ReachOut  is developed and managed by the BC Schizophrenia Society. Funding for this project was provided by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of PHSA. We are proud to present ReachOut, a program which educates young people and their parents about psychosis, and in a fun and interactive environment reduces the stigma surrounding mental illness. In the 2007-2008 school year alone, we reached over 24,000 youth with a message helping them to spot and stop psychosis early. (Click here for a video showing what our presentation is like.)

Information for Families and Teachers

In addition to the school concert for youth, ReachOut also provides resources and information for teachers and parents. Teachers are given resources on psychosis, and information on how to spot and stop this brain condition early. Early medical treatment of psychosis has been shown to be very important to ensuring that young people make a full and speedy recovery. Click here for information and resources for parents, friends, siblings and teachers.

All medical information presented has been vetted by our medical advisory committee made up of staff from BC Early Psychosis Intervention clinics. The educational contact is delivered by an accredited BC school teacher, Tracy Dudley. View list of Prescribed Learning Outcomes this program fulfills.

“I think the ReachOut Psychosis tour is doing fabulous work, both for promoting early treatment and for reducing stigma.”
Rene Corbett
Mental Health Educator/Clinician
Early Psychosis Intervention Program
http://www.hopevancouver.com/

ReachOut Performances

Performances by the popular Vancouver band Marble Rye and Slam Poet Barbara Adler are interspersed with psychosis information from professional teacher Tracy Dudley and tons of prizes from our Sponsors to help educate young people about psychosis. ReachOut is a dynamic performance suited for high school assemblies, and other large youth audiences.

ReachOut started touring lower mainland high schools in the spring of 2005, and continued to do so in the spring of 2006. Through its huge success ReachOut received more funding and sponsors, which has allowed the program to perform all year long. This extended funding also allowed us to travel through British Columbia to places like Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Pemberton, Williams Lake, Prince George and Victoria. (click here to find out more about our Tours and local dates and view a map of where we’ve been recently.).

ReachOut’s Message

The goal of ReachOut is to break down barriers that exist around psychosis through music, slam poetry and fun, and to increase the chances of early intervention.

Psychosis is a topic that needs to be addressed in both high schools and universities, purely based on the large amount of misconception and the high prevalence.

Psychosis has no borders and affects 3% of the population at some point during their life, which makes it 6 times more common than diabetes! Most experience the first symptoms during high school or early university, and it can be a scary and intimidating time for affected individuals as well as those close to them. Early intervention is extremely important to increase the chances of full recovery. The earlier individuals receive treatment, the better it is. This is why we are educating young people, their teachers and families on how to spot and stop psychosis early.(to learn more about psychosis click here)

The Focus of ReachOut’s Message:

To find out more about Reach Out, and how to book us please click here

What People are Saying

“I truly enjoyed every piece of the performance! The information between songs was very interesting and you related it to movies which the kids connect with! As a theatre teacher, I am a definite critic of performance, but you truly have an amazing and insprirational group and presentation!” – Teresa Donald, Correlieu Secondary, Quesnel

“I have to say I appreciated the show coming to Kamloops as well as the grassroots interaction between performers and audience. Though Ten Ways and Barbara were preaching to the converted for the most part, the performers were so honest in their approach that the audience was comfortable enough to share gut-wrenching stories. It was those stories which underscored the tour’s message of “Psychosis Sucks … If there’s no one there to catch you.” – Bart Cummins: Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops

“All of Reach Out’s participants were excellent. A great balance of talking, music and slam poetry. Definitely a great consciousness raising event!” – Michael Douglas, Psychology Teacher at Okanagan College, Kelowna

“My husband & I have recently moved here for the winter from Ontario and went to a talk re Reach Out at TRU in Kamloops last eve. We have a 29 yr old son who suffers from schizophrenia and just wanted to say that we were very impressed with the Reach Out program to raise awareness of this illness. It is a very worthwhile program and again thank you!” – Lorraine Frymire, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops

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About HereToHelp

The BC Schizophrenia Society is a member of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information.  The BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information are a group of seven leading provincial mental health and addictions nonprofit agencies. The seven partners are Anxiety BC, BC Schizophrenia Society, Centre for Addictions Research of BC, Canadian Mental Health Association’s BC Division, F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids Mental Health, Jessie’s Hope Society, and Mood Disorder’s Association of BC.  Since 2003, we’ve been working together to help individuals and families better prevent, recognize and manage mental health and substance use problems. BC Partners work is funded by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. We also receive some additional support from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.  The BC Partners are behind the acclaimed HeretoHelp website.  Visit us at www.heretohelp.bc.ca .