Welcome to this issue of family and supporter resources, produced by the BC Schizophrenia Society, in partnership with the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information.

In this issue: Ongoing BC-Wide Family Resources | Family Resource Basics | Coroners Inquest Recommendations | Research Studies looking for Participants

Ongoing BC-Wide Family Resources

• Reaching Families Calendar – support and education events.
• Family Support Groups – relatives & friends of persons with a mental illness
• Online Facilitated Family Support Groups – relatives & friends of persons with a mental illness
• Kelty Resource Centre – child/youth mental health
• BC Schizophrenia Society – family info/services
• The FORCE For Kids Mental Health – kids mental health
• Here to Help – mental health and substance use information

If this e-resource has been forwarded to you by a friend, you can sign up for your own copy

Family Resource Basics

Here are some popular resources for BC family members of persons with a mental illness.

Family Toolkit (How You Can Help: A Toolkit For Families) : This 2004 resource is in the process of being updated but still has some very relevant information, including the following self-care topics in section 4 “Caring for yourself and other family members”:

• Impact of mental illness in the family
• Grieving and mental illness
• Coping with loss and grief
• Effect of mental illness on different family members Parents Spouses Siblings Young children of a parent with a mental illness Adult children of a parent with a mental illness
• Taking care of yourself
• Setting boundaries and limits

The entire toolkit is available as printable pdfs or an interactive web version.

Guide to the BC Mental Health Act: This document explains how the BC Mental Health Act works. According to the foreword: ” The Guide has two purposes: making the Act more understandable; and promoting consistency in interpreting the Act so people who need involuntary psychiatric treatment receive help in a responsible and lawful manner.”

Releasing information to third parties – This official fact sheet from the information and privacy branch of the ministry of health provides guidelines for releasing clients’ information to third parties such as family or friends of the client or health care providers.

Spouse’s Handbook - a handbook written for spouses of persons with schizophrenia, but many parts are applicable to other mental illnesses

Recovery Cup Board Game – interactive, cooperative board game that teachers self-care strategies for a person with psychosis and their family members. Link above includes full instructions and downloadable printable game board and cards. Designed to facilitate family discussion and understanding about genetic and environmental vulnerability to psychosis and self care strategies for all family members.

Coroners Inquest Results – Ross Allan – 43 Recommendations Made

Ross Allan was a 22 year old man with schizophrenia who committed suicide in an Abbotsford hospital. The June 10 2009 results of a coroners inquest into the death made 43 recommendations including the following:

“1. That specific training and/or refresher courses be provided to physicians with respect to the legal test for committal under section 22 of the Mental Health Act” – to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC

“2. That physicians are reminded of the importance of obtaining collateral information from family and caregivers in the assessment process of patients being certified under Section 22 of the MHA.” – to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC

“9. That the Mental Health Act be revised to allow at the Psychiatrist’s discretion, family members access to information, diagnosis, and inclusion in the treatment plan.” – to the Minister of Health

“36. That due to overwhelming substance-abuse issues throughout the province and the resulting increase in substance-induced psychosis, all hospitals provide mental health facilities sufficient to support their catchment area.” – to Minister of Health and Fraser Health Authority

The following are excerpts from an open letter from Ross’s parents:

“We are very relieved and happy that a record 43 jury recommendations were made as a result of testimony from about 2 dozen witnesses.”

“For the first time in six years, we felt that we had been fully listened to. It was very important for us that an independent jury of five listened carefully considering all the testimony and submitted evidence and then rendering many unbiased, independent recommendations in their own words. And we think they did a magnificent job.”

“In summary, our questions have been answered and we now feel there has been justice for Ross. Also some verification of what we have been saying for the past 5 years about the many cracks and flaws in the medical system. We believe these recommendations should be a wake up call to medical professionals about certain mental illness issues and the way that they treat patients and deal with close family members.

Thank you to those who support our fight to change the way things are done in regards to those who suffer from mental illness.”

You can view a copy of the recommendations at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/schedule/docs/verdict-allan-2009-jun-10.pdf

A background article is available at: http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/47960267.html

Studies looking for Participants

Genetic counseling study:

We are investigating the potential benefits to someone with a mental illness of receiving more information about the causes of their illness through a process called genetic counselling. We are interested in hearing the thoughts and opinions of people with mental illness about the genetic counselling process, including input on how it could better meet their needs.

Both men and women with a history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder are being recruited to participate in the study. The study involves one or two meetings with a researcher and completing questionnaires at home. The meetings with the researcher will take place at Children and Womens Hospital. Reimbursement for travel expenses will be provided.

