There will continue to be low-cost and free options for adults experiencing mental health issues in BC, as the Province says they will be renewing funding to support an array of counselling services.
On Monday, the BC Government announced they will be investing $6.7 million to continue providing free and low-cost adult mental-health or addictions counselling.
That will span across 44 community-based organizations in the province, including urban, rural and Indigenous communities, who will all receive funding to provide supports.
"When someone takes the courageous step of reaching out for mental-health support, services must be there for them," said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.
"Over the past six years, thousands of people across B.C. have received low- and no-cost counselling, many for the very first time. With this investment, we're ensuring that people can continue to find affordable, life-changing mental-health care when they need it most."
According to the Province, organizations have provided more than 362,000 counselling sessions since they launched low- and no-cost counselling services in 2019, with 72,000 people accessing counselling for the first time.
The funding is administered through the Community Counselling Fund, care of the Community Action Initiative (CAI), which is a non-profit organization that provides grant and training opportunities for organizations across BC.
The most common needs this year have reportedly been trauma, grief and loss, isolation, and economic hardship.
Out of the 44 community-based organizations receiving the grant in BC, eight are located on Vancouver Island, including:
"There's strength in diversity, so we're offering a range of mental-health counselling," says Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island.
"To meet people where they are, today we're investing in community counselling services in Nanaimo and across B.C. Counsellors will also connect a person to vital housing, employment and addiction treatment to support mental health."
To learn more about accessing mental-health and substance-use supports in BC, head online here.