Indigenous Patient Resources
First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service
The First Nations Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service provides individuals with access to specialists in addictions medicine and psychiatry as well as mental health and wellness care coordinators.
This is a referral-based service and is available at no cost to all First Nations people and their family members living in BC, including family members who are not Indigenous.
Health and wellness providers: For assistance or to make a referral, please call 1-833-456-7655
Patients can make an appointment with the Doctor of the Day and a referral can be made that way too.
Support Available 24 Hours a Day
Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat. Call toll-free 1-855-242-3310 or start a confidential chat with a counsellor at hopeforwellness.ca.
Indian Residential School Crisis Line is a national service for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience. Call toll-free 1-866-925-4419.
Kuu-Us Crisis Line Society provides crisis services for Indigenous people across BC. Adults/Elders line 250-723-4050; youth line 250-723-2040. Or call toll free 1-800-588-8717. Learn more at www.kuu-uscrisisline.com.
Métis Crisis Line is a service of Métis Nation British Columbia. Call 1-833-MétisBC (1-833-638-4722).
Doctor of the Day
The First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day program enables First Nations people in BC with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments. The intent of the program is to enable more First Nations people and their family members to access primary health care closer to home.
This is a unique service for First Nations people in BC and their family members, even if those family members are not Indigenous. The program includes doctors of Indigenous ancestry, and all doctors are trained to follow the principles and practices of cultural safety and humility.
To Make an Appointment
If you do not have a doctor of your own, or have lost access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 1-855-344-3800 to book an appointment. Medical Office Assistants are available to help you seven days per week from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you are a First Nations person living in BC:
- Book an appointment with an OAT clinic. (OAT Clinics Accepting New Patients)
- Your service provider will complete a subsidy application form with you and obtain your signature.
- Your service provider will submit the required documentation to FNHA and you will be considered for OAT subsidization once your First Nations status is confirmed.
- Once you are approved by FNHA, you must sign off on the documentation sent to FNHA every month.
ARC Addictions and Recovery Clinic 200–55 Victoria Rd. V9R 5N9 250-591-1000
- ARC Addictions and Recovery Clinic provides Medication-Assisted Therapy for Opiate Addiction/Dependence.
AVI Health Centre 102–55 Victoria Rd V9R 5N9 250-754-9111
- Promotes health, dignity, and well-being for all people affected by HIV, HCV, and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction based education, prevention, and support services.
Nanaimo Pain Clinic 495A Dunsmuir St V9R 6B4 250-591-2565
- A safe, confidential, and encouraging space to address and treat opiate dependence.
Trew Beginnings Clinic 216–55 Victoria Rd V9R 5N9 250-591-6454
- Specializes in opiate addiction treatment. They have three physicians who use opiate substitution therapy that works by decreasing withdrawal symptoms and reducing drug cravings.