It’s that giving time of year
VIMHS relies on the generosity and kindness of the community and people from all walks of life The VIMHS Annual Appeal is sent out in December each year, accompanied by the personal story of a resident living in VIMHS housing. It’s delivered by post and email to our...
Stigma a barrier to seeking and receiving treatment for people with substance use disorders
Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to seeking and receiving treatment for people with substance use disorders. Stigma often takes the form of biased attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. Understanding problematic perspectives and language use is essential for...
B.C. municipalities pass bylaws targeting homeless
New regulations preventing people from panhandling, sitting on sidewalks or sleeping in recreational vehicles and public spaces are making their way through B.C.’s suburbs and small communities, as those areas see increases in homelessness. Maple Ridge, a suburb of...
Derek Owusu: ‘Mental health issues that people find scary aren’t being talked about’
Derek Owusu was born in London in 1988. His new book, That Reminds Me, is published by Stormzy’s #Merky Books and is a novel-in-verse that explores identity, belonging, his experience of growing up in foster care, and his mental breakdown last year. Owusu edited the...
It’s that giving time of year
VIMHS relies on the generosity and kindness of the community and people from all walks of life The VIMHS Annual Appeal is sent out in December each year, accompanied by the personal story of a resident living in VIMHS housing. It’s delivered by post and email to our...
Recent Posts
For People First Media audio, please follow the link to the post.
VIMHS NEWS
It’s that giving time of year
VIMHS relies on the generosity and kindness of the community and people from all walks of life The VIMHS Annual Appeal is sent out in December each year, accompanied by the personal story of a resident living in VIMHS housing. It’s delivered by post and email to our...
VIMHS Currents for November 2019…read it here!
It's that giving time of year...Plus...Stories of recovery and service. A major rebuild of the VIMHS Rosehill site will deliver 23 units of new affordable housing in Nanaimo. Spotlight on VIMHS programs: Hearing Voices and Mental Health First Aid...and more. Download...
It’s Homelessness Action Week across British Columbia from October 13 to 19
Homelessness Action Week is an annual week-long campaign held in over 20 communities across British Columbia, Canada. The first Homelessness Action Week began in 2006 to increase participation and public support for solving homelessness by government, the private...
MEDIA SCAN
Derek Owusu: ‘Mental health issues that people find scary aren’t being talked about’
Derek Owusu was born in London in 1988. His new book, That Reminds Me, is published by Stormzy’s #Merky Books and is a novel-in-verse that explores identity, belonging, his experience of growing up in foster care, and his mental breakdown last year. Owusu edited the...
Frontlines of mental health: Police have become the new first responders for vulnerable Canadians
Last November, Michael Dawthorne stood in his sock feet in the freezing rain, trying to figure out how to keep his son alive for one more night. Dakota had run from their home in London, Ont., and down the street, waving an air gun his father had tried to confiscate....
Among homeless people, PTSD is widespread and widely overlooked
The psychiatrist in the windowless room on the second floor of the rehabilitation center in Utah didn’t say much. He asked a handful of questions, scribbled a few notes on a piece of paper and then, Millie Davidson says, he told her that she needed to take...
PEOPLE FIRST MEDIA
Stories of mental illness and recovery: Jillian Brown and B Adair
AUDIO | Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. It’s been observed yearly since 1992 and is coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and...
Stories of mental illness and recovery: Anita Manly and Brian Rose
AUDIO | Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. It’s been observed yearly since 1992 and is coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and...
Donald Fraser’s story of mental illness and recovery
AUDIO | Donald Fraser lives and works in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He’s a peer support worker with Island Health, interacting with and serving the needs of clients with mental health and substance use concerns. Half of his time is spent in outreach to homeless...
