Join the Family Alliance on Severe Mental Illness and BCSS for a virtual coast-to-coast Town Hall discussing severe mental illness, patient privacy and information sharing with families.

Wednesday, November 5: 8pm ADT / 7pm EST / 6pm CST / 5pm MST / 4pm PST

Hosted by the BC Schizophrenia Society’s CEO Faydra Aldridge, the event will include a discussion of provincial privacy laws and clinicians’ culture on information sharing. Presentations from Dr. Richard O’Reilly, Cyndi & Dennis Corbett, and Bonnie Spence-Vinge will provide insight on the challenges that families endure when trying to access information about their loved-one’s mental illness and wellbeing.

Click to join this webinar on Zoom.

The Panelists

Dr. Richard O’Reilly: A consultant psychiatrist and professor emeritus at western university who has published extensively on mental health legislation.

Cyndi & Dennis Corbett: Parents to a son living with schizophrenia.  They are passionate about increasing awareness to educate families about severe mental illness.  Currently they volunteer their time to support families in crisis.

Bonnie Spence-Vinge: As BCSS Regional Manager for the BC Interior, Bonnie acts as a liaison between families and the mental health system and promotes family inclusion in the daily lives of those living with mental illness. As a family advocate, she has experienced the challenges in getting crucial health information to families, and has had difficulty getting meaningful support from the mental health system for her own family members. Bonnie also organizes education programs for families and community members, including Aboriginal communities.

A question-and-answer period will follow.

Additional Information

FASMI Backgrounder on the Role of Family Caregivers in Treating Severe Mental Illness

FASMI Backgrounder on Legislative Clauses for Each Province

Dr. O’Reilly lecture video – ends with a discussion on how family caregivers should complain when the mental health system is not working.

About the Family Alliance on Severe Mental Illnesses (FASMI)

Our goal is to strengthen the family voice advocating for those with psychotic illnesses in Canada. We know that family involvement and support are an integral part of better clinical outcomes when it comes to the recovery and stability of those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and related illnesses. We want to make sure that families can access education and support they need to help their loved ones – and that the family voice is heard. In order to help advance the family voice, we are now affiliated with the Canadian Network for Research in Schizophrenia and Psychosis as a separate working group. Visit fasmi.ca for more info.