and wellness resources, services and supports across BC.This includes contact details of Foundry Centres, Community Services, Peer Support, School Counsellors, Programs, Apps and Tools and Healthcare Professionals. Since the pandemic they now offer Virtual Drop-in Counselling sessions, peer support check-ins and group offerings to young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers.
Try the Foundry Pathfinder - A Four Step Tool to help you find personalized support options
No referral is required, no assessment is required and the service is free and confidential
Foundry offers young people aged 12-24 years health and wellness resources, services and supports across BC.This includes contact details of Foundry Centres, Community Services, Peer Support, School Counsellors, Programs, Apps and Tools and Healthcare Professionals. Since the pandemic they now offer Virtual Drop-in Counselling sessions, peer support check-ins and group offerings to young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers.
Try the Foundry Pathfinder - A Four Step Tool to help you find personalized support options
No referral is required, no assessment is required and the service is free and confidential
Bounce Back
A free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth aged 15+ years manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.
Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.
A doctor's referral is required
A free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth aged 15+ years manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry.
Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.
A doctor's referral is required
My Anxiety Plan (MAP) - Self-directed therapy (CBT)
The MAP program was created for children with mild to moderate anxiety problems. It is based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence-based psychological treatment that was developed through decades of scientific research and has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety problems. MAP is a resource for parents and caregivers to “coach” anxious children or teens using practical strategies and tools to manage anxiety. MAP includes 6 units with 46 lessons. There is also a large selection of other useful free resources available on the website.
You can register for free and use the service by clicking the link here
The MAP program was created for children with mild to moderate anxiety problems. It is based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence-based psychological treatment that was developed through decades of scientific research and has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety problems. MAP is a resource for parents and caregivers to “coach” anxious children or teens using practical strategies and tools to manage anxiety. MAP includes 6 units with 46 lessons. There is also a large selection of other useful free resources available on the website.
You can register for free and use the service by clicking the link here
Child & Youth Mental Health Intake Clinics
If you have major concerns about your child's mental health you can call or attend a Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) intake clinic for children
aged 0-18 years.
Children, youth and families can attend an intake interview which lasts about 45-90 minutes. Children aged 13+ are strongly advised to attend this interview. Youth also have the option of attending the clinic on their own without their parent/caregiver.
You can find out more about what to expect from CYMH services here.
If your child meets a threshold for treatment, these may include individual, family or group therapy or ongoing review by a Psychiatrist.
Contact your local Child and Youth Mental Health Office during regular office hours for more information.
The service is free to all residents of British Columbia. No referral is required
If you have major concerns about your child's mental health you can call or attend a Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) intake clinic for children
aged 0-18 years.
Children, youth and families can attend an intake interview which lasts about 45-90 minutes. Children aged 13+ are strongly advised to attend this interview. Youth also have the option of attending the clinic on their own without their parent/caregiver.
You can find out more about what to expect from CYMH services here.
If your child meets a threshold for treatment, these may include individual, family or group therapy or ongoing review by a Psychiatrist.
Contact your local Child and Youth Mental Health Office during regular office hours for more information.
The service is free to all residents of British Columbia. No referral is required
fee based child and youth mental health services
Low Cost/Free Counselling
Willow Tree Counselling have compiled a list of lower-cost, sliding-scale and free counselling services in Metro Vancouver which is updated quarterly.
You can find the list by cliking on the icon or here
Willow Tree Counselling have compiled a list of lower-cost, sliding-scale and free counselling services in Metro Vancouver which is updated quarterly.
You can find the list by cliking on the icon or here
Finding a Counsellor - BCACC
Counsellors will typically have a master’s degree (MA, MEd, MC).
Counsellors will encourage you to talk about what's bothering your child in order to uncover any root causes and identify their specific ways of thinking. The counsellor may then look to create a plan of action to either help them reconcile their issues help them to find ways of coping. There are a range of different approaches or therapies that can be used. The type of therapy used will depend on the counsellor's preferences, the issues they are facing and the way they think.
If you think a counsellor could help your child, the BCACC website can help you find a registered counsellor that best suits their needs. Click on the icon or here for more information
Please note that the counsellor services listed on this website are not covered by MSP
Those with extended health benefits may have part of the cost covered by their plan
and a doctor's note/referral is not usually required
Please check your individual plan for more information
Counsellors will typically have a master’s degree (MA, MEd, MC).
Counsellors will encourage you to talk about what's bothering your child in order to uncover any root causes and identify their specific ways of thinking. The counsellor may then look to create a plan of action to either help them reconcile their issues help them to find ways of coping. There are a range of different approaches or therapies that can be used. The type of therapy used will depend on the counsellor's preferences, the issues they are facing and the way they think.
If you think a counsellor could help your child, the BCACC website can help you find a registered counsellor that best suits their needs. Click on the icon or here for more information
Please note that the counsellor services listed on this website are not covered by MSP
Those with extended health benefits may have part of the cost covered by their plan
and a doctor's note/referral is not usually required
Please check your individual plan for more information
Find a Psychologist - BC Psychological Association (BCPA)
Psychologists will typically have a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD).
Psychologists have professional training and clinical skills to diagnose and help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems including children and youth who feel depressed, angry, or anxious for a long time, those who want help for a chronic condition that is interfering with their lives or those with short-term problems they want help navigating, such as grieving the death of a family member. Some common types of therapy used by psychologists include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal, humanistic, psychodynamic, or combinations of a few therapy styles.
If you think a psychologist could help you, the BCPA website can help you find a registered psychologist that best suits your child's needs. Click on the icon or here for more information
Please note that psychologist services are not covered by MSP
Those with extended health benefits may have part of the cost covered by their plan
and a doctor's note/referral is not usually required
Please check your individual plan for more information
Psychologists will typically have a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD).
Psychologists have professional training and clinical skills to diagnose and help people learn to cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems including children and youth who feel depressed, angry, or anxious for a long time, those who want help for a chronic condition that is interfering with their lives or those with short-term problems they want help navigating, such as grieving the death of a family member. Some common types of therapy used by psychologists include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal, humanistic, psychodynamic, or combinations of a few therapy styles.
If you think a psychologist could help you, the BCPA website can help you find a registered psychologist that best suits your child's needs. Click on the icon or here for more information
Please note that psychologist services are not covered by MSP
Those with extended health benefits may have part of the cost covered by their plan
and a doctor's note/referral is not usually required
Please check your individual plan for more information