Northern Child and Youth Newsletter is published by the University of Northern BC Task Force on Substance Abuse
Selected back issues, including the following are available at: http://www.unbc.ca/centreca/english/publications.html
Vol 1, No. 1 (February 2007)
Includes:
"Teen talk - The Prince George project that tells us what youth think about substance use" and
"Connections: Where to get help online"
Vol 2, No. 1 (March 2007)
Includes:
"A Plan to Change: A New Approach for FASD Prevention in Northern BC"
For more about the UNBC Task Force on Substance Abuse, contact:
Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs
UNBC Task Force on Substance Abuse
3333 University Way
Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9
Phone: (250) 960-5806
Fax: (250) 960-5644
Email: special@unbc.ca
Web: http://www.unbc.ca/centreca
Friday, July 13, 2007
"Northern Child and Youth" Newsletter
Learning and Violence Website
The Learning and Violence website (http://www.learningandviolence.net) phase two has been
completed.
Helen Manley writes:
"The issue of violence and its impact on learning is a complex one that affects all of us in different ways. The website is designed to be an ongoing resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of the issue. It is also an opportunity to increase discussion and visibility.
Do please look over the site. Do keep us in mind if you create material that would be suitable for the site in the future. We are putting in a new proposal and are looking for partners and supporters to join us in this endeavour or write letters of support for our next round of funding. Please let Jenny Horseman (jenny@learningandviolence.net) or myself (support@jennyhorsman.com) know if you would like to help with the next phase."
Helen Manley
Spiral Community Resource Group
http://www.jennyhorsman.com
Women's Health Matters
Women's Health Matters provides an archives of short articles "written on a wide variety of women’s health topics; and detailed descriptions of books and periodicals, audiovisual and multimedia materials and websites." Visit Women's Health Matters website at:
The site also offers:
Human Rights for People with Mental Illness
You can view the complete webcast or download the magazine called Realizing Our Potential which was inspired by the event at:
http://www.realizinghumanpotential.com/overview.html
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Public Forum on Cancer Care in BC
TIME SENSITIVE
The BC Cancer Agency is pleased to be hosting a series of public forums at its regional cancer centres to gather feedback about cancer care in British Columbia.
The information collected from the sessions will be incorporated into a submission for the Provincial Government’s Conversation on Health.*
Four sessions are being held around the province in the month of July at the BC Cancer Agency’s regional cancer centres:
- July 12 – Vancouver Island Centre
- July 19 – Centre for the Southern Interior
- July 23 – Vancouver Centre
- July 26 – Fraser Valley Centre
More information can be found on the BCCA website: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/ABCCA/NewsCentre/2007/conversation.htm
Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending a public consultation, please register by calling 604.877.6000 extension 4813, or e-mail jkidd-02@bccancer.bc.ca.
*The Conversation on Health is a Government of British Columbia initiative to improve public health services today and to protect public health services for future generations
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Managing Forgetfulness & Aging Successfully
An archived webcast from the The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is available online.
Managing Forgetfulness & Aging Successfully: A Public Forum and Webcast was held Monday, March 12, 2007
Three of Canada's top brain researchers speak on memory loss and how it can be managed at a free public symposium held on March 12, 2007 at UBC's Life Sciences Centre.
Drs. Max Cynader, Howard Feldman, and Jonathan Schooler, all of UBC's Brain Research Centre, joined media doctor Art Hister, host of Canada's longest running health radio show and emcee of the symposium, to discuss disorders of the aging brain, strategies to help improve memory, and how to age successfully.
View webcast.
A short printable summary of the contents of forum is available.
Additional resources on Memory and Aging is available here.
For links to other webcasts available at the
Bipolar Disorder: A review of Medication & Self-management Strategies
TIME SENSITIVE
Bipolar Disorder: A review of Medication & Self-management Strategies is an education night for consumers and their families
July 10th, 2007
7:00 - 9:00 pm
UBC Robson Square Theatre
800 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC
Pre-registration required (seating limited)
Cost: $5.00 (waived in cases of financial hardship)
Contact:
Heather Armstrong
UBC Mood Disorders Centre
Room 2C7-2255 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1
phone 604-822-8045
email hla@interchange.ubc.ca
A flyer with speakers and topics is available.
