The Program
The VCH Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & Deaf-Blind Well-Being Program (WBP in short) provides accessible mental health services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind people throughout British Columbia.
The WBP was established in 1991 and receives its funding from the Ministry for Children & Family Development (MCFD). Its operations are managed through Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).
Why was the WBP established?
The Well-Being Program was created to provide accessible mental health services for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind clients, and in some situations, with their families.
Our mandate is addressing cultural and/or language barriers to facilitate clients’ access to and benefit from mental health and substance use services. For example, historically, hearing services did not provide sign language interpreters, nor did they understand how to communicate with the Hard of Hearing and Deaf.
We provides services for those who identify themselves as culturally Deaf & communicate with sign language. We also provide services for those who may identify themselves as oral deaf, hearing impaired, or hard of hearing, as well as those who may communicate orally.
Our criteria for provision of services is that individuals with hearing loss must demonstrate challenges or barriers to accessing other mainstream services. If an individual can access mainstream services, they will be referred elsewhere.