"Mayor Rob Douglas...would like to see the current hospital be used as an #addictions treatment facility, with space for people with severe #mentalhealth challenges in need of #involuntarycare. ...This proposal isn’t popular with some community members." #CowichanValley cheknews.ca/petition-for...

"The Village...is located on #Duncan 's Trunk Road. According to supporters, it is already showing success with the #unhoused who have moved into its 34 modular units, yet they are struggling to get more people off the streets, because of funding" #VancouverIsland #BC cheknews.ca/i-am-despera...

"People often think #homelessness in the capital region is limited to #Pandora Avenue & other parts of downtown #Victoria but...people also live rough in #Saanich, sleeping in cars or tents near Colquitz Creek & other more secluded, wooded areas in the district" www.timescolonist.com/local-news/s...

The broadcast version of this week's program is now online and can be found here: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/peop... @vimhs.bsky.social

Patty Douglas spoke with the program about the ideas contained in her book "Unmothering Autism" Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/patt... @vimhs.bsky.social

"Island Health is investigating a cluster of cases in the #Cowichan region of the highly contagious bacterial infection #Shigella, which disproportionately infects people without stable shelter who have limited access to sanitation and hygiene" #VancouverIsland www.timescolonist.com/local-news/o...

"The 21-year-old Victorian plans to paddle for 24 hours straight to raise money for #Movember – a donation drive held annually that supports men with projects centred around suicide prevention and mental health" #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC vancouverislandfreedaily.com/2025/11/05/v...

ICYMI Stephen Lewis of the University of Guelph spoke with the program about self injury Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/docu... @vimhs.bsky.social

" #NorthCowichan Mayor Rob Douglas is proposing turning the current Cowichan District hospital, that will close in Spring 2027...as an #addictions treatment facility, with space for people with severe #mentalhealth challenges in need of #involuntarycare." #VancouverIsland cheknews.ca/north-cowich...

"B.C.’s Ministry of Health is ordering the @vanislandhealth.bsky.social to reinstate key staff positions for a #youth #mentalhealth program [after] school districts expressed concern... amidst an acute deficit of mental health services for #children" #VancouverIsland #BC www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

"A well-known paper carrier & unofficial “ambassador of #Sooke” is being mourned by the community. Charlene Acreman was a longtime...carrier for the Sooke News Mirror [&] dedicated volunteer for a seemingly never-ending list of community events & fundraisers" sookenewsmirror.com/2025/11/05/c...

"The Shoebox Project for Women in #CampbellRiver and #PortHardy / #NorthIsland ...initiative aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for sustainable support for #women experiencing #housinginsecurity and #financialinstability" #VancouverIsland #BC www.northislandgazette.com/community/se...

“Dance Away Domestic Violence promises to be a fun, yet impactful way of raising critical funds that are used to sustain programs and services that provide safety, support, and hope to #women and #children impacted by #domesticviolence” #CampbellRiver #BC campbellrivermirror.com/2025/11/04/c...

"This fall, Cool Aid and Kia Victoria are once again joining forces to provide 10,000 pairs of warm socks to people experiencing #homelessness across the Capital Region." #GreaterVictoria #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia vicnews.com/2025/11/04/s...

"Morden is recognized for her powerful story of #resilience & #mentalhealth #advocacy. She and her team will deliver engaging 45-minute presentations featuring speaking, live musical performances, interactive activities, and valuable resources" #anti-bullying #Victoria oakbaynews.com/2025/11/04/c...

"A group of fourth-year #nursing students are working to bridge the gap by increasing access to #recreation and #sports for #youths in the community with a new project...taking in donations of new and used sports equipment and gear" #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland #BC @chly.ca www.chly.ca/local-news/2...

"Unlike our previous emergency warming centre, which opened only during extreme weather, this new 24/7 #shelter will offer safety, warmth, and dignity every day through the harshest months of the year" #Duncan #VancouverIsland #BC @bchousing.bsky.social www.ladysmithchronicle.com/news/tempora...

"The Municipality of #NorthCowichan has directed the owner of a vacant lot on Lewis Street that is home to a growing #encampment of #unhoused people to remove the campers, keep the property maintained and [has] been given 30 days to fence off the property" www.ladysmithchronicle.com/news/north-c...

"A city-commissioned survey has found that #poverty and #homelessness have overtaken #housing and #publicsafety as the most important local social issues for #Victoria residents [but 8] in 10...said their quality of life in the city remains good or better" #BC www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

"An increase in #youth #overdoses shows information campaigns on risk aren’t enough to change behaviours, says a Harvard Medical School professor who [will] speak at the University of #Victoria on Tuesday about drug use & #overdose trends in youth" @uvic.ca www.timescolonist.com/local-news/y...

Julia Gruson-Wood spoke with the program about her forthcoming book Autism and The Culture of Therapy Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/rese... @vimhs.bsky.social

The Canadian Armed Forces apologizes to personnel who suffered racism and harassment in the ranks. Hear more on APTN News Brief:

"He came up with a plan to raise money for Wigs for Kids #BC, a charity that helps families pay for medications, supports and wigs for #children who have experienced hair loss from #cancer treatments and other serious illnesses" #Victoria #VancouverIsland cheknews.ca/it-was-the-r...

The #Penticton general manager of public safety...said the spaces would serve as #transitionalhousing —a step between a shelter & permanent housing...that middle level is needed to ensure people don't get stuck in city shelters for months or years on end. #BC #homelessness www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Stephen Lewis of the University of Guelph spoke with the program about self injury Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/docu... @vimhs.bsky.social

“Knowledge empowers. #Women and #health-care providers gain up-to-date, evidence-based information about #treatments, #symptoms and #wellness options.” #menopause #CampbellRiver #VancouverIsland #BC www.mycampbellrivernow.com/86052/news/c...

