What Mental Health Professionals, Teachers, Principals and Students are Saying About ReachOut

“the ReachOut Psychosis tour is instrumental in promoting factual education about psychosis, decreasing stigma and increasing help seeking  behaviors of our youth. The tour delivers the latest international research based information about psychosis, in youth-specific language and in a fun and interactive way. Its invaluable!”

Christina (Nina) Krack, RPN, Clinical Nurse Educator, Fraser Early Psychosis Intervention Program

“The ReachOut program has been very valuable to our students. The most poignant example I can give you is this: we have had a student that has been on counsellors and administrator’s ‘radar’ for her behaviour. The past several years have been challenging for her, and her family. After sitting in on your presentation, and working with school and social workers, this student recognized symptoms of psychosis in her self, and we were able to provide detailed feedback to her health care professionals to support her diagnosis. We knew what to look for, and what to identify. She is currently receiving counselling, and will be receiving medical care. This was only able to happen due to her increased awareness of her symptoms and challenges. I strongly support this program coming to our schools, and look forward to a long relationship with your organization! Thanks for everything!”

Carla Schneider – Vice Principal – Pleasant Valley Secondary Armstrong, BC

“British Columbia Schizophrenia Society’s ReachOut Psychosis is an integral partner, with the Fraser Early Psychosis Intervention Program‘s community education initiative for youth, to provide education on psychosis, decrease stigma and to increase help-seeking behavior. The ReachOut Tour has implemented the resources required to engage with this targeted age group, to deliver the knowledge in a way that youth best learn. The experiential, interactive and entertaining forum that the program delivers has proven to increase the knowledge and help-seeking of the audience group.” Read the entire reference letter here

Karen Tee, Ph.d. R. Psych – Manager, Child Youth & Young Adult  Mental Health and Addictions, Early Psychosis Intervention Program, Fraser Health Christina Krack, RPN, AEHHS(C) – Clinical Nurse Educator, Fraser South EPI Program

“Knowing that ReachOut is connected to BCSS led me to believe the program would be excellent. It was. Students were actively engaged in the performance.”

Karen Larson, teacher, Langley Secondary, May 2007

“So great that it is young people coming and speaking to other young people people about this important and very misunderstood issue.”

Donna Schmirler, teacher, Elphinstone Secondary, Gibsons, May 2007

“All of ReachOut’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

“You guys came to [our school] a few weeks ago. I heard that we were going to have another assembly and my instant reaction was, ‘Lame!’, but the presentation was great. It was lively, informative, humorous, and best of all, the music rocked. I loved Marble Rye’s style. I’m an Angus Young fan, so I thought it was really cool to see the guitar player bust out a sick solo while hitting the floor.”

- student

“The group have made a life changing impact on at least one student for sure – therefore, were personally involved in the process of treatment – how many others?? Certainly education is the first step and this program is a very successful method of education the youth. Thank you! “

Derrick Shaw (Principal-McBride Secondary School)

This program has brought two students to self report their problems – both are doing well. Thank you!

Dan Kenkel (Principal – Valemount Secondary School)

“I think the Thanks is owed to you guys. I can’t tell you how important I believe this program is You deliver the information in such a way that the students love it, but learn something that will help them for the rest of their lives. For this I am very grateful. I wish we could do more of this. So please extend my THANKS to everyone. I will share the story at my support group, about the young man that talked with Mike.”

Susan Sims (BCSS Coordinator in Williams Lake).

“I think the ReachOut Psychosis tour is doing fabulous work, both for promoting early treatment and for reducing stigma.”

http://www.hopevancouver.com/ Rene Corbett, Mental Health Educator/Clinician, Early Psychosis Intervention Program