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Accountability

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority. We are also accountable to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

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British Columbia's mental health and substance use care system

As part of PHSA, we operate within the context of a larger mental health and substance use care system in which several organizations and stakeholders play key roles:

  • Ministry of Health
  • Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction
  • Ministry of Child and Family Development
  • Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General
  • B.C. Office of the Auditor General
  • Regional health authorities
  • Criminal justice system
  • Community partners and agencies
  • Unions
  • WorkSafe BC
  • Patients, clients and families

Strategic direction

Working with PHSA, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services supports these provincial health care goals as defined by the Ministry of Health:

  • Ensure a focus on service delivery areas requiring strategic repositioning
  • Support the health and well-being of all in British Columbia through the delivery of high-quality health services
  • Deliver a sustainable public health-care system

Strategic priorities

In support of these goals, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services has a three-year strategic plan.

The plan is informed by input from many leaders, staff and medical staff across BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services. It also aligns with PHSA's Purpose, Vision, Values, and Teachings and supports PHSA's North Star priorities, as well as the priorities and experiences of our partners in the health care system, government, as well as patients, clients, families, and others.

The core of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan focuses on four broad areas:

1. Quality of care & patient experience & engagement

  • British Columbians requiring our services will experience timely and efficient access to high-quality care that is informed by evidence – based on research, evaluation, and quality improvement efforts, the perspectives of those with lived and living experience, and clinical expertise
  • Clients in our care are safe from toxic drug poisonings and related harm
  • We elevate the voices and experiences of families who have lost someone to the toxic drug crisis, and create a culture of patient safety across BCMHSUS
  • Our services are guided by, and reflect a deep commitment to, person-centered, trauma-informed, and anti-racist principles

2. Indigenous-specific anti-racism & cultural safety

  • We are strongly committed to eliminating Indigenous-specific racism, embedding Indigenous cultural safety and humility, and improving Indigenous health and wellness
  • We commit to unlearning and undoing colonial and white supremacist approaches that have contributed to the systematic oppression, exclusion and abuse of Indigenous Peoples
  • We work in close partnership with the First Nations Health Authority, the regional health authorities, and Indigenous community partners to facilitate Indigenous Peoples' access to our services and to provide care that meets the needs and preferences of Indigenous clients and patients

3. People & partnerships

  • We invest in learning, development and high quality training  of our workforce to provide optimal care and treatment of the patients and clients we serve
  • We believe in a psychologically safe workplace, positive workplace culture and fully recognized the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion
  • We meaningfully engage our partners, people with lived and living experience, Indigenous Peoples, and our staff

4. Learning, growth & innovation

  • We are provincial leaders in clinical care, professional development, and research, with a focus on mental health and co-occurring substance use, adult forensic psychiatric services, and correctional health
  • Create an in-house learning program for all forensic disciplines
  • We work with partners to adapt to changing priorities, strengthen capacity, and advance system-level improvement

Download a visual overview (PDF) of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.

Our role

BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS) operates within the context of a larger mental health and services system in which Regional Health Authorities, the Ministry of Child & Family Development, the Criminal Justice System, Community Agencies, Patients and Families all play important roles.

For people who need care, there is a continuum of primary, secondary and appropriate tertiary mental health services in place in each geographic health authority – all linked to the specialized services provided by BCMHSUS, which are accessible to all residents of BC. Patients move between services as dictated by their individual needs. Access is not delayed by a lack of capacity and care is provided in the most appropriate setting.

Strategic direction

Strategic direction

As an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), BCMHSUS supports PHSA’s goals that align with the three broad goals articulated for the health care system by the BC Ministry of Health:

  1. Support the health and wellbeing of British Columbians. 
  2. Deliver a system of responsive and effective health care services across British Columbia. 
  3. Ensure value for money.

BCMHSUS - Strategic Priorities (2020)


In support of PHSA’s goals, BCMHSUS organizes its goals and planned initiatives in three areas:

graph2.jpg

BCMHSUS is dedicated to improving the quality of services for patients and families through Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program and by continuously monitoring and addressing:

  • Effectiveness
  • Efficiency
  • Access
  • Safety
  • Acceptability
Strategic direction

Strategic direction

As an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), BCMHSUS supports PHSA’s goals that align with the three broad goals articulated for the health care system by the BC Ministry of Health:

  1. Support the health and wellbeing of British Columbians. 
  2. Deliver a system of responsive and effective health care services across British Columbia. 
  3. Ensure value for money.

BCMHSUS - Strategic Priorities (2020)


In support of PHSA’s goals, BCMHSUS organizes its goals and planned initiatives in three areas:

graph2.jpg

BCMHSUS is dedicated to improving the quality of services for patients and families through Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program and by continuously monitoring and addressing:

  • Effectiveness
  • Efficiency
  • Access
  • Safety
  • Acceptability










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