Mental health and substance-use services expanded in Vernon

B.C.’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions was in Vernon today to announce an expansion of mental health and substance-use services for North Okanagan residents.

Sheila Malcomson says Interior Health will add four new services and expand four others, and 19 workers will be hired to provide supports in Vernon and nearby communities.

“Building mental health and substance-use care in every B.C. community is our government’s commitment, because this system of care did not exist five years ago,” Malcomson said at an event Monday at the Vernon Health Unit.

Interior Health said recruitment for the new and expanded programs is underway with some services expected to be available as early as April 2022.

“Within our region, it is estimated that more than 20 per cent of people will meet the criteria for substance-use disorder at some point in their lifetime,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “The services announced today will help build a well-connected, safe, and person-centred network of treatment and support for people with problematic substance use.”

Young people aged 12 to 24 with significant substance-use concerns and concurrent disorders who face challenges accessing health or social services will have the support of a new interdisciplinary intensive case management team.

Additionally, substance-use counseling services will be available for young people aged 12 to 24 along with their families, and young adults aged 18 to 24 who have complex substance-use needs will have access to individual, group and family substance-use day treatment programs. Another newly introduced service in Vernon provides a priority response to young people aged 12 to 24 who have recently had an opioid overdose or are at high risk for drug poisoning. Youth Substance Use Connections will connect them to available community services, such as medication-assisted treatment.

Existing programs, such as early substance-use intervention, early psychosis intervention and eating disorders treatment services are expanding to reach more people with mental health and substance-use challenges. In addition, the nurse prescriber working at the downtown mental health and substance-use centre can now prescribe more options for medication-assisted treatment of opioid-use disorder.

“For people in the North Okanagan who are struggling and in crisis, the addition of these substance-use services will make a big difference in their lives,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu. “These are the services our community needs to transform mental health and substance-use care for children, youth, young adults and their families.”

“Services being announced today will increase awareness, reduce stigma, help people access supports to get off and stay off drugs,” added Rachel Haskett, peer support worker with Interior Health.

To learn more about Vernon’s downtown mental health and substance use centre, click here.