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604-204-1111: One phone number for all VCH mental health services in Richmond

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 11:43 PDT, Mon October 7, 2019

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

Vancouver Coastal Health is making access to mental health and substance use services in Richmond easier than ever.

Starting today, Richmond residents seeking help can call a single number – 604-204-1111 – to access information and connect with all Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) mental health services in the city. This phone number for mental health and substance use services will significantly increase the ease in which people can access services, ensuring clients are connected to the right service when they need them.

“When families are in crisis, navigating the health care system and finding the right supports can be a barrier. Having one phone number will take away the confusion and frustration people often experience when they need specialized community services but don’t know where to turn,” said Karen Barclay, the director for mental health and substance use programs for VCH in Richmond. “The new single phone number removes the burden on patients, their families and community partners of knowing which service they need to access. Please call 604-204-1111 and our professional staff will help match you with the service that is best suited to your needs. We’re here to help. ”

The number will be able to connect people with specialized services for all ages, including children, youth and seniors. Translation services are also available.

Previously, each of the mental health and substance use services provided by Vancouver Coastal Health in Richmond had their own, separate referral and intake processes. For people seeking help, this could make it difficult to know which service is appropriate for them and create unnecessary delays and hardship as people attempted to navigate the system themselves and bounced around from program to program before finally connecting with the right one.

The goal of the new central phone number is to eliminate the confusion and frustration families have when trying to connect with the right service provider. Offering a single phone number for potential clients to call will increase the likelihood of a person receiving the appropriate service at the appropriate time, and will ensure VCH-Richmond is able to offer quick, efficient access to services for more people.

“Recently, I helped someone I knew navigate through the mental health system but if I didn’t have that personal experience it would have been a very difficult journey for them. Where would you even start?” said Mary Carter, who works for the peer-led Richmond Mental Health Consumer and Friends’ Society. “Time is of the essence when a person is really ill and so I think the new phone number will really help people find exactly where they need to go.”

For more information on the VCH-Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use team and the programs and services available, visit our website at vch.ca/richmondmentalhealth or call 604-204-1111.

VCH is responsible for the delivery of $3.3 billion in community, hospital and long-term care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. VCH also provides specialized care and services for people throughout BC, and is the province’s hub for health care education and research.

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