Depression Anxiety Education and Screening Day
Contact information
Sarah Hamid-Balma: 604-688-3234, [email protected], www.heretohelp.bc.ca/events
Cost
Free
Agency Name
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division and Centre for Addictions Research of BC
Year Developed
1994
Availability
Central Vancouver Island
East Kootenay
Fraser Valley
Kootenay-Boundary
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
North Vancouver Island
Northeast BC
Northern Interior
Northwest BC
Okanagan
Richmond
Simon Fraser
South Fraser
South Vancouver Island
Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap
Vancouver
Topics
Mental Health promotion, anxiety (general), mood disorders (general), depression, bipolar disorder, suicide, alcohol
Includes
Information sheets, activity sheets, cards, posters, tip sheets, workshop, presentation by professionals/community organization, screening self-tests and debrief interviews with clinicians
Format
Website, DVD
Presentations Training
Whole school, classroom, half-day
Target Audience
Students (Grade 6)
Students (Grade 7)
Students (Grade 8)
Students (Grade 9)
Students (Grade 10)
Students (Grade 11)
Students (Grade 12)
Tailoring
Some translated materials for multilingual audiences and Aboriginal material.
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Personal development (mental well-being): 8-12, personal development (substance abuse prevention): 8-12
Delivered By
Teachers/school staff, outside professional/community organization, students (with school/org oversight), parents (with school/org oversight)
Training Needed
Orientation/training conference and extranet
Resource Evaluated
External evaluator, evaluation results available from Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
Evaluation Type
Feedback form, formal evaluation
Content Reviewed
Reviewed by CMHA BC staff
Notes
Material can be adapted to differing curriculum models and school timetables
Every October, this BC Partners project supports interested community partners across BC to host local events to improve knowledge, skills and attitudes around depression, anxiety, and related issues such as suicide and risky drinking. High school students are one common target audience. Events are free, anonymous, drop-in and locally adapted. Students might be engaged by presentations, displays, fairs, DVDs, board games, along with the option for screening self-tests followed by one-on-one debriefs with a clinician to talk about next steps. They learn more about the signs and symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, and the range of community supports and treatments that can help. There are a number of population-specific screens including ones for child/youth depression, anxiety and youth risky drinking. Beyond the Blues is not about diagnosis; screenings are conversation-starters and are used as an engagement tool and for early detection. The Ministry of Children and Family Development is one of more than a dozen endorsing agencies.
