New supports are available for people in crisis related to substance use at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.

RJH has added four inpatient beds to the existing two short-stay beds with 24/7 care dedicated to people in crisis for substance use, and for behavioural and mental health needs.

Known as SUN (Support, Understand, Nurture) Pathway Beds, the four long-term stay inpatient beds were added on June 1 and aim to fill the gaps in services for helping people move through the stages of recovery.

“People experiencing complex substance use challenges need a safe, supportive environment where they can stabilize, connect with care and begin their recovery journey,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The Support, Understand, Nurture Pathway Beds provide that foundation, ensuring individuals receive compassionate, timely support that meets them where they are.”

The new service announced Wednesday will be staffed by a team of nurses, mental health workers and a social worker who will collaborate to “quickly assess, treat and stabilize patients,” states Island Health’s release.

“Island Health is committed to meeting all patients where they are — with compassion, respect, and dignity,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair. “This new service is a powerful example of how we can support individuals in crisis with timely, connected care that helps them begin their path to healing.”

To be eligible for one of the six SUN Pathway beds, you must be 19 years or older, come through the RJH emergency department for medical care and require assessment and support that’s related to a substance use disorder and/or a mental health related need.

The service has two short-stay beds that opened in April 2025, and four inpatient beds which opened June 1, 2026. The inpatient beds are located at RJH’s 5S acute medicine unit for individuals requiring longer stays, and two short-stay beds are located in the emergency department.

“The Support, Understand, Nurture Pathway Beds are a compassionate response to a complex issue,” said Lisa Diamond, director of Clinical Service Delivery. “This service means we can intervene earlier and more effectively, giving people the support they need to engage in attaining stability and moving towards recovery.”

When a patient is deemed ready for discharge, patients are connected with community resources to continue care, according to Island Health. “This may include medication management, access to treatment programs and follow-up with outreach and mental health workers.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a severe mental health and/or substance use emergency or crisis, call 911 immediately, or go to the emergency department. 

Additional crisis services are listed below:

Call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 to access 24-hour crisis support

Text the Vancouver Island Crisis line at 250-800-3806 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly

Call or text the Community-Led Crisis Response Team Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. at 250-818-2454.

Online chat crisis service from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly via VI Crisis

Call BC211 at 2-1-1 to reach an information specialist 24 hours a day, or visit BC 211

Dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) to get help right away, any time

Call KUU-US Crisis line at 1-800-588-8717 to access 24-hour Indigenous specific crisis support

For non-emergencies related to substance use, call Access Central at 1-888-885-8824. Island Health lines are answered between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. seven days a week. Caller can leave a message outside of these hours and should receive a call back within 24 hours.

Funding for the service comes from the B.C. Government’s Road to Recovery initiative, a plan to help people through the stages of detox to treatment and long-term care from substance use.

“The goal is to reduce gaps in the system and provide people with the support they need, when they need it,” states Island Health.

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