Re-Frame Re-Casts Schizophrenia and Psychosis

B.C. Schizophrenia Society Set To Host Discussions at Upcoming Event Celebrating Hope for Patients, Families, and Our Community

VANCOUVER, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - On May 23rd, the B.C. Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) is hosting Re-Frame: The Broad Impacts of Schizophrenia, an educational meeting focused on the recovery journey and hope for individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, BC from 10 am to 2 pm.

"Re-Frame brings individuals living with schizophrenia and psychosis, their loved ones, and health professionals together," says Andrew Stewart, interim executive director for the B.C. Schizophrenia Society. "In the same room, the group can work together to find reasons to hope and ways to cope with the life-changing effects of schizophrenia and psychosis."

This event serves to help people work together to find solutions to the challenges they face when supporting people living with schizophrenia and psychosis. A free event, Re-Frame is taking place in conjunction with other events across Canada as a part of the National Schizophrenia and Psychosis Awareness Day.

Some of the confirmed attendees for Re-Frame include Erin Emiru, Bryn Ditmars, and members of the South Fraser Early Psychosis Intervention team. Emiru is the author of "When Quietness Came: A neuroscientist's personal journey with schizophrenia", winner of the 2019 Courage to Come Back Award, and a peer support worker. Ditmars is author of "The Man Who Mistook Himself for the Messiah", an established artist, and also a peer support worker. The South Fraser Early Psychosis Intervention team serves South Fraser residents aged 13 to 35 and their families as they navigate their way to better mental health.

Re-Frame is now in its 2nd year, and BCSS hopes to continue to build it to be an important event to the community of families helping families cope with schizophrenia and psychosis here in Vancouver. Amelia** was able to bring along her sister, Christine** to attend last year's Re-Frame. Since 2013, Christine has been fighting a battle with late onset paranoid schizophrenia and has only reached stability in the last two years.

"My sister and I both listened to one of the speakers, and then afterwards we were able to use her story as a way to discuss [my sister's] mental illness and the way it impacted us as a family," says Amelia. "I think it's important for family and friends to have a place they can come together and say 'yes' this happened and 'yes' this is still a struggle, but we have reasons to hope."

"Supporting someone with schizophrenia is hard," continues Stewart. "And we hope that people coming to Re-Frame can leave with a better understanding of how we are all this together."

This year, topics of discussion will focus on two major pillars – recognizing serious mental illness and stabilizing serious mental illness. Generously sponsored by Janssen Canada, admission is free and everyone is welcome. To find out more or to register, please visit www.bcss.org/re-frame.

** pseudonyms by request of interviewees

British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 by families and friends of people with schizophrenia. Since then, BCSS has grown into a province-wide family support system. BCSS is dedicated to supporting families and helping families support each other, educating the public, raising funds for research and advocating for better services for people with schizophrenia and other serious and persistent mental illness. For more information, visit www.bcss.org.

SOURCE British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

Media Contact: Jean Fong, Marketing and Communications Manager, B.C. Schizophrenia Society, [email protected] | 604-754-2919