Salt Spring Island Mental Wellness Initiative

09/04/2026

How are we in September already? There is something magical about the seasons changing. With the cooler breeze, leaves falling, cozy sweaters coming out, there can also be a craving for routines and more connection as the days get dimmer! Come and be a glimmer! ✨ We offer weekly 1.5 - 2 hour opportunities to brighten someone's day☺️🍂

08/31/2026

We care on National Overdose Awareness Day! 💜

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) — a global event held each year to raise awareness about overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of families, friends, and communities left behind. Around the world, events inspire action and encour...

08/26/2026

“Change can be tiring even when the change is good. As summer winds down, school is beginning and routines begin shifting again, we might find ourselves a little more tired, distracted, irritable, or overwhelmed than usual.

That doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. Our minds and bodies use energy to adjust to change.

A few things that can help during seasons of transition:
🌿 Keep a few familiar routines in place.
🌿 Give yourself some margin instead of filling every open space.
🌿 Prioritize sleep and regular meals.
🌿 Spend a little time outside.
🌿 Break bigger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
🌿 Stay connected with people who help you feel grounded.

And remember: you don't have to be struggling to take care of your mental health.

Mental wellness is something we can tend to a little at a time, every day. 💙” ~ New Hope Counseling Centre

08/26/2026

“For me, depression is not sadness. It’s not having a bad day and needing a hug. It gave me a complete and utter sense of isolation and loneliness.” 💜🦋 Kristen Bell shared these words while opening up about her own experience with depression. There are a lot of misconceptions about various mental disorders; OCD is high on that list. For example, OCD is not ‘loving order and organizing’. Are there any examples you can think of, where assumptions are being made about mental health challenges? We would love to hear from you 🧠🌿⬇️

08/23/2026

The Stigma Free Society is sharing resources for caregivers. It is important for parents, guardians, and caregivers to avoid burnout and have somewhere to turn to for supports on how to manage youth mental health. Take a look at the link and see if you find anything helpful for you personally 🧠🌱🌍

In this section, parent(s) will find conversation cards that they can use to talk to their youth about mental wellbeing, along with a comprehensive Parent Resource Guide.

08/19/2026

A beautiful organization right here on Salt Spring. Thank you for all that you do! 30 years of care; we see you! 😊

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: ‘𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲’

The Circle Education is celebrating its 30th anniversary in August. Leading up to this milestone, we talk with people who played a significant role in our history. Robert Birch was the first male facilitator for SWOVA (now The Circle Education) and one of the developers of the Respectful Relationships Program (R&R), which laid the foundation for our current programs.

SWOVA started to focus on prevention and education in 1996. Birch joined the organization in 1999. Bringing his fifteen years of arts-informed social education, he worked alongside executive director Lynda Laushway, and co-facilitators, Kim Davidson and Ahava Shira (pictured with Robert Birch and Christina Antonick) to develop the first iteration of the Respectful Relationships Program for middle and high school students.

R&R was an in-school program that addressed gender-based violence. “Our approach was to do more than attempt to change an individual’s way of thinking. We knew we needed a structural approach if we were to address socially embedded, harmful norms toward encouraging youth, parents and educators to more actively participate in gender equality,” says Birch, who now works as a consultant and a writer on Salt Spring Island. “We wanted the program to have a more cultural influence.”

Read the story here
https://thecircleeducation.org/2026/02/12/thirty-years-in-the-making-kids-need-a-place-to-practice-their-innate-intelligence-kindness-and-care/

08/16/2026

Hello Salt Spring, you may have heard that Autism Funding for ASD children is transitioning into a new funding model. While the new model includes supports for a broader variety of health support needs for kids, it is actively impacting the funding for Autism children and their families. It is disheartening to see how these changes are unfolding. Attached is a letter that has been released by the BC Coalition of Autism Service Providers. Our community is enriched with many youngsters who are autistic, and they may sadly be cut off from certain supports. If you are able, you can reach out to your MLA with your concerns and to let your voices be heard too. 🙏🏻

08/13/2026

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). It is a time to raise awareness about overdose and remember those we have lost ~ without any judgment or stigma. We also stand with the families, friends, and communities carrying the heavy weight of grief. Together, we honor their memories and work toward a safer, more compassionate future. 💜

Please follow this link for more information

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) — a global event held each year to raise awareness about overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of families, friends, and communities left behind. Around the world, events inspire action and encour...