Your Visit
The child and adolescent psychiatry units at BC Children’s Hospital are inpatient units for children and youth up to the age of 18 from BC or the Yukon. We are able to diagnose and provide services for mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders (OCD), panic disorder, and generalized anxiety), personality disorders (borderline personality disorder), psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia), eating disorders, trauma-related disorders (post-traumatic stress disorder), substance use disorders and concurrent disorders (up to the age of 24).
Usually children and youth who access these services have already accessed mental health services in their own communities and require additional specialized services.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (P2)
The child and adolescent psychiatry units at BC Children’s Hospital are inpatient units for children and youth up to the age of 18 from BC or the Yukon. Usually children and youth who access these series have already accessed mental health services in their own communities and need further intensive services.
Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program
The Provincial Specialized Eating Disorder Program at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, specialized program to assess and treat children and youth up to the age of 24 who have a severe eating disorder. Any child or youth from BC or the Yukon who, in the opinion of a community care provider, is struggling with an eating disorder may be referred for assessment by the provincial program. For more information on the inpatient programs for eating disorders, please click here.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Emergency (CAPE)
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Emergency (CAPE) unit provides short-stay crisis care for children and youth from BC and the Yukon, through age 16, who are experiencing acute mental health challenges. Access to the CAPE unit is through emergency room (ER)/hospital services where a psychiatric assessment has been completed in which immediate hospitalization is required.
Visiting opportunities. BCCHs inpatient mental health services are family-centred services. You and your family are encouraged to visit your child and participate in all aspects of the program including: family teaching sessions, multi-family groups and outings with the patients. Visiting times can be discussed with your treatment team so that therapy can be maximized.
Evening and weekend passes. Evening and weekend passes are part of the assessment and treatment process and allow your child and your family the opportunity to practice the skills you have learned. These passes will be discussed and decided upon by your child’s care team. Passes will be discussed at your child’s admission and before weekends.
