Strategic Priorities

Our strategic plan is informed by input from many leaders, staff and medical staff across BCMHSUS.

It also aligns with the Provincial Health Services Authority’s Purpose, Vision, Values, and Teachings and supports PHSA’s priorities, as well as the priorities and experiences of our partners in the health care system and government; patients, clients and families; and others.

The core of our strategic priorities focuses on four broad areas:

1. Quality of care, patient experience and engagement

• British Columbians requiring our services will experience timely and efficient access to high-quality care that is informed by evidence – based on research, evaluation, and quality improvement efforts, the perspectives of those with lived and living experience, and clinical expertise
• Clients in our care are safe from toxic drug poisonings and related harm
• We elevate the voices and experiences of families who have lost someone to the toxic drug crisis, and create a culture of patient safety across BCMHSUS
• Our services are guided by, and reflect a deep commitment to, person-centred, trauma-informed, and anti-racist principles
   

Learn about patient experience & community engagement at BCMHSUS

2. Indigenous-specific anti-racism and cultural safety

• We are strongly committed to eliminating Indigenous-specific racism, embedding Indigenous cultural safety and humility in our programs and services, and improving Indigenous health and wellness
• We commit to unlearning and undoing colonial and white supremacist approaches that have contributed to the systemic oppression, exclusion and abuse of Indigenous Peoples
• We work in close partnership with the First Nations Health Authority, the regional health authorities, and Indigenous community partners to facilitate Indigenous people's access to our services and to provide care that meets the needs and preferences of Indigenous clients and patients
   

Visit our Indigenous health and cultural safety page

3. People and partnerships

• We invest in learning, development and high quality training of our workforce to provide optimal care and treatment of the patients and clients we serve
• We believe in a psychologically safe workplace and a positive workplace culture, and fully recognize the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion
• We meaningfully engage with partners, people with lived and living experience, Indigenous people, and staff

4. Learning, growth and innovation

• We are provincial leaders in clinical care, professional development, and research, with a focus on mental health and co-occurring substance use, adult forensic psychiatric services, and correctional health
• We create an in-house learning program for all forensic disciplines

• We work with partners to adapt to changing priorities, strengthen capacity, and advance system-level improvement

   

Download a visual overview (PDF) of the 2024-2026 Strategic Plan.