Almost a million people in BC are living with a mental illness today.
That’s a daunting number, but the good news is we know how to prevent and treat most mental illnesses and substance use problems. Unfortunately, we’re just not doing enough of it.
From supporting the mental wellbeing of young people, to providing counselling to everyone who needs it, to responding to crisis with the right expertise, we have solutions.
Now, we need bold commitments from our leaders to invest in the quality care we need, when we need it.
To show leaders how much you care, email them today.
We are critically falling behind in BC.
BC has a higher-than-average rate of suicide and self-harm, and the highest rates of toxic drug deaths in all of Canada. BC also records about 30,000 Mental Health Act apprehensions each year, the highest rate in Canada, impacting about 20,000 people who would have been helped by earlier intervention.
We are at a crisis point.
Without significant investments in prevention, early intervention, and high-quality care, we risk a million people facing their challenges alone.
Let’s urge leaders to build a province where everyone gets the quality care they need, when they need it.
Together, let’s:
Close the Gap
in access to mental health care so that everyone who needs care can receive it and we can intervene early to prevent worsening challenges.Raise the Bar
in the quality of mental health care so that people benefit from the care they receive, and we can track and measure whether investments are working.Respond with Care
so that people experiencing a mental health crisis get the right response at the right time and those affected by the toxic drug crisis have all the options available to them to be well.
Tell leaders in BC you care:
Let them know you believe every single person deserves accessible, high-quality, and compassionate mental health care throughout their life.
BCWeCare is a network of organizations across British Columbia who stand together to advocate for the well-being of all residents. It is more than a campaign—it’s a movement that amplifies diverse voices, services, and needs, emphasizing the importance of access, quality, and compassion in mental health care. Learn more.