Health Equity

Our Mental Health Matters initiative highlights the challenges faced by low-income parents and caregivers facing mental health issues, many of whom are survivors of gender-based and family violence, who cannot access expensive market-based counselling support. Mental Health Matters advocates for the inclusion of counselling as a fully MSP-billable service within BC’s health care system, with a minimum of 24 hours of counselling per year, per person, for low-income individuals and more funding for mental health services for family violence survivors.

Our Healing Forward program is a six-month two-part online group mental health support program open to qualifying parents and caregivers anywhere in BC. Healing Forward is facilitated by registered clinical counsellors (RCCs) and experienced peer support facilitators. The program is designed to help low-income parents and caregivers experiencing mental health care access barriers who are currently accessing BC’s family law system to heal, rebuild, and connect after experiencing violence and separation.

Make counselling a fully MSP-billable service within BC’s public health care system and provide a minimum of 24 hours of counselling per year, per person, for low-income individuals.

Ensure that employers provide all full and part-time workers with extended health benefits.

Invest in upgrades and renovations to ensure BC’s aging affordable housing stock is safe, healthy and secure with adequate insulation and zero mold and pests.

Implement a Children’s Right to Move Provincial Framework to ensure all children—regardless of income—have non-stigmatizing access to physical activity and recreation programs critical for development, inclusion, and lifelong health outcomes.