Public service and education
Helping people to navigate their mental health concerns
Over the past year, BCACC continued to expand its role as a trusted leader in public education, access to care, and mental health advocacy across British Columbia. Through partnerships, innovative programs, and system-level engagement, the Association is making a meaningful difference in how individuals access and experience mental health services.
Connecting the Public to Care
Each year, up to 125,000 individuals use BCACC’s Find a Counsellor tool to connect with qualified clinical counsellors. Ongoing enhancements to the platform continue to improve accessibility, usability, and the ability for the public to find the right support when they need it.
Reducing Barriers and Stigma through Connection to Care
BCACC continues to expand its Connection to Care initiatives, providing confidential, accessible mental health support to workers in sectors where stigma can be a barrier to seeking help. In addition to supporting municipal employees through its partnership with the BC Municipal Safety Association, the program has expanded to include forestry workers, increasing access to early, preventative care and normalizing conversations around mental health in high-impact industries.
Advancing Public Access through Partnerships and System Leadership
BCACC plays an active role in advancing public access to mental health services through collaboration with key partners and participation in provincial advisory bodies, including the Allied Health Network. Through this work, BCACC contributes to system-level discussions that aim to better integrate mental health professionals into the healthcare system and improve access to timely, effective care for British Columbians
Supporting Public Wellbeing through Cross-Sector Collaboration
BCACC continues to collaborate with organizations such as the BC Dental Hygienists Association to support innovative public-facing resources, including tools and educational content designed to reduce anxiety and improve overall health experiences. These partnerships reflect a growing recognition of the connection between mental health and broader health outcomes.
Engaging Communities Across British Columbia
Through direct engagement with stakeholders and rights holders across the province—including Prince George, Kelowna, Burnaby, and Victoria—BCACC continues to advocate for improved access to services while gathering valuable insights to inform its programs and priorities.
Responding together in hard moments
BCACC also demonstrated how quickly the association and its members could come together in moments of collective grief and shock. In response to the events at Lapu Lapu, staff and facilitators assembled a special online session in less than a week and opened it to the public.
More than 1,200 people across BC registered to attend, seeking a space to process what had happened, to understand their own grief, and to receive practical tools and a sense of shared humanity. The session offered not only information, but also hope and connection, reminding participants that they were not alone and that there are people who can help.
Public Education
BCACC’s Matters of the Mind series continues to grow as a trusted source of accessible mental health education for the public. The program now includes 13 video resources, with more than 1000 participants annually, covering topics such as mental health awareness, stress management, resilience, and navigating care. The increasing participation reflects a strong and growing public interest in mental health literacy and support.