June 26, 2023

Mental Health and Addiction

2023 RESOURCE GUIDE

Mental illness affects all segments of Canadian society. No one is immune.

Mental health issues account for more than

$16.6B

In lost productivity due to absenteeism

BY THE NUMBERS:

Statistics from Canadian Mental Health Association, Victoria Foundation, and other government agencies

95,000

Children and youth in BC have a diagnosed mental disorder

TOP 3

Victoria is one of three BC cities with the highest number of suicides

500,000

Canadians, in any given week, are unable to work due to mental illness

Mental disorders account for more of the global burden of disease than ALL CANCERS COMBINED

Grief is a natural response to significant loss. But unsupported, it can profoundly affect mental health and physical well-being.

Victoria Hospice is here when you need support.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we offer free individual counselling for South Island residents (up to six sessions). Some fees may apply for ongoing programs, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. You do not need a prior connection with Victoria Hospice to access bereavement support.

19.2%

Of BC residents are experiencing a mental illness or substance issue today

70,000

Of first responders have experienced PTSD in their lifetimes

25%

Of Vancouver Island residents have mental health challenges

13.5%

Of Canadian mental health patients with at least 3 hospital stays in a year are due to mental disorders

20%

In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness

54%

Of study respondents who feel they’ve suffered from depression or anxiety haven’t seen a doctor about it

What is the Victoria Community Action Team?

Beginning in 2018, Community Action Teams (CATs) were created across BC in communities hardest hit by the overdose crisis. Victoria is 1 of 35 CATs currently operating. CATs are funded by the Community Action Initiative, which supports projects that promote mental health and wellness and prevent harms related to substance use.

Community Action Team Functional Model

Community Action Team members and their level/type of engagement will vary from community to community. Representatives will play one or more roles on the team including: leadership, partnership, informing /advocacy, promotion, licencing, exchange of information Membership may include:

Community Agencies, Division of Family Practice, First Nations Health Authority & Indigenous Community Agencies, First Responders, Health Authority, Local Government, Peers & Families, Recovery Programs

If a member of your organization is interested in joining the Victoria CAT, please contact project coordinator Sarah Gallard at victoriacommunityactionteam@gmail.com

Community Members

We’re in it together / About this project

Inside this special guide

Black Press Media’s Victoria News along with the Victoria Community Action Team are proud to share with the community this special resource guide exploring mental health, addiction and opiate prevention in the Capital Region.

Few issues reach as far as these, affecting almost all of us in one way or another, and are not limited to one age group, gender or socio-economic group. We are all susceptible, as are our family members, friends, coworkers and neighbours.

The implications of that – personally, economically and societally – are significant, and it’s with that in mind that we share this guide.

In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem or illness and approximately 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder.

An estimated 21 per cent of the population will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime and toxic drug use continues to claim lives in our community. In 2022, there were 2,272 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in B.C., the second largest

number ever recorded in a calendar year behind 2021.

As mental health and substance use disorder resources can often overlap, we’ve compiled them all into one guide. In it, we explore common mental health concerns, symptoms to watch for, and suggestions for improving and supporting mental health.

We also look at how mental health and addiction can overlap, overdose prevention, knowing the signs of addiction and how to get help.

Throughout this guide, you’ll find local, vital resources you can turn to for additional information and support. With information comes awareness and understanding, with the goal of reducing the stigma that prevents people from seeking the help they need.

Black Press Media extends its thanks to our community sponsor – Victoria Community Action Team. We are grateful for their support and participation and for the many people working to make a difference in the health of our community.

Thank you.

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“OUR FUNDS FROM VCAT SUPPORTED OUR PEER-OUTREACH PROGRAM”

Lacey Jones, program director of QomQem

BETTER TOGETHER:

Victoria Community Action Team bridges community needs

“ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH.” – HELEN KELLER

Across the province, there has been a need for mental health and substance use disorder organizations to come together to help tackle the rising challenges of both the overdose crisis and the high numbers of residents living with a mental illness.

B.C. has experienced the highest number of overdose deaths among Canadian jurisdic-

tions. And, in a survey conducted by Statistics Canada in September 2021, more than half of respondents aged 15-plus in B.C. reported experiencing “somewhat worse” or “much worse” mental health due to COVID-19 and related measures. Between 19.6 per cent and 26.2 per cent of British Columbians – more than one million people – will experience a mental illness each year, said the CMHA.

Thankfully, there are countless frontline

workers, peer support workers, researchers, medical professionals and more working tirelessly in our community to address these challenges head on.

Together, they are finding new ways to innovate and create “focused, action-oriented strategies” under the umbrella of community action teams, said Sarah Gallard, Victoria Community Action Team (VCAT) project coordinator.

Community action teams (CAT) were created

in 2018 by the B.C. Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions’ Overdose Emergency Response Centre, alongside the Community Action Initiative (CAI), for communities hardest hit by the overdose crisis across the province. These teams also build opportunities for peer-led organizations and support community-led projects that focus on mental health.

“With Victoria’s CAT, it’s a group of different service providers and community members and we work together to identify priorities in our community, what are the challenges with ways that we can help. Then we use our funding to fund projects to address those challenges,” said Gallard.

“We’ve also been able to provide support for peer and front-line workers when there hasn’t been a lot of supports available.”

VCAT has 30 members including AIDS Vancouver Island and Cool Aid Community Services, as well as law enforcement, mental health representatives and Island Health public health departments. Working together, the team members serve Greater Victoria, bridging provincial government priorities and community needs.

VCAT PROJECTS

In 2022, one challenge tackled was the need for increased access to drug checking in Victoria. Through VCAT, Substance Drug Checking and SOLID came together to create an outreach team to collect drug checking samples and circulate drug information resources. The project has resulted in tangible results of increased drug safety in the community, with more information on this initiative on page 29.

Another project brought to life through VCAT is Holding Hope, a pilot project under the umbrella of Moms Stop the Harm. The now nationally-run program offers

free peer-led support groups for families affected by their loved one’s substance use. It was started by a mom with lived experience who saw a need in the community for others like her. The full story can be found on page 42.

Among their many projects, VCAT also invests a minimum of 25 per cent of overall resources in Indigenous-led initiatives every year.

QomQem Coastal Connections, a group that offers Indigenous harm reduction and health services in partnership with Peers Victoria Resources Society, offers health, housing, and harm reduction resources as well as cultural, land-based healing and supports with funding through VCAT.

“Our funds from VCAT supported our peer-outreach program,” said Lacey Jones, program director of QomQem.

The peer outreach program goes on outreach four days a week and consists of members with current and lived experience with substance use, homelessness, or being precariously housed. Eight of the peer workers are from Sacred, a group for Indigenous sex workers.

“It’s been awesome to have received the funds and work alongside VCAT. I don’t think we could really do this work in the capacity that we do without the lived experience and expertise that all the peer workers bring.”

CONTINUING THE WORK

In the fields of mental health and substance use, there is still much more work to be done, but together, community building helps utilize resources effectively and find success.

Learn more at caibc.ca

AIDS Vancouver Island (AVI)

Island Health

public health departments

British Columbia

Schizophrenia Society

Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness

First Nations Health Authority

SOLID

Victoria Brain Injury Society

Umbrella Society

BC Division of Family Practice

Foundry

Moms Stop the Harm

Vancouver Island

Construction Association

Pacific Centre Family Services Association/West Shore

QomQem Coastal Connections/Peers

BC Corrections/Probation

PHS Community Services Society

Mental Health Recovery Partners

Substance Drug Checking

THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM HAS MEMBERS FROM THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:

MENTAL ILLNESS

Health professionals divide mental illnesses into several different groups based on signs or symptoms classified in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM-5. The Canadian Mental Health Association describes some common groups of mental illnesses:

ANXIETY DISORDERS

While anxiety can be a common feeling, it becomes a disorder when it seriously disrupts someone’s life. Anxiety disorders may be related to excessive and uncontrollable worry, strong fears around everyday things or situations, unwanted thoughts, panic attacks, or fears around a past scary situation. The most common of mental illnesses, anxiety disorders can create barriers in people’s lives. Panic disorder and phobias are examples.

MOOD DISORDERS

Mood disorders occur when a person has extreme or disruptive mood patterns that negatively affect how they see and interact

with the world. They may feel sad, hopeless, tired, or numb for long periods of time, or experience an unusually ‘high’ mood and feel powerful and energetic, which can also create problems. Depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder are types of mood disorders.

EATING DISORDERS

Eating disorders really aren’t about food. They’re complicated illnesses that are often a way to cope with difficult problems or regain a sense of control.

Eating disorders may include seriously restricting how much food a person eats, binging or purging food. Anorexia nervosa is a syndrome of self-starvation involving significant weight loss of 15 per cent or more of ideal body weight and bulimia nervosa is a disorder that involves engaging in cycles of binge-eating followed by purging.

PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

Psychosis is a health problem that affects how people understand what is real and what isn’t. People may sense things that

aren’t there or strongly believe things that can’t be real. About one per cent of Canadians will experience schizophrenia, one example of a psychotic disorder.

PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Personality disorders are rigid and unhealthy patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that may last for a long time and create challenges in a person’s life. People who experience personality disorders may have difficulties developing healthy and satisfying relationships, managing their emotions, avoiding harmful behaviour and working toward important life goals. Personality disorders can affect the way people understand and view themselves and others, and how they cope with problems. There are many types including borderline, narcissistic, schizoid and avoidant personality disorders.

CHILDHOOD DISORDERS

This is a large group of mental illnesses that start to affect people when they’re young, though some people are not diagnosed until

they’re older. One of the most commonly diagnosed is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD), which affects a person’s ability to focus, complete tasks, plan or organize, sit still, or think through actions.

DEMENTIA

Dementia refers to a group of symptoms brought on by abnormal deterioration of the brain, including memory loss, loss of understanding, changes to mood, difficulty with language, and problems coping with daily living. It can be caused by a disease that mainly affects nerve cells in the brain or can be associated with many other medical conditions. Alzheimer’s is the most common form, followed by vascular dementia, Lewy bodies and frontotemporal lobe dementia.

A NOTE ON SUICIDE

Suicide is not a mental illness in itself. Not all people who die by suicide experience a mental illness. However, suicide may be linked to many different mental illnesses. It’s important to take any talk or thoughts of suicide seriously and seek help. To learn more, visit cmha.ca.

MENTAL HEALTH

How to start the conversation

When it comes to our mental health, so much can start from reaching out to someone to talk about what we’re feeling and what’s going on for us. Talking about our mental health helps reduce stigma, can bring us more insight into what’s happening with us, and gives others in our lives the opportunity to show support. Since it’s not always easy to know where to start, the Foundry offers some suggestions for how to open up.

WHO DO I WANT TO TALK TO?

It can be helpful to look to someone who you’re comfortable with, someone you trust, who won’t judge you or downplay what you’re going through, will respect your privacy, and will be understanding. Brainstorm a list of possible supports in your life, like family members, partners, friends, teachers, coaches, family doctors, peer support workers.

Remember, if you prefer to talk to someone anonymously, phone, text and online chat options are available.

WHAT KIND OF HELP DO I WANT FROM THEM?

Think ahead about what kind of support you’re looking for – do you just want to talk, are you looking for more information or to find services such as counsel-

ling? Writing down a few notes might also be helpful.

STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Do what feels most comfortable for you – face-to-face, phone call, text, online chat or email.

Start by explaining that you need help with a problem – you might think of a few examples of what’s going on to help them better understand. If you’re unsure how the person will react, you could test the waters, perhaps talking about a story you’ve read in the news that’s similar to what you’re going through, and see how the person reacts to gauge whether they’re likely to be supportive. You could also start a conversation more generally – talk about how you’ve not been feeling great, rather than saying you’re feeling depressed/anxious/stressed/ etc.

Be prepared for a range of different reactions and remember that someone’s initial reaction isn’t always their longer-term reaction. The person may be surprised at the information you share and it may take a little while for them to process it. Life is full of ups and downs, and sharing our experiences with the people who care about us can help make things better. For more information, visit foundrybc.ca

BRINGING A COMMUNITY FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN CANADA WILL PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR ILLNESS?

And by age 40, about 50 per cent of the population will have or have had a mental illness? Beyond the personal toll this presents, the annual economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated at about $51 billion, including health care costs, lost productivity and reductions in health-related quality of life.

The good news is that with the right support, things can get better.

The Courtnall Society for Mental Health (CSMH) envisions communities where help for those living with mental health challenges is sustainable, inclusive and accessible.

A Victoria-based society, CSMH was launched in 2021 by brothers Geoff, Russ and Bruce Courtnall, named for their father Archie Courtnall, who battled depression and died by suicide in 1978.

The brothers’ mission is to promote the understanding of mental health through awareness, education and resources, and the society raises funds year-round to provide grants to support community-centric mental health organizations across Canada.

Over the years, the Courtnall brothers have raised more than $3 million, funding the opening of the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Archie Courtnall Centre, creating specialized mental health and substance use services for patients arriving in emergency at the hospital with psychiatric disorders.

Since opening in 2005, the mental health

A podcast with connection to community

and substance use program at Royal Jubilee Hospital treats more than 2,400 inpatient cases every year.

Through CSMH, the brothers continue their mission, with an emphasis on supporting those working on the ground in local communities and raising funds to provide grants to grassroots organizations. Strengthening these community-based organizations will mean people who are struggling will have better access to preventive care, treatment and the support they need to cope, recover and regain their mental health.

LEARN MORE TODAY AT courtnallsociety.org

Check out episode 8, Enhancing mental health through the outdoors, exploring the connection between mental health and nature featuring guests Katy Rose and David Segal from Human Nature Counselling.

Listen today

Hosted by Lucky Budd, listen to the Vital Victoria Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more at VictoriaFoundation.bc.ca/vital-victoria-podcast

"Our approach is let's look around at our nearby nature...when it's our nearby nature, we have this bigger sense of belonging and attachment to it."

- Katy Rose, Human Nature Counselling, episode 8

EXPERIENCING ANXIETY?

If you’ve experienced the heart-racing, stomach-churning signs of a panic attack, or a mind flooded with worry that something bad will happen, you’re not alone.

According to the organization Here To Help, anxiety is the most common type of mental disorder, affecting 12 per cent of B.C.’s population, or one in eight people, each year.

Anxiety disorders describe a group of related mental illnesses. While anxiety and stress problems can have much in common, in an anxiety disorder, symptoms are extreme and don’t go away once the stress is over.

Different types of anxiety disorders include phobias, post-traumatic stress, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, for various reasons, including hormonal changes, caregiving stress, and having a greater comfort level than men in seeking help.

Anxiety disorders most often appear in youth, with phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) showing up in early childhood and panic disorders and social phobias in teen years. In fact, an estimated 6.5 per cent of B.C. youth have an anxiety disorder.

Other risk factors include family history, personality and social factors, occupational factors in the case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic illness.

However, anxiety disorders are among the most treatable mental illnesses. Treatment can include:

COUNSELLING Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A mental health professional trained in CBT can help you work through the thoughts, emotions, behaviours and triggers contributing to your anxiety, and teach you coping skills.

MEDICATION Anti-anxiety medications can be used in combination with counselling to reduce your body’s response to anxiety.

SUPPORT GROUPS Share your experiences and learn from the experiences of others.

SELF-HELP Regular exercise, eating well, managing stress, spending time with friends and family, and monitoring your use of alcohol and other drugs can help.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

You’re not alone

RECOGNIZING DEPRESSION

Depression can affect anybody –regardless of age or gender. A type of mood disorder, depression will affect one in eight Canadians at some point in their lives – often arising during times of change, whether physical, like hormonal changes, or life changes, like leaving for university or retirement.

Youth and older adults are both at higher risk of depression, in addition to those with chronic illness and substance use disorder. Different cultures may also hold beliefs about depression that can affect how someone approaches being diagnosed or treatment options.

Depression is diagnosed twice as much in women as men, for reasons including life-cycle changes, hormonal changes, higher rates of childhood abuse or relationship violence, and social pressures.

And because men may be less comfortable seeking help, depression in men may be highly under-reported. Men often feel emotionally numb or angry when depressed whereas women may feel more emotional.

Like anxiety, treatment for depression can be very effective. Options include counselling, medication, light therapy, electroconvulsive therapy (for those with severe depression or who can’t take medications or haven’t responded

to other treatments), and self-help (including exercise, nutrition and building connections).

Learn more at Mood Disorders Association of BC mdabc.net; 604-873-0103; CMHA-BC Division –cmha.bc.ca or call 1-800-555-8222

For men seeking support, Men’s Therapy Centre supports any man*: cis, gay, bi-sexual, trans, non-binary, 2 spirit, queer, gender fluid +, who has experienced emotional, physical or sexual trauma in childhood or as an adult.

Visit menstherapycentre.ca; 250-381-6367; info@menstherapycentre.ca

Mental Health

TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH BARRIER FREE SUPPORT

Mental

Health Recovery Partners show the value of peer support

Within a few months of becoming the executive director of Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island (MHRP SI), Janine Theobald was taking the biggest leap in her career – from a 150-foottall bungy bridge.

