What's NewJanuary 2007 E-Newsletter
Welcome to the BC Schizophrenia Society’s new e-newsletter! This monthly e-newsletter is meant to serve as a supplement to the BCSS Friends newsletter, which is published twice a year. If you are not currently receiving Friends via email and would like to, please email Lisa Slater at lslater@bcss.org
Contents
Branch profile: Campbell River
Julie Skippon Awarded Honourable Mention in the 2006 Access to Health Awards
Volunteers Rock: Leo Paquin and the Courage to Come Back Awards
HBC and Optimum Points Donation Program
$10, 000 grant from Eli Lilly to go towards Public Education Program
Get Naked for Schizophrenia!
The BC Schizophrenia Society is partnering with Wild Play Ltd in the 1 st annual Naked Bungy Jumping Event at Wild Play’s Bungy Zone site in Nanaimo , BC .
The event takes place Saturday, February 24 th and Sunday February 25 th. Bungy jumpers who choose to go naked pay $25, while clothed bungy-enthusiasts pay $99. Spectators will be charged a $10 park entry fee. Wild Play is donating 100% of the profits to the Schizophrenia Society.
“We’re very excited about partnering with Wild Play for this event. It’s a fun new way to raise awareness about schizophrenia and to raise money for our programs and services,” says Society president, Fred Dawe .
John Humphrey , vice-president of the Williams Lake Branch, has already sent in a cheque for $99. In his letter to BCSS, John says, “Work commitments will not allow me time for this adventure this year however.. I am asking that a proxy be appointed, fully clothed, if they should prefer…to do the jump for me this year. I issue a challenge to any sheilas or blokes in any of the BCSS branches who might also be work bound to likewise sponsor a proxy jumper.”
Participants can register for the event at: www.wildplayshop.com/servlet/StoreFront .
Branch Profile: Campbell River
Here at the Provincial Office in Richmond , we hear all sorts of stories about the amazing events, programs and successes of our branches and their members. The Branch Profile section will be included in each e-newsletter, with a description of the accomplishments and activities of the featured branch. If you’d like to recommend that we profile your branch in our next e-newsletter, please email Lisa Slater at lslater@bcss.org .
The Campbell River branch was founded 21 years ago by two Campbell River families who wanted to help other families cope with the effects of serious mental illness. This branch opened their new office just over a year ago with the help of Lin and David Wryghte , who were honoured at the BCSS September AGM with the Founders Award for their ongoing commitment and involvement in volunteering to improve services for people with schizophrenia and other serious mental illness and their families. After taking the Strengthening Families Together course, David and Lin wanted to bring this educational program to other families affected by the mental illness of a loved one, who like them, were looking for information and support. Another Campbell River branch representative was also honoured at these awards - Marsha Lloyd was presented with the Lucy Waters Leadership award. Marsha co-facilitates the Strengthening Families Together program, and leads the monthly family peer support group meetings.
The Campbell River branch currently offers a number of programs and initiatives designed to help families cope with the effects of schizophrenia and other serious mental illness. The branch offers Strengthening Families Togethe r, a 10 session educational program, three times per year. Initial funding was provided by the Vancouver Island Health Authority. Also funded by VIHA is the Therapeutic Work Program, which allows participants to gain meaningful work experience and learning opportunities through projects that focus on the maintenance and cultivation of the Campbell River Estuary and Mittlenatch Park . Twenty-five people participated in this initiative, and almost $13,000 was paid out in training honorariums to the participants. The BCSS Campbell River branch supports this important program by providing tools, hand-pruners, shovels, rakes, tarps, a leaf blower and lawnmowers. The Therapeutic Work program also offers a work placement in the new BCSS office. The branch offers a family support group every month, and is currently working on getting the BCSS Partnership Puppeteer program into schools for September 2007, with the help of their puppet coordinator LyndaValikoski , VIHA and other local organizations.
Julie Skippon Awarded Honourable Mention in the 2006 Access to Health Awards
Julie Skippon was awarded Honourable Mention in the Community Agency Category of the 2006 Access to Health Awards for her work as the president of the BCSS Sunshine Coast Branch. In addition to her work with her local branch, Julie is also a member of the BCSS Provincial Board, and is a previous winner of the Founders Award. The Access to Health Awards are presented by the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities and the Health Literacy Network to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service to people in BC through their affiliation with a community agency or as a direct healthcare service provider. Congratulations, Julie!
Volunteers ROCK! Courage to Come Back Awards
The BC Schizophrenia Society is a grassroots organization that relies on dedicated and hard-working volunteers from all over BC to run branches, deliver family educational programs, facilitate support groups and educate the public! The Volunteers ROCK column will appear in each newsletter. If you know an amazing BCSS volunteer who deserves to have their contribution highlighted, contact Lisa Slater at lslater@bcss.org .
The Courage To Come Back Awards honour individuals who have shown inspirational courage in their recovery from illness, injury or adversity. The Awards are hosted by the Coast Foundation, and the Gala Awards Dinner will take place on April 19, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver .
ReachOut ! Taking Psychosis Awareness on Tour…
The BC Schizophrenia Society’s ReachOut program is a fun, interactive program targeted at high school students, whose purpose is to educate through music, slam poetry and fun, and to increase the chances of early intervention . Shows feature popular band Ten Ways from Sunday and slam poet sensation Barbara Adler .
Psychosis has no borders and affects 3% of the population at some point during their life, which is 6 times more common than diabetes! Most experience their first symptoms during high school or early university, and it can be a scary and intimidating time for affected individuals and for those close to them. Early intervention is extremely important to increase the chances of full recovery. The earlier individuals receive treatment, the better. ReachOut aims to educate (and entertain!) the people most at risk for experiencing psychosis – youth – so that they will know how to spot and stop psychosis early.
