“We don’t have a co-ordinated, seamless system and that’s what we need. Addiction issues often stem from mental health issues, from poverty and homelessness. I have a background that takes a broad view of these things.”

Last week, B.C. premier John Horgan appointed Judy Darcy as “minister of mental health and addictions.” It’s a brand new ministry that doesn’t even have a budget yet. Darcy is a former national president of the 500,000-member Canadian Union of Public Employees. Health Issues reporter Pamela Fayerman interviewed her by phone.  Read the rest of this article at The Vancouver Sun…

July 28, 2017 — To our community partners:
After three and a half years, our executive director, Barnabas Walther will be leaving Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.  On behalf of the board of directors we would like to thank Barnabas for the contributions he has made as executive director and wish him well in his future endeavours.
This change takes effect immediately.  As we transition, clinical manager Taryn O’Flanagan will be the management contact person. Taryn can be reached by phone at 250-758-8711 or by email at clinical.manager@vimhs.org.
Our organization remains committed to excellence in psychosocial rehabilitation for adults with mental health and addictions concerns and/or cognitive challenges.  We remain committed to engage communities through programs that promote recovery, social inclusion, safe housing and public education.
Over our 40 year history, our community partners have been an integral part of our reaching our goals.  We thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely, Valerie Fulford, President, Board of Directors

The idea is to create acceptance and to normalize the care of mental health in the workplace, the place where many people spend the majority of their waking hours

Every week, half a million workers in Canada call in sick because of mental health problems. This can run the gamut from anxiety and depression that workers carry with them from their lives outside work to conditions caused or worsened by the workplace.  Read the rest of this article at The Globe and Mail…