Author: Carson Chambers

Posted March 21st, 2023 by Lina Moskaleva 

Vancouver, BC – The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC (Crisis Centre of BC) expresses deep concern about the findings of the IPCC Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report regarding the effects of climate change on mental health.

As a member of the BC Crisis Line Network that serves people across British Columbia, we know that climate change is already having a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of British Columbians.

According to the report, climate change exacerbates pre-existing mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, who are already at a greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, including Indigenous peoples, people with a low-income, and those living in rural or remote places. Climate change also leads to an increase in the incidence of extreme weather events, natural disasters, and displacement, which can cause significant psychological distress, trauma, and grief.

“The IPCC report makes it clear that the effects of climate change on mental health are significant and cannot be ignored,” states Stacy Ashton, executive director of the Crisis Centre of BC. “We need to recognize that mental health is an essential part of our response to the climate crisis, and we must prioritize it in our actions and policies.”

Everyone needs to keep their mental health as a priority during climate change emergencies. Here are some tips to help cope:

1. Connect with others: Reach out to friends, family, and community members for support. Sharing your concerns and feelings can help alleviate stress and anxiety.
2. Practice self-care: Take care of your physical health by getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy food. Engage in activities that bring you joy, such as reading, listening to music, or spending time in nature.
3. Limit exposure to distressing news: While it’s important to stay informed about climate change, exposure to constant distressing news can be overwhelming and lead to feelings of hopelessness and anxiety. Limit your exposure to news and social media and take breaks when needed.
4. Seek professional help: If you are experiencing significant distress or mental health problems, contact a mental health professional or crisis center for support.
5. Take action: Addressing climate change can give you a sense of purpose and control, which can be empowering and make a positive impact on your mental well-being.

The Crisis Centre of BC is committed to supporting people in need of support during times of crisis. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out:

• Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)
• Anywhere in BC 1800SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433

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Contact

Jeffrey Preiss, Director, Communications & Development
jpreiss@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Stacy Ashton, Executive Director
sashton@crisiscentre.bc.ca

Posted February 1st, 2023 by Lina Moskaleva & Stephanie Quon

Skills and knowledge are the superpowers we need to help us tackle any of life’s challenges. The Crisis Centre of BC is helping to ensure all youth have access to the mental health knowledge and tools necessary for them to be well and stay well by launching MindFlip: Brain Science Tools for Everyday Living. This free, online program provides youth with information and tools to learn how to manage difficult emotions by developing our ability to respond mindfully in challenging situations.

 For the past eight years, the Crisis Centre of BC has offered an in-person program that provided young people with tools for managing life’s ups and downs. Feedback for these programs was exceptionally positive, though the programs themselves were limited in geographical reach and capacity due to challenges in scheduling. This inspired the creation of MindFlip: Brain Science Tools for Everyday Living, a learning program developed by youth for youth that could be available to schools and youth throughout the province.

Lu Ripley, Director of the Centre’s Community Learning and Engagement team, says that the program “shares practical tools and information with young people in a way that is digestible, easy to access, and relatable.” 

MindFlip is a self-paced, youth-friendly online program with four core modules. Geared towards youth in late elementary and secondary school, topics include brain science and skills for mental fitness, emotional regulation and awareness of our thoughts and emotions, self-awareness and self-compassion, and mindful tools to deal with stress and life challenges.

 Available free of charge, each of the four modules can be taken in full or bite-size portions, facilitated by an adult or taken independently, and the content can be revised at learners’ convenience. Sessions utilize videos, interactive content, and guided practices.

Youth were integral in the development of the modules from start to finish. Five youths were consulted on information to include in the program and the look and feel of the modules. In the program itself, interviews with youth are included to feature their voices, opinions and experiences. Engaged throughout the entire process, youth were also involved in filming the modules and writing the scripts. “I really liked being part of developing MindFlip – filming, branding and developing something that I think is really useful for youth.” says Quinn, one of the youth involved in the development. 

