Strengthening Families Together - 10 session group for family and friends - 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. Offered throughout BC in spring and fall. Contact your local branch for details.... More →
Schizophrenia / Psychosis Early Warning Signs - This list of warning signs was developed by people whose relatives have schizophrenia or other serious mental illness. Many behaviours are within the range of normal responses to situations. Yet family members sense—even when symptoms are mild—that behaviour is “unusual”; that the person is “not the same”.... More →
Kids in Control Support Group Program - The Kids in Control Support Group Program, created by the BC Schizophrenia Society, gives information, education and support to children eight to thirteen years of age who have a parent with a serious mental illness. The Teens in Control program is now available for Teens. For more information visit: www.bcss.org/kidsincontrol... More →
Spouses Handbook - This booklet was published due to requests from family members who have a spouse ill with schizophrenia, for information specific to their needs.... More →
Schizophrenia Information in Other Languages - Fact sheets on schizophrenia are available in Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Spanish, translated with a grant from the World Assembly for Mental Health. Click on the above link for more.... More →
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Education and Support Program - 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. More information: www.bcss.org/bridges... More →
Early Psychosis Online Booklet - An online booklet for family, teachers, and friends that looks at the causes, symptoms and treatments of psychosis.... More →
Mental Illness Family Support Centre
BC Schizophrenia Society - Vernon
#301 - 2 3402 27 Ave.
Vernon, BC V1T 1S1
PH: 250-260-3233
FAX: 250-260-3212
Email: vernon@bcss.org
Drop in: Monday to Thursday 9 am to 12:30 pm
By Appointment: Monday to Thursday 12:30 pm to 4 pm, Fridays 9 am to 12:30 pm
Services Provided
Family Support Groups - Our confidential, monthly family support group provides a caring environment to share your hopes, fears, experiences and knowledge with others who have first hand experience in supporting a loved one with a mental illness. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. (click on link for more information)
One-To-One Support - Individual support is available if you have questions, concerns or just want to talk to someone.
Cleaning Service Program for Consumers - This cleaning service aids in improving the emotional and physical well being of mental health consumers. A particular individual may use the service up to twice per year. It is not intended to be used as a regular cleaning service or to be used for “move out” cleaning. Referrals must be provided by a caseworker for approval by BCSS prior to the cleaning service being provided.
Library - A lending library of books, videos, cds, and dvds related to mental illness/health is available for families, consumers, professionals, and the general public.
Strengthening Families Together: Do you have a relative or close friend with a serious mental illness? This free 10-session educational support group for families and friends provides information about mental illnesses, coping and communication skills, problem solving, medications and treatments, how to support your loved one and self-care. Sessions take place in the spring and the fall. Please call the office for more information.
Partnership Education Program - This public education program provides a realistic, well-rounded perspective of mental illness through incorporating views and experiences of individuals who have a mental illness, family members, and mental health professionals. Presentations are available for schools, colleges, universities, service clubs, churches, companies and other interest groups.
ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE
Call (250) 260-3233 or email us for information about any of our programs.
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.
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.
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
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.
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. Offered throughout BC in spring and fall. Contact your local branch for details.
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