mental health

Michael Bosma was 25 at the time he disappeared in Kelowna on Jan. 9, 2006. (Facebook/Michael James Bosma - We Miss You!)

Missing for 17 years: Mom of Kelowna man holds some hope he might come home

Michael Bosma was last seen Jan. 9, 2006

Michael Bosma was 25 at the time he disappeared in Kelowna on Jan. 9, 2006. (Facebook/Michael James Bosma - We Miss You!)
A boy plays “Fortnite” in the early morning hours in the basement of his Chicago home on Oct. 6, 2018. A Quebec judge has authorized a lawsuit brought by parents whose children allegedly became addicted to the highly popular game Fortnite. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Martha Irvine

Quebec judge authorizes class-action lawsuit against ‘addictive’ Fortnite video game

‘The court concludes that there is a serious issue to be argued’

A boy plays “Fortnite” in the early morning hours in the basement of his Chicago home on Oct. 6, 2018. A Quebec judge has authorized a lawsuit brought by parents whose children allegedly became addicted to the highly popular game Fortnite. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Martha Irvine
The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada says important, unresolved issues exist in the pending expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental disorder. (The Canadian Press)

Canada should pause MAID for people with mental disorders: psychiatrists

Clear standards, public education are unresolved issues: national association

The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada says important, unresolved issues exist in the pending expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental disorder. (The Canadian Press)
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C.’s mental health minister hopes more people listen to stories of toxic drug crisis

Sheila Malcolmson says listening could change the way people view those impacted

Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson was among the nearly three dozen participants at Saturday’s (Nov. 26) Walk With Me event in Courtenay. Photo by Terry Farrell
Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The events leading up to the suicide of a 30-year-old Vancouver police officer will be the subject of a coroner’s inquest next month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Suicide of Vancouver police officer will be subject of coroner’s inquest

Family says death came during mental health crisis after 2 intimate affairs with superior officers

Police cars are seen parked outside Vancouver Police Department headquarters in Vancouver, on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The events leading up to the suicide of a 30-year-old Vancouver police officer will be the subject of a coroner’s inquest next month.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - A woman meditates on the beach in Miami Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. According to a study published Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety in the first head-to-head comparison. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Mindfulness worked as well as drug for easing anxiety in study

Mindfulness shown to help some intervene in their own state of mind

FILE - A woman meditates on the beach in Miami Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. According to a study published Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety in the first head-to-head comparison. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Contributed)

Kelowna Mountie pleads guilty to assault charges stemming from UBCO wellness check

Const. Lacy Browning was charged with assault after conducting a wellness check on a UBCO student

Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Contributed)
Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)

B.C. residential mental health facility to close over lack of funding

Owner worried over fate of residents as Fraser Health declines to enter contract with new owner

Buena Vista Lodge, a mental health facility with 12 beds, has been in operation in White Rock for over 50 years. The beds at the facility are funded by Fraser Health, but that funding will cease in June once the facility has been sold to a new owner. (Unsplash photo)
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while speaking in Burnaby, B.C., May 30, 2022. The B.C. government has announced a program to help reduce violence against health-care workers at 26 hospitals and mental health facilities across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nurses being punched, grabbed, kicked to benefit from anti-violence program: union

More then 300 protection service officers to be hired to help protect nurses

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix pauses while speaking in Burnaby, B.C., May 30, 2022. The B.C. government has announced a program to help reduce violence against health-care workers at 26 hospitals and mental health facilities across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Black Press Media)

Pediatric group releases guidelines for detecting anxiety in kids and youth

Canadian Paediatric Society says COVID-19 heightened pressures on many children and youth

(Black Press Media)
A bottle of Prozac is pictured at a company facility in Plainfield, Ind., Jan. 11, 2008.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Darron Cummings

Seniors in long-term care 3 times more likely to receive antidepressants than others

Just over 65 per cent of seniors living in long-term care were prescribed antidepressants in 2021

A bottle of Prozac is pictured at a company facility in Plainfield, Ind., Jan. 11, 2008.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Darron Cummings
About 17 per cent of British Columbians are currently experiencing a mental illness or substance use issue, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. (File photo)

COLUMN: Breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and PTSD

I always thought only those who were in a war had PTSD. I was wrong.

About 17 per cent of British Columbians are currently experiencing a mental illness or substance use issue, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. (File photo)
In this file photo, B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on May 31, 2022. On Oct. 3, 2022, she announced new supports for people exiting correctional facilities in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. expanding post-prison support services to all 10 correctional facilities

Length of support also expanding from 30 to 90 days

In this file photo, B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Sheila Malcolmson speaks during a news conference in Vancouver on May 31, 2022. On Oct. 3, 2022, she announced new supports for people exiting correctional facilities in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Fatigue, burnout hit spiritual leaders on the front lines of faith during pandemic

People assume religious leaders are ‘superhuman,’ one Canadian sociologist says

A woman prays on the steps outside St. Casimir Church in Toronto on Friday May 1, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Kids gather on one of the main docks in Tofino, as they participate in a massive global climate strike, in Tofino, B.C. on Sept. 27, 2019. In a national report released in 2022, study authors found climate change to be one of the top 10 threats facing children and youth in Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick)

Climate change now considered one of top threats facing Canadian children: report

Racism, poor mental health, bullying also identified by authors

Kids gather on one of the main docks in Tofino, as they participate in a massive global climate strike, in Tofino, B.C. on Sept. 27, 2019. In a national report released in 2022, study authors found climate change to be one of the top 10 threats facing children and youth in Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick)
Black Press Media (File photo)

Housing and healthcare supports coming for vulnerable Central Okanagan residents

New complex care spaces are expected to open this winter

Black Press Media (File photo)
Cariboo—Prince George MP Todd Doherty emotionally shared the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, Aug. 31, from the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Prince George. (Facebook)

988: National suicide prevention hotline coming November 2023

Cariboo Prince George MP Todd Doherty tearfully shared the news on Facebook

Cariboo—Prince George MP Todd Doherty emotionally shared the news on his Facebook page Wednesday, Aug. 31, from the parking lot of Canadian Tire in Prince George. (Facebook)
From left: Lachlan Gustafson-Thomas, Patricia Rawson, Angela McNulty-Buell, Heather Forbes and Robertina Saavedra from the Bridges for Women Society standing alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Grace Lore. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Funding boost for Victoria organization will bolster mental health supports for B.C. women

Funding will help provide women across the province with trauma counselling, referral supports

From left: Lachlan Gustafson-Thomas, Patricia Rawson, Angela McNulty-Buell, Heather Forbes and Robertina Saavedra from the Bridges for Women Society standing alongside Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity Grace Lore. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied

B.C. mom uses ribbons to honour late son, shed light on mental illness

Judi Hills says we need to do more to end the stigma associated with mental illness

Judi Hills tied a ribbon to a tree in the Puntledge Park neighbourhood in memory of her son and of all the people who have struggled in silence. Photo supplied
In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, a man uses a cell phone in New Orleans. Pressure is mounting for Canada to establish a three-digit suicide crisis hotline, similar to the one implemented by the United States this weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jenny Kane

Mental health experts say Canada should have a three-digit suicide crisis hotline

New 988 mental health hotline launched by American authorities on Saturday

In this Aug. 11, 2019, file photo, a man uses a cell phone in New Orleans. Pressure is mounting for Canada to establish a three-digit suicide crisis hotline, similar to the one implemented by the United States this weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jenny Kane