In March, Theobald participated in MHRP’s 17th annual Naked Bungy Jump for Mental Health fundraiser at WildPlay in Nanaimo and in doing so took a brave leap to show solidarity with the mental health community.

“Honestly, it was amazing. I was up the day

before supporting people on the bridge so that was helpful to see. There was absolutely a moment when I was standing on the edge of the platform, and it was time to go, where I just thought ‘I can’t’ and as soon as I started thinking it, I let it go. I think I let out an involuntary noise, but it was absolutely amazing.”

The fundraiser is MHRP’s biggest and raised $86,000 this year, with the help of an anonymous donor, to fund life-saving mental health programs. Approximately 200 participants take the jump each year, most fully naked (although, some like Theobald opt to wear swimsuits).

It’s a leap of faith in a supportive environment that brings the community together for a great cause. And the nakedness is not just for the shock factor.

“Metaphorically too, you’re quite vulnerable, you’re taking a leap of faith and that’s what it feels like for a lot of people, whether they’re willing to ask themselves ‘am I living with a mental health concern’ or going in to get supports,” Theobald said.

“The stories were amazing that people shared,” said Marion Gibson, program manager. “Some were celebrating a date, like maybe a sobriety date, or jumping for a family member who took their life or doing it to support a family member who is living with mental illness. It was very, very heartwarming.”

Janine Theobald

LOW BARRIER, FREE, QUICKLY ACCESSIBLE SERVICES

MHRP’s emphasis is on providing services that are low barrier, free, quickly accessible and that generally require no referral. This meets a need seen across the landscape of mental health services in Greater Victoria. “Access to appropriate care is one of the biggest issues at this time,” Theobald said.

Through peer support, education, support groups and counselling services (they have four counsellors on staff), the organization continues to work to reduce barriers.

“We strive to be as inclusive as possible, regardless of diagno sis, with or without substance use,” Gibson said. Sometimes, that means offering temporary support while helping individuals find resources in the community that are more specialized to their needs.

COMMUNITY-BASED CARE VERSUS TRADITIONAL CARE

What is being seen more and more in mental health services across Greater Victoria is something called peer support, which MHRP specializes in. Peer support is different from their counselling services and involves speaking with someone who has lived experience and can serve as a relatable, knowledgeable person to help navigate challenges.

PEER SUPPORT IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH CARE

“It’s happening outside of the traditional system but it’s also a space where people have an anchor, and they have their relationships. So, it’s not just that people pop in here once a week, but they’re part of a broader network of community,” said Theobald.

“It’s just such an important part of everyone’s mental health and wellness journey … being a part of something, being included.”

Apart from social support, community-based health care can often mean shorter wait times than going through private counselling and providing a more comfortable space for some participants.

“Sometimes for folks, depending on their experience, they would prefer to speak with a peer supporter rather than a clinician because they’ve had poor experiences with doctors or clinicians,” Gibson said.

Gibson and Theobald also noted access to psychiatrists has become more and more difficult in the community, and peer support can help avert some crises, provide temporary aid and a continuum of care.

At MHRP, almost all support groups are facilitated by someone who has walked through the door as a participant at some point, showing people that “a wellness and recovery journey is possible,” Theobald said.

MHRP offers four different types of peer support: one-to-one, family peer support, drop-in peer support, and transitional discharge model peer support.

They are one of the very few agencies that offer family peer support. Their drop-in peer support program is also a brand-new program that operates similar to a walk-in clinic, where people can walk in and get a half-hour mini session of peer support, Gibson informed.

“The premise of peer support is somebody sitting with you shoulder to shoulder, who has been through your experience and knows what you are going through,” Gibson said.

Learn more at mhrp.ca. They welcome walkins, emails or phone calls at 250-384-4225.

CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR 2SLGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Although 2SLGBTQIA+ people are as diverse as the general Canadian population in their experiences of mental health, they face higher risks for some mental health issues because of discrimination and the social determinants of health, says the Canadian Mental Health Association.

PRISM is a peer-led, connection-based group at MHRP where members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community can get in touch with others and address stigma associated with mental health challenges.

Hannah Monis and Emma Lujan at MHRP co-developed the group in 2023.

“We found that a lot of the time we ended up getting back to our queerness when talking about our mental health and that inspired us to co-pilot this group,” said Monis.

“We talk about a lot of topics, mostly stuff you’d talk about in another mental health group, but we just know that we have that shared experience. So, if we bring up our queerness in relation to the topic, we know that we’re not going to face judgement or ostracization.”

For more information, visit mhrp.ca or email admin@mhrpsi.ca.

SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS of those with severe mental illness

Living with severe mental illness greatly disrupts a person’s life and can be difficult to navigate. Family members and friends often become vital supports but may not always know the best ways to navigate challenges or know how to care for someone with severe mental illness.

That’s where the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) comes in. In 1982, this non-profit organization was started by families and friends of people with schizo-

phrenia who weren’t finding the support they needed. Today, it is a province-wide support system for families and friends of people with any severe and persistent mental illness, including bipolar disorder, major depression, psychotic disorders and debilitating anxiety disorders.

“We provide a safe, supportive environment where people can share resources, ask questions, learn from each other, understand the system, and get some good information on mental illnesses,” said Christine

Like other serious mental illnesses, schizophrenia is misunderstood and highly stigmatized, said BCSS. It is a brain disease that may result in hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, grandiosity, as well as anosognosia – a brain-based inability for a person to understand they are ill and require treatment.

As severe, persistent mental illnesses impair activities of daily living and require long-

Riddell, Vancouver Island regional manager of the BCSS.

term treatment, families will go through many different challenges during a loved one’s journey.

Family members may want someone to talk to when a youth goes through their first psychosis, Riddell said. Elderly parents supporting an adult child may come with questions about representation agreements or understanding what housing options are available. Or a family member may need support getting a judge’s warrant under the Mental Health Act.

BCSS provides families with key services to navigate these challenges, like their one-onone support, family education programs and family support groups.

The BCSS can support families to effective treatments. Schizophrenia, for example, is almost always treatable with medication and it may be suitable to augment medication with therapy and rehabilitation programs.

“I’ve learned about so many resources I did

not know existed because of this group. I don’t feel so alone now trying to navigate the system by myself – I have hope for my son for the first time in a long time,” a BCSS family support group participant said.

Having the knowledge and support they need enables families to be stronger advocates for their loved one and reduces stigma.

BCSS is also committed to helping break down the stigma of schizophrenia and severe mental illness in communities by educating students, the medical community, community groups and organizations. For resources and support to help someone you love with a serious mental illness, you can contact Greater Victoria regional educator Nancy Murphy at southvi@bcss.org or go to bcss.org for more information and other regional educators.

CAREGIVER WELLBEING

Today, more Canadians take care of friends, family members and loved ones of all ages living with a mental health concern, whether they live together at home or not.

While caring for a loved one can be rewarding, it can also be tiring and stressful. And though many feel obligated to put others’ needs before their own, taking care of yourself will help you avoid burnout, isolation, depression, and other problems that may arise, explains the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division.

Organizations such as Mental Health Recovery Partners and BC Schizophrenia Society have various family-based peer-support groups that can help give you support, and exist for all levels of need, no matter the severity level of mental illness.

DID YOU KNOW?

• 1 in 100 people, or roughly 50,000 British Columbians, have schizophrenia

• 3 in 100 people experience psychosis

• Bipolar disorder affects roughly 2 in 100 people – over 88,000 British Columbians

• 20-40% of people with schizophrenia attempt suicide in their lifetime

• Schizophrenia ranks 9th in the top 10 inpatient acute hospitalizations in B.C.

• The longer psychosis is left untreated, the greater the risk of permanent cognitive impairment

• Every year, May 24th marks World Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day

Ongoing education, including learning about available mental health and social services in the community, can help you understand what’s going on and build realistic and hopeful expectations.

You may feel you must be available all the time, but think about your needs, then work with everyone to find a solution, such as setting limits around behaviours, time spent caregiving, or expectations around the house.

Recognize that while it’s natural to want to help, you can’t do everything, and building independence is an important part of recovery.

Taking more time to listen to the reasons behind your loved one’s priorities can help you use your energy better. For example, if they’re focused on finding employment, putting effort into finding

new treatment providers might not be the best use of your resources.

Clear communication also allows everyone to discuss their thoughts or concerns respectfully. This includes active listening without distractions, being specific, focusing on one topic at a time, and being respectful and empathetic.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO REDUCE STIGMA

1. Know the facts. Educate yourself about mental illness including substance use disorders.

2. Be aware of your attitudes and behaviours. Examine your own judgmental thinking, reinforced by your upbringing and society.

3. Choose your words carefully. The way we speak can affect the attitudes of others.

4. Educate others. Pass on facts and positive attitudes; challenge myths and stereotypes.

5. Focus on the positive. Mental illness, including addiction, is only part of anyone’s larger picture.

6. Support people. Treat everyone with dignity and respect; offer support and encouragement.

7. Include everyone. It’s against the law to deny jobs or services to anyone with these health issues.

From the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), camh.ca.

RESOURCES:

• Bell Let’s Talk: letstalk.bell.ca/en

• Island Health mental health and substance use services: islandhealth.ca/our-services/mentalhealth-substance-use-services

• Here to Help: heretohelp.bc.ca

REMOVING STIGMA:

BY SUSAN EVANS

How does stigma feel? It’s like wearing a letter of shame; a body-blow when people shun you. It can crush you down and add to the pain of what you’re already dealing with,” says Lisa Ridgway, a member of the Patient Voices Network.

According to Canada’s Mental Health Commission, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental health problem or illness every year. That’s about 7 million of us. Despite how common it is, mental illness continues to be met with widespread stigma, often from our own friends and family.

Stigma is experienced when others judge you because of a personal quality, trait, or condition. Because of stigma, others may look down on you. According to HealthLink BC, stigma occurs when others:

• Don’t understand the mental health problem or think it’s a laughing matter.

• Don’t realize that a mental health problem is an illness that can be treated.

• Think that a mental health problem is “your own fault” or that you can “get over it.”

• Are afraid they might someday have a mental health problem themselves.

• Are nervous around you. Mental illness is exactly that – an illness – and stigma can get in the way of seeking treatment.

According to researchers, the more stigma can be reduced, the better the outcomes for people and programs promoting mental health.

Lisa Ridgway was diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression in late 2016; she found successful treatment with her psychiatrist, Dr. Song and through Island Health’s Mental Wellness Day Program at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Her illness and recovery inspired her to give back through the Patient Voices Network.

“I didn’t open up about my illness with colleagues; I was a lawyer for 15 years – although I had started to back away from my practice and was no longer in court. I knew that, for the most part, lawyers are afraid of mental illness,” says Ridgway. “I felt that if I shared what was going on with me, I would be judged negatively. I really felt like I couldn’t reach out to colleagues for help.”

Those with mental health problems may feel

‘Let’s not make mental illness a secret’

shame or guilt – you might not want your employer or even your friends to know. This is called “self-stigma” and it can keep you from getting treat ment or finding work.

“The stigma I felt most was probably self-imposed. I put a lot of expectations on myself and being unable to meet those expectations, both personally and professionally, felt like I failed myself,” says Ridgway.

“To compound my feelings of self-stigma, I also found that some family members and friends were uncomfortable around me – they were concerned that I would be unpredictable or simply didn’t know how to talk to me, so they avoided or even dropped me from their lives,” adds Ridgway

LEVELS OF STIGMA

Stigma can be experienced on three levels: self-stigma, public stigma and structural stigma.

SELF-STIGMA occurs when people feel ashamed and blameworthy, and try to conceal their illness from others. This may include avoiding situations where they think they might feel stigmatized. Avoiding stigma is thought to be one of the key reasons why the majority of people with a mental illness don’t seek care.

PUBLIC STIGMA encompasses all the prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviours expressed toward people with a mental illness by members of the public – attitudes that are often resistant to change. These include the ideas that people with a mental illness can never recover; they are violent and unpredictable; and they are blameworthy and could control their illness.

STRUCTURAL STIGMA occurs at the level of institutions, policies and laws. It creates situations in which people with a mental illness are treated inequitably and unfairly – for example, when they’re denied their basic human rights, or when policy agendas

do not give mental health issues high priority.

How can we change attitudes? How can we stop stigmatizing those with mental illness?

“Mental health is as critical to your wellbeing as physical health,” says Ridgway. “If you ask someone ‘how are you?’, actually mean it, and if they tell you they are experiencing some mental health issues, then really listen. It’s the normalization of mental health – the acceptance of the everyday nature of mental health for everyone.”

The annual Bell Let’s Talk Day and awareness campaign is well recognized for its effort to help reduce stigma and promote awareness and understanding. This campaign is designed to drive the national conversation to help reduce this stigma and promote awareness and understanding. Bell believes that “talking is an important first step towards lasting change.”

“Let’s not make mental illness a secret anymore,” says Ridgway. “It’s not a family secret or secret between spouses or a secret from the people you work with. The more we talk about it, the better for everyone.”

EATING DISORDERS

EATING DISORDERS COME IN MANY FORMS, INCLUDING ANOREXIA NERVOSA, BULIMIA NERVOSA, BINGE EATING DISORDER, OR AVOIDANT/ RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER.

According to 2019 data from Island Health, it is estimated that more than 3,000 people suffer from eating disorders across Vancouver Island.

As a complex mental illness involving relentless unhealthy thoughts, eating disorders can take a huge toll on the quality of life of the people who suffer from them and their families. While the cause of eating disorders is not fully understood, risk factors include striving to be perfect in one or more areas, low self-esteem, abuse or trauma, social pressure, and problems coping with stress, according to Kelty Eating Disorders.

Shaely Ritchey, co-founder of Vancouver Island Voices for Eating Disorders (based in Victoria), said since the pandemic service providers across B.C. have seen an increase in eating disorders.

While the pandemic has sparked changes to eating disorder treatment availability for adults across southern B.C., there are treatments and supports available for youth, families and adults.

Eating disorders can be life-long conditions and can be fatal if left untreated. Anyone seeking help or information can check out:

South Vancouver Island Eating Disorders Program, a referral-based program operated by the Ministry of Children and Family Development: islandhealth. ca/our-services/eating-disorders-services.

They offer individual therapy, psychoeducational groups, group therapy, family-based therapy, nutritional support, and referral to tertiary eating disorders programs.

Vancouver Island Voices for Eating Disorders (VIVED) - They offer an online peer support group as well as an online skills-share study group for individuals willing to learn and practice new skills for coping with eating disorders and disordered eating. Find out more at vancouverislandvoicesforeatingdisorders.com

Or visit keltyeatingdisorders.ca.

WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE

Given that we spend much of our lives at work, it’s important that employees feel supported in their mental health. Consider that two out of three people with a mental health issue during their working years suffer in silence fearing judgment rather than seeking treatment.

The Victoria branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s B.C. division offers a variety of programs and workshops designed to help, including:

AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH

AT WORK A workshop designed to help build comfort in talking about mental health and mental illness while teaching how to respond in a supportive way to co-workers who may be experiencing a mental illness.

MENTAL HEALTH WORKS For leaders and managers. Talking about mental

health at work can be challenging, but becoming aware of signs of mental illnesses and learning how to have those difficult discussions are part of being an effective leader.

SAFE AND SOUND Creating a safe workplace goes beyond hard hats and ergonomics. It’s also protecting the psychological health and safety of employees.

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

An online training program for those working with people who face challenges with addiction.

WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH

WEBINARS Free one-hour webinars covering a range of workplace mental health strategies.

For details about these and other programs – including programs for first responders, front line workers, and organizational change agents – visit victoria.cmha.bc.ca

HELPING KIDS REGAIN CONTROL

TALKING WITH YOUR TEENS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

When thinking of supports for caregivers, it is important not to forget about children who may have a friend or family member who struggles with a mental illness.

When there is a clearer understanding of mental illness, children and youth can express more compassion for their loved one, says British Columbia Schizophrenia Society. It also gives them the knowledge to help their friends, express their needs, access resources and process their experiences.

When kids have parents with a mental health issue, they are more likely to develop a mental health or substance use disorder. They also may experience self-blame, says Mary Beth Hall, youth program manager at Kids in Control through the BCSS.

That’s why the BCSS teaches the three C’s: I can’t control it, I didn’t cause it, but I can take care of myself.

The BCSS runs three support groups – kids in control, teens in control and tweens in control – for youth ages eight through 18 who have a family member or close friend with a mental illness. Find out about referrals and more about this program at bcss.org/ bcssyouth.

Not only do youth face changing bodies, hormones and school and family pressures, but today’s 24/7 society and pervasive social media platforms add pressures unseen by previous generations. All of this can make the teen years challenging times when it comes to mental health.

Most people living with a mental illness see their symptoms begin before age 18, making those early years a critical period for both diagnosing and early intervention.

