The Catalyst

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has a free, self-paced, online course on Mental Health First Aid. There are different streams, including "Mental Health First Aid Basic," "Mental Health First Aid Adults Who Interact with Youth," and more.

"Mental Health First Aid (MHFA),www.mhfa.ca, is the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered to an injured person before medical treatment can be obtained, MHFA is given until appropriate treatment is found or until the crisis is resolved."

Click the link below to learn more.

Visit https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/what-we-do/mental-health-first-aid/ to view the full article online.

Family Smart has a variety of free online and over-the-phone resources for families in BC.

The BC Parent Peer Support program provides emotional support, information, resources, and help navigating services for parents and caregivers of any child, youth, or young adult with mental health and substance use challenges.

There are also online events for parents and caregivers, including the "Beyond Behaviours" presentation and facilitated discussion.

Family Smart's website also has resources, videos, and two different workshop offerings for families, schools, and professionals.

Visit https://familysmart.ca to view the full article online.

Did you know that Simon Fraser University has a free, online resource where you can learn about research in children's mental health?

"The Quarterly provides summaries of the best available research evidence on a variety of children’s mental health topics, prepared using systematic review and synthesis methods adapted from the Cochrane Collaboration and Evidence-Based Mental Health. Our goal is to improve outcomes for children by informing policy and practice. The BC Ministry of Children and Family Development funds the Quarterly."

The most recent edition is "Preventing childhood eating disorders"

Visit https://childhealthpolicy.ca/the-quarterly/ to view the full article online.

Did you know that there is a digital issue library for BC Counsellor Magazine?

When you click on the link, you can read articles from past editions such as:

"Counsellors Co-opting Kindness" by John-Tyler Binfet, PhD

"Hope: An Essential Resource for School Counsellors" by Rebecca Hudson Breen, PhD, and Denise Larsen, PhD

"Laughter as a Tool for Counselling" by Suki Davis

Visit https://www.bccounsellor-digital.com/bcot/library/ to view the full article online.

We are excited to announce two upcoming Workshops with BC Children's Hospital.

Supporting Neurodiverse Children & Youth in Our Schools with Dr. Robin Freedlander and the Compass Team.

Save the date!
February 26th @ 10AM-11AM for Secondary Counsellors
March 4th @ 10AM-11AM for Elementary Counsellors

More details to come...

Visit http://www.bcchildrens.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/mental-health/compass-1-855-702-7272 to view the full article online.

We invite you to join our BCSCA Members Only Facebook Group to take part in casual and professional conversations and learn about and share upcoming professional development opportunities. Search "BCSCA Members Only" on Facebook. 

Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1041691956629342 to view the full article online.

The BCSCA is excited to announce that Dr. Vidya Shah has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the next conference. Dr. Shah is an educator, scholar and activist committed to equity and racial justice in the service of liberatory education. She is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University, and her research explores anti-racist and decolonial approaches to leadership in schools, communities, and school districts. She also explores educational barriers to the success and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students. You can read more about her work at the link below.

The next BCSCA Conference will take place in Victoria, BC

Visit https://www.yorku.ca/edu/unleading/ to view the full article online.

Twice a year, the BC School Counsellors' Association publishes an issue of BC Counsellor magazine. Click this link to visit the issue library and read past issues of the magazine.

We are always looking for ideas and contributors. If you enjoy writing and have an idea for an article you would be willing to share with colleagues in BC and beyond, then please email publications chair, William Nicholls-Allison (willnichollsallison@gmail.com), and see the attached author guidelines for more information.

The deadline for submissions to the Spring 2024 edition is January 29th.
The deadline for submissions to the Fall 2024 edition is July 17th.

Click the link bellow to read the Writer Submission Guidelines

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/bco-nwl/pdf/Writer_Submission_Guidelines.pdf to view the full article online.