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Stigma Free Society
The Stigma-Free Society, formerly the Bipolar Disorder Society of BC, is a registered non-profit since January 2010. Charity Registration Number: 827676867 RR0001
The Stigma-Free Society, formerly the Bipolar Disorder Society of BC, is a registered non-profit since January 2010. Charity Registration Number: 827676867 RR0001
Ten-Year Old Owen is Paving the Way for Future Generations
/0 Comments/in Blog, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteOwen is 10 years old and started experiencing severe anxiety in grade 2, and his mental illness continues to induce panic attacks during the most difficult moments in his life. He became officially diagnosed in grade 5 with anxiety and depression. I spoke with Owen for this particular story and he is a genuine, cheery, […]
Hiring a new Stigma-Free Zone School and Community Presenter in Metro Vancouver
/0 Comments/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteThe Stigma-Free Society is currently looking to hire an additional Stigma-Free Zone School and Community Presenter to join our Metro Vancouver team! The Stigma-Free Society provides education and awareness about the effects of stigma, as well as peer support for those facing personal challenges in hopes of fostering acceptance of ourselves and others. One of our […]
Jason: 1 – Stigma: 0 – My Battle with Mental Illness at Home and in the Workplace
/0 Comments/in Blog, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteI was diagnosed with a mental illness at 29 years old, but the greatest challenge I faced wasn’t the illness itself. It is was the suffocating stigma that came with it. I am speaking of the stigma that still surrounds mental illness, and the lack of empathy and understanding that follows – and that’s at […]
Daddy Issues: My Story
/in Blog, Stories /by Andrea Paquette“She has blue eyes.” That was the first thing my blue-eyed father said about me when I was born. All babies have blue eyes at birth, but mine turned hazel. My dad never knew we had something much bigger in common: bipolar disorder. My dad was unstable, moody and distant. He’d spend thousands of dollars […]
#PushingForAwareness: 50 Pushups for 50 Days to Raise Awareness for Childhood Mental Illness
/in Blog, News & Events, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteMay 1, 2019 Post Author, Lindsay Gee @ www.LindsayGee.ca First and foremost, I need you to know that this entire campaign has been approved by my son. He has read every word, seen every image and approved every step of the creation and planning of this campaign. Why is this important? Because although I dedicate this […]
From Rags to Contentment
/in Blog, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteIn August of 2018, I snatched up a last-minute ticket to Burning Man, which is an annual gathering of artists in the Black Rock Desert of northwest Nevada in the USA. I was about to willingly attempt survival in the blistering hot desert for nine days. I recently ditched three very high paying jobs, broke […]
Transforming Obstacles into Strength: Meet our Scholarship Winner Gabriella!
/in Blog, News & Events, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteGabriella has made her mental health challenges into one of her greatest strengths, but it didn’t start that way. Struggling with anxiety for as long as she can remember, Gabriella says, “I never knew any different. I thought everyone’s brain just worked that way.” As she got older, the anxiety evolved into recurring panic attacks […]
Meet our Stigma-Free Society – Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance Scholarship Winner!
/in Blog, News & Events, Stories /by Andrea PaquetteMany students on campus are carrying around more than just heavy textbooks. Not only burdened by the pressures of fitting in, and keeping up high grades, some students are facing hidden adversity made worse by the effects of stigma. With the support of Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance, we were able to give two deserving students who have […]
Join the Stigma-Free Society Team! Recruiting a Vancouver Stigma-Free Zone Presenter!
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteThe Stigma-Free Society is currently looking to hire an additional Stigma-Free Zone School Presenter to join our team! The Stigma-Free Society provides education and awareness about the effects of stigma, as well as peer support for those facing personal challenges in hopes of fostering acceptance of ourselves and others. One of our primary programs is the Stigma-Free Zone […]
#thatwellnessthing – Join us at our Second Annual Open House!
