National

B.C. schools receive cash boost for mental health

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Sep, 2020 08:20 PM

Schools in British Columbia are getting an extra $2 million for mental health programs from the provincial government.

Judy Darcy, the minister of mental health and addictions, said the province is spending more on mental health programs this year because children are facing an unprecedented return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of $3.75 million will be spent in the 2020-21 school year to promote mental wellness and provide additional support for students, families and educators, Darcy told a news conference Wednesday.

School districts will determine how the funds are used based on their needs.

Darcy said she's heard from families and teachers that they are going through a "roller coaster of emotions" as schools are set to reopen next week.

"Some people are grappling with high levels of anxiety and stress about the return to school, and others, frankly, are feeling a sense of relief after months of uncertainty."

The government said in a news release that surveys have shown the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in mental health and substance use challenges.

It said there are a number of free and inexpensive counselling services that are available online, by video and by phone.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Tiff Macklem new Bank of Canada governor

Tiff Macklem, a former second-in-command at the Bank of Canada, is returning to the central bank to take over the top job at a moment that he says cries out for bold, unprecedented responses to the economic crisis fuelled by COVID-19.

Tiff Macklem new Bank of Canada governor

Trudeau announces ban on 1,500 types of 'military-style' guns

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is banning a range of assault-style guns, with an order that takes effect immediately. The cabinet order he described in a Friday-morning announcement doesn't forbid owning any of 1,500 "military-style" weapons and their variants but it does forbid them to be used and halts the trade in them

Trudeau announces ban on 1,500 types of 'military-style' guns

COVID in all regions of Canada as Nunavut sees 1st case

COVID-19 has now spread to every region in Canada, with Nunavut reporting its first case on Thursday, as Ontario reported its largest one-day climb in fatalities and the country's budget officer predicted a staggering $252-billion deficit. The case in northern Nunavut was identified in the 1,600-strong largely Inuit community of Pond Inlet on Baffin Island. The territory's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, said a rapid response team was on its way to the community to help manage the situation.

COVID in all regions of Canada as Nunavut sees 1st case

Military identifies service members missing in deadly helicopter crash

The Canadian military is deploying a flight investigation team to look into the causes of a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece that has claimed the life of at least one service member and left five others missing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed during a news conference that six people were aboard the Cyclone helicopter that went down in the Ionian Sea on Wednesday as the aircraft was returning to the Halifax-based frigate HMCS Fredericton from a NATO training mission.

Military identifies service members missing in deadly helicopter crash

Budget officer says federal deficit could top $252 billion

Parliament's budget watchdog says that it's likely the federal deficit for the year will hit $252.1 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and could go even higher if emergency measures remain in place longer than planned. The figure is an estimate based on the almost $146 billion in spending measures the government has announced to help cushion the economic blow from the pandemic, estimated declines in the country's gross domestic product, and the price of oil remaining well below previous expectations.

Budget officer says federal deficit could top $252 billion

Canadian support for gender equality doesn't match reality, survey suggests

Canadian support for the principle of equal rights for women and men is among the highest in the world — but in practice, archaic attitudes towards gender roles are still alive and well both at home and around the globe, a new survey suggests. Respondents to the international Pew Research Center poll released Thursday expressed overwhelming support for the concept of gender equality — 93 per cent of Canadians surveyed ranked it as "very important," second only to Sweden at 96 per cent.