Who we are

We’re stronger together

The BC Partners are a group of seven leading mental health and substance use non-profit organizations supported by BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

Mental health and substance use issues are complex. By coming together to share knowledge, resources, and support, we can help all British Columbians live healthy, meaningful lives.

Anxiety Canada

Anxiety Canada™ is a global leader in developing free, online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety. We are the developers of the free, award-winning MindShift™ CBT app, which helps Canadians manage anxiety using scientifically proven strategies. We also develop trusted services and programs, including our #OurAnxietyStories podcast series, MindShift Groups and online anxiety management courses. A registered charity and non-profit organization, Anxiety Canada was established more than 20 years ago to reduce the barriers of anxiety and help people live the lives they want.

www.anxietycanada.com

British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by families and friends of people with schizophrenia. Since then, BCSS has grown into a province-wide family support system. We are dedicated to supporting each other, educating the public, raising funds for research, and advocating for better services for people with schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illnesses. We envision a province where those affected by schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses receive effective treatment and support, and family members are an essential partner within the mental health system.

www.bcss.org

Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is Canada’s most established mental health charity and the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health. Through our family of 14 branches across the province, CMHA BC Division provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to, and in partnership with, our communities. With a core belief that good mental health is essential to overall health and wellbeing, we help people build mental health skills and resilience for themselves and their families.

www.cmha.bc.ca

Canadian Institute for Substance Use and Research, University of Victoria

The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), formerly the Centre for Addictions Research of BC, is a network of individuals and groups dedicated to the study of substance use and addiction in support of community-wide efforts to promote health and reduce harm. Since 2003, our research has been used to inform a broad range of projects, reports, publications and initiatives aimed at helping all people in Canada and beyond to live happier, healthier lives — whether they use substances or not.

www.cisur.ca

FamilySmart

We committed ourselves over 20 years ago to child and youth mental health, and our commitment has only grown over time. Exceptional care and caring is what children, youth and families deserve and it’s what we stay committed to. We help children and young people by helping their family and other caring adults. Our team of Parent Peer Support Workers provide emotional support, information, resources, and help in navigating services for parents and caregivers of a child, youth or young adult with a mental health and/or substance use challenge. FamilySmart programs are recognized as an evidence-informed standard of excellence for any individual, program, or organization working to achieve better mental health outcomes for children, youth and young adults, regardless of setting, sector, or service system.

www.familysmart.ca

Jessie’s Legacy

Jessie’s Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore, provides eating disorders prevention education, resources, and support for BC youth, families, educators and professionals. We are also the lead for the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness Campaign (PEDAW), a province-wide effort to raise awareness around prevention, early intervention, and treatment of eating disorders as well as media literacy, resiliency, healthy body image, and self-esteem. PEDAW launches the first week of February, with various initiatives taking place throughout the year.

www.jessieslegacy.com

Mood Disorders Association of BC

The Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDABC) is a branch of Lookout Housing and Health Society, a non-profit organization that supports vulnerable individuals. MDABC provides treatment, support, education, and hope of recovery for people living with a mood disorder. We serve to build awareness and understanding in communities throughout the province, reaching out to as many people as possible. Our goals include reducing the stigma of mood disorders, cultivating an inclusive community that promotes wellbeing, and providing rapid access to mental health services. We also encourage the development of effective self-help models and research into mood disorders and self-help models.

www.mdabc.net

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services provides health care services to people from across British Columbia with complex needs, including severe and persistent mental health and substance use issues. We also provide leadership in several key areas – including transformative research, knowledge exchanges, systems change, health promotion, health literacy, and stigma reduction — to ensure people across the province can live healthy, meaningful lives.

www.bcmhsus.ca
The BC Partners are:
Funding and stewardship is provided by the Ministry of Health and stewarded by BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, part of the Provincial Health Services Authority.