Interior Health Nelson services
By Interior Health Authority
Interior Health and the police encourage individuals struggling with substance use problems to seek help.
There are a variety of supports and services through Interior Health and other agencies.
For more information, contact the Nelson Mental Health and Substance Use office at 250-505-7248.
A list of Nelson services is attached and below:
- Regional Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-888-353-2273 – This number is provided to individuals if they are experiencing increased symptoms outside of office hours. The crisis line provides clients with any emotional support needed and connects individuals to various resources in the community including 911
- Intake and Urgent Response – provides access to Community Integrated MHSU Programs, linking to other community agencies and programs, mobile crisis response, and 24 hour crisis line services 1-800-353-2273.
- Adult Short Term Assessment and Treatment Services (ASTAT) – provides short term counselling on and individual or group basis for persons with mental illness with or without concurrent substance use issue. Problems addressed would include severe depression or anxiety, eating disorders, severe adjustment problems or acute symptoms related to trauma.
- Adult Substance Use Services – offers counselling, support and educational services for people wishing to reduce or quit their use of substances. In collaboration with their clients, the counsellors develop treatment plans, which may include referral to other services (withdrawal management, day treatment, live-away treatment and supportive housing)
- Youth Substance Use Services – offers prevention, counselling, support and educational services for young people wishing to reduce or quit their use of substances. These services exist through direct services as well as community based contracts. In collaboration with their clients, the counselors develop treatment plans and services which may include referral to other services (withdrawal management, day treatment, live-away treatment and supportive housing.
- Addiction Related Substance Use Services include needle exchange, pregnancy outreach, Opioid Replacement Therapy, HIV education, as well as outreach services.
- Community Based Withdrawal Management is a program that is new to Nelson. The goal is to identify and support those people who wish to break free of addictions and who can be safely supported through withdrawal in their homes with the support of the nurse and their primary care physician. Program is accessed through the local MHSU office.
- MHSU Nurse Practitioner a Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has additional training and education in a speciality area such as mental health and substance use, Nurse practitioners take complete health histories of new patients and conduct thorough physical exams. Moving through the process, NP’s also order diagnostic testing, including lab work and x-rays, and work with patients to interpret and explain the results of that testing.
- Regional Addictions Day Program (ADTP) is offered to individuals requiring services and for whom residential treatment may not be appropriate. This program offers skills development in family dynamics, boundaries, stress & anger management, communication skills relapse prevention and recovery maintenance. Program is accessed through local MHSU office.
- Regional Opioid Replacement Therapy Clinic (ORT) is a methadone maintenance treatment for those struggling with opioid addiction or chronic pain. The 10th Street Clinic is located in Castlegar and clinic day is every Thursday. Referrals are obtained through local Mental Health and Substance Use Services, a person’s GP or through the clinic at 1-250-304-1284.
