British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

The BC Schizophrenia Society Partnership Education program began in 1990. Since, then thousands of British Columbians have received “Partnership” presentations from hundreds of trained BCSS volunteers.

A Partnership presentation is a panel of three guest speakers - a person with a psychiatric diagnosis, a family member, and a mental health professional. The three guests are presented as a team and each describes their own personal experience with mental illness.

Partnership Education is based on a personal storytelling model. It is a unique and powerful presentation that helps people in the community to understand the nature and prevalence of chronic and severe mental illness.

Being able to listen to and talk with people who have real personal experiences helps others in the community to understand the nature and prevalence of chronic and severe mental illness. It is an effective way to get the message out - to students, to people employed in mental health, or to those who work daily with the public.

Groups who use the BCSS Partnership Program regularly include;

• BC Transit Drivers
• Elementary and High Schools
• Municipal Police and RCMP Officers
• UBC Physicians Resident in Psychiatry
• UBC Medical Students
• Psychiatric Nursing Students (UBC and other BC college)
• UBC School of Occupational Therapy
• Colleges and Universities
• Church Groups
• Home Support Workers
• Financial Aid Workers
• Mental Health Centres
• Social Workers

For information about volunteering for or arranging for a partnership program in your area, please contact your local branch, your local coordinator, or the provincial office