The North Shore Schizophrenia Society is here to help you cope - with support, information, counselling, education, advocacy and fellowship.

The NSSS consists of family members and friends of the mentally ill who know what others are going through, and can help by sharing their experience.

At the heart of our operation is the Family Support Centre: suite 205, 1865 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, open between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Please call us at 604-926-0856 to arrange an appointment.  If you're not free during those hours, we'll meet with you when you can make it.  Residents of the Sea to Sky corridor can call the Centre at the above number or contact Sue, our contact person in Squamish, at 604-898-9372.

The Centre provides personal support and information on major mental illnesses - schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and eating disorders. We also provide a wide range of programs, plus education and information for schools and the general public. To find out more about these programs and our other activities, please explore this website.

Family-to-Family Registration for Spring Session
The spring session of Family-to-Family, our intensive education course for family members, runs Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. from January 19 to April 13 in West Vancouver and Tuesday evenings March 2 to May 18 in Squamish.  This twelve-session course helps family members understand and support their ill relatives while maintaining their own well-being.  The course is taught by a team of trained volunteer family members, who know what it's like to have a loved one with a serious mental illness.  There is no cost to participate in the Family-to-Family program and all family members in the Metro Vancouver area and Sea to Sky corridor are welcome.  Read a recent article on the course here. See the full curriculum here.  If you are interested in taking the course, please contact Marguerite at the Family Support Centre at 604-926-0856.  Spaces are still available for the Squamish class.  The West Vancouver class is full, but it's never too early to put your name on the wait list - the fall session will start mid-September 2010.  Family members in need of immediate support should contact the Centre without delay - one-on-one services are available year-round at no charge.

NSSS Response to Trevor Lautens Column
Letter to the Editor by Herschel Hardin, December 4, 2009.
Original article by Trevor Lautens, November 27, 2009.
Read more articles and NSSS news in our Media Centre.

A Festive Night!
The NSSS Christmas banquet is a festive tradition that just keeps growing!  Over 120 people attended this year's banquet on Saturday, December 5 - one of the biggest crowds we've ever had - including several guests who made the trip all the way from Squamish.  It was a great night, starting with musical entertainment by the West Vancouver Adult Pops Band - it just wouldn't be Christmas without them - and merry master of ceremonies Herschel Hardin.  Guests enjoyed a delicious roast beef dinner with all the trimmings and one person commented that it was "the best meal he'd ever had."  After dinner, Dave Myles and Daryle Sherman took to the stage to sing and play, to the delight of all in attendance.  And the night just wouldn't be complete without a guest appearance by Santa Claus and his assistant elf, with gifts for all our honoured guests.  Special thanks to the volunteers who gave their time and energy to make this year's Christmas banquet an event to remember!  Mark your calendar for the next NSSS Christmas banquet on December 4, 2010 - same time, same place.

Physical Health and Mental Health
It has a fancy name: Metabolic Syndrome - weight gain, risk of heart disease, diabetes, and more.  Add mental illness, and you have an even higher potential for early death.  Because so many medications cause weight gain and other side effects, the mentally ill are particularly susceptible to the effects of metabolic syndrome.  For many, there is so much focused on their mental health that their physical health really doesn't get the attention it needs and deserves.  Dr. Jane Dumontet discussed the syndrome in detail, along with the warning signs, and ways to help prevent problems at our public education evening on Wednesday, November 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lions Gate Hospital auditorium.  Read more in the news release in our Media Centre.  Email us for a copy of Dr. Dumontet's slide presentation.

Estate Planning Workshop
Thanks to Rose-Marie Goodwin and Eduard Fidler for presenting an informative and interesting workshop on estate and will planning at the District of North Vancouver Library Capilano Branch on Saturday, November 14.  Rose-Marie covered estate planning and writing the will - everything from representation agreements and guardianship to what happens to estates when there is no will.  Eduard then explained the tax advantages of making charitable gifts in a will, and outlined several strategies to make it possible to leave a gift for charity without reducing the bequest amount for family and friends.  The handouts from the workshop are available at the Family Support Centre, as well as contact information for both presenters, for those who would like to learn more.  Click here for our Wills and estates page.

NSSS Calls for Case Review
One year after the death of her brother, Halina Haboosheh is speaking out about the case in the hope that it will help save lives.  NSSS submitted a letter to Vancouver Coastal Health Interim President and CEO Dr. David Ostrow with a detailed description of how the system failed Marek - a man who was obviously very ill and in need of treatment - and how the many attempts by his sister to get him help were brushed off.  Read the full text of the letter, NSSS news release, and related news stories in the Media Centre.  Update: VCHA is in the process of setting up a formal review of the case - check back for more news.

Circle of Strength Video on YouTube
Even if you didn't make it to our first big fundraiser on May 2, you can still watch the video shown at the event, featuring ten family members sharing their stories.

Family Support Group
The Family Support Group meets on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If you wish to attend, please call 604-926-0856 to register and confirm the next date .

The Family Support Group provides an opportunity for those whose loved ones have a mental illness to share experiences and insights with each other. For details, see our Support groups page.

Sea to Sky Family Support Group
For those who live in or near Squamish or Whistler, our Sea to Sky Family Support Group meets in Squamish on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.  For more information, please call 604-898-9372.

 If you wish to support the work of this website or the North Shore Schizophrenia Society's programs generally, you can now do so online, using the facilities of Canada Helps, the online donations agency for non-profit groups in Canada. It's the quick and easy way to help us continue to offer counselling, education and other support services. Click here to view our page on Canada Helps.