Resources for Parents & Caregivers
Empowering parents and caregivers with resources and tools about youth mental health and mental illness.
Resources for parents and caregivers
We’ve put together this list of books, movies, TV shows, songs, and podcasts to help teens better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.
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Websites
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Seven agencies came together for this project as the BC Partners, because we recognize that people need to have access to quality information on mental health, mental illness, and substance use problems.
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Explore common questions and concerns about disordered eating, body image, mental health, self-compassion, and more. Embody equips BC parents and professionals with trusted resources to support young people before they develop an eating disorder.
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Anxiety Canada provides self-help resources, programs and services for children, youth, adults and educators on anxiety.
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CMHA BC Division exists to promote the mental health of British Columbians and support the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness.
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A reason to hope and the means to cope. BCSS helps families affected by severe and persistent mental illnesses like schizophrenia.
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The Mood Disorders Association of BC (MDABC) is a nonprofit organization that provides treatment, support, education, and hope of recovery for people living with a mood disorder.
MDABC is a branch of Lookout Housing and Health Society.
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The Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), formerly CARBC, is a network of individuals and groups dedicated to the study of substance use and addiction in support of community-wide efforts to promote health and reduce harm.
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FamilySmart helps children and young people by helping their family and other caring adults. They offer Parent Peer Support, Monthly Events, Resources and Workshops to support the mental health of children, youth and families.
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Foundrybc.ca provides young people and their families/caregivers with resources for mental health and well-being, substance use, social support and services, navigation assistance and self-care.
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Looking Glass Foundation™ supports individuals affected by eating disorders and disordered eating.
Through innovative and accessible programs and services, they provide community members with the support they need, no matter where they are on their recovery journey.
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Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre help families across the province navigate the mental health system, connect with peer support, and access resources and tools to support well-being.
Books
We’ve put together this list of books to help parents and caregivers better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.
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Themes: rehabilitation, treatment
CW: schizophrenia
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Themes: child development, emotions, research
CW: N/A
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Themes: emotions and feelings, anger, mental health
CW: depression
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Themes: fears/worries, feelings, emotional regulation
CW: anxiety, compulsions
Movies & TV
We’ve put together this list of movies and TV shows to help parents and caregivers better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.
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Themes: mental illness, chronic illness, family relationships, creative block
CW: animal abuse, OCD, PTSD, hate speech, homophobia, physical assault, depression
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Themes: academia, mental illness
CW: schizophrenia, hallucinations, gore, self-harm, involuntary institutionalization, violence, electroshock therapy
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Themes: biographical dramas, monarchy, stuttering
CW: child abuse, anxiety attacks, family death
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Themes: ballet, competition, mental illness, childhood trauma, sexuality
CW: child abuse, domestic abuse, gaslighting, alcoholism, psychotic breaks, body horror, gore, hallucinations, disassociation, suicide attempts, eating disorders, self-harm flashing lights
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Themes: family dynamics, rehabilitation, complex relationships
CW: domestic violence, addiction, childhood trauma
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Themes: parenting, caregiving, mental illness
CW: behavioural disorders, postpartum depression/psychosis, hallucinations, suicidal ideation
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Themes: unstable relationships, memory erasing
CW: stalking, gaslighting, animal abuse, fake suicide attempt, anxiety attacks
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Themes: music, fame, mental illness
CW: emotional abuse, addiction/alcoholism, suicide, anxiety attacks, main character death
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Themes: family dynamics, childhood trauma, hometown return, depression
CW: substance abuse, alcohol, ableist language, family death
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Themes: family dynamics, trauma, revenge
CW: sexual assault, alcoholism, kidnapping, murder
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Themes: psychiatric treatment, delusions, psychosis
CW: delusions, split personality, family loss, suicide attempts
Podcasts
We’ve put together this list of podcasts and other media to help parents and caregivers better understand and learn more about mental illnesses. We’ve also included content warnings for each resource for any potential triggers or distressing themes.
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Themes: healing, trauma, mental health
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Themes: neuroscience, research, mental health
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Themes: parenting, neurodiversity, body image
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Themes: neurodiversity, emotions, parenting
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Themes: parenting, emotions, neurodivergence
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Themes: parenting, motherhood
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Themes: parenting, child mental health
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Themes: child mental health, communication, anxiety, emotions
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Themes: mindfulness, relationships, growth
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Themes: neurodiversity, youth mental health
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Themes: growth, mindfulness
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Themes: youth mental health, serious and persistent mental health, neurodiversity
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Themes: neuroscience, mental health, wellness
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