Central Okanagan Division of Family Practice

Child & Youth Mental Health

The CYMHSU Collaborative, funded by the Shared Care Committee with support from the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC, involves multiple organizations and ministries all working together to increase the number of children, youth, and their families receiving timely access to mental health services and support in the Interior Health region. 

More than 150 individuals including family doctors, psychiatrists, pediatricians, social workers, school counselors, substance use counselors, Aboriginal groups, advocates, parents, youth, RCMP officers, health administrators, and others are involved in the Collaborative.

The Central Okanagan Children and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative includes Family Physicians, Psychiatrists, Paediatricians, Kelowna General Hospital, Canadian Mental Health Association, Social Workers, Ministry of Children and Families, ImpactBC, School District #23, Bridge Youth and Family Services, Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, FORCE Society, Interior Health, Kelowna Community Resources, Central Okanagan Regional District, Westbank First Nations, The Core Kelowna, youth, parents and family members.

Youth and parents – through FORCE – provide leadership to the Collaborative, and participate in all aspects from Steering Committee, Working Groups and Local Action Teams.  The leadership and participation of youth and parents has been identified as the biggest gem of the Collaborative.