mental health

California Gov. Gavin Newsom answers a question concerning three gun control measures he signed during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 26, 2023. An alternative mental health court program designed to fast-track people with untreated schizophrenia into housing and medical care starts in San Francisco and six other California counties. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California’s mental health court rolls out to high expectations and uncertainty

Program will fast-track people with psychotic disorders into housing and medical care

 

Melina Jacques’ wood-burned birch panel artworks, “Depression” and “Anxiety,” depict the emotional and psychological weight of mental health struggles. Set to be featured at the “Art Tracks: Come Walk With Me in My Shoes” exhibit, the pieces capture the challenges of navigating a world fraught with societal pressures and internal conflicts. (Contributed photo)

Terrace art show to combat mental health stigma through diverse artworks

Highlighting voices: ‘Art Tracks’ showcases the healing power of art and mental health

 

A new StatCan report links cyberbullying to mental health issues in adolescents. THE NEWS/files

Cyberbullying hurting 1 in 4 Canadian youths: StatCan

Study says youth who have been victimized online have a greater risk of mental health issues

 

A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Returning to school in September can be a “mixed picture” for students as some deal with higher levels of anxiety as change can be a stressful situation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

New school year can lead to higher levels of anxiety for students: B.C. doctor

BC Children’s Hospital noted increase in mental-health visits at start of 2022-23 school year

A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Returning to school in September can be a “mixed picture” for students as some deal with higher levels of anxiety as change can be a stressful situation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Leah Schulting, executive director of the South Okanagan Canadian Mental Health Association hands out medals at the Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health on Sunday. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health a smashing success, raises over $30K

Around 170 pickleball athletes from across B.C. participated in weekend event

Leah Schulting, executive director of the South Okanagan Canadian Mental Health Association hands out medals at the Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health on Sunday. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Blair Evan Donnelly, 64, is seen at B.C. provincial court via video link (at upper right) in a court sketch made in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Donnelly had previously been found not criminally responsible for stabbing his teenage daughter to death in 2006 and was sent to B.C.’s Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sheila Allan

Victims question B.C. psychiatric release, lawyers reject knee-jerk response

Questions abound about the process in the wake of Vancouver Chinatown stabbings

Blair Evan Donnelly, 64, is seen at B.C. provincial court via video link (at upper right) in a court sketch made in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. Donnelly had previously been found not criminally responsible for stabbing his teenage daughter to death in 2006 and was sent to B.C.’s Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sheila Allan
B.C. United Skeena MLA Ellis Ross stands at the corner of Greig Ave. and Clinton St. in Terrace on Sept. 8. Ross is advocating for a culturally-focused detox centre near the city, emphasizing the urgency in addressing the region’s increasing substance abuse issues. (Viktor Elias/Terrace Standard)

B.C. MLAs push for Indigenous-led detox centre in Terrace

Province urged to back Northern First Nations Alliance (NFNA) proposal amid drug crises

B.C. United Skeena MLA Ellis Ross stands at the corner of Greig Ave. and Clinton St. in Terrace on Sept. 8. Ross is advocating for a culturally-focused detox centre near the city, emphasizing the urgency in addressing the region’s increasing substance abuse issues. (Viktor Elias/Terrace Standard)
The medal winners of women’s doubles at the Canadian Mental Health Associations’ Penticton charity pickleball tournament in September 2022. Taking top spot were Lois Neu and Leah Currie of North Vancouver, Silver went to Jeannie Lister and Lori Needham of Penticton and Bronze to Donna Hammerquist and Leanne Barnes also of Penticton. (Submitted File photo)

Smashing good time ahead at pickleball tournament for mental health in Penticton

170 players from across B.C. expected to play in Sept. 15-17 event to raise money for mental health

The medal winners of women’s doubles at the Canadian Mental Health Associations’ Penticton charity pickleball tournament in September 2022. Taking top spot were Lois Neu and Leah Currie of North Vancouver, Silver went to Jeannie Lister and Lori Needham of Penticton and Bronze to Donna Hammerquist and Leanne Barnes also of Penticton. (Submitted File photo)
B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Whiteside was at the Metro Vancouver’s mayors council on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 to discuss the issues around public drug use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Decriminalization meant to save lives in toxic drug crisis: Whiteside

Mental Health and Addictions Minister speaks to Metro Vancouver mayors committe on public drug use

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Whiteside was at the Metro Vancouver’s mayors council on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 to discuss the issues around public drug use. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside speaking in Surrey May 5, 2023. Whiteside announced the province would be funding $3 million over the next three years toward the YMCA B.C.’s Y Mind and Mind Medicine programs for people aged 13 to 30 to learn strategies to cope with stress and anxiety (Photo: Anna Burns)

