British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Helping Families Find A Reason To Hope

If you don’t know where to turn and are at a loss of what to do next to help someone you love who lives with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness.

Talk to a BC Schizophrenia Society Regional Educator. They can help you figure out next steps and help you learn about what you can do to help yourself and your loved one.

FIND A BCSS REGIONAL EDUCATOR

COVID-19 & Supporting Someone With Schizophrenia

A list of resources and information from partner organizations and other schizophrenia societies across Canada that are useful for anyone affected by schizophrenia or other serious mental illness.

List of COVID-19 Resources

Are You Experiencing Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, seek out help today. If you are in immediate crisis, please call 9-1-1.

How to Get Help for Yourself

Is Your Loved One Experiencing Symptoms of Schizophrenia?

If your loved one may be experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, and they are not in an immediate crisis, take look through this list of tips and resources.

Information for Families

  • What is Schizophrenia?

  • How Can BC Schizophrenia Society Help You?

  • Help for People Living with Schizophrenia

  • Resources Library

  • Find Services in Your Region

  • Sign-Up for the BCSS Newsletter

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that touches the lives of 1 in 100; that’s approximately than 51,000 British Columbians, and about 377,500 people in Canada.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of misinformation and myths that exist about schizophrenia.

Learn About Schizophrenia

How Can BC Schizophrenia Society Help You?

Established by family members in 1982, BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) has grown to become a network of Regional Educators and Branches and located across the province providing programs, services, and outreach.

Core services and programs are available in every region, and some select programs are only available upon request and in particular service areas.

BCSS works to help families affected by schizophrenia and other serious mental illness feel less alone, learn about the disease, and find out what services and resources are available to them to access.

List of BCSS Programs and Services

Help for People Living with Schizophrenia

It can be a scary and harrowing experience for people who are experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia.

Some people may think it’s normal, while others will seek to self-medicate.

If you or a loved one thinks you are experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, reach out and talk to a medical professional. By getting help and support immediately, there is an increased probability for better longterm outcomes when it comes to the management of the mental illness.

BCSS does not always work with people with lived experience directly, but we can help you get connected to the resources you need.

Are you seeking help for yourself?
Are you seeking help for a family member?

Resources Library


BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) offers a range of resource materials developed over the years providing information and helping people better understand the illness and understand the illness.

Take a look through our Resource Library to see what information is currently available. We’ll be adding to this list regularly for the next little, so you’ll find many additions as time goes on.

If there is information you are seeking, but can’t find, email info@bcss.org with your request, and we can see what we can do to help.

Visit the Resource Library

Find Services in Your Region

BC Schizophrenia Society Regional Educators are located within different communities across BC.

Connect with a Regional Educator near you to find out what programs and services are being offered in your area.

Connect with A Regional Educator

Sign-Up for the BCSS Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with a digest of BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) related news and articles.

Each e-newsletter contains select BCSS blog posts, research articles, surveys, and information about upcoming BCSS workshops and courses.

Subscribe Today!


We’re Now Live!

Episode 1: Mental Health vs. Mental Illness
Released this morning, the first episode of our podcast is available now.

Listen Today!

Upcoming BCSS Family Support Groups & Programs

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BCSS has adapted how we offer direct support, family support groups, and programs to meet with current Provincial Health Office Orders. Some offerings will be virtual, while others will be in-person with physical distancing criteria in place.

Please check in with the Regional Educator who is offering the program to get details.

Apr 21

Trail BCSS: Family Support Group – 1st & 3rd Wednesdays

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Trail Fair Society Trail, BC

Organizer: BCSS Nelson Regional Educator

View Event Details
Apr 21

Williams Lake BCSS: Family Support Group – 1st and 3rd Wednesday

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

BCSS Williams Lake Williams Lake, BC

Organizer: BCSS Cariboo Regional Educator

View Event Details
Apr 21

Burns Lake BCSS: Family Support Group – 3rd Wednesdays

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Lakes District Hospital & Health Centre Burns Lake, BC

Organizer: Heather Megchelsen

View Event Details
Apr 22

Oliver BCSS: Weekly Mental Illness Family Support Group – Thursdays

10:30 am – 1:00 pm

Park Drive Church – Oliver Oliver, BC

Organizer: BCSS Penticton Branch

View Event Details
Apr 24

Quesnel BCSS: Families in Residence – Saturdays

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

GR Baker Memorial Hospital Quesnel, BC

Organizer: Gail Rutledge

View Event Details
Apr 24

Quesnel BCSS: Family Support Group – Last Saturdays

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Grace Young Activity Centre Quesnel, BC

Organizer: Gail Rutledge

View Event Details
View All Events

Become a Member!

Add your voice to BC Schizophrenia Society family members working towards building a better world for people living with schizophrenia and other serious mental illness.

Become A Member

What’s Current At BCSS

Mar 25, 2021
BCSS Programs and Services, Education, Kids & Teens in Control, News

How to balance the scale and build resilience

Ever hear stories about someone overcoming almost unspeakable tragedy? Most of us have. We’ve also heard about people who not only overcome adversity, but seem to thrive no matter what life throws their way. We admire their courage, tell others the story, and describe how incredibly strong they are. Many of us wonder if we’d have the resilience to get through something so difficult ourselves. The desire to believe in heroes among us runs very deep, and we tend to view a person as either strong or weak. In short, we tend to think you either have it, or you don’t; but that’s not…

Read More
Mar 16, 2021
Advocacy, News

BC Schizophrenia Society Appeals to Dr. Bonnie Henry for Vaccines

Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health OfficerPO Box 9648STN PROV GOVTVictoria, BC  V8W 9P4 March 8, 2021 Re: COVID-19 Vaccination and Schizophrenia…

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Mar 12, 2021
News, Research

Schizophrenia and related spectrum disorders increase risk of death nearly three-fold in COVID-19 patients

Schizophrenia is a chronic and complex mental illness that causes a range of serious cognitive and psychological symptoms, including paranoid…

Read More
Mar 5, 2021
News, Police

Presentation to Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act

Last month, Dr. John Gray was invited to presented on behalf of the BC Schizophrenia Society to the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act….

Read More
Read More

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