Last Friday, May 24th was National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day (NSPAD).
Here are some of the ways BCSS celebrated:
Tabling Events for NSPAD
Regional educators throughout the province held several different events on and around the 24th.
In Terrace, Stephanie set up a table at the Garage Community Centre for their outreach day, and Clara held a book table in Bulkley Valley. In East Kootenay, Bonnie held an event alongside volunteer Sandra, and in the Okanagan Region, Rachael held an event at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Reasha, our West Kootenay Regional Educator, also hosted an NSPAD event alongside the Castlegar Youth Action Network where youth participated in a tie-dying activity.
Mad Hatters
Catherine and the Vancouver Coastal team held a Mad Hatters event in Maple Ridge that was attended by local politicians, including Bob D’Eith and Dan Ruimy.
Purple Lights
In honour of National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day, many monuments across the province lit up purple to show support and awareness for schizophrenia and psychosis. This includes:
- BC Place (Vancouver, BC)
- Bloedel Conservatory (Vancouver, BC)
- New West City Hall (New Westminster, BC)
- Vancouver Convention Centre (Vancouver, BC)
- Vancouver City Hall and Burrard Street Bridge (Vancouver, BC)
- BC Legislature (Victoria, BC)
- Surrey Civic Plaza (Surrey, BC)
- Science World (Vancouver, BC)
- Victoria Street Bridge (Trail, BC)
- White Rock Pier (White Rock, BC)
- Kelowna General Hospital (Kelowna, BC)
- World’s Largest Hockey Stick (Duncan, BC)
Here’s a little of what that looked like:
Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Our Saturday screening of ‘Insanity: The Mental Health Crisis’ by director Wendy Hill-Tout was a success! We had over a hundred people drop by the Rio to catch the movie and subsequent panel discussion.
The documentary inspired a short but insightful discussion between panellists that touched on the challenges, stigmas, and realities faced by families caring for loved ones living with serious mental illnesses.
Catch the panel discussion here:
BCSS in the News
We had a great amount of media coverage for National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day, including:
- The BC Schizophrenia Society Calls on British Columbians to #StandAgainstStigma this National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day (Global Newswire)
- B.C. society calls for end to schizophrenia stigma on national awareness day (Chilliwack Progress)
- It’s National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day (CBC Early Edition)
- Trail Bridge turns purple for National Day of Awareness for Schizophrenia and Psychosis (MyKootenayNow)
- People treated for schizophrenia ‘no more likely to be violent’ than anyone else, BC non-profit says (KelownaNow)
Influencer Engagement
We partnered with several mental health and mental illness influencers this week to help share our message. This includes Dr. Justin Puder (@amoderntherapist), Michelle Hammer (@schizophrenic.nyc), and more.