The Nova Scotia Tourism Human Resource Council is offering a Virtual Mental Health Workshop
Join us on Thursday, October 21 from 9am-12pm
Facilitators Elizabeth Baker and Glenn Rodgers with the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Branch, will offer tips and techniques for anyone looking to manage stress, build their coping skills and learn to thrive.
During the three hour virtual workshop, a variety of topics will be discussed:
- problem-solving, communication skills, conflict management
- understanding triggers, boundaries, goal setting
- rebuilding healthy social connections
To register, please confirm your attendance by October 14 by email: lynn@tourism.ca
Zoom details and workshop handouts will be emailed to all registrants by October 19th.
“These are difficult times for many of us. It’s OK to feel overwhelmed or anxious and it’s important that Nova Scotians know there are services there to support them,” said Minister of Health and Wellness Zach Churchill. “These investments will support the important work that our local organizations do in their community. They have a deep understanding of the needs in their communities and amongst their clients and we want to support them in this work.”
Organizations across the province that serve those most vulnerable to the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 are receiving funding through the federal Safe Restart Agreement.
Government had previously announced funding for other organizations through the federal Safe Restart Agreement, including $1.6 million for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and $125,000 for the Aidaen Mae Fund in Yarmouth.
Quotes:
The pandemic has highlighted increased respite needs in the autism and disability community. This investment will help build a culturally relevant training program, in partnership with the community, that will better support the needs of Mi’kmaw families.
Cynthia Carroll, executive director, Autism Nova Scotia.
We are thrilled to continue serving over 70,000 Nova Scotians impacted by acquired brain injury through increased education and training offerings and expanding our existing yoga and music therapy programs.
Sam Clarke, director of marketing & communications, Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia
We are pleased to receive this funding as it will enable us to continue to provide online resources, free virtual programming and psycho-social wellness programming. These supports are offering coping strategies for the pandemic, which are key to supporting Nova Scotians through these challenging times.
Patricia Murray, interim executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association – Nova Scotia Division
We are so pleased to receive this funding to develop mental health resources for Black women as HAAC has advocated for and identified this as a significant gap in the health system.
Sharon Davis-Murdoch, co-president, Health Association of African Canadians
Quick Facts:
- government’s investment in mental health and addictions has increased to $336.5 million this fiscal year
- the Mental Health Crisis Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing crisis response for children, youth and adults anywhere in the province; anyone experiencing a mental health crisis should call the line toll-free at 1-888-429-8167
- Nova Scotians can self-refer to Nova Scotia Health’s Community Mental Health and Addictions clinics, Withdrawal Management Services, or Opioid Replacement and Treatment Programs, using the Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service Line; the service line is toll-free and is available weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-855-922-1122.
- the Mental Health Crisis Line receives an average of 20,000 calls each year and as a result of the pandemic, managed 25,000 calls in 2020
Additional Resources:
Province of Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/mental-health/
Government of Canada Safe Restart Agreement: https://www.canada.ca/en/intergovernmental-affairs/services/safe-restart-agreement.html
Nova Scotia Health Authority Mental Health and Addictions services: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en
IWK Health Centre Mental Health and Addictions: http://www.iwk.nshealth.ca/mental-health
Protecting the health of Atlantic Canadians remains the overriding priority of Atlantic Premiers.
Premier Blaine Higgs of New Brunswick chaired a teleconference of the Council of Atlantic Premiers with Premier Iain Rankin of Nova Scotia, Premier Dennis King of Prince Edward Island and Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland and Labrador. They reviewed the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and considered how to move forward on reducing travel restrictions within the Atlantic region.
Given the recent surge in cases of COVID-19 in parts of Atlantic Canada and the emergence of more transmissible forms of the virus, the Council of Atlantic Premiers has agreed to delay the reopening of the Atlantic Bubble by at least two weeks, to May 3rd, 2021.
For more information about the COVID-19 response and specific public health requirements for each of the Atlantic Provinces, please consult the following links below:
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Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
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New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/coronavirus
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Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/
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Prince Edward Island: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/covid-19
Visit the Mental Health Commission of Canada website for News, Resources, Research, Support Information and More
COVID-19 is amplifying the relationship between mental health and substance use
A new Leger poll commissioned by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction highlights the disproportionate impact of COVID-19-related stressors on people with pre-existing substance use disorders or mental illness.
The survey of more than 4,000 Canadian residents found that respondents with past and current mental health concerns indicated both increased and more problematic substance use.
Key findings:
- Up to one in two individuals with an existing substance use disorder reported having moderately severe to severe symptoms of depression since March 2020.
- Up to one in two respondents with current mental health symptoms who use cannabis reported increased use, compared to two in five in the general population.
