Recovery College VCH
Formerly Recovery College YVR, we are a Community Wellness Learning Centre that offers free courses and groups that help you develop your own resourcefulness.
What is Recovery College VCH?
Recovery College VCH(RC VCH) is a locally developed community wellness learning centre, currently a virtual initiative, including local programming from Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Consumer Involvement and Initiatives program.
RC VCH is a place where the expertise of peer facilitators, service providers and other content experts are blended to help participants develop meaningful goals for themselves. We value the lived experience of peers, people who live with mental health and substance use challenges. Peers are central to RC VCH; they are involved as planners, organizers, educators, and participants. Our courses and groups always have at least one peer facilitator.
What does Recovery College VCH offer?
Recovery College VCH offers courses and groups that cover a range of wellness related topics aimed at helping people improve their health and well-being.
How might I benefit from Recovery College VCH?
- Gain knowledge and develop new coping skills.
- Enhance social connections and share supportive experiences.
- Find new hobbies, passions and meanings to life.
Research
A Local Study on Recovery College Peer Facilitators
To support the development of Recovery College VCH (then Recovery College YVR), program organizers were successful in securing a Team Grant from the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. The study is called “Learning from the Experiences of Recovery College Peer Educators and Program Organizers to Inform the Implementation of a Transformative Model of Mental Health and Substance Use Care at Vancouver Coastal Health”.
More…Poster Presentation November 2024
Peer Advisors and the research team presented a poster entitled “Peer Educators at the Centre of Recovery College Research” focusing on our Community Collaboration and Knowledge Mobilization. at the 2024 Putting Patients First Conference (Vancouver, Nov 14 2024)
PosterSupporting Peer Educators Toolkit
Supporting Peer Educators is an easy-to-use guide to hiring, training and supporting peers who facilitate workshops in a local Mental Health and Substance Use programs. Many of the elements can also be used to support other peer roles.
Journal Article
“We’re all learning together”: exploring peer educator engagement in Recovery Colleges through a participatory research approach – This article about the Recovery College Team Grant project is free to download and share.
Download ArticlePoster Presentation September 2025
We had the opportunity to do a poster presentation at the World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation World Congress held in Vancouver, Sept 27-30, 2025. And we were thrilled to find out that our poster came in first place.
PosterCourse/Group Categories
Arts
Participants have the opportunity to use art tools as a method for self expression and create for themselves.
Self-Discovery
Participants are provided with the opportunity to explore topics related to dreams and aspirations.
Wellness
Participants are invited to engage in meaningful activities to enhance positive health, quality of life, and sense of well-being in many different areas. These can include social, spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental wellness.
Social Connection
Participants have the chance to share their stories to receive and give support as well as celebrate successes and strengths. Also included are opportunities to try out some new hobbies with others.
Training
Participants gain knowledge and practical skills which can lead to enhancing one’s life and managing mental health and/or substance use challenges personally or in the workplace.
Learn. Connect. Grow.
Sign up for an upcoming course or group with Recovery College YVR.