Yet in Canada, only one out of five children receive appropriate mental health services. Working towards good mental health and seeking help early means teens can get back on their feet quicker when problems arise.

So, if a teen comes to you with mental health concerns or questions, what’s the best way to move forward? Here are some suggests from the Canadian Mental Health Association:

• Take their concerns seriously. It might be easy to dismiss a teenager’s concerns as ‘just hormones’ or ‘just another part of growing up,’ but that isn’t helpful. Even if you can’t relate to the problem, you can still express concerns about your teen’s worry or distress.

• Take time to listen – without judgment. If you’re in the middle of something else, find a time later in the day when you can talk and give them your full attention. Don’t judge what you hear. Just listen and be there.

• Ask your teen what they need. They might already have a good idea of the next steps they’d like to take.

• Don’t worry about having all the answers right away. This can be an opportunity to learn together.

• Offer alternatives. It can be difficult for some teens to talk with their parents about some subjects. Give additional places to seek support, such as a school counsellor, another family member, a local mental health or youth organization, a website, or a phone line.

• Talk about safe situations to share personal details. It’s very hard to take information back once it’s posted on social media or shared with others, so encourage your teen to think about safe places to talk and seek support. There are helpful educational resources to help parents talk to their kids about social media, being safe online, and cyber bullying, including Telus Wise, Common Sense Media, and MediaSmarts.

1 in7 YOUTH

will experience a mental illness at some point

cmha.bc.ca

• Seek outside help if you need to. A family or school doctor is a great place to start. They may be able to assess problems and provide treatment. They’ll also refer your teen to specialized mental health services, if needed.

WHEN SHOULD I TALK TO MY TEEN?

Make mental health an ongoing topic of conversation. Be there and be interested whenever your teen wants to talk, and don’t be afraid to ask questions to get the conversation started. You can also bring up mental health when you notice your teen is going through a stressful period or is expressing a lot of negative thoughts about themselves or the situation.

It’s normal to feel low, stressed or anxious when experiencing conflict, disappointment, loss or other upsetting situations. The key is that the feelings should match the situation and your teen should start to feel better as things improve.

WHAT DO I SAY?

Monique Moore, district counsellor for the District Mental Health Team, said “normalizing the conversation about mental health is helpful. We all have physical and mental health which includes good days and bad days.”

The more you normalize these conversations and model key messages yourself, the more effective they’ll be.

Reflect to your child that mental health is an important part of everyone’s health. Resiliency can be built with healthy support systems, positive relationships, healthy lifestyle choices and finding connections in community. And mental illnesses are treatable.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be open, curious and compassionate.

“When communicating with their children, we encourage parents to be present, remain curious, demonstrate active listening, remain non-judgmental, refrain from giving advice and focus on perspective taking,” Moore said.

MENTAL ILLNESS STATISTICS IN YOUTH

According to the CMHA, some of the most common mental illnesses diagnosed in youth are anxiety, ADHD, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

Eating Disorder Hope says that 12 per cent of adolescents will develop an eating disorder by the age of 20.

About six per cent of kids will experience an anxiety disorder.

DO YOU NEED MORE HELP?

The Greater Victoria School districts have a list of mental health resources for kids, parents and educators at:

www.healthyschools.sd61.bc.ca

www.sd62.bc.ca/programs-supports/safe-healthy-schools

www.sites.google.com/sd63.bc.ca/ comprehensive-school-health/ home

You can learn more about signs and symptoms of mental illness in youth at cmha.ca

Island Health also has a list of resources at islandhealth.ca/learnabout-health/children-youth/mental-health-children-youth/resources-children-youth-mental-health.

Mental Health

WALKING TOGETHER THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS

Grief is a natural response to significant loss. But unsupported, it can affect mental health and physical well-being.

Bereaved people may struggle with painful and intense feelings, social isolation, and the physical effects of grief for a long time after the death of a loved one.

The experience of grief has been painfully magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic and toxic drug death crisis. Stigma surrounding both distances bereaved people from much-needed social support.

Victoria Hospice bereavement counsellors have professional training that uniquely allows them to support people in grief, no matter how they experience loss, or why. They provide specialized, individual grief counselling and group support programs to anyone in their service area.

“In a terrible time after my sister’s death, I thought no one would ever understand what was happening to me,” said one Victoria Hospice client. “But my counsellor did. She knew the landscape of traumatic loss, and she helped me find a path toward healing.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL CONNECTION

While it can be easy to put off social connection, research shows it helps lower depression and anxiety, increases self-esteem, helps regulate emotions, and even has positive effects on the immune system.

A local drop-in group called Imagine After Hours, put on by the Greater Victoria Psychosocial Rehabilitation Collaborative (PSRC), is aiming to fill that social need in the community with art, conversation and peer support.

themselves,” Draper said. “We also provide opportunities for our participants to express their talents through weekly creative workshops and a monthly open mic.”

Many people who attend the group, like Terri Beaton, found their loneliness was heightened during the pandemic, and the group helped them to find connections again “When Covid was on and we couldn’t go anywhere, everyone seemed to have lost connection and I really did,” Beaton said. “When I came to the cafe, I got the connection to people back.”

FIND SUPPORT WITH VICTORIA HOSPICE

Contact Victoria Hospice bereavement services at 250-519-3040, email bereavement@victoriahospice.org or visit victoriahospice.org

Imagine After Hours offers a low-barrier, afternoon drop-in space for people with mental health challenges to access social connection and good food, said Laurel Draper, PSR Collaborative’s project manager.

“Our drop-in space is staffed with peer supporter workers who provide an additional level of support and connection to participants as they are people who have lived experience of mental illness

The drop-in takes place on certain afternoons of the week at the Dandy Lion Coffee Shop in the Victoria Event Centre (VEC).

VEC was chosen because it provides a private day space and it removes the barrier of the stigma that those with mental illness can face when accessing services located at the hospital or other mental health-related sites, Draper said.

It also allows the group to be embedded

into the arts community. Because striking up a conversation with a stranger can be challenging for anyone, having creative activities in the group helps foster natural conversa tion.

“I’ve seen many of our members, with time and regular visits, slowly develop more confidence in themselves and become more social and outgoing when interacting with others,” said Draper.

“Our open mic and arts workshops also receive great feedback as it’s an opportunity for people to share their stories

and talents to an appreciative audience, some performing for their very first time,” Draper said.

Beaton agreed the social connections she has found in the group have really helped her blossom and heal after the last few challenging years.

“I was losing confidence and I really find I am gaining that back,” she said.

All ages are welcome. If you’d like to learn more about the group, visit psrcollaborative.com/imagine-after-hours or email psrcollaborative@gmail.com.

MORE RESOURCES

THE GENWELL PROJECT

A human connection movement around the world with resources and tips: GenWellProject.org.

FRIENDS OF MUSIC SOCIETY

Offering musical opportunities for those recovering from mental illness: Friendsofmusic.ca or phone 250-592-5114.

CONNECTIONS PLACE

A community-building organization that offers employment, education and recreation initiatives to help people diagnosed with any mental illness.

Visit connectionsplace.org.

Mental Health

CARING FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS AN OLDER ADULT

like mindful meditation, chair yoga, cardmaking, or word and brain games.

“The social aspect of the program is one facet but with older adults, it’s a protective factor which can often mean the most and do the most good,” said Moulatsiotis.

Research from Psychosocial Approaches to Mental Health Challenges of Late Life shows that psychosocial, peer networks and facilitated education programs help seniors build on their strengths and maximize their potential. These programs can play a very positive role in preventing age-onset depression.

“The burden of stress can be lessened as we navigate the recovery journey together,” Moulatsiotis said.

Older adults can face significant life changes or circumstances that trigger mental health and addiction issues, such as losing a spouse, mobility challenges, living with a long-term health problem, or leaving their family home, said the Seniors’ Support Network in Victoria.

In fact, it is estimated that mental health problems affect 17 to 30 per cent of adults over the age of 65, with depression being the most significant mental health concern, according to the World Health Organization. Mental health issues are often missed in older adults as the symptoms can be similar to some diseases, such as feeling confused or forgetful, socially isolating, sleeping difficulties, and loss of appetite. Forgetting things, for example, might be seen as a sign of dementia rather than depression. But people can have both.

Despite the need for support, older adults often have a reluctance to self-identify as someone with a mental illness due to social stigma about ageism, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

But it is important to act early, stay active

and stay connected. There are many strategies for addressing mental health issues and taking preventative measures for older adults.

SENIORS’ SUPPORT NETWORK COMBATS LONELINESS

The Seniors’ Support Network through Island Community Mental Health in Victoria is a referral-based day program for individuals over 65 years of age who are experiencing mental illness and, most often, loneliness.

“Loneliness is something that most of our participants talk about as being the most pressing concern which can compound mental and physical health challenges that they’re experiencing,” said Athanasia Moulatsiotis, program coordinator for the BRIDGE Centre & Seniors’ Support Network.

“The Seniors’ Support Network exists as a safe space for participants to come together, build friendships, make community connections and gain assistance with accessing resources or problem-solving.”

After light refreshments and social catch up, the Seniors’ Support Network meetings move into a physical or recreational activity

Though it is not a drop-in program, those looking for drop-in activities can find some through their peer support program at icmha.ca. For more information, contact Moulatsiotis at 250-389-1211 ext. 233, or email athanasia.moulatsiotis@icmha.ca.

EXPLORE MORE VITAL RESOURCES

icmha.ca/seniors-support-network

• Pathways BC Community Service Directory: pathwaysbc.ca

• Seniors Serving Seniors: sssbc.org

• Voices in Motion choir, an intergenerational choir for adults with memory loss, their caregivers, friends and students: voicesinmotion.org

• islandhealth.ca/our-services/seniors-services

• silverthreads.ca/our-programs/

• alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/ dementia-resources/national-resource-library

• www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ health/accessing-health-care

TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE

Strategies to reduce the risk

When someone talks about suicide or raises concern for a loved one, it’s important to take action and seek help quickly, explained the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).

A suicidal person is feeling so much pain that they see no other option – they may feel they’re a burden, and in desperation, see death as a way to end it.

If you’re concerned about a loved one, the two most important things you can do are listen and help them connect with mental health services, CMHA noted. Ask them directly if they’re thinking about suicide; they may be relieved they can talk about it.

If they have active suicide idealizations, get help immediately – call 911 or take them to the emergency room.

WHO’S AT RISK?

Known suicide risk factors include having attempted suicide before, family history of suicidal behaviour, serious physical or mental illness, and problems with drugs or alcohol. A major loss, such as the death of a loved one, unemployment or divorce, and major life changes are all risk factors, as is family violence, social isolation or lack of a support network.

According to CMHA, the most at-risk group for suicide is men in their 40s and 50s while men over the age of 80 have the highest rate of suicide. While women are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide than men, men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. Men tend to use more immediately lethal means and are much less likely to reach out for help. However, any suicidal behaviour – whether lethal or not – originates in suffering and results in trauma.

Suicide is the second-most common cause of death among young people. First Nations, Inuit and LGBTQ2S+ people have higher rates of suicide-related behaviours. Up to 90 per cent of people who die by suicide are believed to have substance use problems or a mental illness such as depression or anxiety – whether diagnosed or not – at the time of their suicide.

MAJOR WARNING SIGNS

Most suicides are preventable and few happen without warning. Major warning signs for suicide spell ‘IS PATH WARM’:

I Ideation: thinking about suicide

S Substance use: problems with drugs or alcohol

P Purposelessness: feeling like there is no purpose in life or reason for living

A Anxiety: feeling intense anxiety or feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope

T Trapped: feeling trapped or feeling like there is no way out of a situation

H Hopelessness or Helplessness: feeling no hope for the future, feeling like things will never get better

W Withdrawal: avoiding family, friends, or activities

A Anger: feeling unreasonable anger

R Recklessness: engaging in risky or harmful activities normally avoided

M Mood change: a significant change in mood

DISMANTLING STIGMA: Suicide Loss Support Group

SUICIDE LOSS CAN BE EXTREMELY ISOLATING, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE FEELS STIGMA SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONE. Connecting with others who can relate is important, which is why Victoria Hospice bereavement counsellor Heidi Wigmore facilitates a support group for people who are grieving a loved one who has died by suicide.

The support group connects people who understand on a fundamental level what the experience of suicide loss is like, which can include overwhelming and confusing emotions like shame, anger and trauma.

That’s what Karen Hugdahl Meyer found in the group after the death of her older brother Peter, who died at age 54 and was a husband, a father to two boys, and a cherished family member.

“Not to feel alone in this type of loss was very healing. It’s not always easy to talk about suicide, and it was good to have that safe space – a sacred space, I would say, to honour the people we lost and their lives,” she said.

Sharing openly about the wholeness of who the person who died is an important part of the group experience. By sharing in a group setting with people who understand, it provides a safe space to share feelings and dismantle the stigma that exists around suicide and asking for help with a mental illness.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUICIDE

from the Centre for Suicide Prevention, at suicideinfo.ca, or the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, at suicideprevention.ca.

The Suicide Loss Support Group is supported by generous donors and community grants. The next session starts in October. To learn more, please contact Bereavement Services at victoriahospice.org/bereavement or call 250-519-3040.

Mental Health

MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE USE

It is not uncommon to find mental illness co-occurring with a substance use disorder. In fact, at least 20 per cent of people with a mental illness also have a substance use disorder and that number may be as high as 50 per cent for people with schizophrenia. People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder compared to the general population, says the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Similarly, more than 15 per cent of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness. So what is the reason for the overlap? CAMH shared several reasons:

• A person may turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with symptoms of mental illness. For instance, a person may find the gratifying properties of drugs can help ease symptoms such as severe anxiety.

• Substance use may lead to situations that make mental illness more likely to occur. For example, an alcohol disorder may lead to a marriage break-up, which in turn can lead to major depression.

• A common factor may lead to both mental illness and substance use disorder, such as a biological factor or an event such as emotional trauma. Some individuals may have genetic predispo-

sitions, such as deficiencies in reward circuitry that make them vulnerable to both. Environmental factors, like an abusive childhood, can also negatively harm someone’s development and lead to co-occurring disorders.

• Some severe and chronic mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, make people more sensitive to substances; they may develop substance use disorders with lower amounts of drug or alcohol use than people not experiencing mental illness. While researchers do not know why the link is so strong between schizophrenia and substance use, there are many theories. For example, drug use over time causes neural changes in the same brain areas as schizophrenia. Abnormal brain wiring may also make certain drugs more gratifying and can also ease unwanted symptoms of mental illness.

• In some cases of drug use, drugs can induce symptoms of mental illness. Opioids, for instance, can alter brain chemistry over time and cause sleep disturbances.

If you have a concurrent disorder, it is very important to seek help. Having overlap increases risks, including worsening and more severe psychiatric symptoms; more severe effects from substance use; and increased

suicidal feelings or behaviour.

In light of the B.C. Coroners Serivce report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in April, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside acknowledged in a 2023 May statement the importance of treating mental illness and drug use together. “Drug use is often the symptom of many underlying causes, including trauma,” she said.

To address the growing number of deaths, the province announced it is expanding supports for youth in the province to “stop little problems from becoming bigger problems later in their lives,” Whiteside said. Foundry centres will be added to 12 more communities around the province to support those between the ages of 12 and 24 with mental health and primary health care.

“These supports are a small part of our government’s commitment to building an integrated system of mental health and addiction services,” Whiteside said.

Integrated treatment is becoming more and more emphasized in health care for treating co-occurring disorders and it is important to recognize and care for those who struggle with them.

To learn more, visit camh.ca. You can also learn more at islandhealth.ca/learn-abouthealth/substance-use-addiction.

INCREASING DRUG SAFETY

2022 data from Substance Drug Checking shows 6,239 drug samples were collected in Greater Victoria, 2.4 times more than the 2,556 samples collected in 2021.

In 2022, there was a need in Greater Victoria to increase access to drug checking due to the unregulated drug supply. So, under Victoria Community Action Team, Substance Drug Checking and SOLID came together to build an outreach team whose goal was to increase access as well as circulate drug information resources.

Beginning in May 2022, the team began a weekly outreach route to harm reduction and supportive housing sites, where they provide information about drug-checking services, circulate weekly reports, collect samples for drug checking, collect community-based reporting, and distribute supplies. By going directly to these sites, the outreach team is now reaching people with mobility issues and those who otherwise may not make the journey to access drug checking services. The increase in gathered data has also allowed them to reflect time sensitive information about the unregulated supply of drugs in our community through weekly reports, helping keep people safe. Current trends in drug checking can be found on the Substance website at substance.uvic.ca.

The initiative has “absolutely” been increasing the number of samples collected, said Fred Cameron, SOLID Outreach’s director of programming. And he states how important it is: “we didn’t have huge amounts of people dying in the ‘90s but the drugs are completely different now.” The

“Outreach work with SOLID has been a huge factor,” said Collin Kielty, PhD, research associate at the Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project. “They have really made the work happen and have been able to organize to guarantee consistent/reliable outreach and sample collection in ways that other services really struggled with in the past.”

