Getting connected to our services
You may feel totally alone and like there’s no hope. No matter how bad things get and how strong those feelings might be, with the right support you’ll be able to overcome these overwhelming feelings. Our Mental Health Services for children and youth aim to increase wellness by connecting you with the right service at the right time.
- Call 310-MHSU (6478) to connect with your local Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Centre for more information and links to services that best meet your needs, or work with your primary care practitioner (family doctor/nurse practitioner) to connect to services
- Our Mental Health Services for Children & Youth Snap Shot (linear diagram) contains clickable links. Click a link to see the service description and a list of MHSU Centres offering the service.
- Our Child and Youth Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) Service Directory contains a list of key service providers in the interior region. This resource will help you easily find services in your area.
- Visit our Youth Substance Use Services & Resources page if you think your substance use is becoming problematic
- Learn more about Interior Health's 2022-2024 framework to improve access and quality of mental health and substance use care for children and young people aged from 0-24 years
Are you a young person who is starting to struggle with your mental health, or feeling like something is just not right?
Are you a parent or caregiver and are finding your child’s behaviours upsetting or worrying?
These resources may help:
- Foundry BC offers mental health and wellness supports for young people ages 12-24, both online and in-person
- Kids Help Phone call 1-800-668-6868 24/7 for free, confidential support and online resources for young people
- First Nations Health Authority provides culturally safe and trauma informed mental health and wellness supports
- Kelty Mental Health contains information on mental health diagnosis, treatment and support
- Interior Health's Child & Youth Health page contains general health information for children and youth
You can also speak to your family doctor. They can talk about the thoughts you’re having and make sure you get the help and support you need.
Interior Health and partner agencies provide the following mental health services for children and youth. Call 310-MHSU (6478) to access these services (some services will require Physician referral):
- Eating Disorders Treatment Services
- Perinatal Counselling Services
- Developmental Disability Mental Health Services
- Interior Health Children's Assessment Network (IHCAN)
- Indigenous Patient Navigator (APN) Services-MHSU
For further information and resources, you can also visit Wellbeing BC, British Columbia's official resource for mental health and substance use support.
If you, or someone you know, are seriously injured or have taken an overdose please call 911.
If you are worried about your own safety, or being close to acting on suicidal thoughts, tell someone who you trust or contact your local crisis service immediately for assistance:
- Learn more about the Crisis Response Team
- Parkview Child & Adolescent Mental Health Centre provides urgent assessment, intervention and referral for children and youth aged six to 18 in hospital and emergency departments at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops
- Integrated Crisis Response Teams respond to mental health or substance use emergencies in Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. Our MHSU clinicians, are partnered with a specially trained RCMP officer to help connect you to the services you need to keep you safe.
If you, or someone you know, are seriously injured or have taken an overdose please call 911.
If you are worried about your own safety, or being close to acting on suicidal thoughts, tell someone who you trust or contact your local crisis service immediately for assistance:
- Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868
- Interior Crisis Line Network - 1-888-353-2273 or 1-800-784-2433
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 988
- KUU-US (Indigenous) Crisis Line - 1-800-588-8717
- Métis Crisis Line - 1-833-638-4722
If picking up the phone is challenging and uncomfortable, please use the 'Talk Suicide' chat service. Call 1-833-456-4566 24 hours a day, seven days a week or text 45646 4pm to midnight ET to connect to a crisis responder to get help without judgement.
These programs are for children and youth who require a stay in hospital for assessment and treatment planning. Your local community mental health team or family doctor can refer you to one of our specialized hospital programs.
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