If this is an emergency and there is risk of harm or safety, call 911. Let the call taker know that this is a “child/youth mental health emergency”. If there is a mental health team available in your area, they might attend as well.
Some BC communities have mental health crisis teams that can respond to children and youth in urgent need. Often this is for times when they are having a rapid onset of extreme mental health symptoms.
Each response team is different. Some teams will respond very quickly and others may respond within 24 hours. Some programs may require a referral and could take up to a few days. You can usually expect to speak to someone or hear back quickly.
They provide some assessment and short-term intervention services. There may be services that can come directly to the home depending on the situation and the program.
If you are already connected with a community mental health team, you will be sent back to that team for services and support.
See below for what is available in your health authority. Click on the web links for program details. You can also contact the Kelty Centre for more information.
VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH:
- Vancouver: CART Team (Child and Adolescent Response Team) 604-874-2300
- Ages 5-18
- Can self-refer
- Hours: Mon to Thur 9am-730pm & Fri 9am-5pm
- Response within 72 hours
- Richmond: TRACC (Team Response to Adolescents and Children in Crisis) 604-207-2511
- Ages 6-18
- Can self-refer, but need referral to see psychiatrist
- Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 830am-530pm & Thu 9am-7pm
- North Vancouver: YURT (Youth Urgent Response Team) Urgent line 604-984-3884
- Ages 13-19
- Can self-refer
- Hours: to Fri 9am-10pm & Sat to Mon 11:30am-10pm
- For City of Vancouver Residents only: VGH Access and Assessment Centre (AAC) 604-675-3700
- Ages 17+
- Can self-refer
- Link to Car 87 mobile response services
- Walk-in hours: Mon-Sun 730am-930pm
- Phone hours: Mon-Sun 730am-1000pm
FRASER HEALTH:
- START Team (Short Term, Assessment, Response, Treatment) 1-844-782-7811
- Ages 6-18
- Can self-refer
- Hours: Mon to Fri 9am-9pm & Weekends and holidays Noon to 9pm
ISLAND HEALTH:
- South Island: Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team (IMCRT) 1-888-494-3888 (Vancouver Island Crisis Line)
- All ages
- Can self-refer
- Hours: Mon to Sun 1pm to midnight
- Rapid mobile response
- Central Island: Central Island Crisis Response Team at Brooks Landing 250-739-5710
- All ages
- Can self-refer
- Hours: Mon to Fri 7am-1pm & Weekends 8am-10pm
- Rapid mobile response
INTERIOR HEALTH:
- Kelowna: Community Response Team 250-868-7788 (Kelowna Health Centre)
- All ages
- Can self-refer
- Or call community response team directly 250-212-8533
- Hours: Mon to Sun 11:30am-9pm
NORTHERN HEALTH:
Not sure which health authority your community is in?
Check this map with website links to health authorities:
- Vancouver Coastal Health (Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Sea to Sky, Sunshine Coast, Central Coast)
- Fraser Health (Burnaby, Hope, White Rock, etc.)
- Island Health (Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Hardy, etc.)
- Northern Health (Prince George, Terrace, etc.)
- Interior Health (Kelowna, Kamloops, Williams Lake, etc.)