Findings continue to show the importance of drug checking. Of opioid-down samples collected in 2022, only 27 per cent came back “as expected,” meaning the only active compound detected was the expected active (e.g. the service user believed their sample to be cocaine and it was found to only contain cocaine as an active).

“Benzos are still the most common adulterant that we find in the opioid supply,” Burek said.

Apart from opioid-down and benzodiazepine samples (the two categories that were the least “expected”), 78 per cent of all other samples checked were “as expected,” Kielty added.

Information like this helps people using substances to make informed decisions and minimize risk, and it also gives health organizations the data they need to be more effective in creating a safe community.

“We’re informing public health practitioners, we’re informing policymakers and health care clinicians about what to expect in the supply,” Burek said.

Weekly, monthly and annual stats can be found at substance.uvic.ca. Free drug checking is available at 1802 Cook St., Monday through Saturday from noon until 6:30 p.m. Results are given within 15 to 20 minutes.

Opioid crisis BY THE NUMBERS:

■ There were 2,314 toxic drug deaths in 2022 (including 398 on Vancouver Island) compared to 987 in 2019

■ 6.4 unregulated drug deaths happened per day in March 2023

■ 71% of the people who died from drug overdoses were aged 30-59 and 77% per cent were men

■ 84% of deaths occurred indoors

■ 15% of deaths were outside in vehicles, sidewalks, streets, etc.

■ Two deaths occurred at an overdose prevention site; one in 2022 and one in 2023

■ There are 2,159 active take home naloxone distribution locations in B.C. *2023

WHAT MAKES A SUBSTANCE DANGEROUS IS NOT KNOWING WHAT’S IN IT OR HOW MUCH OF AN ACTIVE INGREDIENT THERE IS, SAID PIOTR BUREK, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AND HARM REDUCTION WORKER AT SUBSTANCE DRUG CHECKING.

OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL

what are they and how do they work

OPIOIDS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY WORK

Opioids are a type of depressant that slows the body’s systems, including breathing, and can make people sleepy. They can be prescribed by a physician or used illicitly. Opioids can be swallowed, injected, absorbed through the skin or inhaled or smoked, and are used to reduce pain, manage opioid dependence, or to make someone feel happy or relaxed. Common opioids include heroin, fentanyl, morphine, methadone, codeine and oxycodone.

WHAT IS FENTANYL?

An extremely potent opioid pain reliever, fentanyl is generally administered in a hospital via skin patch, injection or tablet, or prescribed by a doctor, to help control severe pain.

WHAT MAKES FENTANYL SO DANGEROUS?

In 2023, “fentanyl still remains the most common substance associated with overdose in the province and Canada,” said Piotr Burek, research associate and harm reduction worker at Substance Drug Checking in Victoria.

In fact, fentanyl was detected in 86 per cent of unregulated drug deaths in 2022 com pared to just 14.7 per cent

in 2013. Methamphetamine was second, detected in 44.2 per cent of deaths.

A cheap way for traffickers to make street drugs more powerful, illegal fentanyl and fentanyl-like drugs such as carfentanil (more potent than fentanyl) are continuing to be found in Canada’s illegal drug supply. At 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, the risk of accidental overdose is very high, especially when street drugs can contain unknown amounts of fentanyl. It can be mixed with drugs and is found in counterfeit pills made to look like prescription opioids.

You can’t see, taste or smell it and a few grains can be enough to kill you – another reason we’re seeing high rates of overdoses and toxic drug deaths.

Illicit fentanyl is manufactured in clandestine drug labs, overseas and in Canada.

Fentanyl is sometimes sold as fentanyl but other illicit drugs can also contain it, including heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, crack or meth. It may be in powder, liquid or pill-form drugs. These may contain toxic contaminants or have different levels of fentanyl in each batch. Even pills produced in the same batch may have little to lethal levels of fentanyl.

Did you know? On July 15, 2021, the province announced a new policy to expand access to prescribed safer supply, becoming the first province in Canada to introduce this public health measure.

“For people who use drugs or who care about someone who does, the risk of death is omnipresent because of the increasingly toxic illicit drug supply,” said Sheila Malcolmson, the minister of mental health and addictions at the time of the announcement.

“At the start of the pandemic, B.C. provided access to some prescribed safer supply medications to save lives from overdose and protect people from COVID-19. Building on what we’ve learned, we’re expanding access to prescribed safer supply to reach more people and save more lives.”

Prescribed safer supply is part of a harm reduction approach, aiming to reduce the harms associated with substance use, substance policies, and related social conditions.

In the context of substance use, examples of some commonly known harm reduction

Addiction

resources include the provision of sterile needles, naloxone kits, supervised consumption services, and prescribed safer supply.

Through prescribed safer supply, people who use drugs and who are at high risk of dying from the toxic illicit drug supply can access alternatives covered by Pharmacare at the discretion of health providers, including fentanyl patches and a range of opioids and stimulants as determined by programs and prescribers.

WHERE TO ACCESS SAFER SUPPLY

There are several safer supply service locations in Canada, including medical clinics, supportive housing, community pharmacies and supervised consumption sites. Find out more via the resources listed on the right.

As with any other form of care, a practitioner’s decision to prescribe depends on their professional judgement, the unique

needs of each patient, and the rules of their province. The eligibility criteria depend on those who provide the service.

THE BENEFITS OF SAFER SUPPLY

According to the Government of Canada, there is strong national and international evidence supporting opioid agonist therapy (OAT) with prescribed opioids as an effective treatment for substance use disorders. Prescribed pharmaceutical alternatives are not intended for treatment of substance use disorders and are instead primarily a harm reduction approach.

While the evidence base for safer supply services is still developing and there are critics of the program, the Government of Canada said early research findings are promising they show these services are associated with lower rates of overdose, reductions in the use of fentanyl and other street-acquired substances, reduced hospital admissions, decreased criminal activity and more.

Guardianship & Resources Office: #211-1497 Admirals Road

Victoria, BC V9A 2P8

Non-Protection Family Services Office: 4th Floor-915 Fort Street

Victoria, BC V8V 3K3

Our Mission

To provide child and family services strongly rooted in Indigenous cultural values and world views while ensuring urban Indigenous children and youth grow up connected to family, community and culture.

Our Vision:

To support the empowerment of the urban Indigenous community to continue the reclamation of traditional systems of caring for and protecting children so no child or youth will be placed into care.

Acknowledgment

We gratefully acknowledge the ləkʷəŋən people as the traditional keepers of these lands upon which we work.

FIND OUT MORE AT

bccsu.ca/clinical-care-guidance/ prescribed-safer-supply

or

canada.ca/en/health-canada/ services/opioids/responding-canada-opioid-crisis/safer-supply.html

COMMUNITY LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CLCR)

FOR INQUIRIES RELATED TO THE CLCR PROGRAM CONTACT LACEY MESLEY AT lacey.mesley@avi.org

What is the Community-Led Crisis Response Team?

The Community-Led Crisis Response Team (CLCR), a program of AVI Health and Community Services is funded by the Province of British Columbia and the Canadian Mental Health Association. CLCR is a peer-assisted care program and a mobile crisis response team led by persons with lived/ living experience and mental health professionals, who are able to de-escalate crises and develop community care plans with persons experiencing crisis.

The CLCR Team is an alternate approach to responding to someone in crisis that focuses on health, well-being and community support. Utilizing a community-based, clientcentered, trauma-informed response, a peer-assisted model of care has been proven to help individuals navigate to mental and social care services and reduce engagement with the justice system and emergency services

CLCR services are currently delivered between 2pm and 9pm, Monday through Friday. The team can be reached at 250-818-2454.

SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION

is key to OVERDOSE PREVENTION

Overdose prevention and supervised consumption services help people reduce their risk of overdose by using drugs under the supervision of trained staff, who also offer harm reduction supplies, peer support, public health nursing, mental health and substance use supports, plus referrals to treatment.

As of April 2023, Island Health has seen more than 1,050,000 visits across its supervised consumption and overdose prevention sites on Vancouver Island since the first opened in December 2016. During the same time, staff reported more than 2738 drug poisonings reversed inside OPS/SCS sites on Vancouver Island.

In addition to Greater Victoria’s locations, additional Island Health locations are found in Campbell River, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo and Port Alberni. An average of 1,855 visits are made on average to the four Victoria OPS sites each week.

All services at prevention sites are offered through funding from Island Health.

GREATER VICTORIA CURRENTLY HAS FOUR OVERDOSE PREVENTION OR SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION LOCATIONS.

*Please note, there are no drug checking services available on

Naloxone:

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO SAVE A LIFE

While an opioid overdose isn’t necessarily fatal, without quick treatment, brain damage or death can result.

these sites other than fentanyl test strips, which can be picked up at all overdose prevention & supervised consumption locations on Vancouver Island for people to use on-site or elsewhere. To check your drugs, please go to 1802 Cook St., 250-4157637.

THE HARBOUR INHALATION SITE

926 Pandora Ave. – Services offered by SOLID Outreach and Lookout Society. Witnessed consumption for injection and inhalation for safer drug use and rapid overdose response.

Open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 778-9664348

THE HARBOUR INJECTION SITE

941 Pandora Ave., – Services offered by SOLID Outreach and Lookout Society. Witnessed consumption for injection. Open daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 250-519-5303

ROCK BAY LANDING

535 Ellice St. (Rock Bay Landing shelter) – Services operated by Cool Aid.

Witnessed consumption for injection and inhalation. Open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 250-383-1951

AVI

713 Johnson St. (3rd Floor - Access Health Centre) – Services offered by AVI Victoria. Witnessed consumption for injection. Runs daily 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. 250-384-2366

Naloxone is the drug used to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. It’s available in B.C. without a prescription, and B.C.’s widely available naloxone program is estimated to have averted 3,000 deaths between January 2015 and March 2021.

Naloxone binds to opioid receptors and reverses or blocks the effects to help restore normal breathing and brain function. Sometimes multiple doses are required to achieve this result.

While it doesn’t work with non-opioid drugs, such as cocaine or ecstasy, it won’t hurt the individual if they haven’t used an opioid. And if multiple substances have been used, administering naloxone will address the opioid.

To administer naloxone, it can be injected into a large muscle, such as a thigh, upper arm or buttock, or given as a nasal spray.

While naloxone works quickly – within three to five minutes – it stops working within 20 to 90 minutes and overdose symptoms return if other medical care isn’t given.

NALOXONE KITS

Naloxone kits are available at no cost to people at risk of an opioid overdose or those likely to witness or respond to an overdose.

Kits are also available for purchase from pharmacies, where pharmacists can instruct you how to administer it. Included in the kits are instructions, naloxone and syringes, alcohol wipes, gloves, and a disposable breathing mask.

LEARN MORE:

Take a free, online course at towardtheheart.com/naloxone-course

Learn more about overdose prevention at towardtheheart.com

For more information on overdose awareness in B.C., visit stopoverdose.gov.bc.ca.

OVERDOSE IS MOST COMMON WHEN:

■ Your tolerance is lower: you took a break, were in detox/treatment or jail, or you are new to use

■ You have been sick, tired, run down, dehydrated or have liver issues

■ You mix drugs: prescribed or not, legal or illegal

■ The drugs are stronger than you are used to: changes in supply, dealer, or town

WHAT AN OPIOID OVERDOSE FEELS AND LOOKS LIKE:

■ Person cannot stay awake

■ Can’t talk or walk

■ Slow or no pulse

■ Slow or no breathing, gurgling

■ Skin looks pale or blue, feels cold

■ Pupils are pinned or eyes rolled back

■ Vomiting

■ Body is limp

■ No response to noise or knuckles being rubbed hard on the breast bone

TIPS TO PREVENT OVERDOSE

■ Know your health status and your tolerance.

■ Do not mix drugs and alcohol. If you do mix, choose to use drugs before alcohol.

■ Be aware: using drugs while on prescribed medications can increase overdose risk.

■ Don’t use alone. Leave door unlocked. Tell someone to check on you.

■ Do testers to check strength. Use less. Pace yourself.

■ Talk to an experienced person or a trusted healthcare provider about reducing risk.

■ Know CPR and get trained on giving naloxone.

CHOOSE A SAFER ROUTE OF TAKING DRUGS

Addiction

OAT

Treatment for opioid addiction called effective

Opioid agonist therapy – or OAT –has been effectively used to treat opioid addiction for decades, but today, more options are available to individuals seeking an effective treatment for addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin, oxycodone and fentanyl.

Patients take medications such as methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone) or Kadian to prevent withdrawal and reduce cravings for opioid drugs.

Not only do the medications reduce risk for overdose and other dangers associated with using opioids, but they also reduce risk for relapse and promote connections with health and substance use services.

“The best way to reduce the risk of overdose if you have opioid addiction is to be on one of these treatments,” said Island Health’s Dr. Ramm Hering.

Since 2016, the province has expanded access to opioid agonist therapy, resulting in more than 24,000 people in B.C. receiving treatment in 2021 – more than any time before.

HOW OPIOID AGONIST THERAPY WORKS

“Very quickly after starting to use opioids, you become physically dependent,” Hering explained.

If a drug causes physical dependence, a person needs to take the drugs to prevent flu-like withdrawal symptoms, which typical-

ly start 8-24 hours after the last dose.

With OAT, the long-acting opioid medications keep people out of physical withdrawal for 24 hours, “so they can get on with their normal life,” Hering said. “It helps stabilize the person, giving them the space they need to work on the other challenges, such as physical and mental health concerns, housing and financial instability and other personal challenges that are contributing to their harmful substance use.”

By acting slowly in the body, the therapy prevents withdrawal without causing a person to get high, Hering added. OAT also helps to reduce or eliminate cravings for opioid drugs.

Treatment works best when combined with other types of support, like individual or group counselling.

Each of the OAT treatments has its own pros and cons that patients should discuss, and each person will tolerate the treatments differently.

Methodone, for example, has been used for more than 50 years. Because there’s a higher risk of overdose, patients will go to their local pharmacy for their dose for at least the first three months as they stabilize. The dose is gradually increased until they are symptom-free for the full 24 hours. Methodone can have significant interactions with other medications and be tolerated poorly by people with certain other medical conditions.

Suboxone is much less risky for overdose and patients who are stable can have their treatments at home quite quickly after starting, Hering said. However, it’s often challenging for patients to start as they typically need to be in moderate withdrawal to start it.

Kadian carries a higher risk, so patients typically continue to take it at the pharmacy through the course of treatment.

Methadone is taken as a drink, Kadian is a capsule with beads that are typically opened in the pharmacy and taken in apple sauce or pudding, while Suboxone is a tablet that’s dissolved under the tongue.

HOW TO GET TREATMENT

You don’t need a referral for OAT, and it can be discreetly prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner. Simply contact your primary care provider, visit a walk-in clinic or contact a community OAT clinic to learn about treatment availability. The Rapid Access Addiction Clinic (RAAC) at 1119 Pembroke St. welcomes walk-ins Monday to Friday at 9 a.m.

You can also ask your care provider if you qualify for free OAT. While any doctor can prescribe Suboxone, methadone and Kadian are a little more specialized, Hering said.

HOW YOU’LL FEEL ON OAT

When first starting treatment, you may feel lightheaded or sleepy for a few days, but will quickly develop a tolerance to these

effects, explained Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. OAT doesn’t provide the high, but it can help keep the physical cravings at bay.

While people take OAT for years without any ill effects, they are powerful drugs and can be extremely dangerous if taken by someone other than the intended patient, so never sell or give away any of your dose.

Children are particularly at risk – even a small amount can be fatal.

LOOKING FORWARD

How long will you need to use OAT? Typically, treatment will last at least a year or two, and many people will stay on OAT for many years, Hering said.

If you do decide to stop OAT, it’s best to taper off the medication very slowly while simultaneously working to strengthen all other addiction supports.

While timelines will vary with each person, stopping OAT before you’re ready carries a high risk of relapse and of overdose.

Continuing OAT over a longer term helps keep you safe and allows you to work on some of those underlying factors that may have contributed to addiction, such as physical pain or emotional trauma.

“Part of recovery from addiction is learning how to tolerate distress,” Hering added.

Learn more at islandhealth.ca/oat

SYMPTOMS OF OPIOID

For those using an opioid, substitution therapy is typically better than trying to go into withdrawal alone, which often leads to relapse, Island Health noted.

During withdrawal from opioids, common –but temporary – symptoms include:

ACUTE WITHDRAWAL (FIRST STAGE)

*all times are approximate

• Heroin, morphine, oxycodone and hydromorphone: Symptoms appear 8 to 12 hours after the last dose, increase over the next three days and gradually disappear over a seven-to-10-day period.

• Methadone: Symptoms appear 24 to 48 hours after the last dose, increase over the next three to six days and gradually disappear over three to six weeks.

