British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

"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

Office Hours are
Tuesday Wednesday and Thursdays 9am to 1Pm

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."

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. A Partnership presentation is a panel of three guest speakers - a person with a psychiatric diagnosis, a family member, and a mental health professional. The three guests are presented as a team and each describes their own personal experience with mental illness. For information about volunteering for or arranging for a partnership presentation in your area, please contact the BCSS staff person or volunteer near you.

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. This program is currently offered in Penticton, Campbell River and Courtenay. Please also see a similar puppet show offered in the Terrace area

Only the lonely is a volunteer program providing friendship for people who are experiencing loneliness.

Do you have a family member with a mental illness? Are you wondering what services are available for serious mental illness in your community and how to access them? Need help figuring out what to do? BCSS can help. We have staff and volunteers in locations near you who can talk to you about your options and help you get connected. For contact info, please visit the link above for a list of locations or contact BCSS at 1-888-888-0029 to be referred to the person nearest you.

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

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

Visit www.reachingfamiliesproject.org to participate in our online support groups for family members and supporters.

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.

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

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.