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

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  • 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!


BCSS’ Podcast

Every two weeks, listen to a new episode of “Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined.” We’re sitting down with family members, people with lived experience, and professionals to explore the intricacies of schizophrenia and other serious mental illness.

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.

Jun 24

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
Jun 24

Coastal Region BCSS: Lunch & Learn on Self-Care, Taking Care of Your Own Mental Health

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm

View Event Details
Jun 26

Quesnel BCSS: Families in Residence – Saturdays

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

GR Baker Memorial Hospital Quesnel, BC

Organizer: Gail Rutledge

View Event Details
Jun 26

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
Jun 28

Kamloops BCSS: Family Support Group – 4th Mondays

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

BCSS Interior – Virtual Kamloops, BC

Organizer: Rosanne Nelson

View Event Details
Jun 28

Vancouver/Richmond Support Groups

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

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

Jun 22, 2021
Crisis

Building Connections with Police Mental Health Resources

Often for people supporting a friend or family member living with mental illness in crisis, when they have exhausted what resources are available, calling the police to attend may be the only option left untried to help the person in distress.

In some jurisdictions, like Vancouver, Surrey, Kamloops, and Kelowna, there are teams of psychiatric nurses and police officers who will attend when safe. In other jurisdictions there are mental health liaison officers who work with people in the community to help those looking for extra mental health assistance from the police.

Our upcoming…

Read More
Jun 9, 2021
Education, News

BCSS Podcast Climbs the Charts!

Since the launch of our podcast, “Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined,” we’ve been making waves in the field of mental health. We’re…

Read More
Jun 2, 2021
About Us, News

BC Schizophrenia Society Statement on the Kamloops Indian Residential School Discovery

At BCSS, we mourn with the many families and communities across BC impacted by the tragedy at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School –…

Read More
May 27, 2021
About Us, News

Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions Announces Funding of BC Schizophrenia Society

Today, the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions officially announced that it is providing more than $1 million to help BC Schizophrenia…

Read More
Read More

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