The Centre for Family Equity has written to the Minister of Health in support of progress made towards making counselling MSP-billable and expanding mental health care in BC's public health care system to ensure mental health equity for low-income families in BC.

The Centre urges Minister Osborne to establish MSP coverage for counselling services and fund targeted mental health programs for low-income, lone-mother-led families in BC, who are raising over half the province’s children living in poverty. Based on the CFE's recent community-led study with 165 lone mothers on the impact of the pandemic partnered with the UBC School of Social Work and funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE). The Centre highlights how the pandemic exacerbated economic instability and mental health struggles—particularly among survivors of family violence and those in rural communities. The letter calls for a minimum of 24 MSP-covered counselling hours annually for low-income individuals and a GBA+ approach to ensure equitable access for families impacted by family and gender-based violence in BC.

Read the letter to the Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.