Child & Youth Mental Health, Substance Use Collaborative

The Collaborative is made up of children, youth and their families, Aboriginal people, ministries, health authorities, schools, physicians, clinicians and communities. The purpose of the Collaborative is to share our knowledge and experience with the aim:

• To increase the number of children, youth and their families receiving timely access to integrated mental health and substance use services and supports throughout the province.
• To document examples and results of the involvement of children, youth and families in decisions related to program and system design, clinical practice and policy development, which manifest the ‘family-first, people-centred’ goals of Healthy Minds, Healthy People.

The Local Action Team has developed an online Parenting Support Resources page and supported the availability and awareness of other ​useful resources:

• Orientation Guide - To child, youth, family mental health and substance use services. To ​use the Orientation Guide effectively, read these tips from parents.
• Family Smart (formerly the F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health) - promoting a balanced approach to mental health and care. 
• Collaborative Toolbox - Initiating, strengthening, supporting.
• MindShift™ CBT - Is anxiety getting in the way of your life? MindShift™ CBT uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety. Suitable for teens and young adults and available for Android and Apple. 
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For more information about the Collaborative and what was achieved:

• CYMHSU Collaborative Bi-Annual Report - August 2016
• SharedCare CYMHSU Collaborative Initiative - Supporting child and youth mental health in BC 

Comox Valley GPs and Specialists have been ​provided additional ​resources - find out more from your physician. 

The Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use (CYMHSU) Collaborative is funded by the Shared Care Committee in partnership with the General Practice Services and Specialist Services Committees; all are Joint Collaborative Committees of Doctors of BC and the BC government.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Youth

Recent Canadian research shows that one in three students in grades 7 – 12 are reporting moderate to severe levels of psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression. 

When our schools open their doors for the next school year, many of our students are full of anticipation and excitement, but some may also be experiencing levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression. We know that certain levels of stress and anxiety are normal, but how does a youth or parent gauge what is normal or when to seek help before a crisis occurs?
Below are four legal size (8.5 x 14) posters about the common signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, some simple strategies that can help, and some resources for youth and parents to access for support.

• Helpful Handout for Schools. Boy & girl (black & white)
• Helpful Handout for Schools. Boy & girl (colour)
• Helpful Handout for Schools. Boy (colour)
• Helpful Handout for Schools. Girl (colour)

How can you help?​ Youth and parents suggested ways for these posters to be shared:

• Post on inside of toilet stall doors
• Distribute to parents via newsletter or email, if available
• Distribute to the Parents Advisory Committee
• Post on school notice boards where appropriate, especially in School Counsellor’s offices
• Please consider distributing. Thank you in advance for supporting this initiative.

The posters have been produced for distribution to middle and high schools and were created by the Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative (a partnership of Doctors of BC and BC government), with the support of the BC School Superintendents Association.

Online Crisis Chat Centre - 6pm-midnight

The support is provided by community volunteers trained in emotional support, crisis response, and ASIST Suicide First Aid. Callers are not ​given advice or told what to do ​but are empowered to live ​​​a ​healthy life, supported in the moment, and encouraged to explore their thoughts, feelings, fears, options, ideas, and resources. Youthspace.ca is a program of Need2 - Suicide Prevention Education & Support.

Youth in BC - Noon-1am>

Youth In BC is a program of the Crisis Centre and connects youth with support, information and resources. Volunteers are real people with real adventures, losses, problems, challenges and opportunities; they are received thorough training and are supervised by on-site staff.