About the BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

We provide mental health and substance use information, resources, and peer support to families across BC. We also provide information and resources to people of all ages with an eating disorder or disordered eating concern. All of our services are free of charge, and you can reach us over the phone (1-800-665-1822), by email (keltycentre@cw.bc.ca), or by Zoom video call (please contact us to arrange). Note that due to COVID-19, we continue to be closed to in person visitors. 

Our approach:

It is important to recognize that mental health challenges are common. At some point in our lifetime, most of us will either struggle with a mental health challenge ourselves, or know someone who is affected by one.

At the Kelty Centre, we believe that whether or not a person has been diagnosed with a mental illness, everyone can experience mental well-being.

Approximately 75% of mental health challenges begin before the age of 24, and connecting children, youth, and families to appropriate mental health services and supports is key to improved treatment and outcomes.

What we offer:

  • Peer support from FamilySmart Parent Peer Support workers - learn more about the Parent Peer Support workers at the Kelty Centre. 

  • Information and resources on a wide range of mental health and substance use challenges affecting children and youth, as well as how to support your child’s mental-wellbeing.

  • Help navigating the mental health and substance use system.

  • Options for support, treatment and networks in BC.

  • Resources for individuals of any age with an eating disorder or a disordered eating concern.

  • Free educational events and webinars for parents and caregivers, and school professionals.

Watch our Orientation Video to learn more about what we offer:

Our website content process:

All of our website content is developed with clinical experts from the BC Children’s Healthy Minds Centre and our partner organizations, as well as reviewed by our Parent Advisory Council. All content is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure the information is accurate and up to date. If you would like more information about our process for developing or reviewing content, or have feedback you would like to provide to us, please don’t hesitate to email us at keltycentre@cw.bc.ca.  

Our background, team, and supporters:

The BC Children’s Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre opened in 2008 as a result of funding generously provided by the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation. Since that time, the Kelty Centre has made a significant impact for families, children and youth across BC. You can learn more about the Kelty Centre’s key supporters here.

The Kelty Centre is a part of the integrated provincial strategy to improve health literacy in mental health and substance use in BC, and is a key Mental Health Literacy program at BC Children's Hospital. 

Learn more about our larger Health Promotion & Health Literacy team at BC Children’s Hospital, including how our team works, our projects and our values. 

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Need urgent help?

If you, your child, or someone you care about is having a mental health or substance use crisis:

  • Call 911 or go to your local hospital’s emergency room if you are in need of immediate help
  • Call 1-800- SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) anytime if you are concerned about someone who may be considering suicide

These are a few examples of situations when you should seek immediate help:

  • The child or youth is thinking about or trying to end their life
  • The child or youth is experiencing sensations that aren’t real and/or beliefs that can’t possibly be true
  • The child or youth is unable to care for themselves, and it’s putting them at risk of serious harm
  • The child or youth is experiencing an alcohol or drug overdose
  • The child or youth is taking a dangerous combination of substances (like medications and alcohol)

For non-urgent support options, explore our Ask Kelty Mental Health tool. You’ll find answers to common questions families have about accessing mental health supports and services in BC for their child or youth.