Mental Health Symposium 2016

Screen+Shot+2019-12-28+at+6.55.35+PM.jpg
 
 
Screen+Shot+2019-12-28+at+6.54.40+PM.jpg

Our first event

On August 20th 2016, we partnered with Island Community Mental Health to hold a free, public mental health symposium.

This event was born due to a desire to help young people know what was available to them in their communities when it came to mental health services and resources. There were many resources out there but it seemed that people were still struggling to get the help they needed in their own communities, and were unaware that many of these resources existed due to stigma.

At the symposium, we had speakers Lisa Tate, parent speaker from FORCE Society; Ilia Fernandez, co-founder of the UVIC Mental Health Strategy; Kye Plant of the “Feelin Weird” Podcast; Christine Camaso, youth slam poet with lived experience; and Zoe Duhaime, youth poet laureate of Victoria.

With donations we raised $100 for a scholarship given to a young person with mental illness who intended to pursue schooling in the trades.

We also had a host of organizations that setup resource booths to share information with attendees.

thank yous

We would like to thank everyone who attended and showed their support and interest for mental health. In particular, we would like to thank the following:

  • Our volunteers!

  • Island Community Mental Health and in particular Kim Duffus

  • FORCE Society for Families (now known as FamilySmart)

  • Men’s Trauma Centre

  • BC Schizophrenia Society

  • South Island Divisions of Family Practice Sooke/Westshore Local Action Team

  • Need2 Suicide Prevention Education & Support

  • Umbrella Society for Addictions & Mental Health

  • The Zone 91.3 and CBC Radio for inviting us to speak about the event

Screen Shot 2019-12-28 at 6.56.11 PM.png
Screen Shot 2019-12-28 at 6.57.47 PM.png

Our sponsors

We would like to thank those who were able to help this event happen. Specifically, we would like to thank McCreary Centre Society for funding to hold this event and to Island Community Mental Health for letting us use their space on a beautiful, sunny August day.

We would also like to thank the following businesses for supporting us with food and gifts to giveaway:

  • Victoria Harbour Ferry

  • Habit Coffee

  • Landmark Cinemas

  • The Keg Stakehouse & Bar

  • AdrenaLine Zipline Adventures

  • Starbucks

  • Moksha Yoga

  • Davids Tea

  • Red Barn Market

  • The Sheiling

  • Cafe Fantastico

  • HealthLink BC