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Surrey Schools shakes stigma with Mental Health Week and National Child & Youth Mental Health Day

This week, the district is recognizing both Mental Health Week (May 5 to 11) and National Child & Youth Mental Health Day (May 7), with a series of workshops and resources available to students and staff to better support their mental health.

 

Mental Health Week

For the fourth year in a row, the district is partnering with the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society to offer in-school workshops to help students find resilience through inspirational storytelling. The health and well-being of students and staff remains a top priority of the district, and the workshops aim to foster understanding and encourage support for positive mental health.

The workshops will feature several speakers sharing their personal experiences facing stigma, its effect on mental health and their successes in spite of their struggles. The workshops are primarily geared toward Grade 6 to 10 students but are appropriate for other grades, and will be accessible to watch afterwards. For more information and links to the workshops, reach out to Daniel To.

Mental Health Week was established in 1951 by the Canadian Mental Health Association, designating the first full week of May as an opportunity to raise awareness for mental health and offer practical solutions to support recovery from mental illness.

The district has had a working relationship with the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society for several years, dating back to the start of the pandemic. The non-profit organization filled a considerable need for virtual mental health resources for students and families as schools pivoted to online models and presentations, including for previous Mental Health Weeks.

 

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National Child & Youth Mental Health Day

Meanwhile, the district is also recognizing National Child & Youth Mental Health Day, established in 2007 by B.C.-based non-profit FamilySmart to raise awareness of mental health challenges faced by children and youth, and to encourage positive connections between young people and adults.

FamilySmart is hosting two online events this week featuring inspirational speakers:

  • May 7, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Supporting Kids with Substance Misuse: A Conversation with Together We Can (register here for free)
  • May 8, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Substance Use and the Power of Support: A Conversation with Guy Felicella (register here for free)

 

Resources & Supports

The district’s Mental Health & Well-Being Students & Families webpage also has numerous links to resources for mental wellness, including as a series of animated videos for both elementary and secondary levels that address a variety of topics and are available in multiple languages:

 

Below is a comprehensive list of crisis supports, health resources, counselling options and smartphone apps for mindfulness and guided meditation to help students and families experiencing mental health issues.

 

Crisis Supports:

  • Kids Help Phone | 1-800-668-6868 (toll free) or text CONNECT to 686868 – Confidential and anonymous telephone and online counselling and referral service for young people up to age 20, available 24/7.
  • Kids Help Phone Online Chat | kidshelpphone.ca – Available Wednesday to Sunday, 3 to 11 p.m. in B.C. to connect you with a Kids Help Phone counsellor, on the web or from a smartphone.
  • Fraser Health Crisis Line | 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444 (toll free) – Trained volunteers provide emotional crisis support 24/7.
  • Short Term Assessment Response Team (START) | 1-844-START 11 (1-844-782-7811) – Provides assessment and intervention services to children and teens (ages 6 to 18) experiencing a mental health crisis. Available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends and holidays, noon to 9 p.m.
  • Mental Health Support Line (24/7 all ages) | 310-6789
  • United Way Centraide | Call 2-1-1 – Information/referral for community, government and social services support.
  • Emergency Mental Health Crisis | Call 9-1-1 – Car 67 Mental Health Police Response
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline | Call 9-8-8
  • Suicide Prevention Crisis Line | 1-800-784-2433
  • Suicide Prevention Education and Counselling (SPEAC) | 604-584- 5811
  • Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service | 604-660-9382 or 1-800-663-1441 (toll free)
  • Kuu-us Crisis Response Services | 1-800-588-8717 (toll free) – Provides 24/7 culturally aware crisis support to Indigenous people in B.C. 
  • Hope for Wellness Help Line | 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) – Offers 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat. Available in French, English, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
  • Métis Crisis Line | 1-833-638-4722 – Provides 24/7 metal health support, including crisis intervention and access to crisis programs.

Child and Youth Mental Health Clinics:

  • Cloverdale | 604-951-5701
  • Guildford | 604-586-2685
  • Newton | 604-501-3122
  • North Surrey | 604-951-5960
  • South Surrey / White Rock | 604-542-3900 cymhsrss.com

Other Resources:

  • Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre | keltymentalhealth.ca – Resources for students, families and educators.
  • Foundry BC | foundrybc.ca – Offers young people ages 12 to 24 health and wellness resources, services and supports-online and through integrated services in communities across B.C.
  • Fraser Health Child and Youth Mental Health Resources | fraserhealth.ca 
  • Here to Help | heretohelp.bc.ca 
  • Anxiety Canada | anxietycanada.com 
  • Canadian Mental Health Association | cmha.ca 
  • Mental Health Commission of Canada | mentalhealthcommission.ca 
  • Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support | www.canada.ca
      

Counselling:

  • BC Association of Clinical Counsellors| 1-800-909-6303 or bc-counsellors.org
  • BC Psychological Association | psychologists.bc.ca 
  • DIVERSEcity – Multicultural Counselling Services | 604-597-0205 or dcrs.ca 
  • Sources Community Resource Centre | 604-531-6226 or sourcesbc.ca – Provides support for individuals and families.
  • Peace Arch Hospice Society | 604-531-7484 or peacearchhospice.org – Offers grief counselling.
  • Alex House | 604-535-0015 or alexhouse.net
  • Together White Rock / South Surrey | together-wr.com 
  • Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Services | 604-586-4200
  • FRAFCA (Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association) | frafca.org
      

Apps & Mindfulness Recordings 

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School District No.36 (Surrey)