New Canadian health website: What Older Women Want
A Canadian study of older women's health needs and concerns published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in July 2005, and reported widely in the media, has sparked a new website directed at both patients and health practitioners: http://www.wowhealth.ca/
Known widely as 'WOW' or the 'What Older Women Want' study, conducted by Drs. Cara Tannenbaum, Nancy Mayo and Francine Ducharme, the study asked 5000 older women across Canada which of their health needs they felt were not being met or addressed adequately by their health practitioners.
Among the top unmet concerns Canadian senior women mentioned were: screening and treating urinary incontinence; counselling about memory loss (or perceived memory loss); and exercise strategies to address falls and functional decline.
"Women were very satisfied with the care they were receiving to treat their blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and stroke, but emphasized gaps in care surrounding more 'taboo' issues, such as discussing urine or memory loss," says Dr. Tannenbaum, a Geriatrician at the Institut universitaire de gériatre de Montréal, and lead author of the WOW study. "It may be that women are uncomfortable talking about these issues with their physicians because it is embasrassing, because they believe it is a part of normal aging or because they are unaware that treatments exist."
In order to address this gap in primary health provision and give older women what they want, Dr. Tannenbaum teamed up with the Canadian Women's Health Network and the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal to create the WOW website: http://www.wowhealth.ca/
The website contains a portal for health consumers that provides health information on the three unmet health needs of older Canadian women: urinary incontinence, memory loss and exercise. The information is clear, straight-forward and easy-to-read, with engaging illustrations and diagrams. The focus is on prevention, with tips on diet, lifestyle changes and exercise; treatment options are also provided.
The WOW website also has a portal for health practitioners, outlining the kinds of questions that practitioners should be asking their older female patients routinely, and the ways in which they can provide prevention and improvement strategies to their patients for urinary incontinence, memory loss, as well as the particular exercise needs of older women.
For full study details on the What Older Women Want study, visit: http://www.wowhealth.ca/pdf/wowCMAJ.pdf
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Summer '07 "Tips for Living Well" newsletter is out!
The summer issue of Tips for Living Well newsletter from the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities' Wellness & Disability Initiative is hot off the press! If you subscribe to the paper copy, you'll be receiving your issue soon. If you access the PDF version from our website, you can start reading today.
In this issue ...
- Learning the Language of Feelings by Mark Linden O'Meara (an excerpt from his book, The Feeling Soul)
- Living with Hope--a video about hope and people with terminal illness
- How to Support a Family Caregiver--a new booklet about supporting caregivers from the UVIC Centre on Aging
- Watermelon Anyone?--more about watermelons than you could ever want to know!
- Pets & Wellness--a special two-page spread with pictures and pet news
- HIV/AIDS Reality Check column--this issue is information from Health Canada about condoms
- Top Tag Pet ID--a nifty flash drive containing all that important info about your pet... worn as an ID tag
- Access to Health Awards--it's not too soon to begin thinking about who you will nominate for the 2007 awards. Deadline for nominations is October 31st.
- Living a Health Life with Chronic Conditions--this program is now available throughout BC
- Cleaners and Pesticides Can Be Fatal--use them properly, or better yet, use alternatives
- Seven Myths about Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Tips for Living Well--headache tips, laughter, improving your memory, and volunteering
- Most People with Arthritis Don't Get Enough Exercise
- Sunscreen and Summer Sun Safety
- Online Book Helps Children Understand the Effects of Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)--a personal account
Don't miss out. Subscriptions to the paper copy are free in Canada. Contact wdi@bccpd.bc.ca to subscribe or to order multiple copies for your office or organization.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Caregiving Conference in Cranbrook October '07
A Prescription for Caregivers: Giving Care, Taking Care is a conference featuring speaker Wendy Lustbader in Cranbrook, BC October 15, 2007.
