Private donations have come forward to assist the funding-strapped BC Schizophrenia Society office in Âé¶čAV after its programs and services were threatened with closure last November.
One of those donations came from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation, a grant for $10,000 which has been specifically targeted for the Teens In Control education and support program, a reflection of Pacific Blue Cross having 18,000 members living in Âé¶čAV.
Started as a pilot project last year, Teens In Control offers peer support to teenagers generally between ages 13 and 17 who have parents or other loved ones dealing with mental illness.
Related: Âé¶čAV schizophrenia society branch could close
BCSS volunteer Andrea Hess said a second session is planned to start up in March.
Hess said her teenage son and daughter went through the eight-meeting program last year, as she deals with anxiety and depression issues.
âThey both got a lot out of it. My daughter was 11 so she was a little bit on the younger end but we put her in into it as well.â
Hess, a volunteer with the BCSS branch in Âé¶čAV, said the importance of Teens In Control is to continue knocking down the negative social stigmas surrounding mental illness and peer support, while addressing the needs of a teenage group that often doesnât get much supportâthose living with or around others suffering from mental illness.
âThe peer support aspect is crucial,â she said. âFor youth just having the opportunity to interact with their peers sharing the same kinds of experiences can be just as effective as working with mental health care professionals.
âItâs getting better as more teenagers start talking about mental illness in their lives. There is a lot more awareness, people are talking about it more. But there is still lots of stigma, shame and misinformation out there as well.â
She said BCSS offers Teens In Control in other communities but up until last year it was not available in Âé¶čAV. The local society branch is also working with Foundry youth health referral service in Âé¶čAV to help funnel youth seeking help towards the program.
While it is based on Âé¶čAV, she said enrolment is open to youth from neighbouring communities.
âWeâve had people come from as far away as Merritt to participate in our family programs,â Hess said.
For more information or to register for Teens In Control, visit the BCSS website bcss.org or visit the Foundry at 100-1815 Kirschner Rd.
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barry.gerding@blackpress.ca
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