Vancouver Island Mental Health Society

FIRST PERSON | Being Jamaican in Canada meant we didn’t talk about mental health — until depression forced me to | CBC News When Bria Barrows was diagnosed with depression as a high school student, her family struggled to talk about mental health issues. Since then, she has learned that talking leads to healing.

"My parents were raised to focus more on provision than on meeting their emotional needs. I had lots of toys when I was little, clothing, food and all the necessities. What was missing, however, were those check-ins to see how I was doing emotionally" #mentalhealth www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Let’s Reimagine Who We Celebrate on Family Day | The Tyee Abuse survivors told us they escaped thanks to a loving sibling, parents, cousin or friend.

" #FamilyDay gives us not only the time to reflect on what family means, but also time to think about the positive effects of expanding our definition of #family and acknowledging the meaningful impact it can have" #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

B.C.'s drug decriminalization project has ended, now what? Now that the government in B.C. has ended drug decriminalization pilot program, what happens next to get a handle on the crisis?

"Now that the government in #BritishColumbia has put an end to its three-year drug #decriminalization pilot program by letting it expire on Jan. 31, what happens now? The move has garnered mixed responses..." #BC #Canada www.aptnnews.ca/infocus/info...

Alberni council set to tour neighbouring cities’ supportive housing facilities - Port Alberni Valley News The three sites council will tour are intended to be comparable with what’s proposed for Port Alberni

"Port Alberni city council members are set to tour several #supportivehousing facilities ahead of lease negotiations... The goal is for council and city staff to tour facilities that are similar in size and scope to what is proposed for #PortAlberni" #BC albernivalleynews.com/2026/02/16/a...

Ladysmith adopts first Accessibility Plan - Ladysmith Chronicle Three-year framework aims to remove barriers across town services and spaces

"The Town of #Ladysmith has adopted its first #Accessibility Plan, outlining a three-year framework to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with #disabilities across municipal services, facilities and public spaces." #VancouverIsland #BC ladysmithchronicle.com/2026/02/15/l...

Music Heals donation strengthens music therapy for Cumberland seniors - Comox Valley Record Music Heals donated $6,500 to local program

"The [Music Heals] program offers small-group and one-on-one sessions, seasonal sing-alongs, and specialized activities such as tone bell choirs and a resident chorus, creating meaningful moments of recognition, expression, and connection" #ComoxValley #BC comoxvalleyrecord.com/2026/02/16/m...

Courtenay’s Eureka Support Society celebrates members’ acheivements - Comox Valley Record Vocational program’s graduation tea party a success

"Located...in #Courtenay, Eureka Support Society provides #mentalhealth support, hope and opportunities through a variety of educational, vocational, social and recreational activities for members to help achieve their full potential" #VancouverIsland #BC comoxvalleyrecord.com/2026/02/16/c...

More units for homeless village on Homewood Road : My Campbell River Now Stay connected with Campbell River’s latest local news, community events, contests, ferry updates, and live 99.7 The River radio—only on My Campbell River Now.

"A temporary shelter site for the #homeless ...in #CampbellRiver is growing. The province announced...eight more “temporary #supportivehousing units” to the existing 40 at 1299 Homewood Road announced in late 2024 for a total of 48" #VancouverIsland #BC www.mycampbellrivernow.com/86680/news/m...

Threshold Choir has active Campbell River, Quadra Island chapter - Campbell River Mirror Choir sings gentle, calming songs at the bedsides of individuals who are on the “threshold” of life

"The #CampbellRiver #QuadraIsland ...Pure Joy Threshold Singers service is provided free of charge to all who are open to bringing solace and comfort through music to people at the end of life or during difficult life transitions" #VancouverIsland #BC #Canada campbellrivermirror.com/2026/02/14/t...

‘A teaching tool:’ new Nanaimo cookbook bolstering culinary skills NANAIMO - Tried and true recipes from local kitchens are on offer through a local grassroots organization. Nan...

“Because we are cooking very often in small groups, in #socialhousing buildings or in #recovery houses, in #classrooms with kids, we’re...learning what techniques to use to teach people so the cookbook is really a teaching tool” #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland #BC nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/02/15/a...

On Valentines eve, families renew calls for help for MMIWG A lack of stable funding for MMIWG means promises made at high-level meetings are not leading to results on the ground.

"About 40 people stood in the cold around the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, marking the eve of Valentine’s Day — a date long associated with vigils for missing and murdered #Indigenous #women and #girls ( #MMIWG )." #Canada www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...

Campus of care proposed for Port Alberni could help mitigate doctor shortage - Port Alberni Valley News The proposed facility would be a unique approach to recruiting healthcare workers

#PortAlberni might be getting a first-of-its-kind solution to the province’s #healthcare woes with a campus of care facility. A group of three organizations has come up with a proposal that local governments are supporting #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia albernivalleynews.com/2026/02/13/c...

Nanaimo high school fundraiser offers donors soup and a bowl - Nanaimo News Bulletin NDSS council and pottery program to hold Empty Bowl event March 5

"The pottery program and student council at #Nanaimo District Secondary School are collaborating on the Empty Bowl Night fundraiser, benefiting Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank...[the] fundraiser begins at 5:30 p.m. on March 5." #VancouverIsland #BC nanaimobulletin.com/2026/02/15/n...

Victoria program offers online alternative to addiction treatment - Victoria News ‘Recovery shouldn’t depend on whether someone can afford to leave their life behind’

"A #Victoria #addiction #treatment program says it is reducing costs by as much as 70 per cent by treating clinical care online instead of in traditional #rehab centres" #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia vicnews.com/2026/02/14/v...