Location: Heritage Inn
9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
$15.00/person
To register, send name, address, phone number and email address with a cheque payable to Interior Health Authority to:
Cranbrook Health Unit
co/ Darryl Oakley
20 - 23rd Avenue South
Cranbrook, BC V1C 5V1
Sponsored by the East Kootenay Foundation for Health
Brain Injury Conference October 18-19 in Abbotsford
The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association (FVBIA) is hosting a conference:
What Does It Take:
A Holistic Look at Recovery afer Acquired Brain Injury
October 18-19, 2007
Cascade Community Church
35190 Delair Road, Abbotsford, BC
Workshop topics include:
Thursday October 18th: "The role of Effective Case Management," "Working with Mentally Disordered Offenders," "What We Know Now about Attention Training in Children with Acquired Brain Injury," "Aging Parents and ABI Outcomes," Key Worker Model for Children with Complex Needs," "Intervention Strategies for Brain Injured Adults in Prison," "Behaviour Issues with Acquired Brain Injury," and "Housing and Housing Supports."
Friday October 19th: "Educating the Student with Acquired Brain Injury in College," "The Role of the Forensic Nurse," Protecting Settlement Funds," and "The Role of Recreation (Peer Support, Art, Social Inclusion)"
Contact the FVBIA by email at info@fvbia.org, phone 604-557-1913 or visit the website at http://www.fvbia.org for information.
"Mind Matters: BC's Mental Health E-news"
Mind Matters is published by the Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) BC Division. Delivered to your email box each month, Mind Matters contains "CMHA news, programs, resources and events in BC, as well as:
- mental health news and research
- new mental health programs and resources in BC
- public education events
- courses, workshops and conferences for people with mental illness, family, friends, caregivers, advocates, and health/mental health professionals.
The following selected headlines from the June 2007 issue of Mind Matters provide an example of the range of information available:
- Coping with Suicidal Thoughts ... a short guide
- New Look and Video Resources for AnxietyBC Website
- DepressionLifelines.ca is a new website that connects you to the knowledge accumulated by mental health organizations across Canada
- The latest edition of CMHA Ontario Division's Network magazine, now available online, reflects on the theme of social inclusion
- Family Matters – A Tool for Teens is a new online resource from mindyourmind.ca
- New Website for Parents of Kids with Special Needs--Our Special Kids is a web resource for parents of children with special needs who are looking for information relevant to their situation and understanding from others
- Planning Guidelines for: Mental Health and addiction Services for children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disability is available in PDF format at http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/
- Working Effectively With Interpreters in a Mental Health Setting
- BC Launches Pilot Program for Parents of Children with Mental Illness
- Scientists Encouraged to Focus on Psychological Needs of Cancer Survivors
- Mental Illness Targeted by Workplace Screening Program
- Movie Mondays in Victoria
- Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Series – I Have Tourettes But Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me
- New Writing Group for People With Mental Illness
Read back issues or subscribe to Mind Matters at http://www.cmha.bc.ca/news_events/enews.
"Shared Voices" MS Society Newsletter great source of tips
Shared Voices is an excellent newsletter published by the MS Society of Canada's Lower Mainland chapter. The Summer 2007 issue is packed with terrific information for people living with MS—much of it of interest to people with other types of disabilities or health conditions as well. Copies are available at the website. Check out this issue for the following items and more:
- tips for keeping cool during the summer heat (p. 1-2)
- a report on a Nordic Pole Walking Workshop at the WestEnd MS Support Group (p.3)
- Lower Mainland Chapter educational workshop September 22nd 2007 (p. 4)
- A Light-hearted Parody of Your Summer Horoscope (p. 6-7)
- information about accessible pools, beaches, and musical events in the Lower Mainland
- Massage and more ... information about the West Coast College of Massage Therapy's Inreach Program for people living with MS. Over a 14-week term, massage therapy students provide weekly 60 minute massages (under supervision). "Besides the many benefits of massage, a mini support group usually develops. Some have found their fear of becoming less mobile lessens when they see those who use various aids—canes, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters—living successfully." (p. 5)
- Therapeutic and Research Issues: Mitoxantrone (might-oh-zan-trone) (p. 4)
Paralympics Paramedic Training for BC Aboriginal People with Disabilities
Reported in Voices & Visions, the newsletter of the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) (April/May 2007 p. 6)
"For the past several months, BCANDS has had discussions with the Vancouver Olympic Committee, Health Canada, Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Service Canada in promoting the training of Aboriginal People with Disabilties as Paramedic Assistants for the 2010 Games. The intent of this program is to train a group of Aboriginal People with disabilities to a minimal level of Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). ... All individuals who are successful in their training will then have the opportunity to compete for at least 14 positions that will assist the Vancouver Paramedic Team at the 2010 Olympic Games."