ReachOut is currently touring through Prince George , Williams Lake , and many other areas of BC. Check out their website at www.reachoutpsychosis.com for more information and details, or to book a show. For more info about Ten Ways from Sunday and Barbara Adler, look out for an article about them in the next Friends newsletter!
BCSS Awards
At the September AGM in Richmond , BCSS paid tribute to a number of people who have exhibited dedication in their support of the mission of BCSS. The Founders Award, which honours BCSS members who are active at the provincial or branch level to improve services for people with schizophrenia and their families, was awarded to Lin and David Wryghte of Campbell River (for more information about the activities of the 
Campbell River branch, see the Branch Profile section). The Calder Cup, which is awarded to a person with a serious mental illness who has contributed to the BCSS mission through their work in education, boards, committees or councils at the local, regional or provincial level, went to Ron Plecas of the Nanaimo branch. The Lucy Waters Leadership Award, which honours an individual who has demonstrated leadership abilities at the branch or provincial level that have resulted in improved services for people with schizophrenia and their families, was given to Marsha Lloyd of Campbell River. The Media Award goes to a member of the print or electronic media for effectively advancing the cause of schizophrenia by bringing awareness of the illness to the attention of the public, and it was presented this year to Douglas Todd of the Vancouver Sun . The Elaine Preston Award, which honours an individual who has contributed to the alleviation of the suffering caused by schizophrenia and serious mental illness through education programs, was awarded to Susan Inman of Vancouver . The Gayle Tissington Award of Excellence, which is given to a staff member who has made an exceptional contribution at the work of BCSS, was given to BCSS Powell River coordinator Lin Johnson . The Renate Varwig Award goes to a non-family member whose volunteer work at the branch or provincial level has significantly contributed to alleviating the suffering caused by schizophrenia, and it was awarded this year to Kelowna ’s Mavis Richardson .
Congratulations, everyone!
2006 Eli Lilly BCSS/MDA Moving Lives Forward Scholarship Award Winners
The Moving Lives Forward Scholarship Awards go to individuals with a serious mental illness (schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder or bipolar disorder) who wish to pursue further educational opportunities, including: High School Equivalency Programs; Community College, Trade or Vocational School Programs; or Bachelor or Graduate degrees. Eligible candidates must be BC residents who have been diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness and who are receiving treatment for the disorder.
The winners for the academic year 2006/07 are:
Bradley Anton $1500 BCIT - Automotive technician
Punkaj Bhushan $1500 Kwantlen, Surrey - Accountant
Alexandra Colombo $ 750 UBC - Eng. Lit./Sociology
Clint Price $ 750 Okanagan College - Carpentry/Joiner
Myomi Chu $ 750 Centennial College - Graphic Design
Jonathan Sullivan $ 750 Capilano College , Sechelt - Electrical Technician
Tammy Tylka $ 750 Capilano College , N. Van. - University Transfer
program to become an Addictions Counsellor
Debbie Poon $ 750 UBC BA (Psychology) then on to Nursing Program
Congratulations to all the winners, and good luck in your studies!
Help BCSS by Donating Your Points!
Now shopping at Hudson’s Bay Company and Shoppers Drug Mart can help you support BCSS! Both the Hudson ’s Bay Company Rewards Program and the Shoppers Optimum Points Program allow members the option of donating points to a registered charitable organization. To donate HBC Rewards Points, go to the HBC Rewards Community Donations Program Page , find the BC Schizophrenia Society section and click Donate. You have to enter your HBC Rewards card number plus some confirmation details, and then you can enter what percentage of your HBC points you would like to go to the BC Schizophrenia Society. To donate Shoppers Optimum Points, go to the Shoppers Optimum Points Donation Page , fill in the necessary information, and then choose the BC Schizophrenia Society from the list of charities.
These points will be used towards Volunteer Reward and Recognition Programs, so that BCSS can “purchase” gifts to honour the contributions of the volunteers that drive our work. If you have any questions about the programs, please contact Lisa Slater at lslater@bcss.org .
BCSS and MIND Foundation Receive Grant of $10,000 from Eli Lilly Canada
BCSS recently received a generous $10,000 grant from Eli Lilly Canada . Eli Lilly Canada’s Grant/Donation Program was established to promote educational and philanthropic purposes.
The Eli Lilly grant is designated for public education and awareness initiatives, including the production of the BCSS Friends newsletter, educational booklets and brochures.
Friends newsletter provides the latest information in mental illness research, education, resources, and advocacy initiatives. It keeps BCSS connected to the community at all levels. Friends is distributed to over 2500 people, organizations, agencies and corporations provincially, nationally and internationally.
BCSS public education and awareness initiatives include: Partnership presentations, where a team of people whose lives are affected by mental illness use a storytelling model to convey their experiences; Partnership Puppeteer presentations, where a team of volunteer family members and consumers use large, brightly coloured puppets to tell a story of a young girl sharing her concerns about her brother, who has schizophrenia.
BCSS’s written materials help people learn about schizophrenia and psychosis. They discuss what schizophrenia is and what it is not; the causes, symptoms, treatment, and medications; what steps to take when dealing with a person with serious mental illness; and what to look for in rehabilitation and through the recovery process. Information is made available to families, allied programs, health professionals and the general public through the BCSS provincial office and our 28 branches and 16 regional coordinators throughout the province. Thanks again to Eli Lilly for their part in helping us provide this invaluable service to British Columbians.