Supporting a loved one with schizophrenia or severe and persistent mental illness is not something most families are prepared for. It’s not necessarily something you can Google your way through or figure out alone when you’re scared and exhausted and don’t know what comes next.  

The BC Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) has existed for over forty years, providing family support groups, one-on-one support, practical tools and resources, and community connections that make a real difference for those who need it most.  

June 24 is BCSS Giving Day. We are asking for your support to raise $10,000 to reach more families across BC. 

The need is growing 

Schizophrenia affects about 1.8% of Canadians.  

In British Columbia alone, an estimated 97,000 people will experience schizophrenia at some point in their lives. And that number is rising.  

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that psychosis diagnoses among young people aged 14 to 20 increased by 60% over a 30-year period, a trend that points to a growing wave of families who will need support in the years ahead. 

When someone is diagnosed, the impact extends far beyond that individual. On average, family and friend caregivers spend 31 hours per week providing care for a person with schizophrenia, often with no prior training, limited access to information, and nowhere to turn. Only 15% of Canadians with schizophrenia are employed, which means families frequently become the primary source of both care and financial support, sometimes for decades.  

What your donation supports 

BCSS has been a province-wide family support system since 1982. When you give today, you’re helping fund the programs that make a real difference: 

• One-on-One Family Support: Individualized support to help families access appropriate community resources including crisis planning, developing coping strategies, advocacy support, and more. 
• Family Support Groups: Facilitated peer support groups that offer safe, non-judgmental, and supportive spaces for families to share, experiences, access education, and connect with others on a similar journey. 
• Strengthening Families Together (SFT): A six-session group program that covers information about mental illness, treatment options, communication and coping skills. 
• BCSS Youth: Education and support for children and youth (ages 8–18) with a family member or friend experiencing mental illness and/or substance use challenges. 

For many families, BCSS is the first place that has ever helped them make sense of what they’re going through. 

Why Giving Day matters

Schizophrenia accounts for nearly 20% of general hospital stays and over 30% of psychiatric hospital stays for mental illness in Canada, yet the families surrounding those patients often receive little to no support of their own. BCSS exists to fill that gap. 

Giving Day is one of our biggest fundraising moments of the year, and every donation counts toward our $10,000 goal. Whether you give $25 or $250, you’re helping us answer more calls, run more groups, and make sure more families know that support exists. 

If you’ve been supported by BCSS, this is a chance to pay it forward. If you’ve never heard of us before today, welcome — we’re glad you’re here.  

Donate now and help us reach more families this Giving Day.