BC Council for Families

Vancouver BC,  October 26, 2011  -- The BC Council for Families is pleased to announce the receipt of a $10,000 grant from the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund. The Fund is part of the Bell Mental Health Initiative, a $50 million multi-year national program in support of mental health. 

At the recent Healthy Families, Brighter Futures conference in Vancouver, hosted by the BC Council for Families, Board of Directors member Paula Cayley was on hand to accept a commemorative plaque on behalf of the organization from Darcy Hausselmann, Associate Director of Community Investment and Community Affairs at Bell. The Council will be using funding through the Let's Talk Community Fund  to develop facilitated community workshops and participant resources based on the video Left 2 Live, which examines the effects of youth suicide on bereaved youth in BC communities.

There is little research and few resources looking at the impact of a suicide death on bereaved youth, from the perspective of the youth themselves. Raw, powerful, and heartfelt, Left 2 Live follows the stories of five BC young people who tragically lost loved ones to suicide. Left 2 Live allows young people to use their voices and wisdom to help others understand how to provide support following a suicide, and to know what is important to bereaved youth. The film was originally developed as a tool for practitioners working with youth or families bereaved by suicide.

Look for more information on the upcoming workshops and resources in the new year.