mental health

HeChangedIt has created a safe space for men to connect those who have lived experience and those looking for help. (pixabay)

Blue Monday: Okanagan company wants to spread love before it is too late

HeChangedIt wants people to post, tell or show someone that they care about them this Blue Monday

 

FILE - The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, June 14, 2023. Meta said in a blog post Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, that it will start restricting inappropriate content for teenagers' accounts on Instagram and Facebook, such as posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)

Meta to block suicide, eating disorder posts from teenagers’ feeds

Company says Facebook and Instagram will take steps to block ‘age-inappropriate’ material

 

An unnamed school district in British Columbia has been ordered by the province’s human rights tribunal to pay $5,000 to a student for failing to accommodate her anxiety disorder. The office that houses the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is seen in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, March 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nono Shen

B.C. school district fined for failing to address student’s anxiety

Unnamed district fined $5,ooo by human rights tribunal

 

Laurel Walker smiles in an undated handout photo. Walker says she wants a stop to the planned expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental illness because funding should instead be put into providing treatment, which is inaccessible for so many people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Laurel Walker

Critics caution against plan to expand MAID to those with mental illness

Some say there isn’t enough evidence to show people can’t recover from mental illness

Laurel Walker smiles in an undated handout photo. Walker says she wants a stop to the planned expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental illness because funding should instead be put into providing treatment, which is inaccessible for so many people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Laurel Walker
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside says the Bridging Care program is a welcoming place where people can build skills to better manage their mental health. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Mental health program at Greater Victoria hospital makes a difference

The Bridging Care program provides mental health support and services

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside says the Bridging Care program is a welcoming place where people can build skills to better manage their mental health. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
B.C.’s Crown prosecutors are suffering high levels of burnout, according to a recent survey by the association representing them. (Pixabay)

More than half of B.C. Crown prosecutors suffering burnout: survey

Large caseloads, dimishing resources are compounding, says B.C. Crown Counsel Association president

B.C.’s Crown prosecutors are suffering high levels of burnout, according to a recent survey by the association representing them. (Pixabay)
Movember was originally launched in Australia and has since become a worldwide movement to help men’s health issues. (File contributed/ Benjamin Wilson, spangdahlem.af.mil)

‘Mustaches and mental health’ Movember wraps up around Greater Victoria

217,0000 men in Canada have been diagnosed with prostate cancer

Movember was originally launched in Australia and has since become a worldwide movement to help men’s health issues. (File contributed/ Benjamin Wilson, spangdahlem.af.mil)
Abeer Smadi started the health cultural ambassador program to help combat mental health stigma among refugees and immigrants. So far, it has helped 400 people receive mental health assistance. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)

‘Tackling stigma’ Victoria group aims to help immigrants, refugees

The group helped more than 400 individuals

Abeer Smadi started the health cultural ambassador program to help combat mental health stigma among refugees and immigrants. So far, it has helped 400 people receive mental health assistance. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)
File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Facebook and Instagram users in Europe are getting the option to pay for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

Former Meta engineering leader to testify before Congress on Instagram’s harms to teens

On the same day whistleblower Frances Haugen was testifying before Congress about…

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. Facebook and Instagram users in Europe are getting the option to pay for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Veterinarian Neil Pothier of the Bayview Animal Hospital treats a cat in Digby, N.S., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Veterinarians in Canada say they are experiencing extreme burnout and plummeting mental health due to staff shortages, a booming number of animal patients and the round-the-clock stress of the job. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Tolson

Many veterinarians in Canada are facing extreme burnout

Staff shortages, increasing pet patients behind decline in mental health

Veterinarian Neil Pothier of the Bayview Animal Hospital treats a cat in Digby, N.S., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Veterinarians in Canada say they are experiencing extreme burnout and plummeting mental health due to staff shortages, a booming number of animal patients and the round-the-clock stress of the job. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Tolson
Some of the work done by the sewing initiative. The group got together to help people battle loneliness and will host a bazaar on Dec. 9-10 at 850 Blanshard St. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)

