People in British Columbia have access to a new website that will help them more easily navigate and connect with mental health and substance use information and supports.

The website provides a user-friendly starting place for people to find the right information and services to meet their needs.

The Wellbeing website features a guided search tool that helps users find a curated, personalized list of services based on answering simple questions about who they are and what they need. This site is particularly useful for people who are seeking help for the first time and need extra guidance in learning about the information and supports that are available to them.

“People seeking mental health and substance use supports have told me finding information is hard, and they don’t know where to start,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Now we’ve built an online pathway for people in British Columbia to navigate to mental health and addictions support for themselves and their loved ones.”

“Having access to the Wellbeing website is particularly important for families now as they get ready to return to school,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. “The transition can be stressful and cause anxiety, and I’m grateful that caregivers and students will have this resource to find the right information and help easily and quickly when they need it.”

The Wellbeing website provides information about mental health and substance use to help support children or youth, adults, parent or caregivers, seniors, Indigenous persons, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, people who use drugs, service providers and post-secondary students.

To ensure it remains relevant, the website will continue expanding with input from community partners and continuous peer review by people with lived and living experience of mental health and substance use challenges.

Improving online navigation to help those looking for services and supports relating to mental health and substance use is a commitment outlined in A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for creating a comprehensive system of mental health and addictions care that works for everyone.

“Getting vital information on available mental health and wellness supports to people who use substances in a culturally safe way will save lives. This is especially important for B.C. First Nations people who continue to die from the toxic drug supply at a higher rate than the rest of the population, in part because of the disparities related to systemic racism and the ongoing impacts of colonization,” said Dr. Nel Wieman, deputy chief medical officer, First Nations Health Authority.

“It’s like a roadmap – a really good first step for anyone who wants to see what services are out there for them,” added Alison Gear, family peer engagement co-ordinator, Foundry BC.

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