- One in three who use alcohol reported increased use, while one in five reported problematic (high risk) use.
- Moderate and severe anxiety symptoms were highest among respondents with lifetime substance use disorder and lifetime mental health diagnoses.
- Respondents’ top stressors were their financial situation (14%), social isolation (12%), and the health of family members (11%).
The first of 4 webinars starts Thursday April 1, 2021 and will focus on the significant challenges facing our front line, managers and owners during the pandemic and best practices in handling the stress associated with these times.
To find out more and register: https://www.hospitalitysk.ca/news/mental-health-wellness/
Hospitalitystrong.ca Mental Health Webinar Series
During these difficult COVID times, there continues to be a rise of concern with the mental health of our employees, supervisors, managers and owners. In response to these concerns, we remain committed to help our industry and are pleased to offer these complimentary mental health webinars for those in the hospitality industry. ORHMA has partnered with CAMH to offer you, your staff, your managers – all employees, these complimentary webinars. These confidential webinars are being offered by ORHMA in response to the overwhelming need for all of us during these difficult times.
We invite you to share this link.
We want to ensure that we take this opportunity to stand united and talk about the mental health of our sector.
]]>“Keeping our social, non-essential, activity down. Right now, super important — you’ve got to do some planning and take away some of the non-essential things that we’ve been doing,” said Barrett, a clinician scientist with expertise in infectious disease.
From coffee shops to grocery stores and restaurants, the risk of virus transmission continues to grow in places where people are gathering.
Barrett says the three key factors in reducing transmission are handwashing, distancing and mask-wearing. However, she adds that if people don’t reduce the number of people they’re interacting with due to an increasing number of cases, those safety measures quickly lose their effectiveness.
“If you also have about 15 to 20 non-essential contacts every work week, they all have a number of people around them and then suddenly one case turns into 50 very, very quickly. This virus spreads when you’re asymptomatic, you don’t even know it,” she says.
Some Nova Scotians, including Trailer Park Boys actress Sarah Dunsworth-Nickerson, are choosing not to wait for the possible reinstatement of restrictions to scale back their daily activities and exposures.
“We have to tighten up again and if the government isn’t going to tell us to do that, I think we all have a responsibility to each other to just try and be as aware as we were back in March because it can rise so quickly. I mean we’ve seen it everywhere else,” Dunsworth-Nickerson said.
Source: Global News
]]>However, he is urging people to not let down their guards, because data that suggests the vaccine may be 90 per cent effective at preventing COVID-19 is preliminary, and it could still be several months before any vaccine candidates are ready for mass distribution.
“In Canada and around the world, scientists are working very hard and doing a great job. We hope to see vaccines landing in the early next year. But between now and that it’s really, really important that we double down on our efforts. We need to make sure we are controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the coming months, so that when vaccines get here we will be able to act quickly to protect all Canadians,” Trudeau said during a press conference on Monday.
Source: CTV News
]]>With 15 new cases reported in less than a week, Premier Stephen McNeil announced Monday that travellers from outside the region must isolate for 14 days on their own, instead of with family or friends.
“We are very concerned by how quickly these cases are creeping up and the potential exposure that might exist,” McNeil told a news conference in Halifax. “We have been there and we don’t want to go back. That’s why we need to crack down quickly but carefully.”
Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia, said the province doesn’t plan to go back into lockdown unless it’s “absolutely necessary” but will address outbreaks on a case-by-case basis.
“This time around . . . our plan is to, if at all possible, take a much more targeted approach based on geography, various sectors and high-risk populations,” Strang said. “Our goal is to contain COVID, not to have zero cases, but to not have wide community spread.”
Source: Halifax Today
]]>ArriveCAN was created as a secure and user-friendly tool to help travellers comply with these border measures. It is available as a mobile app or by signing in online. ArriveCAN allows travellers entering Canada by land, air or marine to submit mandatory information as required by Emergency Orders under the Quarantine Act.
The Government of Canada announced, as of November 21,2020, new mandatory requirements applicable to travellers to Canada to submit COVID-related information digitally. The resources in this toolkit outline the details of these mandatory requirements. We encourage you to share these materials with all those who are planning to travel or return to Canada. Your efforts will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 across the country.
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The ArriveCAN Digital Engagement Kit was developed to help you and your members inform travellers to Canada about the new mandatory requirements. It includes:
- Key messages and infographics highlighting the new mandatory requirements for air travellers and land/marine travellers, and ready-to-print poster.
- General: Additional general key messages about ArriveCAN.
- Social media: Content ready to publish and share on your social media channels.
- Video: Promotional video on ArriveCAN, highlighting new mandatory requirements