Greater Victoria group stitches together relief from loneliness

Immigrant population more likely to deal with feelings of loneliness

Some of the work done by the sewing initiative. The group got together to help people battle loneliness and will host a bazaar on Dec. 9-10 at 850 Blanshard St. (News Staff/Thomas Eley)
Neeraj Grewal, centre manager, with Heather Brazier, Victoria Youth Clinic board chair, at the new Foundry Victoria location on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Foundry Victoria expands offerings to serve region’s youth

New location nearly double the size of previous space to support expanded care teams

Neeraj Grewal, centre manager, with Heather Brazier, Victoria Youth Clinic board chair, at the new Foundry Victoria location on Yates Street. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Muralist Renee Audy’s I AM Community towers on the side of the community hall in Millet, Alta. and depicts a five-year-old girl and a retired school teacher from the community, counting, smelling and playing with flowers in a local wildflower garden. (Courtesy Renee Audy)

Victoria artist targets 100 murals to drive positivity, mental wellbeing

I Am project looks to empower people, support mental health and spread positivity

Muralist Renee Audy’s I AM Community towers on the side of the community hall in Millet, Alta. and depicts a five-year-old girl and a retired school teacher from the community, counting, smelling and playing with flowers in a local wildflower garden. (Courtesy Renee Audy)
Toys “R” Us at Willowbrook Shopping Centre. File photo

Amid a mental health crisis, toy industry takes on a new role: building resilience

As more children emerge from the pandemic grappling with mental health issues,…

Toys “R” Us at Willowbrook Shopping Centre. File photo
As qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics approached, Molly Carlson found herself in a dark place. She was struggling through a binge eating disorder, had body dysmorphia, and was constantly comparing her body to the other athletes on Canada’s diving team. Carlson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Coaching Association of Canada

Canadian diver encourages youth to speak up ahead of World Mental Health Day

Molly Carlson says she had to focus on her well-being before she could turn back to her Olympic dream

As qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics approached, Molly Carlson found herself in a dark place. She was struggling through a binge eating disorder, had body dysmorphia, and was constantly comparing her body to the other athletes on Canada’s diving team. Carlson is seen in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Coaching Association of Canada
California Gov. Gavin Newsom answers a question concerning three gun control measures he signed during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 26, 2023. An alternative mental health court program designed to fast-track people with untreated schizophrenia into housing and medical care starts in San Francisco and six other California counties. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

California’s mental health court rolls out to high expectations and uncertainty

Program will fast-track people with psychotic disorders into housing and medical care

California Gov. Gavin Newsom answers a question concerning three gun control measures he signed during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Sept. 26, 2023. An alternative mental health court program designed to fast-track people with untreated schizophrenia into housing and medical care starts in San Francisco and six other California counties. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
A new StatCan report links cyberbullying to mental health issues in adolescents. THE NEWS/files

Cyberbullying hurting 1 in 4 Canadian youths: StatCan

Study says youth who have been victimized online have a greater risk of mental health issues

A new StatCan report links cyberbullying to mental health issues in adolescents. THE NEWS/files
A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Returning to school in September can be a “mixed picture” for students as some deal with higher levels of anxiety as change can be a stressful situation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

New school year can lead to higher levels of anxiety for students: B.C. doctor

BC Children’s Hospital noted increase in mental-health visits at start of 2022-23 school year

A elementary student arrives for his first day back to school in Montreal, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. Returning to school in September can be a “mixed picture” for students as some deal with higher levels of anxiety as change can be a stressful situation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Leah Schulting, executive director of the South Okanagan Canadian Mental Health Association hands out medals at the Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health on Sunday. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health a smashing success, raises over $30K

Around 170 pickleball athletes from across B.C. participated in weekend event

Leah Schulting, executive director of the South Okanagan Canadian Mental Health Association hands out medals at the Penticton Pickleball for Mental Health on Sunday. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Gavel (file photo)

Victims question B.C. psychiatric release, lawyers reject knee-jerk response

Questions abound about the process in the wake of Vancouver Chinatown stabbings

Gavel (file photo)