Many youth struggle with how to help and support a friend or loved one who is suffering from a mental health issue.
That's because mental health issues among youth are very common and touch so many lives. It can be difficult, confusing and sometimes scary figuring out how to navigate the waters of offering meaningful help and support to someone who is in emotional pain.
Beneath concerning outward behaviour that worries friends and loved ones (for example, not acting like themselves, risky drinking and substance use, self-injury, ongoing sadness though much in their life is going right, irritability, high stress levels, distressing thoughts or withdrawing from others), the culprits are often depression and anxiety.
Statistics show that 11 per cent of B.C. youth are living with depression and 25 per cent are impacted by anxiety.
This October, as part of a national public education campaign for mental health awareness, the Beyond the Blues event is coming to North Vancouver Tuesday.
The spirit of Beyond the Blues is to help prevent and manage mental health and substance use problems and to support people to live healthier lives.
This is an education and screening day where the focus is on depression, anxiety, and risky drinking behaviour.
Targeting youth and young adults, the goal of the event is two-fold: To educate participants on the signs of depression, anxiety, stress, and risky drinking, and to help participants make connections to community supports.
At the site, youth and young adults can take part in engaging activities and learn more about mood problems, anxiety, options for getting support and good self-care.
There is also an opportunity to take short self-tests on well-being, depression, anxiety and risky drinking and to speak privately with a clinician about useful resources and healthy next steps.
For many of us, the antidote to feeling helpless in the face of the mood and behaviour struggles of someone dear to our hearts is taking action and getting in motion. There is help and there is hope.
Youth volunteers at the Beyond the Blues event also began their journey as youth leaders with Family Services of the North Shore's Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YouthLAB) in part as a response to personal experiences and personal connection of caring about someone who is struggling with depression and/or anxiety.
They are youth helping youth, and along with event organizers and supporters, they are dedicated to promoting a welcoming and friendly space for participants.
Beyond the Blues offers a place to have honest conversations about mood and coping (how am I really doing?), about wellbeing and about being a good support to others and to ourselves.
Though focused on serving youth, concerned caregivers are welcome.
Beyond the Blues is free, anonymous and confidential. See heretohelp. bc.ca/beyond-the-blues for more information.
The Beyond the Blues education and screening day event on the North Shore is being held Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Lower Lonsdale's John Braithwaite Community Centre in the second floor Harbourview Room, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Erin Bruchet, M.Ed.,R.C.C., is a child and youth clinical counsellor and YouthLAB co-ordinator at Family Services of the North Shore. familyservices.bc.ca
