British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

To Donate: Click here to donate online, send a cheque payable to the BC Schizophrenia Society to 201 - 6011 Westminster Hwy, Richmond , BC V7C 4V4 or click here or the link above for more options.

"In the beginning we knew very little about"

The BC Schizophrenia Society, Abbotsford Branch.

We are a support group for Family and Friends who have a relative that may suffer from any major mental illness.

Support group for Families and friends meet the last Tuesday of every month at 7 pm here in our office (see below for details).

Partnership Educational Program to educate the public, about mental illness and remove the stigma surrounding it. For more information on booking a presentation call number below. Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday monthly at 10:30 - 11:30 am here in our office.

Empowering Voice is an Outreach program for consumers, Families & Friends. Scheduled days Tuesdays & Thursdays 9: am to 3pm at our office.

We have an excellent Library available for anyone interested on Mental illness information.
Other programs offered are; Bridges, Strengthening Families together, and Kids in control

"Now We Know A Little More"

Call: Velma Office manager
604-859-0105
Tuesday to Friday 9: am to 3: PM.

BCSS Abbotsford [Map to Office]

Address: 2615 A Montrose Street Abbotsford BC V2S 3T5
Phone 604-859-0105
E-Mail:

Web Page: www.abbotsford.bcss.org

"Together we can make a difference."

News UPDATE: BCSS Abbotsford is happy to announce that we have secured funding to enable us to continue supporting families for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Partnership Education is based on a personal storytelling model. It is a unique and powerful presentation that helps people in the community to understand the nature and prevalence of chronic and severe mental illness.

The Kids in Control Support Group Program gives information, education and support to children eight to thirteen years of age who have a parent with a serious mental illness.

BRIDGES is a course taught by consumers for consumers. BRIDGES helps people learn things that will help them in their journey to recovery. People who have taken the course find it helps them to be part of their own treatment. In the course, students learn about psychiatric diagnoses. They also learn about what mental health treatments work best.

A puppet show that educates grade 4/5 students in order to give them accurate information and to dispel the myths and misunderstandings about mental illness.

The Family Toolkit is designed to assist families in caring for a family member with a mental illness by providing information and practical resources.

Last Tuesday of the month, 7:00, @ 2615A Montrose St. Abbotsford. Info: 604-859-0105

For more information on volunteering with us, please click on linked heading above.

This resource may be useful to people who would like to understand the rules and procedures in place in BC around mental illness, police involvement, involuntary treatment, etc

Our online calendar at www.calendar.bcss.org contains support groups, training and events for people with a mental illness and their family and supporters. It is updated regularly and includes events and resources from all over British Columbia.

Sign up here for our e-newsletters for family members, mental health professionals, educators and aboriginal community members to keep posted on BCSS events, resources and advocacy or click on the above link for more information.

Do you have a relative or friend with a serious mental illness? Strengthening Families Together is a 10-session group for families and friends, which provides information, skill-building, and support.

A monthly e-newsletter is available from BCSS. Please click on the link above for more details.

This fact sheet helps families recognize a crisis situation and offers suggestions on how to deal with a crisis.

A psychoeducational board game about psychosis for families including a person recovering from psychosis.

Dos and don'ts for families coping with schizophrenia

This booklet was published due to requests from family members who have a spouse ill with schizophrenia, for information specific to their needs.