Family 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.

Here is some information you might find useful:

1. An introductory general article on Family Involvement.
   
2. The Vancouver Coastal Health Family Involvement Policy, as well as a shorter version of it used in staff education.
   
3. Our Family Involvement Newsletter can be accessed here. You can sign up for the newsletter and other related news at the bottom of the Spotlight on Mental Health home page.
   
4. 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 every 1st Thursday of the month from 6-8pm.
   • Location: UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THESE SUPPORT GROUPS WILL BE DONE ONLINE VIA ZOOM. Please contact familyconnections@vch.ca for a zoom invitation
   • For more information, contact familyconnections@vch.ca 
   • More support groups, not facilitated by VCH staff, can be found  in the latest newsletter.
     
5. For an overview over the services we most frequently provide to families, please see our October 2020 newsletter.
   
6. Communication Protocol for Individuals Receiving Services at VCH, an article about the details of VCH mental health professionals communicating among themselves, and with patients, families and family physicians.
   
7. A Journey Through the Vancouver Coastal Health Mental Health “System”.
   
8. A brochure for families of VCH’s “community” mental health and substance use services (aka mental health teams)
   
9. A brochure for families of VCH’s emergency, urgent and inpatient mental health and addiction services.
   
10. A PDF of the most up-to-date Resource Guide. This includes support and educational groups, web sites, and places where you can receive one-on-one counselling, often at a reduced rate.
    
11. Families often hear us talk about a Xavier Amador’s book “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help”.  Here is a link to it, as well as a short version of it.
    
12. In terms of alcohol/substance use, one of the books we recommend is Beyond Addiction by Jeffrey Foote and colleagues. Click here for examples from the book of approaches families can take to substance use.
    
13. Families often ask about the difference between supporting and enabling. Here’s an article.

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’s drop-in, with no need to signup.

Learn More

Family Advisory Committee

Since its inception 2004, the role of the Vancouver Family Advisory Committee (FAC) has been 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 membership