Stolen Sisters Memorial March brings hundreds to legislature The 17th-annual Stolen Sisters Memorial March saw a sea of participants wearing red and holding photos of lost loved ones.

"Hundreds marched down ­Government Street toward the legislature on Saturday morning in remembrance of missing and murdered #Indigenous people, the majority of whom are #women and #girls." #MMIWG #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.timescolonist.com/local-news/s...

Co-founder of an initiative to arrange free pet care for people entering treatment, Priya Sharma spoke about some of the other barriers people can face when seeking help with addiction

Listen to the full interview
vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/frie...

@vimhs.bsky.social

YouTube video by CHEK Media Beauty Day: Stylists pitch in at Our Place for Valentine's Day glow-up

"If “look good, feel good” holds true, that might explain the energy on the second floor of Our Place Society." #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia
youtu.be/AnorFwSS3GU?...

"Experts say #children may need extra support and reassurance from their parents after hearing about violent events in the news, such as Tuesday’s mass shooting in #TumblerRidge, #BritishColumbia" #stress #trauma #depression #withdrawal #aggression #BC www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/116681/news/...

Community prevailed in Tumbler Ridge at its vigil on Friday : My Comox Valley Now Get the latest Comox Valley & Courtenay news, events, weather updates, community contests, and live radio via 98.9 Jet FM on My Comox Valley Now—your go-to source for local happenings and information.

"The air in #TumblerRidge had a bite to it, but it was nothing compared with the #grief that has surrounded the #SouthPeace community... At a vigil in front of town hall, mourners gathered to honour the lives lost and support one another after the shootings." www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/116690/news/...

Community champions celebrated via annual Nanaimo WIN awards NANAIMO - The impact of women, non-binary and two-spirit people in community was celebrated this week.The annu...

"The impact of #women, #non-binary and #two-spirit people in community was celebrated this week [in #Nanaimo]. Women of Influence Awards...were held Wednesday, Feb. 11 at the #VancouverIsland Conference Centre, with a capacity crowd of around 700 in attendance" #BC nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/02/14/c...

ROAR hosting jazz concert to raise funds for LGBTQ refugees - Nanaimo News Bulletin Reaching Out Assisting Refugees sponsors and supports LGBTQ refugees

"A concert to raise money to support #LGBTQ #refugees will be held at Brechin United church...in #Nanaimo... Radical Acceptance...on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-5 pm" #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada nanaimobulletin.com/2026/02/14/r...

Donate to Supporting families affected in Tumbler Ridge, organized by Tumbler Ridge PAC Supporting Families Impacted by the Recent Tragedy in Tumbler Ridge … Tumbler Ridge PAC needs your support for Supporting families affected in Tumbler Ridge

The Tumbler Ridge PAC is raising funds to support families affected by this week's tragedy. As of posting, they're 86% towards their goal of $600k.

On Valentines eve, families renew calls for help for MMIWG A lack of stable funding for MMIWG means promises made at high-level meetings are not leading to results on the ground.

On Valentine’s Eve, families gather alone, as governments promise progress on MMIWG www.aptnnews.ca?p=283792

Friends found group offering free pet care for those in treatment Recovery Tails Society co-founders Kayleigh Busch and Priya Sharma in conversation

A Vancouver Island duo founded a group to support people needing pet care while entering addictions treatment.

People First Radio spoke with the pair behind Recovery Tails Society

Listen:
vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/frie...

@vimhs.bsky.social

People First Radio - February 12, 2026 A pair of island shows address themes of mental health and disability

The broadcast version of this week's program is online and can be found here:

vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/peop...

@vimhs.bsky.social

Manna Homeless Society asked to vacate Salvation Army property in Parksville - Parksville Qualicum News Mobile outreach services will continue in Parksville Qualicum Beach area

"Manna Homeless Society will take its outreach services on the road after being asked to vacate the Salvation Army Mt. Arrowsmith Church parking lot on the Alberni Highway in #Parksville." #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia pqbnews.com/2026/02/11/m...

Coldest Night of the Year returns to Cowichan on Feb. 28 - Chemainus Valley Courier CMHA-CVB has set an ambitious goal of $100,000 to go towards securing a new permanent youth centre

"The Canadian Mental Health Association #CowichanValley Branch is uniting Cowichan Valley residents once again to brave the elements &briefly feel what the #unhoused population face all year" #mentalhealth #homelessness #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia chemainusvalleycourier.ca/2026/02/10/c...

Concerns raised over locations of unhoused encampments in North Cowichan - Ladysmith Chronicle Island Health, social groups say some sites hard to access and wet

"Cowichan Tribes & other groups have sent letters to the Municipality of #NorthCowichan raising concerns around the displacement of more than 75 #unhoused people to a number of other sites in the municipality" #homelessness #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia ladysmithchronicle.com/2026/02/10/c...

Victoria police chief says funding needed to tackle rising street disorder - Vancouver Island Free Daily Increase of 12 officers over a decade not enough, says VicPD chief

"The main thing downtown #Victoria businesses can do to support VicPD is back the police agency’s latest budget request, the chief told a chamber [of commerce] gathering" #streetdisorder #publicsafety #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia vancouverislandfreedaily.com/2026/02/10/v...

BC announces $475M in funding for children and youth with disabilities The BC government has announced a massive investment to support families of children and youth with disabilities.

"Throughout 2026 and 2027, the #BC #Children and #Youth #Disability Benefit will launch, providing between $6,500 and $17,000 per year to families of children with significant disabilities, based on their individual needs" #BritishColumbia #Canada victoriabuzz.com/2026/02/bc-a...