Family Support and Involvement

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)’s MHSU Family Support and Involvement Team

Helps families with resources, education, information, and support, as well as facilitating the inclusion of family in the care of their loved ones. The team supports the inclusion of family advisors in staff education, quality improvement initiatives, interviews and important decisions, such as the planning of the Joseph and Rosalie Segal & Family Health Center. The team works collaboratively with the VCH Community Engagement team to include family advisors and supports the Vancouver Family Advisory Committee.

Family Support and Involvement Team Services

• For an overview of the services we most frequently provide to families
  • Please see our April 2025 newsletter for the top ten services we provide
• Family Support Group
  • The FSI team facilitates the Family Connections Support group for families/supporters of people with mental health/substance difficulties. It is drop-in – no need for signup.
    • Meets the 1st Thursday and 3rd Monday of the month from 6-8pm, except on statutory holidays.
    • Location: Meets via Zoom. Please contact familyconnections@vch.ca for the zoom link.
    • Non-VCH support groups can be found in the latest newsletter.
• Family Support Resource Guide
  • A PDF of the most up-to-date Resource Guide. This includes support and educational groups, web sites, and individual, reduced-rate counselling resources.
• Family Newsletter
  • Access our Family Involvement Newsletter here. and sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of the Spotlight on Mental Health home page.

VCH MHSU Family Involvement Policy and Communication

• An introduction to Family Involvement with Mental Health and Substance Use Services.
• The Vancouver Coastal Health Family Involvement Policy.
• Communication Protocol for Individuals Receiving Services at VCH: how VCH mental health professionals communicate with other healthcare professionals, patients, families and physicians.

Overview of the VCH Mental Health and Substance Use Services

• An example of a  Journey Through the Vancouver Coastal Health Mental Health System.
• A brochure for families of VCH’s community mental health and substance use services — the mental health teams
• A brochure for families of VCH’s emergency, urgent and inpatient mental health and addiction services.

Books you may find helpful

• I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help by Xavier Amador.  Please see this link for a copy of this book.
• Beyond Addiction by Jeffrey Foote and colleagues. Click here for examples for approaches families can use regarding their loved-one and substance use.

Relevant Articles

• Families often ask about the difference between supporting and enabling. Here’s an article that explores that topic.

Family Connections Support Group

Twice a month, the FSI team facilitates a Family Connections Support group for families/supporters of people with mental health or substance difficulties. It is a drop-in group and no sign-up is required.

Learn More

Family Advisory Committee

Since 2004, the role of the Vancouver Family Advisory Committee (FAC) is to represent the diverse voices of families within Vancouver Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services and act in advisory, advocacy and educational roles to improve the care experience.

More information about the FAC and membership