About Us
What is MindMapBC?
MindMapBC is a custom-made database of outpatient mental health services including professional counselling, peer counselling, support groups, and others. We have also included relevant resources, and social and networking groups. Learn more about the types of services on MindMapBC!
We have focused on services that are affirming of 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other gender- and sexually-diverse) people. Where possible, we have also selected services that are free, low-cost, or sliding scale, and self-referral services—meaning you do not need to see a doctor before accessing the service.
Why was MindMapBC made?
MindMapBC is motivated by research showing high rates of mental health concerns among people accessing sexual health services in Greater Vancouver. We know from our work at QMUNITY with community members and health care providers that it can be difficult to find mental health services, especially those that are affirming of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
How was MindMapBC developed?
We drew resources from numerous existing public databases, including:
• BC211, http://www.bc211.ca/
• HeretoHelp, http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/
• HealthLink, https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/services-and-resources/find-services
• Health Initiative for Men’s Take Time for your Mind, http://checkhimout.ca/mind/
We then contacted organizations to ask them about location, types of services, eligibility criteria, referral and intake processes, accessibility, languages spoken, and experience with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Where this information was provided, we have included it in MindMapBC.
We did not include individual private practitioners unless they focused their practice on providing sexual or gender minority-affirming care and/or low cost options – especially for equity-seeking groups. Those interested in finding individual practitioners (often fee-for-service) can look at these online databases:
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, https://bc-counsellors.org/counsellors/
BC Psychological Association, https://www.psychologists.bc.ca/find_psychologist
When we were developing the site, we worked closely with people with lived/living experience, mental health and other service providers working with 2SLGBTQIA+ people, researchers, and others as part of an advisory group.
How did you decide which services to include?
MindMapBC was developed acknowledging that 2SLGBTQIA+ people face particular barriers in finding mental health services that are affirming of their sexual orientations and gender identities, in addition to barriers that are commonly experienced by people of all sexual orientations and gender identities (e.g., cost, accessible location, embarrassment/shame).
We selected services that met one or more of the following criteria:
1. Low cost (i.e., free or sliding scale)
2. Self-referral (i.e., does not require a referral from another healthcare provider)
3. Explicit focus on working with Two-Spirit, trans, and/or LGBQIA+ people.
By focusing on these aspects of care, we aim to include services that address one or more of the barriers that may deter people—and in particular 2SLGBTQIA+ people—from seeking mental health care.
While we focus on those providing 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming services, we recognize that members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community face unique barriers when their identities intersect with other marginalized identities. We aim to provide as much accessibility information as possible for users to be able to make informed decisions when it comes to their mental health care.
For the initial launch of MindMapBC, the platform was restricted to services in the Greater Vancouver region (including the Fraser region). As part of the transition to QMUNITY managing this platform we are actively working to expand the database to include as many regions of the province as possible. You can help us by recommending other 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming services!
How did you determine whether a service has an explicit focus on 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming care?
We understand that assessing 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming service provision is challenging and requires multiple approaches and regular revision. We started with a two-pronged approach. We included services that:
1. Self-reported an 2SLGBTQIA+ focused service
2. Were known by QMUNITY and our community partners to reliably reliably provide Two-Spirit, trans, and/or LGBQIA+ affirming care.
At QMUNITY we work closely with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who have lived/living experience. Service providers and researchers alongside community members were consulted to help develop a set of questions for providers that help us to evaluate their capacity to provide affirming support to 2SLGBTQIA+ people. As we expand the site, all new services are asked to answer these questions. Their responses will be visible on their MindMapBC service listing. You can view these questions on the Add-a-Service page.
If you know of a service that is 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming and is not listed in MindMapBC, please let us know by completing our "add a service" form!
Who created MindMapBC?
MindMapBC is now managed by QMUNITY, however MindMapBC was developed as a collaborative project between several community-based agencies working with the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, including:
The Community-Based Research Centre, https://www.cbrc.net/
HIM: Health Initiative for Men, https://checkhimout.ca/
Positive Living BC
And the Roundtable: BC’s 2S/LGBTQ+ Mental Health & Substance Use
Networking Space, https://www.sfu.ca/fhs/lgbtq2roundtable.html