

About Us
The Consumer Involvement and Initiatives is an umbrella program that amplifies the consumer/peer or service user voice within Vancouver Community Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health.
Consumer Involvement: Refers to the participation of consumers in various activities such as research, representation on boards and committees, strategic development, and general employment opportunities, aimed at engaging them in the organization’s operations.
Consumer Initiatives: Refers to a range of services and programs that are designed and led by consumers/peers, aimed at providing creative opportunities to support recovery and encourage individuals to explore activities that promote wellness.
Our Partners


Canadian Mental Health Association | North + West Vancouver
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SMH Comedy Society
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Looking Glass Foundation
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BC Hearing Voices Network
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Canadian Mental Health Association | Vancouver Fraser
Visit their website
Canadian Mental Health Association | North + West Vancouver
Visit their website
SMH Comedy Society
Visit their website
Looking Glass Foundation
Visit their website
BC Hearing Voices Network
Visit their website
Canadian Mental Health Association | Vancouver Fraser
Visit their website
Canadian Mental Health Association | North + West Vancouver
Visit their website
SMH Comedy Society
Visit their websiteInitiatives
Consumer Initiative Fund
The Consumer Initiative Fund is a unique and progressive program that funds and supports projects that are proposed, managed, and led by people with lived experience with mental illness and/or addiction.
Learn MorePeer Support
Peer support is emotional and practical support between two people who share a common experience, such as a mental health challenge or illness.
Learn MorePeer Led Workshops
Free virtual and in-person workshops and support groups with a focus on recovery and well-being.
Learn MoreRecovery College YVR
Recovery College YVR (RC YVR) is a community wellness learning centre developed collaboratively by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North & West Vancouver Branch and Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Consumer Involvement and Initiatives program.
Learn morePrograms
View allPlan for Wellness & Recovery
Develop an individualized plan to help maintain wellness and manage periods of feeling unwell.
- Start
- Thursday, August 1, 2024
- End
- Thursday, August 29, 2024
- Time
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location
- Zoom
Feeling Supported
The program offers five free interactive weekly sessions, each two hours long, and all facilitated by people in recovery who can give you valuable information that will help you on your recovery journey. You’ll also learn how to find peer support and build new life skills.
- Start
- Friday, July 19, 2024
- End
- Friday, July 19, 2024
- Time
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location
- Zoom
Talking With Your Doctor
In this 1.5-hour workshop, we learn how to communicate more effectively with our doctor(s) and other health care providers.
- Start
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024
- End
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024
- Time
- 2:00 – 3:30 PM
- Location
- Room 123 – Three Bridges Community Health Centre (1128 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC)
Your Recovery Journey
The program offers five free interactive weekly sessions, each two hours long, and all facilitated by people in recovery who can give you valuable information that will help you on your recovery journey. You’ll also learn how to find peer support and build new life skills.
- Start
- Friday, August 2, 2024
- End
- Friday, August 30, 2024
- Time
- 2:00 – 4:00 PM
- Location
- Room 202 – 520 West 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC
Voices & Visions Support Groups
We can live well with unique sensory experiences. All groups are open to those with lived/living experience and their supporters.
- Dates
- Varying
- Times
- Varying
- Locations
- Zoom or In-Person
Plan for Wellness & Recovery
Develop an individualized plan to help maintain wellness and manage periods of feeling unwell.
- Start
- Thursday, August 1, 2024
- End
- Thursday, August 29, 2024
- Time
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location
- Zoom
Feeling Supported
The program offers five free interactive weekly sessions, each two hours long, and all facilitated by people in recovery who can give you valuable information that will help you on your recovery journey. You’ll also learn how to find peer support and build new life skills.
- Start
- Friday, July 19, 2024
- End
- Friday, July 19, 2024
- Time
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location
- Zoom
Talking With Your Doctor
In this 1.5-hour workshop, we learn how to communicate more effectively with our doctor(s) and other health care providers.
- Start
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024
- End
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024
- Time
- 2:00 – 3:30 PM
- Location
- Room 123 – Three Bridges Community Health Centre (1128 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC)
Your Recovery Journey
The program offers five free interactive weekly sessions, each two hours long, and all facilitated by people in recovery who can give you valuable information that will help you on your recovery journey. You’ll also learn how to find peer support and build new life skills.
- Start
- Friday, August 2, 2024
- End
- Friday, August 30, 2024
- Time
- 2:00 – 4:00 PM
- Location
- Room 202 – 520 West 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC
Voices & Visions Support Groups
We can live well with unique sensory experiences. All groups are open to those with lived/living experience and their supporters.
- Dates
- Varying
- Times
- Varying
- Locations
- Zoom or In-Person
Plan for Wellness & Recovery
Develop an individualized plan to help maintain wellness and manage periods of feeling unwell.
- Start
- Thursday, August 1, 2024
- End
- Thursday, August 29, 2024
- Time
- 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Location
- Zoom
News & Announcements
See all
Job Opportunity – Recovery Advocate
Come work as a Recovery Advocate with Vancouver Junction Community Centre at Vancouver Coastal Health
Start: ASAP
Permanent Part-time position – 17.5 hours/week (0.48FTE)
Hours of work: 6-month initial contract with potential to renew
Salary Details – The salary range for this position is CAD $31.54/Hr. – CAD $33.28/Hr.
Location of Work: Vancouver Junction Community Centre at Robert & Lily Lee Community Health Centre (1669 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC). Additional worksites may include (but not limited to): Three Bridges Community Health Centre, Detox, Daytox, VCH Withdrawal Management, 312 Main, R2R Stabilization Unit, and Onsite.
A Driver’s License is a requirement of this position.
Learn More
World Bipolar Day – Ask Me Anything (AMA) online event
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7th Annual Crest.BD AMA Event – starts 10am on March 19 2025!
AMA on Reddit – World Bipolar Day event on Mar 19 2025 starts at 10am PST hosted by Crest.BD
Learn More