No Images? Click here In This Issue - November 2018
REVIEW: Cannabis Use in Youth and Psychosis In Niagara, cannabis is the most commonly used drug among secondary students, second to alcohol. Overall, 35.3 per cent of students have used cannabis in the past 12 months. This is higher than the provincial average of 28.1 per cent according to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (2015). Cannabis legalization poses a significant risk to youth under 25 years of age. Specifically, regular cannabis use in adolescence
Regular cannabis use in youth and young adults can also affect aspects of cognition, including attention, memory, processing speed, motor skills and overall IQ (source: cannabisandpsychosis.ca authored by the Schizophrenia Society). The following resources are available to help keep you and your patients well-informed about the risks of cannabis use. For Heath Care Professionals:
For Patients and Families:
Treatment is available. Make a referral to Niagara Region Mental Health online or call: 905-688-2854, ext. 7262 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday). To learn more about Niagara Region Mental Health treatment services or to view updated mental health resources, please visit www.niagararegion.ca/health/professionals REVIEW: ISPA Immunization Record Review The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires Public Health to review vaccination records for students in Niagara elementary and secondary schools. Your practice plays a key role in reducing student suspension by providing parents with vaccination records and getting children caught up on overdue vaccine doses. We are in the process of notifying the parents of 8,021 students that their immunization records are incomplete. Your office will likely get calls from some of these parents. Please ensure your office has enough vaccine to accommodate this potential demand. To order more vaccine, use the appropriate order form: Current compliance of ISPA in Niagara: Thank you for your ongoing support of ISPA to keep Niagara students healthy and in school! FOR YOUR PATIENTS: Fall Prevention Month November is Fall Prevention Month in Canada. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury that result in emergency room visits and admissions in the Niagara region. We all have a role to play in preventing falls year-round. Access the toolkit for health care providers which provides information and resources for
For your patients who want to keep active and stay in their home as long as possible, Niagara Region Seniors Services offers a range of programs for your patients, including fall prevention programming. To apply for these local programs, please have your patients call 905-984-2621 or toll free 1-877-212-3922, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. FOR YOUR PATIENTS: Accessible Transit Options from Niagara Region Your patients can access accessible transit travel options on both Niagara Region Transit and Niagara Specialized Transit. Niagara Region Transit provides conventional transit service while Niagara Specialized Transit is designed for those individuals who are looking for transportation that require enhanced accessibility accommodations above what is provided on conventional transit services. Niagara Region Transit has multiple accessibility features to accommodate a range of needs, such as
Before filling out applications for Niagara Specialized Transit on behalf of a patient, please consider that Niagara Region Transit may be the most appropriate option. For more information on Niagara Region Transit or Niagara Specialized Transit (including information on how to obtain a support person pass) call Niagara Region at 905-980-6000 ext. 3232. FOR YOUR PATIENTS: BounceBack BounceBack is a free, evidence-based, guided self-help program designed to help adults and youth 15+ years of age manage symptoms of mild to moderate depression and anxiety through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) skill-building. Your patients will learn CBT skills to help them tackle problems such as low mood, stress, and worry through
Funded by the Government of Ontario, and managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario and the CMHA York and South Simcoe branch, BounceBack is available across Ontario. Contact Allie Myers for more information. IPAC REVIEW: STOP! Germs Spread Easily Is your office prepared to stop the spread of infection?
Refer to PIDAC Infection Prevention and Control for Clinical Office Practice Document for detailed information on booking, reception and patient placement. SURVEILLANCE UPDATE: Influenza Activity Remains Low
For more detail or the most recent data, please visit Public Health Ontario’s page for the Ontario Respiratory Pathogen Bulletin. MEDICAL ADVISORIES & MEMOS: October and November 2018
NOTE: You can now receive Medical Advisories and Memos electronically from Niagara Region Public Health - subscribe here. |