Calling all youth in the Island Health region with a passion for harm reduction: have you or someone you know, worked on a project in the past year that focused on reducing harms related to unregulated substances?
Island Health and the University of Victoria are pleased to announce Dr. Colette Smart is the new Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Research Scholar in Residence.
Island Health is introducing three Care and Connection Kiosks at hospitals in Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria offering community members an innovative way to access free, life-saving, harm reduction supplies and information about mental health and substance use services, supports and treatment.
For the second year, Island Health is allocating up to $1 million for resilience and safety grants aimed at helping improve mental health, mitigate the harms associated with illicit substance use and build youth resilience.
In celebration of this year’s International Youth Day (August 12) we had a chance to interview an amazing Island Health youth volunteer who lives and volunteers in the Port Hardy region. Isadora, aged 15, started volunteering with the Step Up Youth (SUY) program in the fall of 2022 and has continued to dedicate her time to local Long-Term Care residents, showing a passion for her community and a strong desire to make a difference.
Anyone in the Island Health region can now contribute data to help inform potential drug poisoning overdose advisories.
A Victoria-based Youth Action Team that promoted harm reduction education and training at Belmont Secondary School has been recognized by Island Health for its innovation and dedication.
Three Victoria youth have been recognized by Island Health for their commitment and dedication to harm reduction awareness and training.
Thanks to generous financial support from the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, a mobile service for youth wellness will soon be hitting the road.
Sadly, the drug poisoning crisis continues. Innovative actions are underway to address this complex issue.