Mental Health & Substance Use
Mental Health & Substance Use
The System is the Crisis
Young people across British Columbia are being devastated by toxic drugs and unmet mental health needs. Overdose remains the leading cause of death for youth aged 10–18. Many more are living with grief, trauma, brain injury, and disrupted lives after experiencing toxic drug poisonings or losing friends, family, and caregivers to.
At the same time, youth face long waits, limited access to care, and sudden service drop-offs. Too often, they are turned away because of narrow eligibility rules or where they live. The result is predictable. Young people are left unsupported when they need help most.
RCY continues to call for urgent, coordinated action that addresses both the causes and the system failures driving this crisis.
This crisis is not just about youth—it’s about the future of our communities.
– Toxic Drug Convening Participant
What We're Hearing
Young people are telling us the system itself is the crisis.
They describe services that are slow, fragmented, and hard to navigate. Many feel invisible, unheard, and left to manage their own care while dealing with grief, trauma, and substance use.
Families and frontline workers echo this. Youth are forced to retell their stories, face stigma, and fall through gaps between ministries and programs. Trauma, mental health, and substance use are deeply connected, yet the system treats them separately.
RCY data shows rising suicide-related injuries and deaths, especially among youth in care. Many were on waitlists, recently discharged, or not connected to services at all. This is not just a health crisis. It is a failure of care, connection, and accountability.
The above video is part of a larger series called “Living On”. It was created by British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, researcher Danya Fast, and filmmakers in Vancouver. To watch the series in full, view their website.
Being forced into care made me lose trust in the system. I needed care that met me where I was at.
– Anonymous, Age 17
What RCY is Doing
RCY continues to draw attention to the lack of mental health and substance use supports and services for young people. While the toxic drug crisis continues impacting young people in unique ways, there is still no coordinated provincial plan aimed at their specific needs. RCY continues to collect the wisdom of people who know this issue best – youth, families, service providers, and leaders amplifying their voices to impact change. We continue to collect data and issue reports to draw attention to where action is needed now and into the future.
RCY is also pushing for system-level reform, including:
- A connected, cross-ministry youth mental health and substance use framework
- Stronger suicide prevention and rapid response when a young person is in distress
- Rights-based, compassionate use of involuntary detention
- A full review of the Mental Health Act for children and youth
- A robust, culturally grounded continuum of services and supports for children and youth with mental health and/or substance use challenges
Alongside this, RCY Advocates work directly with young people and families to access care, understand their rights, and challenge barriers. These frontline cases show, every day, how fragmentation and delay cause harm and they shape RCY’s push for a system that actually holds young people.
Because youth deserve more than survival. They deserve systems that care.
Too Many Lives Lost
On average, 26 people under 19 years of age are dying due to the toxic drug crisis per year. Hundreds of others are experiencing life-altering harms and injuries due to toxic drug poisonings. Many other young people are losing their parents, siblings, friends, and caregivers due to the toxic drug crisis.
The following images are from Moms Stop the Harm, a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths.
By the Numbers
of youth who died from toxic drug poisonings had past or current involvement with child welfare.
– B.C. Coroners Service
toxic drug poisoning responses involving youth by paramedics last year.
– BCEHS
of young people who died from toxic drug poisonings also had a mental health diagnosis.
– B.C. Coroners Service
people die each day from toxic drug supply.
– B.C. Coroners Service
Reports and Resources
With Open Arms Toolkit
The Open Arms Toolkit, created by the First Nations Health Authority for young people, has real talk examples, harm reduction tips, cultural supports, and tools to care for yourself and your friends. It’s free, easy to use, and here to support your wellness.
Stronger Together Toolkit
The British Columbia Centre on Substance Use hopes you can use these videos to show the power of family engagement and importance of support for families, and to start important discussions on how to make this happen.
Time to Listen, 2018
Time to Listen (2018), brings the lived experiences of young people to the centre of BC’s overdose response, calling for youth-specific, culturally safe harm-reduction and substance-use supports that keep young people alive, connected and supported.
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