• Fentanyl patch: Symptoms appear eight to 24 hours after the last patch, increase over the next several days and gradually disappear over one to two weeks.

• Buprenorphine (the opioid in Suboxone): Symptoms appear one to three days after last dose, increase over the next three to seven days and may continue for two to four weeks.

• Codeine: Withdrawal is similar to morphine, but typically less intense.

Typical symptoms, by frequency, include:

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS:

• muscle, bone and joint pain, especially in the legs and lower back

• sweating, alternating with chills and waves of goose bumps

• loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea

• restlessness, nervousness, weakness

• muscle spasms and kicking movements

• insomnia

• fever, headache, flu-like feeling

• rapid heart rate

• runny eyes, runny nose, sneezing, yawning

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS:

• anxiety

• obsession with getting the drug

• irritability

POST-ACUTE

WITHDRAWAL

(SECOND STAGE)

The symptoms can last for two to six months, gradually decreasing.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS:

• insomnia

• weakness, tiredness

• poor appetite

• muscle aches

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS:

• unable to tolerate stress

• overly concerned about physical discomfort

Island Health noted that times are approximate; individuals may have symptoms for a shorter or longer period of time. If any persist or worsen, have them checked by a doctor in case they are related to another problem.

Find out more at: islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-health-substance-use-services/withdrawal-detox-services

the Club!

Membership is free and for life, for anyone over the age of 18 living with mental illness. Members can visit as often as desired to get their lives back and move forward.

Membership is free and for for anyone over the age of 18 with mental illness. Members visit often as desired to get their lives back and move

OurNew

w Location

Location

Member Benefits

Member Benefits

Year round access to our Clubhouse centre, Monday to Friday 8:30-4

Year round to our Clubhouse centre, Monday to Friday 8:30-4

$2 lunches for members

$2 lunches for members

Connections to a supportive peer community Service navigation and referral support

Connections to peer community Service navigation and support

OurTeam!

OurTeam!

"The Clubhouse is an awesome place to go with a friendly environment. If it wasn’t for Connections Place I don’t know where I would be. I have hope, a sense of purpose, and a routine."

"The is an place go with friendly If it for Connections Place I don’t know where I hope, a sense of purpose, and routine."

Shauna (Member)

Shauna (Member)

"Connections Place provides a safe place where I can practice social skills with my peers and engage in meaningful work during the course of the Work-Ordered Day. I am grateful for the Clubhouse and everything it provides."

"Connections Place provides a safe where I practice social skills with peers and engage meaningful work during the course of the Work-Ordered Day. I am grateful the and everything it provides."

Andrew (Member)

Andrew (Member)

IS YOUR TEEN USING DRUGS?

If you worry about a teenager who may be experimenting with or regularly using drugs or alcohol, you’re not alone.

“The numbers of families affected by this are growing. We’re getting new people every week in the group,” noted Correne Antrobus, who runs Holding Hope – a Moms Stop the Harm support group for B.C. mothers with a child struggling with substance use.

Island Health said substance use among youth is a reality. Although rates have been declining, a recent BC Adolescent Health Survey showed 45 per cent of students in British Columbia have tried alcohol; 26 per cent have tried marijuana; and 21 per cent have tried tobacco.

“Tough love doesn’t work,” Antrobus said. “We need to tell them about what’s happening with the poisoned drug supply, that this is not the time to experiment. And if you’re going to, then you have to talk to them about naloxone and getting their drugs checked.”

Moms Stop the Harm is currently working towards changing drug policy, reducing stigma, and providing support for families with

loved ones struggling with substance use.

Antrobus said because the number of youths affected is growing, it’s important to be prepared. “Have a naloxone kit in your home, number one. Even if it’s not for your child, it’s for their friends.”

She also said substance use can sometimes be a response to an untreated mental health condition, like ADHD.

The Island Health workbook, Recognizing Resilience: A Workbook for Parents and Caregivers of Teens Involved with Substances, can help you understand and respond to substance use. Island Health also has additional information on its youth and family substance use resources page.

A consultation with a substance use counselling professional may also be beneficial for your family.

Ask a family doctor or other health care professional for referrals and visit Island Health’s page.

TALKING ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Some prescription drugs, such as opioid pain relievers, stimulants and benzodiazepines,

are used to get high because they have psychoactive – mind-altering – properties.

In fact, Health Canada noted psychoactive pharmaceuticals are the third most used substances among Canadian youth, after alcohol and cannabis.

Yet taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s approval is dangerous and can be fatal. Prescription opioids can be just as dangerous as illicit opioids, such as heroin, and carry dangerous, unpredictable risks including addiction, overdose and death.

MORE RESOURCES

To learn more about local organizations providing services for youth and families, see our resource list on page __ of this guide or visit momsstoptheharm/youth.

Find out more about Holding Hope on page __ . Holding Hope has support groups and resources available through their website at holdinghopecanada.org.

TALKING TO TEENS ABOUT DRUGS

While talking about drugs with your teen may not be easy, it is essential.

Chances are teens are hearing about drugs anyway – from friends or social media, for example – but there’s a good chance at least some of that information won’t be accurate.

Key groups and organizations leading drug education and substance use support, including the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) and Moms Stop the Harm, agree that drug education should be scientifically accurate, honest, interactive and compassionate.

For instance, the Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies found youth reported getting inconsistent messages about cannabis use which led to distrust. They were hearing about potential benefits to using cannabis but felt the adults in their lives would purposely leave out this perspective.

Some youth will choose to try drugs, regardless of the risks, said the DPA. Reducing potential harm means teaching kids how to make safe, healthy decisions about substances and teaching strategies to keep themselves and their friends safer when they encounter drugs.

The increase in fentanyl-related poisonings is a reminder of how important this conversation is.

By keeping a line of dialogue open with your child, it may let them talk about concerns they have about someone else who is using drugs or about their own use. They may want to talk about finding help to stop.

Regardless of their questions, it’s important to provide accurate information.

Health Canada offers the following suggestions for talking with your teen about drugs:

• Think ahead about what you want to discuss but avoid saying everything you think all at once.

• Look for opportunities to mention drug use, like when discussing school or current events.

• Offer teens control and let them pick the time and place.

• Give them room to participate and ask questions.

• Respect their independence and their opinion.

• Avoid being judgmental.

• Listen – if you’re a good listener they may be more inclined to trust your input.

• Tell them you’re trying to help them make good decisions by sharing information they may not already have.

• Be clear about why you’re worried and tell them that your main concern is for their well-being.

• Focus on facts rather than emotions; as a parent, if your teen is using drugs you may feel anger, sadness, fear or confusion, however talking about the issue is more productive than talking about your feelings.

Learn more at:

momsstoptheharm.com/youth islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/ substance-use-addiction/youth-substance-use

ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2020-04/ CCSA-Cannabis-Communication-Guide-2020-en.pdf

SUPPORTING YOURSELF through a loved one’s addiction

When an individual is struggling with addiction, it affects the entire family. You may find yourself struggling too as you worry for your loved one and try to support them at whatever stage of addiction or recovery they may be experiencing.

You may worry about the impact on the rest of the family and you may feel embarrassed or guilty about their addiction – wondering if you could have done more or reacted differently. It’s also natural to feel anger, hurt and disappointment. Know you’re not alone and don’t blame yourself. Focus on what you can do and let go of what you can’t do. Nobody can force someone who is addicted to substances to be well, says the community organization From Grief to Action (FGTA).

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Numerous organizations are working to support those living with addiction and their loved ones (See resource guide, pages 55-62 ). FGTA also recommends downloading Gone Too Soon: Navigating Grief and Loss as a Result of Substance Use to read the stories and experiences of parents who have lost their children to drug-related harms.

EXPLORE OPTIONS

Whether it’s spiritual support, counselling or a new activity to support your wellness, explore options to care for your own emotional wellness. Meet with several counsellors until you find one whose philosophy and course of action you agree with. If one-on-one help doesn’t appeal to you, join a group. There is no substitute for first-hand experience, and several groups (Holding Hope, Parents Forever, Parents Together, Al-Anon, NarAnon) offer mutual support from people who have been there and are still struggling with addiction issues. Learn more about some of these at fromgrieftoaction.com

STAY CONNECTED

“This is a time when you need to reach out to your family and friends, not to withdraw because of feelings of shame. After all, both medicine and law recognize addiction as a disease. You’ll be amazed at how understanding most people are,” says FGTA.

CARE FOR YOURSELF

“How can you help someone else if you aren’t physically and emotionally healthy yourself?” FGTA asks. “Keep an eye on your own health and well-being. Self-care is not only essential but also can have the additional benefit of modeling coping techniques for your addicted family member.” Eat well, exercise, go for a walk, and spend time with others you find supportive. Talk to your GP or other health professional if you need more help. “Above all, don’t give up on your own life, dreams, and goals.”

For more information, visit fromgrieftoaction.com.

Help for families, friends

CONCERNED FOR LOVED ONES

When substance use becomes an addiction, or recreational use leads to unexpected consequences, the impacts affect not only the individual involved, but their entire community of friends and family.

Explains Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH), a network of Canadian families whose loved ones have died from drug-related harms or who have struggled with substance use: “Families have lived experience, and acknowledging their experience and expertise is essential when seeking solutions to the drug crisis. It brings a meaningful voice, a knowledgeable voice to the table during the quest for prevention and treatment of substance use disorders as well as in the policymaking and research process.”

Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families whose loved ones have died from drug-related harms or who have struggled with substance use. Calling for an end to the failed war on drugs, the group instead embraces an approach that reduces harm, and respects human rights, advocating for people who use drugs to be treated with compassion and support, not as criminals.

Healing Hearts peer-led bereavement groups meet regularly (typically monthly), offering a supportive place to share their pain with others who have the same experience without stigma and without blame. You do not have to be a member of MSTH to attend a Healing Hearts peer-support group and you do not have to be active in advocacy to join. Learn more about this group and Moms Stop the Harm at momsstoptheharm.com

From Grief to Action is a volunteer-based BC not-for-profit that provides a voice and a support network for families and friends affected by drug use. The organization works to promote recognition of drug use as a health issue; to raise public awareness of the needs and concerns of drug users and their families; to work towards overcoming stereotypes and marginalization; and to provide support for families and friends of drug users.

From Grief to Action also promotes effective educational programs designed to prevent drug abuse and works toward a comprehensive continuum of care that meets the need for harm reduction, detoxification, treatment and recovery. To learn more: fromgrieftoaction.com

ANSWERING THE CALL

New crisis response team made up of those with lived experience

BY NICOLE CRESCENZI

APeer Assisted Care Team made up of two individuals – one mental health professional and one individual with lived and living experience/expertise with mental health – are making a huge impact of people in mental health crisis.

The Community-Led Crisis Response (CLCR) team is run out of AVI Health and Community Services and operates a phone and text line which people can reach out to when they are in a time of crisis. Two unarmed individuals with mental health experience will respond and, if possible, attend to the

situation in person to help deescalate it.

“The majority of calls are related to someone who may be experiencing psychosis and high suicidality,” said Lacey Mesley, CLCR Team Manager. “Those calls come from people experiencing many different walks of life; folks who are homeless to those who are housed.”

“In BC often, the only person to call when you, a family member, or someone in the community is in mental health distress or crisis, is the police,” said Zameena Dadani, director of communications at CMHA.

“PACT provides the opportunity for communities to now have a new option, an opportunity to receive a person-centered, trauma-informed, mental health response from two highly skilled mental health responders, who are unarmed.”

While team members are trained to escalate the situation up to 911 if needed, so far that hasn’t been necessary.

After the call, a team member will follow-up with both the caller and the person in need within 48 hours.

“People are deeply grateful and very hum-

bled, because we hold everyone there as valuable,” Mesley said.

During a follow up call, CLCR helps to build a personal wellness plan, a safety plan and connect a person to people or places where they feel safe. Sometimes this means driving individuals to different locations, or providing them with survival supplies such as tents and tarps.

Funding for Community-led Crisis Teams

provincially known as Peer Assisted Care Teams (PACT) is provided by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction and administered by Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). The Province of BC is funding a total of 10 teams and two Indigenous-led teams.

“This is work we’ve been doing for a long time for our community, so when we saw this proposal for its service, it felt like the right next step for us,” Mesley said. After months of training through CMHA, CLCR spent January visiting communities, networking and building trust. Since the phone line opened in February, CLCR has received 136 calls or texts and attended 101 situations.

“We’ve had an excellent response so far; it’s been really well received. Most communities we go to say ‘well, it’s about time.’”

CLCR currently operates from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, and can be reached at 250-818-2454.

The Province of BC announced funding for 10 community-led teams administered by CMHA BC and two teams led by Indigenous-led organizations. CMHA BC is expanding to seven more communities by 2024. Find out more at Recommend Your Community: cmha.bc/PACT.

PREVENTION SERVICES IN WESTSHORE COMMUNITIES

With Westshore AVI clinic now closed, what overdose prevention services exist in the Westshore?

Westshore Community Health Centre

In 2022, the Westshore AVI clinic closed and patient care was transferred to the new Westshore Community Health Centre (WSCHC), a multidisciplinary primary care centre operated by Pacific Centre Family Services that opened in spring 2022. With a team of family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and other allied health care providers, including an Elder in Residence, the centre brings low-barrier, culturally safe and trauma-informed coordinated healthcare Services are focused on people with mental-health conditions, substance-use disorders and multiple chronic health conditions, and for seniors, Indigenous Peoples and gender-diverse people.

“The Westshore Community Health Centre is a great example of collaboration between government and community organizations to develop a care system for people who face barriers or need additional support beyond what may be offered in a traditional family practice,” said Dr. Ran-

dal Mason, co-chair of South Island Division of Family Practice, in a June 1, 2022 press release.

Find the Westshore Community Health Centre at 324 Goldstream Ave., Colwood. For more information, call 250-480-7333 or visit online at pacificcentrefamilyservices. org/westshore-community-health-centre.

Referrals Westshore Mental Health & Substance Use

Westshore Centralized Access and Rapid Engagement Service (Westshore CARES) provides screening, assessment, treatment recommendations, single session counselling and referrals to Island Health Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) and external community programs.

The team includes professionals with backgrounds in social work, counselling, and substance use treatment, with psychiatrist support to make referral decisions.

Westshore CARES is located at 582 Goldstream Ave., Suite #206. Contact 250-370-5799.

DID YOU KNOW?

First Nations are disproportionately represented in toxic drug poisoning deaths

HOLDING HOPE

Nancy Murphy, founder of Holding Hope, was at her first substance use conference and was seated at a table with Moms Stop the Harm co-founder Leslie McBain and other parents. Each parent around the table went around and spoke the name of their deceased child that had been lost to the toxic drug supply. As a mom with the lived experience of a daughter struggling with substance use, she noticed that she was the only mom at the conference table whose child had not passed on.

“I felt I didn’t belong there because I hadn’t lost my daughter yet, and I found myself saying ‘yet’ because she was in the throes of it,” Murphy said.

Though Moms Stop the Harm had the support group Healing Hearts, for families who had lost a loved one to substance use, Murphy “saw a need for those of us who were grieving our children why there were still alive.”

As a member of VCAT, Murphy brought a proposal to the team for a pilot project: Holding Hope, a group that offers free peer-led support groups for families and friends affected by their loved one’s sub-

stance use and also advocates to change failed drug policies.

After a successful 2018 trial run funded through VCAT, Holding Hope was used by so many families that Moms Stop the Harm realized the project needed to grow.

Holding Hope is now being delivered across the country thanks to increased funding provided by the BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions and the federal government.

Murphy said the name for the project came from a quiet moment on the beach.

“I was really struggling when Tara was using and I would go to the beach – it was my place, I had to just go somewhere – and I kept finding these heart-shaped rocks. I picked one up and brought it home because she had lost hope; she didn’t think she’d survive it. So, I gave her the heart-shaped rock. I just said, I’m holding your hope until you’re ready or able to take it back. And we’ve passed it back and forth since. I feel grateful she’s living in recovery right now.”

If you are impacted by a loved one’s substance use and would like support, please visit holdinghopecanada.org

First Nations make up 3.3 per cent of the province’s population but accounted for 16.4 per cent of toxic drug poisoning deaths in 2022, according to data from the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). They died at 5.9 times the rate of B.C. residents in 2022.

A disturbing trend is the impact on First Nations women, who died at 11.2 times the rate of other female B.C. residents in 2022, said FNHA.

There are historical contexts for these differences, including ongoing complex trauma impacts, racism, power imbalances, and colonization. The patterns of disproportionate impact are unfortunately continuing with a new generation.

The 2017 Cedar Project, which explored mortality among young Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Metis) people who use drugs in British Columbia, found the death rates among young Indigenous Peoples who use drugs “appalling”.

The report found that young Indigenous Peoples who used drugs were 12.9 times more likely to die than all Canadians the same age. Children in the child welfare system in particular were dying prematurely.

The Cedar Project called for “trauma-informed programs that build on young people’s strengths and cultural identities are critical to putting a stop to these untimely deaths.”

