Mindful Awareness and Resilience Skills for Parents and Caregivers (MARS-PC)  is a virtual program offered through the Centre for Mindfulness for parents and caregivers whose children are receiving care through BC Children’s Hospital. The program offers a supportive space to learn mindful awareness skills that foster well-being, connection, and resilience, while supporting caregivers as they care for a loved one who may be experiencing psychological distress, including anxiety or depression, and/or living with chronic illness or pain.
The MARS-PC program is delivered through a series of six weekly group sessions, along with a brief introductory session before the series begins. Sessions are facilitated by a multidisciplinary clinical team and combine education, guided practice, and shared reflection. Together, these elements create a sense of community and offer practical tools that caregivers can return to in everyday moments of caregiving.
Below is a blog post shared by a MARS-PC participant, offering a personal reflection on their experience with the program and community.

MARS-PC and Me
     - Laura Crawford

Through the MARS- PC program and community I have learned so much. I found reassurance and support with fellow parents and loving, knowledgeable doctors. It is much more than breath work and ideas for calm alone. It’s learning to hold room for grief and feelings/emotion. It is a sense of community and contentment, how to exist in the storm and still find peace.

I have learned about care and curiosity, how to pause and imbed moments of compassion for myself and others. Learning to care for myself better has further helped model it for my children and loved ones. 

In turn, I have learned about myself and what I find grounding. Embracing that when things feel big and out of control, I still have the ability to focus on what I love right under my nose. It is actively speaking about compassion and not being perfect. Often helping to soften the sense of overwhelming responsibility and find joy or contentment in something everyday.

I have enjoyed learning what things outside of ourselves can be grounding and calming. How movement and intention can help. I personally have learned that my body needs to move to work through stress, before being able to find calm through breathing.
 
I look forward to our MARS-PC alumni group sessions to check in, share and practice together. I appreciate that they take place in the evenings and online, fitting well into my schedule. I love learning I am not alone and hearing the stories and courage of others. You can feel the resilience in the meetings, especially from the ideas and expressions of the other caregivers as well.  

Someone will share at least one thing each class that I can later try to implement for myself. I take notes and often read back through them. This way its like tiny steps and changes or improvements that eventually have helped lead to a total change in mindset.

Taking the MARS-PC course and becoming a part of the alumni community is one of the best things I have ever done for myself and my mental health.

For those interested in exploring additional support, caregivers can be referred to the MARS-PC program through their healthcare providers or care teams. MARS-PC Ambassadors help create a warm handover by gently sharing information, having mindful conversations, and connecting caregivers with the program when there is interest. Parents and caregivers are also encouraged to speak with their care team if they feel MARS-PC could be helpful. Together, these pathways foster connection, compassion, and accessible support within our care communities.