“It’s to make sure that no #veterans are on the street, anybody that needs our help... We have people that go out there to the #encampments and check to see if there’s any veterans...” #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland #PTSD #posttraumaticstressdisorder #Canada nanaimobulletin.com/2025/11/01/m...

"PAQ runs multiple shelters around #Montreal, including one short-term sober shelter, offering 54 beds, and one short-term “wet” shelter, with 50 private rooms, and a designated area in which residents can consume alcohol and cannabis on site." #addiction #Canada www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...

The report says it is “inextricably linked to #colonialization and the multi-generational #trauma, #racism and #discrimination brought to bear by the #residentialschool system and other such structures.” #Indigenous #youth #suicide #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.hashilthsa.com/news/2025-10...

“We are proud to congratulate the 2025 winner – #CampbellRiver Crime Stoppers, #Canada – for its successful revitalisation of the program, the modernisation of its messaging, and the embrace of social media to better reach and engage its community” #BC www.mycampbellrivernow.com/86040/news/r...

"Incoming medical health officer for the #Nanaimo and #Oceanside region Dr. Tribesty Nguyen said Nanaimo has been hit harder by the #drugtoxicity crisis compared to most other areas on the Island, with a higher rate of deaths per 100,000 people." #OPS #BC nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/10/31/n...

Cree rapper Dakota Bear has been writing songs since he was a youth living in Saskatoon. His music explores his Indigenous identity, the Idle No More and Land Back movements, MMIWG2S, Canada’s residential school legacy and Cancel Canada Day.

"Several [ #VancouverIsland ] communities have applied for funding to support the growing population who rely on emergency weather response #shelters in #extremeweather conditions" #Sooke #Saanich #Nanaimo #Victoria #PortAlberni #BritishColumbia #BC cheknews.ca/island-commu...

"Island Health made their case to Councillors on Friday, Oct. 31, for continued City support to the #OverdosePrevention Site ( #OPS ) and the presently under construction #Nanaimo Wellness & Recovery Centre located within the same building at 250 Albert St" #BC nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/10/31/n...

Staff from Island Health lobbied the City of Nanaimo for their continued support of the Overdose Prevention Site on Albert St., as work is underway to expand its services. #Nanaimo nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/10/31/n...

The broadcast version of this week's episode is now online and can be found here: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/peop... @vimhs.bsky.social

BCFS says post secondary system in crisis, calls on province to change funding formula. Listen—or read more—at www.chly.ca/news in #Nanaimo. CHLY 101.7FM, listener supported on the Salish Sea.

Several adorable and hard-working Labrador Retrievers were at Nanaimo's Departure Bay ferry terminal on Wednesday to help overcome a potential real-world obstacle: an escalator. #Nanaimo nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/10/29/f...

"Students in grades 7 to 9 were more likely to report using those #opioids than older students in grades 10 to 12. Another paper cited...found that some #youth began using opioids when they were as young as 10 years old" #Canada #addiction #youth www.ctvnews.ca/health/artic...

“Our community has long struggled with gaps in health and #mentalhealth services for children, youth and families. Unlike many other regions, #Oceanside does not have a hospital or a Foundry centre.” #VancouverIsland #BC pqbnews.com/2025/10/29/p...

ICYMI The program spoke with a pair of addiction medicine specialists about opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/expl... @vimhs.bsky.social

"Island Health public health manager Carolyn Hutton said pasteurized donor milk can be life-saving for pre-term babies, whose mothers sometimes struggle to provide their own breast milk, while some infants may be too sick to breastfeed." #CampbellRiver #BC www.timescolonist.com/life/breast-...

“There is no excuse for people to be in our community that are conducting themselves this way, and I don’t care how good the lawyer is, there is no argument that can be made to justify that.” #criminaljustice #involuntarycare #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.timescolonist.com/opinion/les-...

The program spoke with a pair of addiction medicine specialists about opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/expl... @vimhs.bsky.social

Nanaimo council has deferred a request to look at ways the city can financially support Jesse’s House, a home for families of children requiring hospital care at NRGH. Read more at: nanaimobulletin.com/2025/10/23/n...

Nanaimo city council had the chance to communicate to B.C. Housing a desire for more dry housing and homes for seniors experiencing homelessness. Read more at: nanaimobulletin.com/2025/10/27/b...

“Our main goal is to ...reduce financial barriers and promote healthy lifestyle and strengthen community connections [&] support youth and families that may not have the means or access to join recreation or sports because of the high cost of equipment.” #Nanaimo nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/10/27/n...

"Still With Us was put together in collaboration with a variety of arts organizations and is tied to the 40th anniversary of the former AIDS #VancouverIsland, the health agency now known as AVI Community Health Services." #BritishColumbia #BC #HIV #AIDS www.timescolonist.com/entertainmen...

ICYMI Vancouver Island author Meg Todd spoke with People First Radio about her debut novel Most Grievous Fault, which deals with heavy subject matter. Listen: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/vanc... @vimhs.bsky.social

"The #AlberniValley community is mourning the loss of Ellen Frood, recently retired executive director of Sage Haven Society, who died suddenly Oct. 15 of complications from surgery." #PortAlberni #VancouverIsland #BC albernivalleynews.com/2025/10/25/p...