If you are interested in participating, please contact Andrea Ringrose at 604 875 2000 x.4733, or by email at mental.illness@ubc.ca PLEASE NOTE: WE ALSO HAVE AN IDENTICAL, PARALLEL STUDY IN WHICH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PERSONALLY AFFECTED CAN PARTICIPATE – IT IS OPEN TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN AFFECTED BROTHER, SISTER, PARENT OR CHILD.

Stigma study: Family members of people with mental illness

Stigma can have serious negative effects on people with mental illness and their family members.

We are developing a questionnaire to assess internalized stigma in first-degree family members (parents, brothers, sisters, and children) of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder.

The questionnaire will gather information about stigma in family members of people with mental illness and aim to improve coping and the overall well being of the family network.

If you have a first-degree family member with mental illness and would like more information about participating please contact Emily Morris at mental.illness@ubc.ca or by phone 604 875 2000 (ext. 4733). Please note, you CAN participate if you have a mental illness yourself, as long as you also have an affected first degree family member too .

Mental health and pregnancy study:

We are also conducting a research study that aims to understand why some women develop postpartum depression or psychosis and others do not. The research is designed to test the idea that a genetic variation together with folate levels in a woman’s blood can influence her risk for postpartum depression. The aim of the research is to find ways to help to reduce womens risk for postpartum depression by using nutritional supplements. Women who are pregnant (at any stage of pregnancy) and who have a history of mental health problems are being recruited to participate in the study. The study involves a participant meeting with a researcher 4 times: once during the pregnancy, and 3 times over the first 3 months of the postpartum period. The researchers can cover costs of travel for women to participate in the research at either St. Paul’s \ or Children’s and Women’s Hospitals. Alternatively, study visits can

be conducted at participants’ homes or by email/phone. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jennifer Sloan at: 604 875 2000 X4733 or by email at mental.illness@ubc.ca

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR TREATING FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS

Studies have already demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy to alleviate psychotic symptoms.

Dr. Tania Lecomte, in association with the department of psychiatry at UBC, and along with the mental health team in the Fraser Health region, including Dr. William MacEwan, M.D. from the Schizophrenia Research Division and the EPI Program, Fraser Health Authority, is conducting a study to investigate the specific effects of this approach on young adults between the ages of 19 and 35 who are experiencing symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions (i.e., psychotic symptoms). The project will also examine the impact of providing information sessions to family and friends about managing stress involved with a first episode of experiencing these types of symptoms.

If you :

• are aged between 19 and 35;
• suffer or have suffered from time to time from symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions (i.e., psychotic symptoms);
• have had those symptoms for two years or less;
• would like to meet other young people like you, sharing similar problems;
• would like to learn coping techniques and ways to lessen your symptoms in order to avoid future relapses.

We invite you to participate in our research project

Your participation in this project will include attending group therapy sessions. There will be 24 meetings (2 meetings per week for 3 months). There are also 3 individual evaluation meetings in which you will answer questionnaires and be interviewed about specific impacts of the therapy on your well being. These evaluation sessions will be held once before starting the groups, one 3 months later, and a final one 6 months after that.

1 or 2 family and/or friends are also invited to participate. They will be following their own specific group sessions at the same time as yours. They are also asked to complete 3 short evaluation meetings, following the same time schedule as yours.

If you are interested in this project, we invite you to contact us for more detailed information. You can leave your phone number so we can reach you, or call us at the following number:

Caroline Greaves, Research Coordinator, UBC

Ph: 604-875-4111, Ext. 61728 or Cell: 778-908-5194

fMRI Study of Psychosis

• Study Description: Researchers at UBC are interested in developing a better understanding of the brain systems associated with the symptoms of psychosis. Specifically, this study seeks to better understand what is happening in one’s brain when they are experiencing the symptoms of psychosis by using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) technology to view the brain function of individuals with and without psychosis while hearing and seeing words.
• Eligibility Criteria: If you are between the ages of 19 to 55, fluent in English, with a history of psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar disorder OR without a history of a mental illness and are interested in contributing to brain research using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to scan your brain, we invite you to participate in our study!
• Time Commitment: A total of 8-12 hours over 2 or more days.
• Location of Research: University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry
• Contact Details:

o Name: Sarah Flann

o Institutional / Department Affiliation: UBC Department of Psychiatry and BCMHAS Department of Research

o Phone: 604-524-7672

o Fax: 604-524-7141

o Email: brainstudy@gmail.com

o Website: http://www3.telus.net/Todd_S_Woodward