DBT Skills

This course introduces skills for emotional regulation, effective communication, and stress tolerance.

Offered online over Zoom on Thursdays from 1PM-2:30PM.

Referral through walk in at this clinic or Brooks Landing required.

Relapse Prevention

Discusses how and why relapses happen in the recovery change cycle. The group focuses on skills and tool development to empower clients to reduce the likelihood of relying on old coping mechanisms.

Offered in person Fridays from 9:30AM-11AM.

Mindful Movement & Meditation

This group invites clients to learn basic mindfulness and meditation practices.  Meditation teaches us to approach our patterns gently, hold and observe them, and then only keep what is truly our own. Each session includes mindful movement practice coordinating the breath with a series of gentle movements from a variety of practices, and a seated mindful meditation. Please wear comfortable clothing and have a yoga mat or towel for the gentle movements.

Offered in person Mondays from 1PM-2PM.

New Start

The New Start group invites individuals to explore personal goals surrounding substance use, by providing topics to consider when creating change.  The group is open to all stages of readiness and provides effective skills and coping strategies useful in recovery.

Offered in person Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:30AM-11AM.

Foundations

The Foundations group is an introductory group for individuals living with Anxiety and Depression. The group provides education, skills, and support to help participants better understand and manage the effects of anxiety and depression in their lives.

Offered in person Wednesdays from 10:30AM-Noon.

Employment Support

Available Monday to Friday from 9AM-5PM.

Social Centre

Available Monday and Friday from 10AM-4PM, and Wednesdays from 1PM-7PM.

Housing

CHMA offers housing assistance in helping those with mental illness find affordable, sustainable housing.

Available Monday to Friday from 9AM-5PM.

Employment Support

Available Monday to Friday from 9AM-5PM.

Social Centre

Available Monday and Friday from 10AM-4PM, and Wednesdays from 1PM-7PM.

Housing

CHMA offers housing assistance in helping those with mental illness find affordable, sustainable housing.

Available Monday to Friday from 9AM-5PM.

Nanaimo

Outreach

Provides service to women and their dependent children who have experienced, or are at risk of abuse, threats, or violence. This includes rent subsidy support and community-based support for women and their families, which addresses systematic barriers to securing safe affordable housing, and reduces harms associated with violence and issues associated with homelessness.

Drop-In Program

Drop-in is a free and confidential service for adult women and trans women who have experienced abuse in intimate relationships, childhood sexual abuse, and/or trauma and sexual assault. The Drop-In Program offers a brief opportunity to identify risk indicators, needs, emotional support and possible referrals.

Community Victim Services

Community Victim Services provides justice-related support services, information and emotional support for individuals and/or families who are experiencing or who have experienced abuse and violence in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse, and/or sexual assault. We may be able to provide accompaniment to Crown or RCMP appointments.

Transition House

Haven Transition House provides temporary shelter and support for women and children who have experienced violence and are seeking safety while exploring their options.

Stopping The Violence Counselling

​The Stopping the Violence Counselling Program provides individual and group counselling for women (19 years and older) whose lives are affected by childhood abuse, sexual assault, as well as abuse and violence in relationships, intimate and other.

PEACE Program

The PEACE Program (Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling, & Empowerment) is a provincial intervention/prevention program that addresses the needs of children and youth aged 3 to 18 who have experienced violence and/or abuse at home. 

Parksville-Oceanside

The Oceanside area safe house provides service to women who have experienced, or are at risk of abuse, threats, or violence, and their dependent children. This includes rent subsidy support and community-based support for women and their families, which addresses systematic barriers to securing safe affordable housing, and reduces harms associated with violence and issues associated with homelessness.

Men Choose Respect

The Men Choose Respect program is for men who want to stop their use of abuse in their personal relationships and choose respect and equality with their partners.

Recovery-based psychosocial model

VIMHS addresses complex mental health and substance use issues in all our housing projects using a recovery-based psychosocial model. Residents’ length of stay is based upon each person’s recovery process.

Transitional Housing

VIMHS provide a range of transitional housing options, beginning with Gateway House which offers intensive psychiatric and psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR).

From there, residents can move into semi-independent living units (SILS) where they continue receiving PSR but there is an emphasis on preparing individuals for independent living.

Finally, if there is a vacancy, residents can choose to move into one of our supportive independent living facilities, Boundary Crescent or Rosehill Apartments.