mental health

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while speaking in Burnaby, B.C., May 30, 2022. The B.C. government has announced a program to help reduce violence against health-care workers at 26 hospitals and mental health facilities across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nurses being punched, grabbed, kicked to benefit from anti-violence program: union

More then 300 protection service officers to be hired to help protect nurses

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while speaking in Burnaby, B.C., May 30, 2022. The B.C. government has announced a program to help reduce violence against health-care workers at 26 hospitals and mental health facilities across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Black Press Media)

Pediatric group releases guidelines for detecting anxiety in kids and youth

Canadian Paediatric Society says COVID-19 heightened pressures on many children and youth

(Black Press Media)
A bottle of Prozac is pictured at a company facility in Plainfield, Ind., Jan. 11, 2008.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Darron Cummings

Seniors in long-term care 3 times more likely to receive antidepressants than others

Just over 65 per cent of seniors living in long-term care were prescribed antidepressants in 2021

A bottle of Prozac is pictured at a company facility in Plainfield, Ind., Jan. 11, 2008.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Darron Cummings
In this file photo, B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on May 31, 2022. On Oct. 3, 2022, she announced new supports for people exiting correctional facilities in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. expanding post-prison support services to all 10 correctional facilities

Length of support also expanding from 30 to 90 days

In this file photo, B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on May 31, 2022. On Oct. 3, 2022, she announced new supports for people exiting correctional facilities in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Fatigue, burnout hit spiritual leaders on the front lines of faith during pandemic

People assume religious leaders are ‘superhuman,’ one Canadian sociologist says

A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Kids gather on one of the main docks in Tofino, as they participate in a massive global climate strike, in Tofino, B.C. on Sept. 27, 2019. In a national report released in 2022, study authors found climate change to be one of the top 10 threats facing children and youth in Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick)

Climate change now considered one of top threats facing Canadian children: report

Racism, poor mental health, bullying also identified by authors

Kids gather on one of the main docks in Tofino, as they participate in a massive global climate strike, in Tofino, B.C. on Sept. 27, 2019. In a national report released in 2022, study authors found climate change to be one of the top 10 threats facing children and youth in Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick)
Cariboo—Prince George MP Todd Doherty emotionally shared the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, Aug. 31, from the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Prince George. (Facebook)

988: National suicide prevention hotline coming November 2023

Cariboo Prince George MP Todd Doherty tearfully shared the news on Facebook

Cariboo—Prince George MP Todd Doherty emotionally shared the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, Aug. 31, from the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Prince George. (Facebook)
B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson announces new complex care services coming to Nanaimo. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Complex care announced for some of Nanaimo’s most hard-to-house individuals

Additional mental-health and substance-use care to be offered to those at risk of homelessness

B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson announces new complex care services coming to Nanaimo. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
From left: Lachlan Gustafson-Thomas, Patricia Rawson, Angela McNulty-Buell, Heather Forbes and Robertina Saavedra from the Bridges for Women Society standing alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Grace Lore. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Victoria women’s organization receives funding boost to bolster mental health supports

Funding will help provide women across the province with trauma counselling, referral supports

From left: Lachlan Gustafson-Thomas, Patricia Rawson, Angela McNulty-Buell, Heather Forbes and Robertina Saavedra from the Bridges for Women Society standing alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Grace Lore. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Community safety officer Ron Litzenberger, left, watches as Wally Taylor, Nanaimo bylaws officer, talks with people who have camped along a sidewalk on Victoria Road early Monday, Aug. 15, and asks them to take down the campsite. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Community safety officers set out to build relationships, respect in Nanaimo’s downtown

CSOs now training with program to be fully implemented next month

Community safety officer Ron Litzenberger, left, watches as Wally Taylor, Nanaimo bylaws officer, talks with people who have camped along a sidewalk on Victoria Road early Monday, Aug. 15, and asks them to take down the campsite. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied

B.C. mom uses ribbons to honour late son, shed light on mental illness

Judi Hills says we need to do more to end the stigma associated with mental illness

Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied
Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied

Courtenay mom uses ribbons to honour late son, shed light on mental illness

Judi Hills says we need to do more to end the stigma associated with mental illness

Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied
The Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society has received $115,000 from the province for its free community counselling efforts. (Google Streetview)

Esquimalt community counselling agency receives provincial funding

Demand for Esquimalt Neighbourhood House services doubles since start of pandemic

The Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society has received $115,000 from the province for its free community counselling efforts. (Google Streetview)
In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, a man uses a cell phone in New Orleans. Pressure is mounting for Canada to establish a three-digit suicide crisis hotline, similar to the one implemented by the United States this weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jenny Kane

Mental health experts say Canada should have a three-digit suicide crisis hotline

New 988 mental health hotline launched by American authorities on Saturday

In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, a man uses a cell phone in New Orleans. Pressure is mounting for Canada to establish a three-digit suicide crisis hotline, similar to the one implemented by the United States this weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jenny Kane
The Vancouver Police Department is among 11 defendants being sued by the family of a Vancouver police officer who took her own life in January 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Family of Vancouver cop who died by suicide suing police department, former officers

Lawsuit claims workplace sexual assault, negligence increased Const. Nicole Chan’s mental distress

The Vancouver Police Department is among 11 defendants being sued by the family of a Vancouver police officer who took her own life in January 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. A special joint committee of the House of Commons and Senate released an interim report on medically assisted dying Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

MPs say safeguards needed around mental health and assisted dying

Parliamentary committee releases report but makes no recommendations

The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. A special joint committee of the House of Commons and Senate released an interim report on medically assisted dying Wednesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver courthouse. (File photo)

Penticton man not criminally responsible for slicing victim’s throat

Roy Shannon was suffering from severe delusions and schizophrenia

Statue of Lady Justice at Vancouver courthouse. (File photo)
(Photo - Third Space Charity/Contributed)

West Kelowna resident cycling across B.C. for mental health awareness

Biffart’s journey started on June 5 and he aims to be done on the 21st

(Photo - Third Space Charity/Contributed)
Angie Prescott, manager of Courtenay Community Programs for the John Howard Society of North Island, Courtenay Coun. Doug Hillian, and Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard at the newly-opened Foundry Comox Valley. The facility for youth, located at 575 10 Street in Courtenay, officially opened on Monday, June 6. Photo supplied.

Youth struggling with mental health and substance use get help in Comox Valley

Foundry Comox Valley officially opened in Courtenay on June 6

  • Jun 7, 2022
Angie Prescott, manager of Courtenay Community Programs for the John Howard Society of North Island, Courtenay Coun. Doug Hillian, and Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard at the newly-opened Foundry Comox Valley. The facility for youth, located at 575 10 Street in Courtenay, officially opened on Monday, June 6. Photo supplied.
The BC Schizophrenia Society supported more than 1,000 families touched by serious mental illness in 2021. (BC Schizophrenia Society/Facebook)

BC Schizophrenia Society hopes to reach thousands touched by serious mental illness

Non-profit offers resources, peer and group support for those with illness and their loved ones

The BC Schizophrenia Society supported more than 1,000 families touched by serious mental illness in 2021. (BC Schizophrenia Society/Facebook)