We also provide provincial leadership in several key areas to make sure people across the province can live healthy, meaningful lives.

Patient and client care

Our specialized, province-wide programs fall into three areas:

• Provincial, specialized inpatient and outpatient services for adults with complex mental health and substance use issues
• Forensic psychiatric services for people with mental health and substance use challenges who have been in conflict with the law, or who are facing legal restrictions or community orders
• Health, mental health and substance use services for people who are incarcerated in provincial correctional facilities

Learn more about our programs and treatment centres in Our Services.

Leading provincial change

We provide provincial leadership through funding, partnerships, stewardship and

• Knowledge translation and exchange
• Health promotion, health literacy and stigma reduction
• Mental health and substance use teaching and research
• Mental health and substance use care systems improvement 
• Developing frameworks, standards and guidelines for mental health and substance use services for people with complex needs
• Developing virtual health initiatives to ensure British Columbians can get the mental health and addictions care they need, wherever they are, and in ways that work for them
  

Research

Our research institute helps mental health and substance use professionals across B.C. provide evidence-based care informed by practice innovations and clinical expertise. Our findings directly impact care for people who live with mental health and substance use challenges, making sure it is relevant to their needs and wants.