For their exceptional leadership in delivering the Peer Support and WRAP Program contributing to the recovery of hundreds of peers and peer supporters, the Initiatives/Programs of Excellence Award goes to: BCSS Victoria.
The BC Schizophrenia Society Victoria Branch is undertaking strategic planning at this time through engaging various stakeholders such as persons with lived experience, family members, staff, volunteers, and community partners. This is to gather their experiences within the Mental Health Community to enhance our direction for the future. Our strategic priorities will be best aligned with our community’s needs. Those facing mental health challenges very much need all of our support.
We will be holding several focus groups throughout this process. As you know, strategic planning is very important to all organizations. We are seeking to build a 3 year plan and the voices of our supporters will help us learn more about a variety of community perspectives. Mental health and mental illness are a huge priority for our region (south island).
The Naked Bungy Jump is an extremely important annual fundraising event for the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society, Victoria branch. For the past 7 years, BCSS has teamed up with WildPlay Element Parks to raise funds for individuals living with schizophrenia and psychosis. We have been extremely fortunate to have an anonymous donor who would match pledges up to $15,000. This meant that each pledge was doubled automatically! When your wonderful family and friends donate $10.00, they are actually ensuring a donation of $20.00. Even better, a $20.00 donation is actually a $40.00 donation which is fabulous and brilliant! Your donation makes it possible for BCSS to provide: individual and family counseling, peer led programs and education to the estimated 1 in 100 individuals and their families on Southern Vancouver Island affected by schizophrenia and psychosis. Please help us make this our best year ever.
This year the Bungy event raised close to $20,000 which was $6,000 more than in 2013. Thank you to everyone that pledged and attended this event. See you next year!!!
BCSS VICTORIA- PEER SUPPORT provides:
WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PLAN “WRAP”
Registration for the next program now being taken…
Offered by trained peers 1:1 with group option coming soon!
An evidenced based self-management and recovery system developed by a group of people who had mental health difficulties and who were struggling to incorporate wellness tools and strategies into their lives. WRAP is designed to:
-Decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviors
-Increase personal empowerment
-Improve quality of life
-Assist people in achieving their own life goals and dreams
WRAP is a structured system to monitor uncomfortable and distressing feelings and behaviors and, through planned responses, reducing, modifying, or eliminating them. It also includes plans for responses from others when you cannot make decisions, take care of yourself, or keep yourself safe. The person who experiences symptoms is the one who develops their personal WRAP. The person may choose to have supporters and health care professionals help them create their WRAP. WRAP is for: Anyone who wants to create positive change in the way they feel, or increase their enjoyment in life.
People who are using WRAP say: “It helps me feel prepared.” “I feel better more often and I’m able to improve the overall quality of my life.”
The 12th Annual Hans Fear Memorial “PROHIBITION JAZZ” FUNDRAISER:
Was held on Saturday Feb.15th 2014 at the Alix Goolden Hall Music Featuring the local talent of: ~LOUISE ROSE~ ~MAUREEN WASHINGTON~ ~CAPITAL CITY SYNCOPATERS~
Did you know that schizophrenia and related disorders strike youth often as early as 14 years of age? BCSS Victoria is here to help with the latest hope, help and support for families and people with illnesses know recovery is possible! The Jazz event is in held yearly, in memory of Hans, Hanz, Haner, Ghost, names used by family, friends and associates. To say that Hans touched lives is an understatement. The Fear Family stated, “As a family we were unaware of his influence until his memorial service”. Afflicted with schizophrenia for at least ten years or probably longer, Hans tried to cope with this illness as best be could. His feelings came through in his art form, sometimes dark, sometimes funny, dramatic or quaint. Hans had been a great inspiration to many people! Help us invest in recovery! Our annual fundraiser for The Memorial Fund raises money to invest in the recovery goals of people who need a vote of confidence and tangible support to attain education, art/music pursuits and fitness goals. This year we raised $1000 and we accept donations toward the fund throughout the year. – John Fear
On September 11th, BCSS Victoria volunteers and staff were special guests at a meeting of the Victoria Police Board. Welcomed by Chief Jamie Graham and Victoria mayor, His Worship Dean Fortin, BCSS Victoria was thanked for playing an important role in the training of police members in crisis de-escalation. People with lived experience of mental illness and family members of people with mental illness shared their perspectives on interactions with police at fifteen training sessions held over the summer. A final session is slated for later this month. VicPD Constable Greg Holmes, who organized the training, said that the panel presentations were a highlight of the training and an attitude changer for some of the officers.
On Monday, April 30, 2012, BCSS Victoria Executive Director Hazel Meredith won the Peninsula Co-op’s Giving Back Award. Each week one deserving person is recognized for the outstanding contribution they have made to their community, neighbourhood or workplace. Hazel was nominated by Peer Support Worker Doreen Gee who had this to say in her nomination: “Hazel is a rare and remarkable human being….she works tirelessly to help, support and embrace people with serious mental illnesses….hazel Meredith has raised the bar in this community when it comes to compassionate selfless service to others.” Congratulations Hazel!
Saturday, April 28th was the Eves of Destruction roller derby season opener pitting the Margarita Villains against the Anarchy Angels. A sold out crowd at the Archie Browning Arena in Esquimalt was treated to an evening of fishnet stockings and hard hits on the oval track. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales were generously donated to BCSS Victoria. To learn more about roller derby in Victoria, see the Eves of Destruction website at www.evesof destruction.com.
Do you or one of your family members have a mental illness? Are you concerned about potential risks for your children or other family members? Genetic counsellors can help. Genetic counsellors are health care professionals with specialized training and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counselling. Genetic counsellors can tell you what is currently known about the causes of mental illness, and can help you to apply this information to your own family. The service is available for free to interested men and women who live in British Columbia. You do not require a referral from your family doctor. To schedule an appointment, call Angela Inglis at 1-604-875-2000, extension 4733 or e-mail [email protected]. Appointments take place in person at the department of medical genetics at BC Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Vancouver or may be done by phone. Prior to the appointment, the genetic counsellor will phone you to do a family history. This takes approximately 30 minutes. The genetic counselling appointments are about an hour in length. The genetic counsellor will try to answer any questions that you have about the causes of your or your family members’ mental illness. Please note that genetic testing is not offered. Your information will remain confidential.
Peer Support Worker Doreen Gee had a letter to the editor published in the March 7, 2012 edition of the Victoria News. Gee’s letter appears below:
“The Victoria Leadership Awards ceremony was a momentous event. I was very honoured to be a finalist in the United Way category for my work in promoting respect and understanding towards people with mental illnesses.
“By raising the profile of mental health and the progressive work of the BC Schizophrenia Society here in Victoria, I feel that I scored a victory even though the final award went to another worthy recipient.
“I envision a community where people with mental illnesses are valued and perceived as whole people first, with all of their talents and smarts that they bring to the table. From my personal observation, people with mental illnesses are the most gifted, intelligent and intuitive people that I have ever known.
“Not only is that stigma about mental illness destructive to the people affected, it is destructive to our community. The stigma is a double-edged sword. People with mental illnesses are denied opportunities, but there is another equally disturbing outcome: employers, organizations and businesses never access a tremendous reservoir of skill and mental ability. As a community, we cannot afford to lose that wealth of pure talent.
“We all have to work hard to eradicate that stigma that robs people of proper health care and treatment and their right to contribute and be involved in our community. Equally disturbing, it robs our community of their significant gifts. In a stigma-free society, everybody wins.”
Great letter, Doreen!
