Surrey Schools recognizes World Mental Health Day with supports & resources
Today (Thursday, Oct. 10) is World Mental Health Day, and in recognition, the district is highlighting a number of resources for students, staff and parents to support their mental health.
Founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1992, World Mental Health Day seeks to increase mental health education around the world while raising awareness and advocacy against social stigma. This year’s theme is It is time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace, and Surrey Schools’ Education Services District Principal Daniel To has taken the lead on promoting the day within district schools and offices with a personal essay on his own mental health.
“I am not always well,” writes To. “I typically feel great physically and generally feel well mentally – but that’s not always the case.
“Like physical wellness, our mental health does fluctuate, and this is normal. Recognizing this in ourselves is critical to making sure that we take the steps to remain healthy overall. Knowing what triggers our physical and mental distress, understanding what we can do to minimize these triggers and finding ways to rebuild our physical and mental resilience are key to helping us remain healthy overall. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that you are physically sick or that your mental health is not what it should be.”
To read the full essay, visit our Mental Health and Well-Being page for World Mental Health Day
There are a number of district and community resources available to support students, parents, families and staff in improving their mental health.
Mental Health Videos
Last year, the district produced an series of animated mental health videos in multiple languages, offering insight and support to elementary and secondary students and their families in need of support.
The series covered six themes that were identified by district counsellors and school psychologists as common issues that children and teens face in their academic, social and emotional growth.
- Navigating Life Changes
- Digital Stress
- Healthy vs. Unhealthy Stress
- Health and Wellness
- Healthy Relationships
- Body Image
Resources & Supports
Below is a comprehensive list of crisis supports, health resources, counselling options and smartphone apps for mindfulness and guided meditation to help students and families experiencing mental health issues, at this time of year and throughout the year.
Crisis Supports:
- Kids Help Phone | 1-800-668-6868 (toll free) or text CONNECT to 686868 – Confidential and anonymous telephone and online counselling and referral service for young people up to age 20, available 24/7.
- Kids Help Phone Online Chat | kidshelpphone.ca – Available Wednesday to Sunday, 3 to 11 p.m. in B.C. to connect you with a Kids Help Phone counsellor, on the web or from a smartphone.
- Fraser Health Crisis Line | 604-951-8855 or 1-877-820-7444 (toll free) – Trained volunteers provide emotional crisis support 24/7.
- Short Term Assessment Response Team (START) | 1-844-START 11 (1-844-782-7811) – Provides assessment and intervention services to children and teens (ages 6 to 18) experiencing a mental health crisis. Available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends and holidays, noon to 9 p.m.
- Mental Health Support Line (24/7 all ages) | 310-6789
- United Way Centraide | Call 2-1-1 – Information/referral for community, government and social services support.
- Emergency Mental Health Crisis | Call 9-1-1 – Car 67 Mental Health Police Response
- Suicide Crisis Helpline | Call 9-8-8
- Suicide Prevention Crisis Line | 1-800-784-2433
- Suicide Prevention Education and Counselling (SPEAC) | 604-584- 5811
- Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service | 604-660-9382 or 1-800-663-1441 (toll free)
- Kuu-us Crisis Response Services | 1-800-588-8717 (toll free) – Provides 24/7 culturally aware crisis support to Indigenous people in B.C.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line | 1-855-242-3310 (toll free) – Offers 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention by phone or online chat. Available in French, English, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
- Métis Crisis Line | 1-833-638-4722 – Provides 24/7 metal health support, including crisis intervention and access to crisis programs.
Child and Youth Mental Health Clinics:
- Cloverdale | 604-951-5701
- Guildford | 604-586-2685
- Newton | 604-501-3122
- North Surrey | 604-951-5960
- South Surrey / White Rock | 604-542-3900 cymhsrss.com
Other Resources:
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre | keltymentalhealth.ca – Resources for students, families and educators.
Foundry BC | foundrybc.ca – Offers young people ages 12 to 24 health and wellness resources, services and supports-online and through integrated services in communities across B.C.
Fraser Health Child and Youth Mental Health Resources | fraserhealth.ca
Here to Help | heretohelp.bc.ca
Anxiety Canada | anxietycanada.com
Canadian Mental Health Association | cmha.ca
Mental Health Commission of Canada | mentalhealthcommission.ca
Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support | www.canada.ca
Counselling:
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors| 1-800-909-6303 or bc-counsellors.org
BC Psychological Association | psychologists.bc.ca
DIVERSEcity – Multicultural Counselling Services | 604-597-0205 or dcrs.ca
Sources Community Resource Centre | 604-531-6226 or sourcesbc.ca – Provides support for individuals and families.
Peace Arch Hospice Society | 604-531-7484 or peacearchhospice.org – Offers grief counselling.
Alex House | 604-535-0015 or alexhouse.net
Together White Rock / South Surrey | together-wr.com
Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental Health Services | 604-586-4200
FRAFCA (Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association) | frafca.org
Apps & Mindfulness Recordings
Guided Mindfulness Meditations by Dr.Vo | Kelty Mental Health keltymentalhealth.ca
UCLA free guided mindfulness meditations | http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22
Mindful Teen Website | http://mindfulnessforteens.com/guided-meditations/
Apps: Headspace | Calm | Breathe2Relax | MoodGym | Breathr | Mindshift | Mind Your Mood | What’s Up? | Smiling Mind | Stop, Breathe, Think | Insight Timer