One West Vancouver school reviewed the program recently and reported the benefits and ease of use. “Our class is LOVING MindFlip. I am doing it during snack time in little pieces….very meaningful and lots of places to pause and talk and absorb.”  Teacher, West Vancouver School District

In the future, MindFlip will be offered as a free resource for schools. “The first rollout of the program will be to schools, through teachers and school counsellors,” shares Ripley. “Our goal is to provide a flexible and practical program that is relatable to young people. Based on feedback from schools and youth, we aim to build and grow the program.”

School staff, parents, or youth who are interested in taking the MindFlip program, can request it by filling out this form.

If you or someone you know is aware of an agency or school that would benefit from MindFlip, please reach out to the Crisis Centre to see how this program can be utilized to build capacity within your school or organization by emailing info@crisiscentre.bc.ca.

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If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out:

• Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)
• Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433

Posted December 22nd, 2022 by Lina Moskaleva & Stephanie Quon 

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The Crisis Centre of BC is dedicated to preparing future helping professionals to be knowledgeable about suicide intervention and prepared to respond skillfully in crisis situations . This includes skills and confidence to recognize suicidal thoughts, speak directly about suicide, and help ensure safety by building a person’s connection to resources in their community.  

An example of how the Crisis Centre is doing this is a recent partnership with Douglas College’s Therapeutic Recreation program. This program prepares graduates to use leisure activities to support the health, wellbeing, and quality of life of individuals.  An instructor from the program reached out to the Crisis Centre in the Spring of 2022 with the idea of developing a course in  suicide response training to be part of the program curriculum that would allow both in person and online students to participate. The first iteration of the course was recently wrapped up.

“The  Crisis Centre of BC was very responsive to my inquiry and together we designed a format for delivery for students in on-line and in-person undergrad programs” says Janice Spencer, TR faculty instructor. “The content from the Crisis Centre is well paced and practical. Students have increased knowledge and competence about suicide awareness and response and they now have a strong connection to the Crisis Centre in their future professional practice.”

Lu Ripley, Director of the Centre’s Community Learning & Engagement team, shares: “We want future human services leaders to be able to respond to suicide. It can be challenging for many to talk about suicide, and this curriculum makes space for students to reflect on their attitudes and feelings, and how this also might fit into their cultural experiences.”

The course developed for the Douglas College Therapeutic Recreation program begins with an online asynchronous portion, followed by an in-person or virtual synchronous portion. The online portion includes a discussion about how the stigma surrounding suicide impacts both people in the helping professions  and people with thoughts of suicide. The course goes on to teach students how to recognize signs of suicidal ideation, the importance of starting direct conversations about suicide, and how to connect individuals with other resources that can help build safety. Finally, the online portion concludes with an opportunity for the students to reflect on their own feelings and attitudes concerning suicide.

The individual portion is run synchronously in-person or virtually and includes a question and answer period, practice scenarios, and a case study.

The feedback on the training has been exceptionally positive:50 percent of students rated it a ten out of ten on usefulness, with the other 50 percent giving an eight or a nine rating. Students reported that the combination of the asynchronous and synchronous portions had been helpful for learning how to apply their skills by having an opportunity to reflect on the content during the recorded session and practice during the live session. As one student stated, “It was a useful module because it gave me confidence and understanding in how we can respond [to suicide thoughts] and how to provide resources.”

“The training was economical and easy to insert into the curriculum, and we are hoping to learn from this to expand it to other programs like Nursing and Child and Youth Care,” says Ripley who wants to expand the collaboration to include other programs at Douglas College, as well as other colleges.

If you or someone you know is aware of an agency or school that would benefit from suicide response training, please email clecoordinator@crisiscentre.bc.ca to see how our wide spectrum of trainings can be utilized to build capacity within your school or organization.

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If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out:

• Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code required)
• Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433