Unfortunately, the current state seems stark when considering recent 2022 statistics from the province showing Indigenous children comprise less than 10 per cent of the child population yet represent 68 per cent of the children in provincial care.

The BC Centre for disease control also acknowledged in their 2021 report Examining the Societal Consequences of the Covid-19 Pandemic that:

“The stresses of public health restrictions were layered onto the cumulative stresses of intergenerational trauma, manufactured poverty and pervasive racism and discrimination. Despite the cumulative impacts of these stresses, Indigenous peoples remain strong and resilient and continue to assert that their inherent rights must be respected and upheld.”

WHAT ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN BY THE FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY?

Working to transform the way health care is

delivered to First Nations, the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has taken many actions to address the drug crisis.

FNHA collaborated with health system partners to distribute almost 8,500 injectable naloxone kits to 163 First Nations take-home naloxone sites.

FNHA has also provided 87 harm reduction project grants of up to $50,000 each to First Nations and Indigenous organizations and 10 kick-starter grants of $2,500 to harm reduction champions.

In 2022, FNHA supported 20 rural and remote First Nations communities to improve access to opioid agonist therapy, including supporting 26 nurses to undergo the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use’s Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Services Program (POATSP). So far, nine have completed the program.

Research has shown that culture-based interventions used in addictions treatment for Indigenous Peoples are beneficial to help

improve outcomes in all areas of wellness.

“Through the years, going through my addiction, I was sent to different treatment centres and I did my healing through culture and that helped me be the person I am today; be sober and be connected to my culture,” said Raymond Cherokee, an Indigenous person who found recovery and is five years sober.

Find out more at: fnha.ca/Documents/ FNHA-First-Nations-and-the-Toxic-DrugPoisoning-Crisis-in-BC-Jan-Dec-2022.pdf

QomQem Coastal Connections is a grassroots Indigenous-led outreach program that was developed in partnership with Peers Victoria Resources Society. It offers harm reduction and health care services to Indigenous Peoples who are unhoused or precariously housed and who may be using substances and/or alcohol. You can learn more about QomQem at qomqem.com or by phone at 250-217-0410.

HOW TO RESPOND TO AN

Check for 1 or more of these sig ns of an overdose:

OR OR BREATHING IS STOPPED OR SLOWER THAN EVERY 5 SECONDS

LIPS AND NA ILS are blue or grey or coughing, or chokin

SNAP OFF THE TOP OF THE AMPOULE

It will break in two pieces with little pressure.

SWIRL AMPOULE IN CIRCLES TO GET ALL LIQU ID TO BOTTOM

TAKE 1 AMPOULE OUT FROM THE MEDICINE BOTTLE

UNWR AP SYRINGE. PUT NEEDLE IN LIQUID, PULL UP PLUNGER

Try to draw up all of the ampoule’s liquid into the syringe.

PUSH AIR OUT OF SYRINGE

Turn the needle facing tip-up, gently push the plunger until most of the air is pushed out.

TIPS ON H OW TO GIVE BREATHS :

Check airway, remove anything blocking the airway.

You can breathe through the protective face shield from the kit.

Keep an eye on the chest to see if it is rising while you give breaths, and falling as the person exhales.

FIRMLY PUSH NEEDLE IN T HIGH, BUTT, OR UPPER ARM MU SCLE

PUSH PLUNGER DOWN HARD

Needle can go through clothes. Never put it in the heart. It will click and needle will retract.

Give 1 breath every 5 – 6 seconds (or 10 – 12 times per minute).

you

give goes into the lungs and doesn’t escape through the nose.

Tilt the head back to open the th

If person becomes ill, put person in recovery position.

Ar e you by yours

Prepare the naloxone between giving

Is someo ne else

Have that person while you prepar

CANNOT BE WOKEN UP

C A L L 9 1 1 RIGHT AWAY!

Overdoses are a medical emergency & need medical care.

1. Tell them your location.

SOUNDS

2. Explain how the person is not breathing and not responsive. hing, gurgling, choking sounds

yourself? naloxone breaths.

after you call their name or nudge their foot

Giving breath is critical.

Give 1 breath every 5 seconds whether you have naloxone or not.

PERSON STILL UNRESPONSIVE?

CONTINUE TO NEXT STEP

Person breathing normally? Stop here.

RUB YOUR KNU CKLES HARD AGAINST THEIR UPPER CHEST

To wake the person up. Call their name. Still unresponsive? If you haven’t already, CALL 9 1 1 NOW.

se with you?

erson give breaths prepare the naloxone.

PERSON STILL UNRESPONSIVE AFTER 3 – 5 MINUTES?

GIVE ANOTHER INJEC TION

Continue to give 1 breath every 5 seconds.

PI NCH NOSE, GIVE 2 BIG BREATHS USING FACE SHIELD FROM KIT OR OTHER BARRIER IF NEEDED

Check to make sure the chest rises when you give air.

WH EN THEY WAKE UP :

TILT HE AD BACK, CHECK AIRWAY Remove anything blocking the mouth’s airway.

1. Explain what happened because they may have forgotten overdosing.

2. Discourage more substance use for now. The sick feeling will go away when the naloxone w nutes)

3. Wait for the ambulance and encourage the person to go to the hospital.

4. Stay calm, now is not a good time to get upset with the person who overdosed.

THE RECOVERY POSITION :

If you need to leave, or if the person becomes ill, put them in this position:

Knee stops the body from rolling forward onto stomach

For more information visit: www.viha.ca/mho/overdose

Hand supports the head

Lorem ipsum

Addiction

LANGUAGE MATTERS

When discussing substance use and the current overdose crisis, does language matter?

Yes, say the province’s health professionals. “Treating people who use substances with respect improves health outcomes and helps save lives,” explains the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Toward the Heart website.

The foundation of Toward the Heart –towardtheheart.com – is that every person has the right to the best health possible and should be treated with dignity and respect. It’s in this belief that Language Matters. The goal is to encourage the use of respectful, non-stigmatizing language when describing substance use disorders, addiction and people who use drugs.

“Whether used in a healthcare setting or in the news media, negative and stigmatizing language discredits people who use drugs and can result in discrimination,” Toward the Heart explains.

“Stigmatization contributes to isolation and means people will be less likely to access services. This has a direct, detrimental

impact on the health of people who use drugs.”

HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE CONVERSATION AROUND OVERDOSE?

• Use people-first language. This means referring to a person before describing his or her behaviour or condition – important because it acknowledges that a person’s condition, illness or behaviour is not that person’s defining characteristic. For example, “person with a cocaine-use disorder” instead of “cocaine user” or “addict.”

• Use language that reflects the medical nature of substance use disorders. Numerous factors contribute to drug addiction, from personal factors to social, environmental and political ones. Avoid terms that reinforce a belief that addiction is a failure of morals or personality, rather than a medical issue. Use “addictive disease” and “substance use disorder” instead of “abuser” or “junkie.”

• Use language that promotes recovery. Use language that conveys optimism and supports recovery, and respects the person’s autonomy, such as “opted not to” and “not in agreement with the treatment plan” instead of “unmotivated” or “non-compliant.”

• Avoid slang and idioms. Slang terms and idioms have negative connotations and a significant level of stigma attached to them – use “positive” or “negative” when referring to drug tests, for example instead of “dirty” or “clean.”

• It is important to respect and understand that individuals in recovery often identify themselves as addicts and/or alcoholics and that is okay, adds Sarah Gallard, VCAT project coordinator. In those instances, Gallard said it is not appropriate to correct or suggest that they call themselves something different.

For more information, including a video about creating a safer space with less stigma, visit towardtheheart.com/reducing-stigma

How to reduce stigma, and why that’s important

1 2 3 4

USE PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE

Person who uses opioids

non-stigmatizing language

Opioid User OR Addict

USE LANGUAGE THAT REFLECTS THE MEDICAL NATURE OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Person experiencing problems with substgance abuse

USE LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES RECOVERY AVOID SLANG AND IDIOMS

Person experiencing barriers to accessing services

Abuser OR Junkie Unmotivated OR Non-compliant

Postitive test results OR Negative test results

Dirty test results OR Clean test results

CREATED BY TE BCCDC HARM REDUCTION TEAM Adapted from Broyles et al. Confronting Inadverten Stigma and Pejorative Language in Addictio Scholorship: A Recognition and Response. Substance Abuse 2014. Last updated: December 6, 2017.

Helping Children Heal.

250-385-6111

https://vcapcc.com/

www.vcapcc.com

Our Mission

VCAPCC responds to children, youth and families affected by sexual abuse and other trauma, by providing victim ser vices, counselling, prevention and education within the Greater Victoria community, and consultation throughout British Columbia.

Team

Confident Parents: Thriving Kids – Anxiety is a free program helping BC families overcome anxiety challenges in children ages 3–12. This web- and phone-based coaching service helps parents and caregivers learn effective skills and strategies for managing anxiety

Child abuse is not just an individual problem, but a family and social problem. Society, including each community, has an obligation to respond to the problem of child abuse.

Victoria Child Abuse Prevention and Counselling Centre

THE EXISTENCE PROJECT

gives voices to lived experiences

Becoming part of the conversation is becoming part of the solution. That’s the motto of Marko Curuvija, who started the Existence Project, a local grassroots organization that explores the impact of allowing people to tell their own stories.

“Those with lived or living experience are often the voices that get left out of the conversation when it comes to creating solutions,” said Kendra Crighton, director of media at The Existence Project.

With the broad goal of humanizing homelessness, The Existence Project started in 2016 with interviews of people living on the streets of Victoria, and evolved to multi-media projects, intersectional community events and workshops.

Their latest series is titled ‘Ask the Experts’ where a variety of people are asked questions about homelessness on Vancouver Island, some of whom are struggling with addiction. The Experts are those with lived or living experience, and frontline workers.

FIND OUT MORE

about the great work they are doing in the community at theexistenceproject.ca

COMFORTABLY UN-NUMB: podcast uses storytelling to give hope

Before James Stevenson reached recovery, he faced all too-familiar challenges, navigating multiple relapses and setbacks after starting his journey at age 28. “I utilized various treatment centres, detoxes, hospital admissions and really struggled with getting sober.”

Stevenson found help through Umbrella Society, who got him a residence at the Foundation House, a support which “really laid the foundation for recovery.”

But what also helped him is something that often helps others: finding motivation through hearing others’ stories.

“During my journey, I’ve definitely listened to a lot of podcasts and speakers of other people’s journey in recovery and addiction” Stevenson said.

“There was a lot of shame, and I felt very weak that I didn’t have enough willpower to stop on my own and hearing somebody else that was going through the exact same struggles but overcame it really gave me a lot of motivation.”

The idea that recovery stories have the power to help others was the idea behind Umbrella Society’s new 2023 podcast called Comfortably Un-Numb.

“Harm reduction is really talked about more than anything – and safe supply, which is all very important – but the voice of recovery

seems to be left behind,” said Blake Andison, programs manager of Umbrella.

“We don’t think the stories surrounding recovery are being promoted enough in the general public, so we wanted to share stories of recovery through many different eyes.”

For Stevenson, his past experiences of being helped by others’ stories were a reason for him to share his own on the podcast. Being open about a personal journey such as one with substance use can be very difficult, but it also can bring connection and inspire others.

“It’s always a little bit nerve-wracking when you’re putting it out there for everyone to listen to, predominantly people that were involved in my journey. There was some hesitation for them listening,” Stevenson said.

“But part of being in recovery for myself is not having secrets and owning up to the wrongs I’ve done in the past as well.”

“My hope is that somebody can relate to my story and see the struggle that I went through but to know that as long as you don’t give up, which I didn’t, you can come out of that addiction.”

You can hear Stevenson’s recovery story and the podcast series at umbrellasociety. ca/home/podcast.

HARM REDUCTION INITIATIVES

BY NICOLE CRESCENZI

Addiction is a multi-headed snake, and a multi-faceted approach is the only way an individual can receive the help they need.

For Kenna Murray, systems navigator at AVI Health and Community Services, this became clear to her when she realized the efficacy of traditional detox systems.

“Less than five per cent of people who come out of treatment stay sober,” she said. “That to me speaks to aftercare… you’re not going to cure someone’s lifelong trauma in 60 days.”

In the current healthcare system, individuals who go through detox need to wait approximately 10 days before going into a longer treatment program. Individuals who go through longer addictions programs are also released without a guarantee for second-stage housing.

This is where grassroot support is impera-

tive—where people with lived experiences with homelessness and addictions can help others on their journeys by providing support and connections to resources.

“It’s about having the right people in the right positions,” Murray said. “It’s giving value to that experience instead of just to education… it’s giving value to the love in that community.”

Island Health also recognized this value, and in 2022 launched its Harm Reduction—Substance Use Policy, which relies on people with lived experience to help with its design and operation.

“A harm reduction approach is meeting people where they are and building an environment of trust and respect,” Island Health said in a newsletter statement. “At the same time, we have the opportunity to plan care to reduce the adverse health and social harms of substance use.”

AVI, as well as other Victoria-based organizations such as the PEERS Victoria Resources Society and the SOLID Outreach Society employ people with lived/living experience to help guide individuals through their addictions journeys.

AVI promotes health, dignity, and well-being for all people affected by HIV, HCV, and substance use by delivering sex-positive and harm reduction based education, prevention, and support service. Find out more at avi.org

PEERS Victoria Resources Society – providing outreach, harm reduction and education for sex workers – safersexwork.ca –

(250) 388-5325

SOLID Outreach Society provides peerbased health education and support services to reduce the harms associated with drug use in Victoria – solidvictoria.org –

(250) 298-9497

Community-led support key part of

Since 2016, 3 out of 4 opioid-related deaths were men. 30% - 50% of those employed worked in trades at the time of death. This is unacceptable. Here’s how we can make a change.

Be the change and help reduce stigma

It can be challenging to ask for help. By fostering an environment that encourages discussion about mental health, substance use, pain management, and coping mechanisms we can help reduce stigma and promote help-seeking.

Equip your company leaders with the right tools.

Substance use and mental health is complex. Give your leadership teams the tools and training to confidently recognize, discuss, support, and refer crew members in need.

Be proactive and provide support

By being proactive in supporting employees with substance use, mental, or physical health challenges you will benefit your employees and your company, leading to a safer, healthier workplace.

TRADES and the overdose epidemic

After the 2018 BC Coroner’s Report “Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC” came out, it was clear that the construction, trades, and transport industry were overrepresented in those who lost their lives to a drug poisoning event. Of the 44 per cent of people who were employed at the time of their death, 55 per cent worked in the trades industry.

Island Health and the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) partnered in 2017 and 2021 to help improve the situation and have since expanded their harm program provincially with support and funding from the Ministry of Mental Health & Addictions, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and VCAT.

The Tailgate Toolkit Project is an innovative program aimed at increasing access to harm reduction services and ideas for those working in the construction industry.

WHAT’S IN THE TAILGATE TOOLKIT?

There are four components; on-site/virtual toolbox talks, supervisory training (substance use, mental health and pain management) for site and company leaders, an industry support group called Hammer Time, and extensive, region-specific resource guides for those in the construction/trades industry.

at thetailgatetoolkit.ca

Majority of drug toxicity deaths occur when using alone in private residences* *in British Columbia

The Lifeguard App is designed to save lives. Individuals using alone can activate the app to connect to emergency responders in the event of incapacitation. If you can’t use in a safe place with friends or family nearby, in case of an emergency, the Lifeguard app can save your life.

Stay safe. Download the Lifeguard App today.

Finding the care that you need can be a challenge for anyone, but navigating that experience with an addiction adds a whole other level of complexity. No one understood that better than Gordon, who struggled with addiction prior to starting the Umbrella Society in 2000. Gordon used his experiences to seek out peer support so that others’ journey to recovery could be easier.

“The journey into recovery often involves many stops and starts, treatment, detox, counselling, and lots of internal work” said Evan James, manager of training and education at Umbrella Society.

“The mental health and addictions system is very complex and difficult to navigate at the best of times. Umbrella is there to help with paperwork, advocacy, support, and offering understanding of what people are going through.”

The Umbrella Society offers mental health and substance use support to individuals and their families through four main avenues: counselling, support groups, outreach and transitional housing. They know that in order to help, having personal understanding and a strong

IN 2019, UMBRELLA SOCIETY WAS AWARDED THE HOUSING PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AWARD BY THE BC NON-PROFIT HOUSING SOCIETY.

UMBRELLA SOCIETY

sense of empathy makes a huge difference. That’s why all their employees have lived experience, whether through their own journey or those who have been impacted by a loved one’s experience.

Umbrella Society also recognizes that affordable and supportive recovery housing can be key to maintaining sobriety. In 2015, they took over the operations of Foundation House, a second stage recovery house for men. In 2020, Umbrella purchased Foundation House, and added third stage housing to their housing portfolio.

“We created third stage housing to bridge the gap for those who are ready to move on from second stage but aren’t quite ready to live independently,” James said. “It almost looks like a roommate situation, but they still have that accountability to each other, to us and continue to receive staff support.”

