No images? Click here
Mental Health Week 2022
Join the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in their 71st annual Mental Health Week from May 2-8. This year, the theme is the importance of empathy. Having empathy means you understand others' emotions, share their feelings, and respond with compassion and care. Empathy strengthens our relationships at home, in the workplace, and in our broader community. Practicing empathy is one way to support each other through difficult times and come out more resilient on the other side. Download the toolkit to find everything you need to spread empathy far and wide. Bring empathy alive with the people in your life. Be there, listen completely, and see the world through their eyes. It's how to really help.
Stories of Lived Experience
Sharing a story about your personal experience with a mental illness can help in your own recovery, and provide encouragement and support to others going through similar experiences. Share what has helped, what hasn't, and what has given you hope. There are all sorts of things you know that other people want to know - you're not alone. Let them know that they aren't either.
Zero Suicide Toolkit
Suicide prevention is a global public health concern and system wide collaboration that involves organizations to prevent death by suicide. This toolkit can support organizations who are not a part of the health care sector in accessing tools to enhance suicide prevention. The information presented in this toolkit is an adapted version of the Zero Suicide toolkit which was originally designed by the Education and Development Centre for health care settings.
Be Safe App by mindyourmind is now available in Niagara!
Finding the right mental health and addiction services can be challenging. Be Safe was created to help improve access to, and coordination of mental health and addiction services for youth and families. With Be Safe, users can create a safety plan directly on their phones, find local resources for support, and learn how to stay safe in a crisis. You can download Be Safe on the App Store or Google Play!
Drug Drop off Day May 14, 2022
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, you are invited to drop off any old or unused prescription drugs from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at any of the six drop off locations. Please remove all personal information on prescription drug labels and packaging. The event will be contact free so please drive, walk or cycle through. This event will take place rain or shine.
Contact Niagara
Contact Niagara provides information and services in Niagara for local children and youth who have emotional, behavioural and/or developmental concerns. Contact Niagara aims to "never be the wrong place to call" by helping to navigate the system of Niagara services and supports. Contact Niagara's resource coordinators work alongside our partners to help individuals and families in the region access the services and supports available to them.
Empathy vs Sympathy
Empathy and sympathy are often grouped together, but they are very different. Brene Brown explains that empathy is a skill that can bring people together and make people feel included, while sympathy creates an uneven power dynamic and can lead to isolation and disconnection. In the spirit of Mental Health Week, learn the importance of empathy and how it fuels connection.
Help prevent stigma
Person first language acknowledges someone as a person before describing personal attributes or health conditions. It respects people's worth and dignity, promotes help-seeking behaviour and avoids perpetuating negative stereotypes. Learn more from Ottawa Public Health and their examples of respectful person-first language in the context of substance use health and mental health.
Questions or concerns about parenting, child health or pregnancy?
Niagara Parents now offers live chat in over 90 languages! Connect with a Public Health Nurse instantly in whichever language you prefer. Speak to us about registering for free parenting classes, child growth and development, or to get links to services within the community.
The Empathy Effect: Countering Bias to Improve Health Outcomes
Trusting relationships between the care team and clients are essential for optimal care. Many providers have limited exposure to explicit and intentional training focused on evidence-based communication and models for interacting with clients. "The Empathy Effect: Countering Bias to Improve Health Outcomes" is a free interactive workshop that combines opportunities for self-reflection and practical skill-building. Join us for our next session on Friday, June 3, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
