BCSS Youth

09/03/2025

STRONGER MINDS, BETTER DAYS... Learn more about back-to-school mental health for youth, in our most recent blog post: https://bcssyouth.org/news-stories/stronger-minds-better-days-back-to-school-mental-health-wellness/

08/12/2025

SAVE THE DATE: The BCSS 2025 Annual General Meeting and Education Session will be taking place Saturday, September 27 at 1pm at Sandman Hotel in Richmond, and streamed via Zoom. Our keynote speaker will be giving a thought-provoking presentation about improving care for people with severe mental illnesses across our province. Learn who our special guest will be... https://www.bcss.org/agm

*This event is supported by an educational grant from AbbVie.

08/07/2025

JOIN US! If you have a loved one living with schizophrenia or a severe and persistent mental illness, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

This month we invite youth to participate in our programs, where kids, tweens and teens will find helpful information, local resources, and a compassionate community that understands.

🔗 Learn more and find a session near you: www.bcss.org/events

07/22/2025

Join BCSS YOUTH for *Kids in Control Summer Camp* August 12-15 in Victoria.

This is a free four-day camp is designed for children aged 8-12 years old who have a loved one with a mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, etc.) and/or substance use challenges.

For more info or to register, call Mary Beth Hall at 236-335-0917 or email manager@bcssyouth.org

05/14/2025

05/07/2025

Supporting the mental health of children and youth is just as important as teaching life skills like problem-solving or building healthy relationships. Just as we encourage them to care for their physical health, we must also help them nurture their mental well-being from an early age 🧠

National Child and Youth Mental Health Day is a reminder that young people experience challenges too. It’s a call to listen, to create safe spaces, and to have open conversations about mental health. It’s about equipping them with knowledge about mental illness and giving them the tools they need to care for themselves and support others.

Together, we can make sure every young person knows it’s okay to talk about their feelings—and that asking for help is a sign of strength 🤝💜

04/10/2025

At the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles shocked the world—not by winning gold, but by choosing to step back for her mental health 🧠💔 Despite the backlash, her brave decision opened the doors for a much-needed global conversation about mental wellness in sports.

She reminded us that strength isn’t just about physical power—it’s also about knowing when to pause, breathe, and take care of yourself.

Read more about her story: https://bcssyouth.org/news-stories/famous-people-who-have-experienced-mental-illness-simone-biles/🌟

04/07/2025

Our Kids, Tweens, and Teens in Control programs support BC youth (ages 8-18) with a loved one facing serious mental illness. These programs offer a safe space to build resilience, learn about mental health, and connect with peers who share similar experiences 🌸 Here’s what’s coming up in April!

Learn more about how these programs can help by visiting www.bcssyouth.org 💜

03/20/2025

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? When we’re upset, our body’s fight-or-flight response kicks in, making it hard to think clearly or stay calm. Try Take 5 Breathing—a simple way to reset. Breathe in slowly as you trace up a finger, then breathe out as you trace down. Repeat for all five fingers.

This helps slow your heart rate, deepen your breath, and bring your body back into balance 🌿💜

Give it a try next time you need a moment to reset! Read our latest blog for more info: https://bcssyouth.org/news-stories/breathing-calm-into-big-emotions/

Take 5 Breathing is a wonderful way to switch off the stress response. It brings the body back into balance, slowing and deepening the breath and slowing down the heart rate, while harnessing the need to move with an action that requires focus and provides sensory feedback to our brains.

02/26/2025

began as a stand against bullying and has grown into a global movement promoting kindness and inclusion 👚 For families caring for loved ones with schizophrenia or serious mental illness, the impact of bullying and stigma can be especially challenging.

By choosing kindness and taking a stand against stigma, we create supportive communities that empower families to care for their loved ones with compassion.

02/24/2025

Life can feel like a maze of expectations—social media, relationships, and pressure to keep it all together. But there’s no “right” way to navigate it.

Wherever you are on your mental health journey, remember that you deserve love, acceptance, and support—especially from yourself 💜 So let’s flip the script and focus on what really matters: YOU.

02/04/2025

stories matter. Help inspire youth by sharing yours.

CMHA BC is looking for youth ages 19-30, who would be interested in sharing their personal mental health stories at our annual HEADSTRONG Youth Mental Health Summit.

The Summit is a one-day workshop for students in grades 7 and 8 to listen and learn about mental health, stigma, and how they can become advocates in their communities. We're seeking speakers who've experienced a mental health journey they’re comfortable sharing and can answer questions from attending youth.

This opportunity is open to both experienced and first-time story sharers, and there is an honorarium for the speakers.

This in-person summit will be held in Victoria, BC on Wednesday, February 12. For more information, please contact lauren.sykes@cmha.bc.ca

CMHA Victoria