Many of our youth living on the streets of Vancouver experience mental health concerns that are often left undiagnosed including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Often these youth cope by turning to substance use.

Covenant House Vancouver offers these youth an opportunity to address any counselling and psychiatric needs. Our Registered Clinical Counsellors work from an attachment-theory lens, which recognizes that a safe and trusting relationship is a basic biological human need, much like the food, clothing, and shelter that we provide.

When it becomes apparent that a youth is struggling with a mental health or addiction concern, a Social Worker on our Case Management Team refers them to one of our in-house Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC). The youth and their Clinical Counsellor will determine what supports the youth requires through a trusting, confidential relationship.

We believe that providing services to clients that aid with these concurrent disorders, due to past traumas, while they are young is key to preventing lifelong homelessness and for effectively managing symptoms as an adult.