B.C. funding $3M toward YMCA mental health program in 30 communities

Y Mind is aimed at teaching people strategies to cope with stress and anxiety

Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside speaking in Surrey May 5, 2023. Whiteside announced the province would be funding $3 million over the next three years toward the YMCA B.C.’s Y Mind and Mind Medicine programs for people aged 13 to 30 to learn strategies to cope with stress and anxiety (Photo: Anna Burns)
Wildfire evacuees Warren Pullen, left, and veteran Rob Pullen sit outside their trailer in the parking lot at an evacuation centre, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Mental health supports available for British Columbians impacted by wildfires

Disaster Psychological Support team deployed through B.C.’s Emergency Management program

Wildfire evacuees Warren Pullen, left, and veteran Rob Pullen sit outside their trailer in the parking lot at an evacuation centre, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Mental Health Minister Carolyn Bennett says the government is putting $156 million over three years toward a new three-digit suicide-prevention hotline, which is expected to launch Nov. 30. Bennett rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Mental health minister puts $156M toward fall launch of 988 crisis hotline

Free trained responders will be available to help starting at the end of November

Mental Health Minister Carolyn Bennett says the government is putting $156 million over three years toward a new three-digit suicide-prevention hotline, which is expected to launch Nov. 30. Bennett rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Bailey Millan-Brule, a youth advisory committee member for the Vernon branch of Canadian Mental Health Association, is pleased a Foundry centre for youth aged 12-24 will be located in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

More mental health, substance use support for North Okanagan youth

Foundry B.C. announces one of 12 new centres provincewide for young people 12-24 will operate in Vernon

Bailey Millan-Brule, a youth advisory committee member for the Vernon branch of Canadian Mental Health Association, is pleased a Foundry centre for youth aged 12-24 will be located in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
B.C. Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside in Chilliwack announcing $3 million expansion of mobile integrated crisis response teams to Chilliwack, Abbotsford and seven other B.C. communities. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. expands crises response teams to 9 communities

Mobile Integrated Crisis Response teams are coming to nine additional communities for a total of 21

B.C. Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside in Chilliwack announcing $3 million expansion of mobile integrated crisis response teams to Chilliwack, Abbotsford and seven other B.C. communities. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone

Fears for LGBTQ mental health, as flood of online hate spills into real world

Fae Johnstone says “nothing ever could have prepared” her for the barrage…

Fae Johnstone, a transgender activist who was one of five women featured on limited-edition Hershey chocolate bars in March, is seen in an undated handout photo. Experts and LGBTQ community members say they are concerned about the normalization of anti-LGBTQ hate and its impact on mental health and safety, as online rhetoric spills into the real world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Fae Johnstone
Alysha Gill, seen in an undated handout photo, says she was in and out of hospitals for anxiety and depression but did not get much say in her care so she’s hoping new standards introduced by the Health Standards Organization will help empower people when it comes to their own mental health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alysha Gill

Mental health, addiction, suicide prevention standards introduced in Canada

Health Standards Organization says aim is to improve care, meet needs of Canadians

Alysha Gill, seen in an undated handout photo, says she was in and out of hospitals for anxiety and depression but did not get much say in her care so she’s hoping new standards introduced by the Health Standards Organization will help empower people when it comes to their own mental health. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alysha Gill
Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Submitted)

Kelowna Mountie to be sentenced for assault stemming from UBCO wellness check

Lacy Browning was charged with assault after a 2020 arrest on UBC Okanagan campus

Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Submitted)
Serene Harcus says Interior Health’s internal mental health support system has left her without support or the counselling she needs. (Rebecca Willson/Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Falling through the cracks’: Mental health support gap leaves B.C. care aid struggling

“A person should not have to beg for their life because of mental health”

Serene Harcus says Interior Health’s internal mental health support system has left her without support or the counselling she needs. (Rebecca Willson/Salmon Arm Observer)
File - A teenager holds her phone as she sits for a portrait near her home in Illinois, on Friday, March 24, 2023. The U.S. Surgeon General is warning there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for young people — and is calling on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take "immediate action to protect kids now." (AP Photo Erin Hooley, File)

Car seats and baby formula are regulated. Is social media next?

The U.S. surgeon general is warning there is not enough evidence to…

File - A teenager holds her phone as she sits for a portrait near her home in Illinois, on Friday, March 24, 2023. The U.S. Surgeon General is warning there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for young people — and is calling on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take "immediate action to protect kids now." (AP Photo Erin Hooley, File)
Mike Gee held the first annual Seamus’ Stroll last year in memory of his late son in Campbell Valley Regional Park to raise funds for the Langley Foundry facility for youth mental health in memory of his late son (inset). On June 4, the second 3K walk will take place. (Langley Advance Times files)

Remembering his son: why a B.C. dad purchases birthday cakes for strangers

Mike Gee hopes others will do the same

Mike Gee held the first annual Seamus’ Stroll last year in memory of his late son in Campbell Valley Regional Park to raise funds for the Langley Foundry facility for youth mental health in memory of his late son (inset). On June 4, the second 3K walk will take place. (Langley Advance Times files)