Health & Healthcare

Mental health platforms

Here's what the 2024 BC election parties are promising.

BC NDP

  • Create a $50M Community Mental Health Resilience Fund to expand mental health counselling care province-wide

    "Expanding mental health counselling care across BC by fueling the vital work of community-based mental health organizations through a new $50 million Community Mental Health Resilience Fund." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Add Foundry Centres in ten more communities to provide youth mental, physical, and sexual health and addiction services

    "Delivering supportive, safe and confidential mental health and addiction services to youth and their families. We’ve fast-tracked the development of Foundry Centres for Youth in communities across BC. And they’re working well, with more than 17,500 people aged 12-24 and their families accessing critical mental health, addiction, and physical and sexual health services. We are moving forward with Foundry Centres in ten more communities — quadrupling the number since 2017." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Involuntarily commit people with brain injuries, severe mental health illnesses, and addictions

    "Providing secure, supportive and dignified care for people in BC whose struggles with brain injuries, severe mental health illness and addiction require intensive care.

    By opening up secure facilities to provide secure care under the Mental Health Act, we can deliver help to people who are potentially a danger to themselves or others — so that rather than often ending up in and out of prison, they will be in a physically and culturally safe environment receiving the care they need."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Fast-track expansion of civilian-led, mental health-focused crisis response teams province-wide

    "Delivering supportive, safe, quality care when a mental health crisis is reported to 911 by fast-tracking the expansion of civilian-led and health-focused crisis response teams across the province." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Set strict wait-time regulations for accessing care for critical mental health conditions

    "Enforcing maximum wait standards by establishing strict wait-time regulations for critical mental health conditions like schizophrenia, psychosis, and eating disorders, ensuring timely access to care. Waiting for months under the status quo is unacceptable." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Involuntarily commit people who pose a threat to themselves or others

    "Safety for patients and communities by making sure individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others are receiving treatment in secure facilities – not on the streets. The Mental Health Act and involuntary care practices will be reviewed so BC will never have a repeat of Eby’s refusal to place high-risk individuals in secure treatment." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Increase treatment opportunities that foster collaborative engagement between patients and families

    "Supporting increased family involvement by increasing treatment opportunities that foster collaborative engagement between patients and families throughout the continuum of care. This holistic approach not only enhances recovery, but also strengthens family bonds." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Appoint an Independent Representative for Mental Health to provide oversight, public reporting, and accountability

    "Mental health accountability by establishing an Independent Representative for Mental Health to provide oversight, public reporting, and accountability in our health system. More transparency will result in better outcomes for all British Columbians." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Repurpose and redevelop the Coquitlam Riverview site as a centre of excellence for mental healthcare and addictions recovery

    "Repurpose and redevelop the Coquitlam Riverview site into a centre of excellence for mental healthcare and addictions recovery, including new secure treatment capacity. We will seek federal partnerships to expedite development and navigate complexities related to the Canada Health Act." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Build secure housing units for treating individuals who pose a risk to themselves, staff, or other patients

    "Build secure housing units to create safe facilities for the treatment of individuals who pose a risk to themselves, staff, or other patients. This will address urgent care needs while prioritising safety for all." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Invest in mental health infrastructure in underserved rural and interior communities

    "Strengthen mental health services across the province by identifying rural and interior communities with the greatest unmet needs, and making the necessary investments in mental health infrastructure to ensure fair access for all British Columbians." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Integrate mental health response into the 911 system

    "Integrate mental health response into the 911 system, because a person in crisis should be able to receive support when it’s needed most. We will consult with medical experts and first responders to identify how to best improve rapid access to mental health support." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Expand Peer-Assisted Care Teams to alleviate pressure on emergency services

    "Expand Peer-Assisted Care Teams to alleviate pressure on emergency services and provide immediate support to those in need." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC Greens

  • Integrate mental health as the 4th option in 911 emergency services, to accommodate crises that don't fit under ambulance, fire, or police

    "Integrate mental health as the fourth option in 911 emergency services to accommodate mental health crises that do not align with the traditional ambulance, fire or police options." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Double crisis line funding from $2.5M to $5M

    "Increase crisis line funding from $2.5 million to $5 million to enhance their capacity to manage diverted 911 calls, ensuring that mental health crises receive appropriate attention." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Invest $500K into creating consistent protocols for 911 operators, emergency responders, and mobile crisis teams

    "Establish provincial leadership and invest $500,000 to create consistent protocols for 911 operators, emergency responders, and mobile crisis teams to ensure coordinated and effective mental health crisis responses." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Expand the Peer Assisted Care Team programme to more communities, and extend service hours

    "Expand the PACT (Peer Assisted Care Team) program, which has been highly effective in three communities. Partner with local organizations to introduce PACTs in more communities and extend the service hours of existing teams." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Increase access to mental health care and support for first responders and their families

    "Increase access to mental health care and support for first responders and their families, including raising awareness about mental health tools and resources and reducing the stigma surrounding their use." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Add recruitment/retention initiatives for mental health workers, with rural living allowances, health & wellness benefits, & rental options

    "Implement recruitment and retention initiatives, similar to those used by municipalities for primary care practitioners, including rural living allowances, health and wellness benefits, and rental options to attract frontline mental health workers." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Do an All-Party review of the Mental Health Act

    "Undertake an All-Party review of the Mental Health Act and create a parliamentary working group that will oversee the implementation of the recommendations." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    "We will appoint an all-party parliamentary committee to review and modernize the Mental Health Act. This will ensure alignment with the recommendations of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act and better protect individuals experiencing mental health crises." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Appoint an independent Mental Health Advocate

    "Create an Independent Office of the Mental Health Advocate—providing individual and systemic advocacy, aimed at improving mental health care systems in BC." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Fully regulate the psychotherapy profession

    "Commit to the full regulation of psychotherapy professions, including psychologists, counsellors, therapists, and social workers, to increase public protection, provide accountability, and legitimize these essential professions." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Collaborate with experts to develop evidence-based standards of care for all mental health and substance use treatment services

    "Collaborate with experts, including physicians, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists, as well as individuals with lived experiences, to develop evidence-based standards of care for all mental health and substance use treatment services in BC." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Address the abrupt transition from pediatric to adult mental health care

    "Address the abrupt transition between pediatric and adult mental health care by ensuring seamless and effective connections to support services at all stages of life." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Improve systems of care for people with both mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries

    "Improve systems of care for individuals with co-occurring mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries, ensuring they receive integrated and comprehensive treatment." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Increase community-based services for people w/ eating disorders & create stepped-care models prioritising autonomy & self-directed recovery

    "Increase community-based services for individuals with eating disorders and develop stepped-care models that prioritize autonomy and self-directed recovery, with inpatient care available when necessary." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Cover six visits per year to a mental health professional such as a psychologist, for all British Columbians

    "Include six visits to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, under the Medical Services Plan (MSP), ensuring early access to mental health support for all British Columbians." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Add 50% more community integration specialists to connect people to community-based supports and services

    "Expand the number of community integration specialists by 50%, helping more people connect to a wide range of community-based supports and services to meet their needs." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Develop arts-based and lands-based therapy programmes

    "Work with a diverse range of community partners, including Arts and Culture, Indigenous, Health, and Education experts, to develop comprehensive arts-based and land-based therapy programs that promote healing and wellbeing." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Looking for the parties' positions on other topics?

See our full 2024 BC election platform comparison
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