BC Mental Health and Substance Use Sector Survey

CAI first launched the BC Community Mental Health and Substance Use Sector Survey in 2016, to generate new knowledge about the nature of community NGOs that provide mental health and substance use services in BC. The 2016 survey aimed to provide information about the characteristics of community-based organizations providing MHSU services, which could be used to help inform provincial and regional mental health and substance use policy, service planning and sector development activities.

A follow-up survey was launched in 2017 to build on the findings from the 2016 survey. Areas of further research included how NGOs can assist in addressing service gaps identified in the formal health care system; community-based referral pathways; NGO engagement in regional MHSU service planning and, supports needed to strengthen community-based service delivery.

The 2018 survey focused on NGO activity in the BC MHSU continuum of care, including the capacity and demographics of the community MHSU workforce, steps that community organizations are taking to support this valuable resource, and existing linkages between sector participants and policy-makers.