British Columbia Schizophrenia Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by families and friends of people with schizophrenia. They are dedicated to:
- Supporting each other
- Educating the public
- Raising funds for research and
- Advocating for better services for people with schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illness.
B.C. Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) offers many programs that provide support and education to families and communities impacted by severe and persistent mental illness.. These programs and services provide support and education for individuals and families in the form of educational presentations, workshops, scholarships, respite care and support groups. With programs geared toward adults, children and youth, BCSS aims to:
- Share accurate and up-to-date information about mental illness and the resources available to support those affected by mental illness.
- Reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness
- Be a leader in providing valuable knowledge and tools for families living with severe and persistent mental illnesses to manage the illness and maintain the best possible quality of life.
- Offer programs to families across B.C. BCSS Regional Educators
- Work with dozens of local community organizations, family members, people with lived experience and other volunteers to bring life-saving support to communities across B.C.
This state-of-the-art equipment will enable UBC schizophrenia researchers and their colleagues in mind and brain health research to develop more nuanced models of the relationship between symptoms and brain function, increasing the speed with which new therapies can be developed and tested for the benefit of patients with schizophrenia and other brain disorders in British Columbia including topics such as:
- Data collection for research
- Functional brain networks underlying non-pharmaceutical interventions for psychosis: a study aimed to contribute to the body of evidence supporting methods for bringing strength and organization back to the brain networks affected in psychosis through the use of group-based education and training sessions.
- Cognitive and brain mechanisms underlying disconfirmatory evidence integration in delusions in schizophrenia: a study investigating the brain network processes around evidence integration and whether they are impaired in schizophrenia patients with delusions, compared to patients without delusions and healthy controls.
- Decision-making and schizophrenia and the salience network: a study investigating whether salience networks used in decision-making are impaired in schizophrenia, compared to healthy controls.
- Neurological networks underlying working memory in psychosis: a study aiming to develop a better understanding of the brain networks underlying persistent cognitive impairments (present throughout the course of schizophrenia) in working memory.
B.C. Schizophrenia Society’s Family Respite Program provides essential reprieve to people caring for a loved one with a mental illness. Mental health professionals perform short-term care, so unpaid primary caregivers can go on holiday or simply take a few hours for themselves. The Family Respite Program may also be able to provide assistance when a caregiver is ill, or otherwise unable to function in a caregiving capacity. Home visits are an option for caregivers who require extra assistance or professional expertise during a rough patch. By making it possible for them to take much-needed breaks, the program helps caregivers gain the strength and energy they require to care for their loved ones.
Country
Canada
Contact Person / Email
respite@bcss.org
Family Support Groups offers support groups throughout B.C. for family and friends who are supporting a loved one living with mental illness. These groups provide a safe and supportive environment for family and friends to learn about mental illness, ask questions and connect with other caregivers. With the support of HereToHelp, B.C. Schizophrenia Society provides a province-wide calendar of support groups for family and friends of people with mental illness. In addition to family support groups, this calendar lists information sessions, meet and greets, caregiver support, educational workshops and more. Groups, sessions and events are searchable by region or date, with many being offered on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.
Contact Person / Email
prov@bcss.org
Kids in Control and Teens in Control are B.C. Schizophrenia Society programs that provide support and education for children and youth aged 8-18 who have a family member with a mental illness. Through these programs, participants learn healthy coping strategies and self-care practices, while gaining factual information about mental illness so they can better understand the behaviour of their parent or sibling. The small group setting allows participants to connect with peers who share similar experiences in a safe, accepting environment and learn they are not alone.
- Kids in Control is intended for children ages 8 to 12:
- Teens in Control is intended for youth ages 13 to 18: a condensed workshop version of Teens in Control available that focuses on the main ideas from the full program. Teens in Control workshops are usually two two-hour sessions, with optional follow-up sessions. This format is intended for youth groups, youth drop-in centres or high school groups that want to learn more about mental illness and ways to practice self-care.
Country
Canada
Contact Person / Email
kidsincontrol@bcss.org
The Reaching Families Project provides an online forum for people to easily access group support and advice for loved ones of people living with mental illness. There are five support groups within the forum:
- Family and Friends of Persons with a Mental Illness (one private, one searchable)
- Adult Children of Persons with a Mental Illness Support
- Siblings of Persons with a Mental Illness Group and
- LGBTQ Partners of Persons with a Mental Illness.
