Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service

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About this Service | Service Hours | Service Pathways | Referrals | For Health Care Providers | Promotional Materials

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About this S​​​ervice

The First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service provides individuals with access to specialists in addictions medicine and psychiatry as well as mental health and wellness care coordinators. 

This is a referral-based service and is available at no cost to all First Nations people and their family members living in BC, including​ family members who are not Indigenous​. 

Specialists and care coordinators are dedicated to the principles and practices of cultural safety and humility, and to delivering trauma-informed care. 

Service H​ours

  • Substance Use and Addictions Medicine: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to  5 p.m.
  • Psychiatry: Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.​

Service Pathways

The service provides clients with pathways to accessing services:

Addictions Medicine Pathway

  • harm reduction support
  • relapse prevention planning
  • education about treatment centres and referrals if possible. 
  • treatment care planning with client

Psychiatry Pathway

  • diagnosis support
  • medication review
  • treatment care planning with client

Care Coordinator

  • counselling and therapy connections in their communities (virtual or telehealth options for those individuals who are isolated and remote)
  • scheduled check-ins based on client request (either while waiting for an initial consult or to support their mental health and wellness journey afterwards)
  • mental health and wellness support and connections to services as needed (such as Elders and Knowledge Keepers)​
 
Jon Rabeneck, FNHA Primary Care and e-Health, introduces the First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service (video, 2.35 mins)

Referr​als 

The service welcomes referrals from trusted health and wellness providers, Knowledge Keepers and Elders. 

Referring providers include general practitioners, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, addictions workers, wellness workers, Traditional Medicine specialists, mental health counsellors, community health reps, treatment centre staff, the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day service and mental health counsello​rs registered with First Nations Health Benefits

If a client is looking for mental health and substance use virtual services but is not attached to any of the service providers listed above, they can utilize the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day service to speak to a doctor about their mental health care needs and receive a referral based on the virtual doctor’s assessment.

Health and wellness providers are welcome to call the service for consultation if they need additional support or knowledge to attend to the needs of complex clients. 

  • Clients: To get a referral to this service, please contact your health and wellness provider or (the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day)
  • Health and wellness providers: For assistance or to make a referral, please call 1-833-456-7655

For Health Providers

This service encourages the referring provider or community health support person to attend the specialist appointment with the client. This ensures that local knowledge is available to the specialist for care planning and that there is continued support for the client between appointments. 

Promotional Materials​

 Get a Referral

To get a referral to this service, please contact your health and wellness provider or (the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day)

Health and wellness providers: For assistance or to make a referral, please call 1-833-456-7655

 Contact

​First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service


Fax: 1-833-222-8131

 Compliments and Complaints

​If you have a compliment or complaint about this service, please contact the FNHA Quality Care and Safety​ office:

Phone (toll-free)​: 1-844-935-1044
Email: quality@fnha.ca​
Web: Compliments and Complaints ​

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