With ever-increasing demand, Umbrella Society is looking for a new house for their women’s program and to expand their housing options.

“Our houses are always full as there is a huge demand for supportive recovery housing,” James said.

The society also offers various public support groups that fit with the diverse needs of those struggling with addiction. Support groups include: All Things Gratitude, where participants explore and express gratitude; Hammertime, a space where those in the trades can openly talk about substance use and recovery; and Comfortably Un-Numb, a four week psycho-educational group for those individuals learning to live without substances.

“In those early days [of Umbrella Society], it was all about meeting people where they were at, primarily coffee shops, but since we’ve expanded into all these other areas, we’re strategically placed around the community in areas where there’s large amounts of substance use,” James said. That means in hospitals, various clinics, some of the temporary housing sites, and more.

“Umbrella helps people improve their lives,” James said. “When someone gets sober, the trickle-down effect is massive.”

Apart from the housing recovery program, all services through Umbrella Society are free.

Find out more at umbrellasociety.ca.

Improving lives with supportive recovery housing and a path to recovery

Evan James

SUBSTANCE USE

in older adults

People’s risks of substance-related harms can change as they get older due to physical and social changes, says the Public Health Agency of Canada.

As you get older, your body may break down substances slower and having less muscle mass can affect how sensitive you are to drugs. These changes mean older adults usually have a lower tolerance for substances.

Older adults are often prescribed more medicines than other age groups, leading to a higher rate of exposure to potentially addictive medications.

In Canada, 43.9 per cent of adults over 55 years of age have used a prescription opioid in the last year.

However, substance use in older adults is often overlooked, for several reasons.

Older adults are more likely to drink or use drugs at home rather than in public.

Signs of substance use (as listed below) can also be similar to those of other health problems, such as depression or dementia.

Here are the warning signs to look out for. If concerned, please reach out to a doctor, friend or family member.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Behavioural changes:

• Falling a lot.

• Experiencing incontinence.

• More headaches and dizziness than usual.

• Not keeping clean.

• Changing what and how you eat.

• Ignoring or losing touch with family and friends.

• Beginning to think about suicide.

• Beginning to have legal or money problems.

• Changes in mental abilities

MENTAL SIGNS OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE PROBLEMS:

• Begin to feel anxious much of the time.

• Difficulty focusing or making decisions and worsened memory.

• Losing interest in usual activities.

• Mood swings or feeling sad or depressed.

SAFE DISPOSAL OF YOUR MEDICATIONS

Disposing of expired medications in the right way helps reduce our impact on the environment.

With the Medications Return Program, it is easy to safely dispose of your expired or unused medications. Here are some tips.

What not to do:

DO NOT throw unused medications in the garbage. Not only is it easily accessible to children, pets and wildlife, it can enter the leachate collection system and eventually wind up in the marine environment.

DO NOT flush down the drain as it could have a negative effect on the marine environment, explains the Capital Regional District.

WHAT TO DO:

Take your medications to one of the many pharmacies participating in the free Medications Return Program. Simply look up nearby return locations by using your postal code at healthsteward.ca

Some local pharmacies accept needles and syringes for disposal. Check first with your pharmacist and if not, contact the CRD Information Line at 250-360-3030 to find the closest pharmacy that does.

In 2015, the Medications Return Program collected more than 11,306 kg of unused or expired medications from CRD residents. Together, we can do our part to keep our environment clean.

THE RIGHT WAY TO DISPOSE OF NEEDLES

If you find an improperly discarded needle, here’s how to dispose of it safely

• stay calm

• don’t try to replace the cap on needles

• don’t snap, break or bend needles

• pick up needle with care, use work gloves if desired

• hold needle point away from you

• put needle in a metal or hard plastic container with a lid (i.e. product or drink bottle)

• replace cap on container securely and label it

• wash hands with soap and water

• drop off the sealed container at: a community drop box (call your municipality about locations), participating pharmacy; dispose of the sealed container in a nearby waste bin; or drop off at your local public health unit.

If someone is injured by a discarded needle, stay calm and follow these steps.

• wash the injured area with soap and warm water as soon as possible

• apply an antiseptic and a clean bandage

• dispose of the needle safely

• visit your local emergency department or primary care provider, preferably within 24 hours

• call 8-1-1 for advice 24/7

For more information call the Communicable Disease program at Island Health south (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.): 1-866-665-6626

RECOVERY-ORIENTED SERVICES DO NOT ADDRESS ADDICTIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS SEQUENTIALLY, DO NOT USE EXCLUSION CRITERIA OR IMPOSE TREATMENTS.

RECOVERY-ORIENTED PRACTITIONERS AND PROVIDERS IN BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS SERVICES WORK WITH PEOPLE AT WHATEVER HAPPENS TO BE THEIR CURRENT STATE AND RESPECT THE CHOICES, AUTONOMY, DIGNITY AND SELFDETERMINATION OF SERVICE USERS.

THEY SEE TO PEOPLE’S SAFETY AND OFFER SUPPORT FOR HARM REDUCTION, POSITIVE RISK-TAKING AND CONTINUAL PERSONAL GROWTH.

KEY RECOVERY TERMS

A recovery goal is individually defined. It involves a person living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life, even when they may be experiencing ongoing symptoms of mental health illness or substance use. A person’s recovery goal may not include abstinence.

Recovery is realized when a person reaches their recovery goal. Recovery is self-defined and looks different from one person to the next. Recovery may notnecessarily mean abstaining from substance use.

A recovery journey is a process of change on the way to reaching an individual’s recovery goal. The person has increasing responsibility and control of their life to improve health and wellness, and move towards hope and a positive identity.

Recovery-oriented care involves healthcare providers working with individuals and their families to reach their chosen recovery goals. Healthcare providers build on personal strengths and skills to enhance health outcomes and quality of life. This includes a broad range of activitiesthat are person-centred and promote resilience.

CHILD, YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND

Orchard House – Residential treatment program for youth experiencing substance use issues.

Info: 250-384-9133 (ext. 225)

301 - 1195 Esquimalt Rd.

www.bgcsvi.org/programs/youth-justice-services

ESQUIMALT NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE SOCIETY

Charitable organization that provides support services to children, youth, adults, families and seniors. A range of services are offered on and off-site. Services include early years and family resource programs with a focus on children’s learning and development; pre and post-natal services; mental health and supportive counselling for adults; youth and family support; as well as help for seniors to remain living independently in their home.

Info: 250-385-2635

511 Constance Ave.

www.enh.bc.ca

ESQUIMALT MILITARY FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

Community-based organization addressing the needs of the military family and medically released members and their families. Prevention, support and intervention staff offer support with deployment relationship issues, relocation, military lifestyle, and short-term crisis situations, in addition to referrals to outside counselling resources and specialized counsellors.

Info: 250-363-2640

www.esquimaltmfrc.com

FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Provincial, not-for-profit organization that proudly and compassionately supports over one million people in British Columbia who provide physical and/or emotional care to a family member, friend, or neighbour.

Info: 250-384-0408

www.familycaregiversbc.ca

FAMILY SMART TOGETHER-CENTERED

Provide practical help, service navigation, and peer support to families and caring adults that builds their connection, knowledge and capacity to better support their kids’ mental health.

Info: 1-855-887-8004 or (toll-free in BC).

wwwfamilysmart.ca

- Mental Health Commission of Canada

Resource Guide

FOUNDRY VICTORIA

Offering young people ages 12 to 24 health and wellness resources, services and supports – online and through integrated service centres in communities across BC, including Victoria.

Info: 250-383-3552

www.foundrybc.ca/victoria

ISLAND HEALTH, DISCOVERY YOUTH & FAMILY SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES

Youth and family counselling, youth outreach services, prevention and early intervention, Esquimalt Health Unit, 530 Fraser St., 2nd floor.

Info: 250-519-5313

discovery.southisland@islandhealth.ca

KELTY MENTAL HEALTH

Information, referrals and support for children, youth and their families in all areas of mental health and addictions.

Info: 1-800-665-1822 (toll-free in BC) www.keltymentalhealth.ca

LEDGER HOUSE

Island-wide resource that provides acute, in-patient, hospital based psychiatric services for children and youth serving all Island Health children, youth and families.

Info: www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/ children-youth-locations/ledger-house-children-youth-families

L, KI, L CHILD AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

Provided by the Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, the program provides support to Indigenous children and youth up to age 19 and their families presenting a variety of mental health challenges, including complex trauma.

Info: 250-384-9466

www.hulitan.ca/child-and-youth-mental-healthprogram

PACIFIC CENTRE

FAMILY SERVICES ASSOCIATION

Promoting dignity and quality of life for families and individuals across South Vancouver Island, with a focus on the Westshore and Sooke, through education, counselling, and creative programming. Find a wide range of vital services for people dealing with substance use, mental health issues, and day-today life challenges.

Info: 250-478-8357

www.pacificcentrefamilyservices.org

PACIFICA HOUSING

Provides over 1,400 units of quality, affordable independent and supportive housing across Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, including some designated for geriatric specialty seniors.

Info: 250-385-2131 | www.pacificahousing.ca

RAFT - REDUCING ANXIETY FOR TEENS

From Saanich Neighbourhood Place, providing information and skill building to help children and youth cope with anxiety.

Info: 250-360-1148

www.snplace.org

SOOKE FAMILY RESOURCE SOCIETY

Child and youth outreach and navigator service.

Info: 250-642-5152 05 – 2145 Townsend Rd. www.sfrs.ca

VICTORIA NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE

Dedicated to improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people in the Greater Victoria area, the Friendship Centre offers a variety of programs, including career, education and employment resources, family service, a wellness clinic, community support, addictions counsellors and more.

Info: 250-384-3211 | 231 Regina Ave. www.vnfc.ca

VICTORIA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOCIETY (YES)

Youth and family counselling, community outreach, after hours pager access, referrals, assessments, specialized interventions, a missing youth system, assistance with health issues, advocacy, meeting basic needs (shelter, food, clothing, hygiene etc.), emergency crisis response (including emergency/ crisis shelter services), community development, life skills training, independent living support/transitional planning, consultation and assistance with issues related to addictions, mental health, employments, housing, education, etc.

Info: 250-383-3514 | 533 Yates St. www.vyes.ca

COMMUNITY MEAL PROGRAMS & FOOD BANKS

GOLDSTREAM FOOD BANK

Info: 250-474-4443 or 761 Station Ave.

MUSTARD SEED STREET CHURCH & FOOD BANK

Info: 250-953-1575 or 626 Queens Ave.

OUR PLACE SOCIETY

Info: 250-388-7112 or 919 Pandora.

RAINBOW KITCHEN SOCIETY

Info: 250-384-2069 or 500 Admirals Rd.

SOCIETY OF SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL

Info: 250-727-0007 or 833 Yates St.

THE RED CEDAR CAFE

Info: 778-817-0395 or 1900 Douglas St.

THE SOUP KITCHEN

Info: 778-440-7687 or 740 View St.

VICTORIA COMMUNITY FRIDGE

Info: 2725 Rock Bay Ave.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS GRIEF

& LOSS

HEALING HEARTS

Peer facilitated bereavement support group for people who have experienced a loss due to substance use disorder.

Info: www.momsstoptheharm.com/healing-hearts

VICTORIA HOSPICE

Providing end-of-life care focused on palliative treatment and comfort for patients and support for families, including bereavement care.

Info: 250-519-3040

www.victoriahospice.org

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MENTAL HEALTH

BOUNCEBACK

A free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 13+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

Info: 1-866-639-0522

www.bouncebackbc.ca

BC SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY

BCSS works to help families affected by schizophrenia and other serious mental illness feel less alone, learn about the disease, and find out what services and supports are available.

Info: 1-888-888-0029

www.bcss.org

Resource Guide

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL

Provided by CMHA – Victoria, these interactive, facilitated eight-week courses for youth, adults and seniors are based on the principles of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), that improves resilience, mood, well-being, anxiety and social support.

Info: 250-216-4228 | www.victoria.cmha.bc.ca/ programs-services/living-life-to-the-full

MINDFULNESS GROUPS

Provided by YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island, this is a free seven-week support group for young adults ages 18 to 30 who experience anxiety.

Info: 250-386-7511 (ext. 413) www.vancouverislandy.com/program-services/ community-health

PSR COLLABORATIVE

A group of people with lived experience, families, friends and seven mental health and substance use organizations who are exploring ways to improve social opportunities and services for people with mental health challenges, with or without substance use. They run a social drop-in group called Imagine After Hours.

Info: www.psrcollaborative.com

e-mail: psrcollaborative@gmail.com

SENIORS SUPPORT NETWORK

The Seniors’ Support Network is an activity-based day program for individuals over 65 years of age who are experiencing mental illness. The program focuses on decreasing social isolation, peer support, healthy living, and increasing/maintaining independence.

Info: 250-389-1211

www.icmha.ca/seniors-support-network

COMMUNITY BASED RECOVERY ORIENTED SERVICES & SUPPORTS

ABORIGINAL COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS SOCIETY

Lovingly providing culturally supportive, affordable housing and services that end Aboriginal homelessness on Vancouver Island.

Info: 778-432-2234

736 Broughton St. www.acehsociety.com

ADDICTIONS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

Providing services to adults age 19+ experiencing drug and alcohol problems. In Victoria, self-referral for substance use services is by attending in person.

Info: 250-519-3485 | 1119 Pembroke St.

ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THE CAPITAL REGION

The Coalition consists of local housing, health and social service providers; non-profit organizations; all levels of government; businesses; the faith community; people with a lived experience of homelessness (past or present); and members of the general public.

Info: 236-638-3683 | 211 – 611 Discovery St. www.victoriahomelessness.ca

ANAWIM COMPANIONS SOCIETY

Support for people living in physical, emotional, spiritual and social poverty, this private men’s residential alcohol and drug treatment program provides for basic needs while encouraging personal development. Also offers a free drop-in day program for men and women in need.

Info: 250-382-0283 | 973 Caledonia Ave. www.anawimhouse.com

ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT

Mental health program that focuses on individual clients and their recovery. The program facilitates community living, psychosocial rehabilitation, and recovery for persons who have the most serious mental illnesses.

Info: 250-519-3485

www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-healthsubstance-use-services/assertive-community-treatment

GREATER VICTORIA CITIZEN’S COUNSELLING CENTRE

Affordable, accessible counselling to adults. All counselling is offered by volunteer counsellors trained and supervised by the Centre. Sliding fee scale based on family income.

Info: 250-384-9934 | 941 Kings Rd. www.citizenscounselling.com

HOLDING HOPE WITH MOMS STOP THE HARM

Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) is a network of Canadian families impacted by substance use related harms and deaths. We advocate to change failed drug policies and provide peer support to grieving families and those with loved ones who use or have used substances.

Info: www.momsstoptheharm.com

MEN’S THERAPY CENTRE

Supporting anyone who identifies as a man who has experienced emotional, sexual or physical trauma as a child or an adult, with victim services, counselling and group programs.

Info: 250-381-6367 | www.menstherapycentre.ca

OASIS SOCIETY FOR THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF VICTORIA

Not-for-profit urban Indigenous organization. The Society has been responding to the needs of the community in a unique and personal way since 2006. We deliver an effective culturally appropriate program to urban Indigenous peoples. The Oasis Society for the Spiritual Health of Victoria works with vulnerable Indigenous people living on the streets of Victoria and those involved in street life. The objectives of our program are to: foster a sense of belonging in a caring, inclusive and culturally appropriate community; nurture the establishment and growth of authentic relationships between people from different walks of life; host events that encourage connection to self, others, extended family, nature, elders and ceremony.

Info: 250-361-0036 | 1004 North Park St. www.oasisvic.org

PEERS VICTORIA RESOURCE SOCIETY

Multi-service, grassroots agency established for sex workers, by sex workers, providing an array of outreach and drop-in, harm reduction and support services along with education and employment training for current and former sex workers. Main office hours 11am to 3pm Monday to Thursday.

Info: 250-388-5325

Night Outreach 250-744-0171

1-744 Fairview Rd. | www.safersexwork.ca

SOUTH ISLAND CENTRE FOR COUNSELLING & TRAINING

Providing affordable, income-based counselling services to individuals, couples, children, youth and families around a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, end-of-life, self-esteem, abuse, and family conflict.

Info: 250-472-2851 | 3821A Cedar Hill Cross Rd. www.southislandcentre.ca

VANCOUVER ISLAND VOICES FOR EATING DISORDERS

Providing improved access to treatment, treatment options, and outcomes.

Info: www.vancouverislandvoicesforeatingdisorders.com

e-mail: vanislevoicesforeds@gmail.com

VICTORIA UMBRELLA SOCIETY

Providing support to individuals, and their loved ones, struggling with substance use issues. The society operates three recovery houses and offers counselling for families, outreach services and group sessions.