The forum is overseen by a B.C. Schizophrenia Society moderator, who answers questions and provides resource information. Users also receive insight and advice from other people with similar experiences, without having to physically attend a support group meeting.
Country
Canada
ReachOut Psychosis Tour provides an interactive musical presentation designed to teach students and educators about psychosis. Endorsed by early psychosis clinicians, the presentation provides audiences facts about psychosis, challenge the stigma and myths surrounding psychosis, and highlight how to recognize and seek help for youth with emerging psychosis. The show is geared towards secondary school students in grades 10-12, but can also be adapted for community events.
Country
Canada
Contact Person / Email
reachoutbookings@bcss.org
Strengthening Families Together Programs provides the knowledge, support and tools necessary for families to manage mental illnesses together. Participating families:
- Learn the facts about psychosis, schizophrenia, mood disorders and other serious mental illnesses.
- Gain information about treatments and side-effects;
- The mental health system in B.C including how it works and who is involved; mental illness and how it relates to addiction and the criminal justice system.
- Learn valuable strategies about how to help their loved ones and find support for themselves in their role as a caregiver.
Strengthening Families Together help participants build the skills to live with serious mental illness day to day. Sessions cover communication tactics, stress management tools, self-care planning, crisis planning, and advocacy. Through discussion and group exercises, families build supportive connections with others who share similar experiences. Through the program, participants also develop support groups within their communities. The 10-session program is available free of charge to participants.
Strengthening Families Together – First Nations is based on the core Strengthening Families Together program adapted to honor and include First Nations culture and traditions. It was developed by B.C. Schizophrenia Society in partnership with leaders from the Stó:lÅ Nation. The program is facilitated by a trained community member and incorporates traditional cultural practices, creating a culturally safe environment. Participating families support each other by sharing their experiences and learn skills to be effective personal advocates for their loved ones. Strengthening Families Together – First Nations is available to First Nations communities across British Columbia and is free of charge to participants and facilitators.
Country
Canada
The Partnership Education Presentation Program uses storytelling to shed light on the reality and scope of severe and persistent mental illness. A panel of three guest speakers — usually a person with a mental illness, a family member and a mental health professional— share their insights and personal journeys with mental illness. In educating communities this way, Partnership Education Presentations foster understanding and reduce stigma. Partnership Education Presentations are valuable to students, teachers, mental health workers and people who work with the public.
Country
Canada
The Police Mental Health Liaison officer works with community partners and agencies to provide long term solutions for individuals whose mental health needs directly impact their contact with police.
Country
Canada
The Reaching Out Teacher’s Manual provides teachers with the knowledge and tools to educate their students on the facts and misconceptions about schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illness. Students will learn the importance of early intervention, what they can do if a friend or family member shows symptoms and how schizophrenia can be treated. The manual includes an educational video, two lesson plans (with the option to only do the first lesson if time is limited), suggestions of related topics for students to explore, and possible ways to incorporate mental illness education into grade 11 and 12 curriculums.
Country
Canada
The Puppet Education Program consists of a puppet show, followed by a short discussion about mental illness, designed to help younger children understand mental illness. Ideal for children in grades 3-5, this program challenges stigma around mental illness in children by teaching them factual information about mental illness, helping reduce fear and stigma surrounding mental illness. They also learn how they can support a friend or family member with mental illness and how to seek help.
Country
Canada
The Yes2Me Scholarship Program helps young people with schizophrenia achieve their educational goals. B.C. Schizophrenia Society and the Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance award scholarships of $1,000 each to students in accredited programs, such as high school equivalency, trade and vocational certifications, and bachelor and graduate degrees.
Country
Canada
BC Schizophrenia Society hosts a free wills & trust seminar for family members led by lawyers and experts in wills and trusts. Some of the topics covered by the seminar include:
- Wills and Estate Planning
- Discretionary Trusts
- Non-discretionary Trust
These seminars are particularly useful for individuals who are making estate arrangements to care for a family member living with mental illness.
Country
Canada
Contact Person / Email
philanthropy@bcss.org
Organisation
Address: 1100 – 1200 West 73rd Avenue Vancouver, BC V6P 6G5
Country: Canada
Email: prov@bcss.org
