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!

More Details & to Register to attend

Miss the Event?
Watch the Recording


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.

Jul 27

Summerland BCSS: Family Support Group – 1st, 3rd, & 4th Tuesday

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Summerland Foodbank & Resource Centre Summerland, BC

Organizer: BCSS Penticton Branch

View Event Details
Jul 28

Fort St. John BCSS: Family Support Group – Last Wednesdays

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Fort St. John Fort St. John, BC

Organizer: Julie Kornelsen

View Event Details
Jul 29

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
Jul 31

Quesnel BCSS: Families in Residence – Saturdays

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

GR Baker Memorial Hospital Quesnel, BC

Organizer: Gail Rutledge

View Event Details
Jul 31

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
Aug 1

Fraser Lake BCSS: Family Support Group – monthly (TBC)

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Fraser Lake, BC Fraser Lake, BC

Organizer: Heather Megchelsen

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

Jul 15, 2021
Events, News

Launch of Treatment Optimization of Psychosis Pilot in VCH

In June, BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) was invited to speak at the launch of the Treatment Optimization of Psychosis (TOP) Collaborative that is currently being piloted through Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). The TOP Collaborative is a quality improvement initiative led by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Mental Health Services with a goal to educate service providers, as well as families, on the importance of Clozapine. Clozapine is an under-utilized antipsychotic that is most often used to treat treatment-resistant…

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Jul 15, 2021
Fundraiser, News

This Year’s ScotiaRun Nears the Finish Line

BC Schizophrenia Society was once again part of the Scotiabank Vancouver Marathon’s Charity Challenge — leading to about 30 runners and…

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Jul 14, 2021
Medication and Treatments, News

Bringing Cognitive Remediation to British Columbia

Dr. Mahesh Menon and Susan Inman Families often learn very little about the cognitive losses associated with illnesses like schizophrenia. These…

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