The Canadian Mental Health Association of North and West Vancouver

now expanding to serve the Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky Corridor communities of BC 

Maintaining mental health and well-being to thrive in the modern world is not easy. At times we all struggle with depression, anxiety, fear, or lack of self worth. These feelings can significantly impair our sense of well-being. Many factors determine how well we can recalibrate and orient towards thrive.   

Mental illnesses are not the regular ups and downs of life. Mental illnesses create distress, do not go away on their own, and are real health problems with effective treatments. When someone breaks their arm, we would not expect them to just get over it. Nor would we blame them if they needed a cast, sling, or other help in their daily life while they recovered.  Mental illnesses are complicated conditions that arise from a combination of genetics, biology, environment, and life experiences. Family members, friends loved ones, as well as a supportive community have a big role in assistance and recovery. Although one in four people will experience a mental health challenge in their lifetime, only one-third will access support. Most people don’t readily or easily seek out mental health care.

Our organization strives to eliminate the stigma and shame clouding mental illnesses.

We provide individuals and families with tools to understand the complexities of these illnesses and assist them in locating the services they require to heal. Our entire community suffers when people are excluded, silenced, shamed, or shunned and not given access to needed support.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is a trusted resource, active coast-to-coast, and focused on community well-being.

CMHA helps people access the community resources they need to build resilience and supports recovery from mental illness.

CMHA’s North and West Vancouver branch opened in 1958, and five decades later, we directly serve over 5,000 of our neighbours through employment programs, supportive housing, adult, and youth recreation programs and low or no cost counselling. We build community understanding and support for those with mental illness through advocacy, education, training, and research.