mental health

Stress dog Beacon is the newest member to join the Saanich Police Department. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

‘He gives you a few kisses’: Saanich police’s newest recruit is a good boy

Black lab named Beacon will serve as operational stress intervention dog

Stress dog Beacon is the newest member to join the Saanich Police Department. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
(Black Press file image)

Just a bit of exercise can improve mental health, scientists, psychologists say

It’s that time of year when gloomy weather and New Year’s resolutions…

(Black Press file image)
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroner’s inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

Const. Nicole Chan had history with suicide prior to VPD hiring her, inquest hears

Applicants with suicidal history almost never hired, Vancouver police psychologist testifies

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroner’s inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
Jennifer Chan, front left, the sister of late Vancouver Police Const. Nicole Chan, who died by suicide in 2019, leaves a coroner’s inquest, in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VPD Const. Nicole Chan pleaded for ‘justice’ in victim statement before suicide

Ongoing coroner’s inquest is examining the facts around Chan’s 2019 death

Jennifer Chan, front left, the sister of late Vancouver Police Const. Nicole Chan, who died by suicide in 2019, leaves a coroner’s inquest, in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)

Vancouver Const. Nicole Chan was blackmailed into sex, coroner’s inquest hears

Sister testified Chan was feeling hopeless about outcome of sexual assault complaint before death

Vancouver police constable Nicole Chan died by suicide on Jan. 27, 2019. A coroners’ inquest into her death is seeking to determine the facts around what happened. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chan)
The Bell Canada logo is seen Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Montreal. Bell Canada says it is revamping its Bell Let’s Talk campaign for mental health for 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Bell to drop five-cent ‘Let’s Talk’ pledge in favour of $10M donation

Change marks a “fundamental shift” in Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign

The Bell Canada logo is seen Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in Montreal. Bell Canada says it is revamping its Bell Let’s Talk campaign for mental health for 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)

The growing toll of job injuries you can’t see in B.C.

Workers are increasingly reporting mental health challenges and the struggle to have them recognized

  • Dec 28, 2022
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)
B.C. non-profit Health Justice is calling for more human rights in the Mental Health Act. (Credit: Pixabay)

Weave human rights into B.C.’s Mental Health Act, urges report

Act fails to safeguard people at their most vulnerable, says Health Justice report

  • Dec 19, 2022
B.C. non-profit Health Justice is calling for more human rights in the Mental Health Act. (Credit: Pixabay)
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

  • Dec 18, 2022
Michael Bosma was 25 at the time he disappeared in Kelowna on Jan. 9, 2006. (Facebook/Michael James Bosma - We Miss You!)
Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)

Greater Victoria calendar sales inspire mental health, help hospice

Greater Victoria firefighters calendar sales support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Firefighters of Greater Victoria use their latest calendar as a venue to highlight how members cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders. (Saanich Firefighter Charitable/Facebook)
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

Minister of mental health and addictions among participants at Walk With Me event

Comox Valley-Strathcona-North Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Charmaine Enns also participated

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
Coastal Sage Healing House at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria will provide six treatment beds for women and non-binary people with moderate-to-severe substance-use challenges. (Courtesy Island Health)

Victoria hospital to house 6 beds for women and non-binary people facing substance-use challenges

Coastal Sage Healing House expected to welcome first participants early next year

Coastal Sage Healing House at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria will provide six treatment beds for women and non-binary people with moderate-to-severe substance-use challenges. (Courtesy Island Health)
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)
A video about peer-assisted care teams is shown during a presentation at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s State of the Island Economic Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 26. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Mental health and substance-use solutions pitched at Vancouver Island summit

Preventative actions, correctional release support, industry-focused resources discussed

A video about peer-assisted care teams is shown during a presentation at the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s State of the Island Economic Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 26. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
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
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