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteJoin Speaker, Andrea Paquette, President and Founder, Stigma-Free Society for the #thatwellnessthing Join the Langley Education Centre to learn more about mental health and wellness at their Second Annual Open House & community resource fair! Wednesday February 27, 2019 4:30-7 PM at Langley Education Centre 21405A 56 Avenue, Langley BC Presentations & Information Tables Mental Health […]
Let’s Talk at Glenlyon Norfolk School with EJ Weston
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteOn January 30, Middle and Senior School Assemblies included presentations by EJ Weston, a School and Community speaker from the Stigma-Free Society on the topic of stigma with a special focus on mental health. With a focus on resilience and hope, EJ shared their own personal experience with mental illness, overcoming trauma, and the importance of self […]
MANAGING YOUR PERSISTENT FEARS, ANXIETIES, AND STRESS
/in Blog /by Andrea PaquetteEverybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a difficult time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot […]
Stigma-Free Society Scholarship Opportunity!
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteThe Stigma-Free Society is thrilled to be partnering with the Otsuka-Lundbeck Alliance to offer two deserving youth a scholarship of $2000 to be allocated to their educational pursuits. Two B.C. students experiencing the effects of social stigmatization, either because of mental illness, LGBTQ+, homelessness, race, or addictions issues, will be selected to receive this scholarship […]
You are Invited to the Stigma-Free Society 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteSTIGMA-FREE SOCIETY – NOTICE OF 2018 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) On behalf of Mr. Dave Richardson, Chairman and Ms. Andrea Paquette, President, of the Stigma-Free Society, you are invited to attend our charity’s 2018 Annual General Meeting. DATE: Monday-October 29-2018 LOCATION: President’s East Room at the Vancouver Club address: 915 West Hastings Street, Vancouver V6C1C6 […]
Diversity, Inclusion, and Integration: The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
/in Blog /by Andrea PaquetteTo a passer-by, the Inter-Cultural Association’s Immigrant Welcome Centre on Balmoral Avenue in Victoria, BC, may not seem like much: a colourful doorway underneath the United Church appears to invite visitors into a small, unassuming space. Stepping inside, however, you enter a labyrinth — two and a half floors of offices, classrooms, resource rooms, and […]
Proud, Positive Progress: Stigma-Free at the Victoria Pride Festival
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteThe Victoria Pride Society started as a casual picnic in Beacon Hill Park over 20 years ago, and it’s now the host of one of Canada’s largest Pride Weeks, including the annual “Big Gay Dog Walk,” the infamous “Dragball” event, and the parade. This year’s parade boasted over 100 floats and participants, starting from […]
Lost and Found(ry) — Helping Youth Find Wellbeing in Victoria, B.C.
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteOvercoming stigma can seem like an insurmountable obstacle for youth in need of mental health support. Especially when the supports they turn to are overburdened — and they aren’t necessarily the services they need. The mental health network can be a treasure trove of resources, but it’s the interconnected nature of these multi-disciplinary supports that […]
Celebrating Stigma-Free at Spectrum Community School
/in Blog /by Andrea PaquetteFrom flash mobs to freezie sales, the Philanthropy club at Spectrum Community School has gone the extra mile to fight stigma this year. The Victoria high school was the first school to start working towards their Stigma-Free Zone designation in fall 2017, and their dynamic, passionate team of students and teachers has coordinated initiatives and […]
Join the Kid’s Help Phone Amanda Todd Legacy Team on May 6th
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteJoin the Kid’s Help Phone Amanda Todd Legacy Team on May 6th Over the past 3 years, Amanda’s Legacy has been able to raise $10,000 for the Kids Help Phone Walk. We are dedicated to continue raising funds for Kids Help Phone in a variety of ways. This year, please join Team Amanda and walk with us on […]
You are Invited to our Stigma-Free Zone Community Event March 20th, 2018
/in Blog, News & Events /by Andrea PaquetteVictoria to Become First-Ever Stigma-Free City in Canada: Community Event In partnership with the City of Victoria, the Stigma-Free Society is hosting a Stigma-Free Zone Community Event on March 20th, 2018. The purpose of this event is to ignite dialogue around mental health and stigma, and to announce that the City of Victoria is committing […]