Info: 250-380-0595 | 8 – 415 Dunedin St. www.umbrellasociety.ca

Resource Guide

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS COOL AID SUPPORT SERVICES

DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE

Low-barrier and individualized supports and services, including system navigation, outreach and peer support, work opportunities and employment-related supports, and volunteer opportunities, as well as free health, recreation, arts and life skills programming to meet the diverse needs of people facing mental health and substance use challenges.

Info: 250-383-0076 | 755 Pandora Ave.

REES PROGRAM

A co-operative, recovery-based approach to help reduce isolation from community, friends and family that is often a result of mental illness and addictions.

Info: 250-595-8619 | 465 Swift St. e-mail: rees@coolaid.org

VICTORIA COOL AID SOCIETY

Providing prevention, education and counselling, harm reduction, naloxone kits, substance use treatment, supports and access to mental health services.

Info: 250-383-1951 (ext. 2247) | 535 Ellice St. www.coolaid.org

VICTORIA COOL AID SOCIETY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE

The Cool Aid Community Health Centre provides healthcare to more than 7,000 patients, including those experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, infectious disease, problematic substance use and chronic illnesses.

Dental Clinic: 250-383-5957

Medical Clinic: 250-385-1466

Pharmacy: 250-385-8469

713 Johnson St.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTS OVERDOSE PREVENTION & SUPERVISED CONSUMPTION LOCATIONS

AVI HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

Harm reduction services, including an overdose prevention room for safer drug use and rapid overdose response; mobile van (deliveries and used syringe pick-up from Sidney to Sooke), harm reduction supplies and support, overdose prevention and response training, including take-home naloxone education for safer drug use and safer sex, street nurse clinics, referral and assistance navigating social and health care systems, outreach education for youth and prison populations and educational and leadership development programming.

Info: 250-384-2366 (Victoria) 250-360-6315 (Westshore/Sooke) 713 Johnson St. | www.avi.org

THE HARBOUR INHALATION SITE

Safe and welcoming drop-in space with harm reduction supplies, support and education. Referrals and links to other services, including mental health, substance use, primary care, addiction medicine, treatment and recovery options. Witnessed consumption for injection and inhalation for safer drug use and rapid overdose response. No drug checking services available onsite.

Info: 778-966-4348 | 926 Pandora Ave www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/overdose-prevention-supervised-consumption-locations

THE HARBOUR INJECTION SITE

Safe and welcoming drop-in space with harm reduction supplies, support and education. Referrals and links to other services, including mental health, substance use, primary care, addiction medicine, treatment and recovery options. Witnessed consumption for injection for safer drug use and rapid overdose response. No drug checking services available onsite.

Info: 250-519-5303 | 941 Pandora Ave. www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/overdose-prevention-supervised-consumption-locations

ROCK BAY LANDING

Safe and welcoming drop-in space with harm reduction supplies, support and education. Witnessed consumption for injection and inhalation for safer drug use and rapid overdose response. Referrals and links to other services, including mental health, substance use, primary care, addiction medicine, treatment and recovery options.

Info: 250-383-1951 | 535 Ellice St. www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/overdose-prevention-supervised-consumption-locations

COUNSELLING & ADDICTION TREATMENT

ARMOUR ADDICTION SERVICES

Providing long-term solutions for recovery from addiction with accessible, timely and responsive addiction treatment. Focusing on advocacy, education and empowerment.

Info: 778-403-5429

203 – 920 Hillside Ave. www.armouraddictionservices.ca

BURNS CLINICAL LIFE OPTIONS

A caring and dedicated private recovery clinic offering addiction and mental health care services since 2002. Their experienced counsellors and evidence-based group therapy work to aid clients in maintaining long-term wellness.

Info: 250-590-3168 | 102-1245 Esquimalt Rd. www.burnsclinical.ca

CEDARS AT COBBLE HILL

Offering a full continuum of addiction recovery programs for men and women designed to provide a framework for sustainable recovery. Cedars specializes in the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, and various process addictions including eating disorders and gambling. Treating clients in every stage of recovery provides invaluable continuity of care that ultimately means the best chance for long-term success.

Info: 250-733-2006

www.cedarscobblehill.com

Resource Guide

EDGEWOOD

A premier, private residential alcohol and drug rehab addiction treatment centre specializing in the treatment of addiction and mental health from its Nanaimo campus, with full-time, ASAM/ABAM-certified medical doctors who are experts in the field of addiction medicine and psychiatry, including drug and alcohol withdrawal treatment.

Info: 1-866-285-7502

2121 Boxwood Rd., Nanaimo www.edgewoodhealthnetwork.com

HOMEWOOD RAVENSVIEW

Providing immediate, expert treatment for clients living with mental health, addiction and concurrent conditions, with psychiatrists, addiction medicine physicians, psychologists, specialized therapists and a 24/7 nursing staff working closely with the Homewood Research Institute to incorporate the latest research and clinical innovations.

Info: 1-866-203-1793 | 1515 McTavish Rd. www.ravensview.com

LASER CENTERS FOR HEALTH

Outpatient treatment centre offering highly effective drug, alcohol, and nicotine addiction treatment. Also treats stress, PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia and more. Coldoa soft laser acupressure calms nerves and eliminates withdrawal. Includes natural detox, healthy lifestyle counselling, and ongoing support. Treatments are confidential and take less than 90 minutes, after which you can return home or to work.

Info: 778-679-2737

740 Hillside Ave. www.lasercentersforhealth.com

CRISIS AND SUPPORT LINES

24-HOUR VANCOUVER ISLAND CRISIS LINE

The Vancouver Island Crisis Line provides a supportive listening ear for people in emotional distress and connection to emergency mental health services when needed. The phone number is the same for all areas of Vancouver Island.

• Call from anywhere on Vancouver Island: 1-888-494-3888

• Crisis Chat services (6 to 10pm nightly) at vicrisis.ca

• Crisis Text number (6 to 10pm nightly) 1-250-800-3806

8-1-1

A free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line available in B.C., operated by HealthLink BC, part of the Ministry of Health.

AA 24-HOUR SUPPORT LINE VICTORIA

250-383-7744

BC211

Providing free information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC.

www.bc211.ca

• Dial 2-1-1 on Vancouver Island/Gulf Islands to talk with an Information & Referral Specialist. This service is free, confidential, multilingual and available 24/7.

• TTY – Access for the deaf/hard of hearing community in BC is available by dialing 604875-0885.

• Text the name of your city to 2-1-1 to chat with an Information & Referral Specialist. This service is free, confidential, and available daily between of 8am & 11pm.

BC ALCOHOL AND DRUG REFERRAL SERVICE

1-800-663-1441

BC DRUG & POISON INFORMATION CENTRE HOTLINE

1-800-567-8911

BC MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION INFO LINE

9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Sponsored by Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division.

1-800-661-2121

COMMUNITY-LED CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CLCR)

Services are currently delivered between 2pm and 9pm, Monday through Friday.

250-818-2454

HEALTHLINK BC

Check the HealthLink BC website or dial 8-1-1 for programs in your area.

KUU-US CRISIS LINE

The KUU-US Crisis Line is a resource for suicide prevention for Aboriginal people on Vancouver Island and in the province of B.C. Help is available 24 hours a day. If you’re facing a crisis, call any time.

• Adult Crisis Line: 250-723-4050

• Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040

• Vancouver Island and through the Province of BC: 1-800-588-8717

INTEGRATED MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM

Collaboration between CYFMH, Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services and Greater Victoria police forces. Providing crisis assessment, intervention and stabilization. 1-888-494-3888

NA 24-HOUR SUPPORT LINE – VICTORIA

250-383-3553

PROBLEM GAMBLING HELP LINE

1-888-795-6111

VICTORIA SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTRE

Provides support, empower and advocate for women and all [trans] survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. Regardless of when you were assaulted, we are here to support you in your healing journey. We serve as a liaison between individuals affected by sexual violence, the justice and medical systems and community services.

• 250-383-3232 (Service Line)

• 1-888-494-3888 (Vancouver Island Crisis Line)

HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE & RELATED SERVICES

ADDICTIONS OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

Providing services to adults age 19+ experiencing drug and alcohol problems. In Victoria, self-referral for substance use services is by attending in person.

Info: 250-519-3485

1119 Pembroke St.

ANXIETY CANADA

Passionate team devoted to providing accessible, science-based anxiety relief to help you live the life you want.

Info: 604-620-0744

www.anxietycanada.com

AT WORK VICTORIA – CMHA BC

Victoria program offering individualized assistance to find and maintain meaningful paid employment to those who are recovering from mental illness or addiction.

Info: 250-216-4228

www.victoria.cmha.bc.ca

Resource Guide

AVI HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES SOCIETY

Harm reduction services, including an overdose prevention room for safer drug use and rapid overdose response; mobile van (deliveries and used syringe pick-up from Sidney to Sooke), harm reduction supplies and support, overdose prevention and response training, including take-home naloxone education for safer drug use and safer sex, street nurse clinics, referral and assistance navigating social and health care systems, outreach education for youth and prison populations and educational and leadership development programming.

Info: 250-384-2366 (Victoria)

250-360-6315 (Westshore/Sooke)

713 Johnson St. www.avi.org

CANADIAN ARMED FORCES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADDICTIONS TREATMENT PROGRAM

Assessment and treatment for Canadian Armed Forces members struggling with alcohol, drugs and gambling, as well as other addictions. Additional mental health and stress programs also available.

Info: www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/programs/caf-mental-health-services.ht

CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION (BC DIVISION, VICTORIA OFFICE)

As the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health, CMHA promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness.

Info: 250-216-4228 | 101-612 View St. www.victoria.cmha.bc.ca

CENTRAL ACCESS AND RAPID ENGAGEMENT SERVICES

Provides a single point of access to Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services for clients, family members, primary care and service providers.

Info: 250-519-3485

1119 Pembroke St.

www.islandhealth.ca/mhsu-access

CENTRE FOR ADHD AWARENESS, CANADA (CADDAC)

Information and resources, tips for working with your doctor and child’s school, information for educators, parenting strategies, support groups and more.

Info: 1-800-807-0090

www.caddac.ca

CONNECTIONS PLACE

Offering employment, education and recreation initiatives to help people diagnosed with any mental illness including psychosis, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, OCD and schizophrenia.

Info: 250-483-3748

103-1803 Douglas St.

www.connectionsplace.org

EATING DISORDERS PROGRAM (SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND)

Provides consultation, intake, assessment, and treatment. Individual, family therapy, family-based treatment (modified Maudsley), nutritional counselling and psychiatric consultation.

Info: 250-387-0000

302-2955 Jutland Rd.

FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY (FNHA)

Province-wide health authority whose vision is to transform the health and well-being of BC’s First Nations and Aboriginal people by dramatically changing healthcare for the better through services largely focused on health promotion and disease prevention.

Info: 1-866-913-0033

www.fnha.ca

HERE TO HELP

A project of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Substance Use Information, a group of seven leading mental health and addictions non-profit agencies that have been working together since 2003 to help people live well and better prevent and manage mental health and substance use problems.

Info: www.heretohelp.bc.ca

e-mail: bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca

ISLAND COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

Helping individuals experiencing mental health challenges by promoting individual recovery through evidence-based programs, housing, community partnerships, client and family involvement.

Info: 250-389-1211

125 Skinner St.

www.icmha.ca

ISLAND HEALTH

Providing health care services through a network of hospitals, clinics, centres, health units and residential care locations for more than 794,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and the mainland communities north of Powell River and south of Rivers Inlet, including mental health, substance use, addiction and overdose-prevention services.

Info: www.islandhealth.ca

MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY PARTNERS

Providing services for people with mental illness, with or without substance use issues, regardless of their diagnosis, and the people who care about them.

Info: 250-384-4225

941 Kings Rd.

www.mhrp.ca

MENTAL WELLNESS DAY PROGRAM

Island Health’s group-based, recovery-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation day program for individuals ages 17 to 75 living with a severe and persistent mental illness.

Info: 250-370-8126

www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mentalhealth-substance-use-services/psychosocial-rehabilitation-0

OUR PLACE SOCIETY

Our Place Society has grown from a unique inner-city community centre to nine locations serving Greater Victoria’s most vulnerable, including people struggling with homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use issues, the working poor, and impoverished elderly.

Info: 250-388-7112

919 Pandora Ave.

www.ourplacesociety.com

PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICES (PES)

Specialized mental health and addiction services, including intensive assessment and crisis intervention for patients arriving with acute and critical psychiatric disorders. Available via Royal Jubilee Hospital emergency rooms or the 24-hour crisis line.

Info: 1-888-494-3888

www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mentalhealth-substance-use-services/crisis-emergency-services

Resource Guide

ONLINE RESOURCES

FROM GRIEF TO ACTION

A not-for-profit society working to improve the lives of addicted youth and their families and friends, and a voice and a support network for families and friends affected by drug use.

QOMQEM COASTAL CONNECTIONS

Grassroots Indigenous-led outreach program that developed in partnership with Peers Victoria Resources Society. Offers harm reduction and health care services to Indigenous peoples who are unhoused, precariously housed, and who may be using substances and/or alcohol.

Info: 236-638-2120

1 – 744 Fairview Rd.

www.islandhealth.ca/our-services/mental-healthsubstance-use-services/crisis-emergency-services

SOLID OUTREACH SOCIETY

SOLID is a non-profit organization that provides peer-based health education and support services to reduce the harms associated with drug use in Victoria.

Info: 250-298-9497

1056 N Park St. wwww.solidvictoria.org

SUBSTANCE DRUG CHECKING (UVIC)

Providing a free and confidential drug checking program. Providing in-person services and results are given on the spot within 15-20 minutes.

Info: 250-415-7637 | 1802 Cook St. www.substance.uvic.ca

SUBSTANCE USE RAPID FOLLOW UP TEAM (SURF)

Outreach team of Island Health registered nurses and Umbrella Society outreach workers works with individuals who have experienced a recent opioid overdose and are not connected to a case management or substance use team.

Info: 250-213-9898

e-mail: surf@islandhealth.ca

TOGETHER AGAINST POVERTY SOCIETY

Our legal advocacy projects provide help with income assistance and disability matters, and residential tenancy disputes. Our Volunteer Disability Advocate Project (VDAP) provides assistance with the application for provincial disability benefits, and our tax project helps with the filing of income tax.

Info: 250-361-3521 | 828 View St. www.tapsbc.ca

THE TAILGATE TOOLKIT

The Tailgate Toolkit Project is an innovative program aimed at increasing access to harm reduction services and ideas for those working in the construction industry.

Info: www.thetailgatetoolkit.ca

URGENT SHORT-TERM ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT

Provides short-term individual psychotherapy for patients in crisis, at risk, or in severe distress. With this service, clients are assigned to a primary therapist who does an initial assessment and establishes treatment goals. A team of psychiatrists is available as needed for consultation and follow up.

Info: 250-519-3544

1250 Quadra St.

VICTORIA UMBRELLA SOCIETY

Providing support to individuals, and their loved ones, struggling with substance use issues. The society operates three recovery houses and offers counselling for families, outreach services and group sessions.

Info: 250-380-0595

8 – 415 Dunedin St. www.umbrellasociety.ca

VICTORIA BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY

Providing support to individuals, and their loved ones, struggling with substance use issues. The society operates three recovery houses and offers counselling for families, outreach services and group sessions.

Info: 250-598-9339

Unit C, D & E 830 Pembroke St. ww.vbis.ca

WESTSHORE CENTRAL ACCESS AND RAPID ENGAGEMENT SERVICES

Provides a single point of access to Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) services for clients, family members, primary care and service providers.

Info: 250-370-5799

206 - 582 Goldstream Ave St.

www.islandhealth.ca/mhsu-access

www.fgta.ca

HERE TO HELP BC

Offers a Resiliency Guide for Parents and Youth.

www.heretohelp.bc.ca

KEEPING YOUTH

CONNECTED

HEALTHY & LEARNING (FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS)

www.islandhealth.ca/sites/default/files/2018-04/ keeping-youth-connected-sustance-use-schoolsettings.pdf

MINDCHECK

Online resource for youth and families offering mental health resources and support.

www.youthinbc.com/2015/07/10/mindcheck-ca

RECOGNIZING RESILIENCE

A Workbook for Parents and Caregivers of Teens Involved with Substances.

www.keltymentalhealth.ca

TOWARD THE HEART

Offers information on fentanyl and naloxone. www.towardtheheart.com

YOUTHSPACE.CA

Provided by NEED2 Suicide Prevention, Education and Support, this free and confidential online support network offers Canadian youth up to 30 years of age access to emotional support, resources and crisis response services.

www.youthspace.ca

If you’re saying yes to alcohol or drugs, what are you saying no to? Reclaim control by saying YES to a healthier, happier you.

With discreet, personalized support, our online addiction treatment options will help you explore your relationship to alcohol or drugs in a way that fits into your life: start today.

We’ve been there. We know what it’s like. We can help.

www.islandhealth.ca/mhsu

www.Wellbeing.gov.bc.ca