Friends and family living with a person who is managing a severe and persistent mental illness also live with that illness.

Strengthening Families Together is a six-session program that provides knowledge, support, and tools for families to better cope with mental illnesses together. Participating families learn the facts about psychosis, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses; and the impact of stigma. They gain information about treatments, side-effects, and the impact of substance use. Sessions cover communication skills, stress management tools, self-care planning, crisis planning, and family advocacy. Participants also learn about the mental health system in BC — including how it works and who is involved, as well as what happens when a person becomes involved with the criminal justice system. Through discussion and group exercises, families build supportive connections with others who share similar experiences and learn about how to access BCSS Family Support Groups available across the province.

Funded by donors, Health Authorities, and the Ministry of Health in the areas where they are delivered, Strengthening Families Together is provided free of charge to participants.

Find a Strengthening Families Together program near you.

Since 2016, BCSS has been offering Strengthening Families Together – First Nations, a program that was adapted from Strengthening Families Together Program. The program is adaptable for traditional cultural practices to be included and honoured. The program is currently under revision.

BC Schizophrenia Society offers support groups across BC for family and friends who are supporting a loved one living with mental illness. These groups provide a safe and supportive environment for family and friends to learn about mental illness, ask questions, and connect with other caregivers.

BC Schizophrenia Society provides a province-wide calendar of programs and support groups for family and friends of people with mental illness. This calendar lists BCSS family support groups, information sessions, meet and greets, caregiver support, educational workshops, and more. Groups, sessions, and events are searchable by region or date, with many being offered on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Find a support group or event near you.

If you are interested in more information about a group in the calendar, please email info@bcss.org or call 1-888-888-0029.

The Partnership Education Presentation Program uses storytelling to shed light on the reality and scope of severe and persistent mental illness. A panel of three guest speakers — usually a person with a mental illness, a family member and a mental health professional— share their insights and personal journeys with mental illness. In educating communities this way, Partnership Education Presentations foster understanding and reduce stigma. Partnership Education Presentations are valuable to students, teachers, mental health workers and people who work with the public.

In particular, Partnership Education Presentations have been used to facilitate discussions and inform future criminal justice workers, psychiatric nursing students, psychiatrists, social service workers, and more.

With the support of HereToHelp, a partnership between mental health and addictions not-for-profits across BC, BC Schizophrenia Society provides an interactive musical presentation designed to teach students and educators about psychosis. Endorsed by early psychosis clinicians, the presentation provides audiences facts about psychosis, challenges the stigma and myths surrounding psychosis, and highlights how to recognize and seek help for youth with emerging psychosis. Since psychosis typically appears between the ages of 15 and 25, the show is geared towards secondary school students in grades 10-12, but can also be adapted for community events. There is no charge for secondary school presentations with at least 300 students. ReachOut Psychosis performs throughout BC. Book a show, or watch a video of the full presentation at reachoutpsychosis.com.

Kids in Control and Teens in Control are BC Schizophrenia Society programs that provide support and education for children and youth aged 8-18 who have a family member with a mental illness. Through these programs, participants learn healthy coping strategies and self-care practices, while gaining factual information about mental illness so they can better understand the behaviour of their parent or sibling.

The small group setting allows participants to connect with peers who share similar experiences in a safe, accepting environment and learn they are not alone. Kids in Control is intended for children ages 8 to 12, while Teens in Control is intended for youth ages 13 to 18.

The program consists of eight 1.5 hour sessions, usually offered once per week after school. Currently, Kids in Control is being offered as an online program, allowing the workshops to be accessed by children across BC. Group sizes range from 4 to 8 participants.

There is also a condensed workshop version of Teens in Control available, which focuses on the main ideas from the full program. Teens in Control workshops are usually two 1.5-2 hour sessions, with optional follow-up sessions. This format is intended for youth groups, youth drop-in centres, or high school groups that want to learn more about mental illness and ways to practice self-care.

Kids and Teens in Control are free programs with referrals accepted on an ongoing basis using the program referral form. For more information about these programs, or to find out where they are currently offered, please email kidsincontrol@bcss.org.

The Puppet Education Program consists of a puppet show, followed by a short discussion about mental illness, designed to help younger children understand mental illness. Ideal for children in grades 3-5, this program challenges stigma around mental illness in children by teaching them factual information about mental illness, helping reduce fear and stigma surrounding mental illness. They also learn how they can support a friend or family member with mental illness and how to seek help.

For those interested in having a puppet show come to a school in their community, please call 1-888-888-0029.

Presented by BC Schizophrenia Society in the Northwest region, “What Are Friends For?” is geared toward kids in grades 4, 5 and 6. It is available in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, and Kitimat Village. Call 1-888-888-0029 to book a free performance.

The Yes2Me Scholarship Program helps young people with schizophrenia achieve their educational goals. BC Schizophrenia Society and the Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance award scholarships of $1,000 each to students in accredited programs, such as high school equivalency, trade, and vocational certifications, and bachelor and graduate degrees. Eligible applicants must be residents of BC, be diagnosed with schizophrenia, and submit a completed Scholarship Application package. The Yes2Me Scholarships are helping those who live with schizophrenia and are working hard to build their futures.