Rural Families Deserve Support: Demand Neurodiversity-Informed Mental Health Care in BC

Petition is addressed to
Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, Government of British Columbia, Minister of Social Development & Poverty Reduction, Mel Arnold, BC Ministry of Children & Family Development

13 Signatures

3 %
500 for collection target

13 Signatures

3 %
500 for collection target
  1. Launched 07/02/2026
  2. Time remaining > 5 months
  3. Submission
  4. Dialog with recipient
  5. Decision
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Petition is addressed to: Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, Government of British Columbia, Minister of Social Development & Poverty Reduction, Mel Arnold, BC Ministry of Children & Family Development

Rural neurodivergent adults, especially women and caregivers, are being denied equitable access to mental health and disability supports in British Columbia, and the provincial government must take action to close these gaps.

Reason

Rural families in British Columbia are being left behind.

Women, caregivers, and neurodivergent adults in rural communities face unique challenges — long travel distances, lack of services, and systems that don’t recognize our realities. Many of us live with ADHD, autism, and executive functioning disabilities, yet we’re told we’re “too young” for support or “not disabled enough” to qualify.

We are asking the BC Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions to:

- Recognize rural neurodivergent women and caregivers as a priority population
- Improve access to adult neurodiversity assessments regardless of age
- Expand rural mental health supports, including mobile teams and virtual care
- Integrate gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-aware training across provincial services
- Include lived-experience voices from rural BC in all planning and policy development

This isn’t just about services. It’s about survival. It’s about dignity. It’s about protecting our ability to live safely and sustainably in the places we call home.

We are strong. We are organized. And we are not backing down.

Add your name. Share your voice. Stand with rural families.

Thank you for your support, Leanne Irwin, Falkland
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Petition details

Petition started: 02/07/2026
Collection ends: 08/07/2026
Region: British Columbia
Topic: Health

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Why people sign

There are 4 neurodiverse people living in our slightly smaller than 900 sq ft house in Falkland. I can find support and advice for our youngest at 6 years old, only because I started advocating for her at 17 .months.
I can not find any advice ir support on dealing with ND adults. Where can we get an adult diagnoses? Where can we get counseling? Where can we get support for autistic burnout? Where can we get advice on managing ND adults needing support?

It's important the people to have acces to these supports. Because people deserve help if they want it or need it.

I am a part of this little community and I would like to see support for family’s especially when it’s not easy to always travel into town or to see someone

There are soooo many of us who fall through the cracks and need help

Can see the need, and very aware of the gaps.

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