While the program has yet to be approved, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the BCANDS office. Email Robert Harry at robert@bcands.bc.ca or Andrew Cowie at andrewcowie@bcands.bc.ca.
Richmond: Leadership Program for Youth with Disabilities
Time Sensitive
Reported in the June 2007 issue of Connections: The Newsletter of Volunteer Richmond Information Services (volume 7, number 2 p. 4)
"The Better Community Project for Youth Leadership for persons with a disability between the ages of 16-30 is now accepting applications.
Starting in August, participants will enjoy a seires of skill-builidng workshops and learn about healthy lifestyles, first-aid, safer communities, emergency preparedness, independent living skills and self empowerment. The curriculum also includes mentoring, working on a group project and much more."
Application deadline is July 13th.
Information:
http://www.drcrichmond.ca
email randalldrc@shaw.ca
phone 604-232-2404
Friday, June 29, 2007
Using Comedy to Fight Mental Illness and Stigma: CBC Passionate Eye Documentary
Cracking Up is a life-affirming documentary about people with mental illness who embark on a quirky quest to become stand up comics. The film follows 11 courageous people who suffer from mental illness as they pursue a year of stand up comedy.
Part fun and part therapy, the course, entitled Stand Up For Mental Health is the brainchild of Vancouver counselor, stand-up comic, and author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead To Happiness and Success David Granirer. “It’s like ‘The Full Monty’ except people want us to keep our clothes on”, he says.
Doing stand-up comedy has had an amazing effect on the people in the course. For the first time in their lives, they have embraced the word "crazy," and learned to laugh at their mental illness–and their audiences are laughing right along with them. They have discovered a talent they never dreamt they had.
Airs nationally on August 30 at 9 p.m. On CBC’s Doc Zone.
For more information contact:
David Granirer, Founder
Stand Up For Mental Health–Using stand-up comedy to empower people with mental illness
3633 Triumph Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 1V4
Phone: 604-205-9242; Fax: 604-205-9243
Email: david@standupformentalhealth.com
Web: http://www.standupformentalhealth.com
Friday, June 22, 2007
Health Issues for Canadian Children & Youth: Online Consultation
TIME SENSITIVE
The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, has announced the launch of on-line consultations to gather opinions from Canadians on the health issues of Canada's children and youth.
"We have an important opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and youth," said Minister Clement. "Still, we need input on how to truly make a positive and lasting impact not only on our kids, but on Canadian society as well."
Dr. Khristinn Kellie Leitch, Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth, is examining the health issues facing Canada's children and youth. Since her appointment on March 8, 2007, Dr. Leitch has met with a number of stakeholders from across the country as well as provincial and territorial government representatives. The opening of the on-line consultations marks an important step in Dr. Leitch's mandate.
"The responses that I receive from this on-line consultation, combined with the information I am gathering from face-to-face meetings, will assist me in forming recommendations on key federal priorities and opportunities in the domain of children and youth health," said Dr. Leitch.
The consultations will be held on Health Canada's Web site from June 19, 2007, and will close at 23:59 (Pacific time) on June 29, 2007.
Dr. Leitch will report on the on-line consultation to the Minister of Health later this summer. Her advice and recommendations will inform the federal Health Portfolio on what actions it can take to best contribute to enhancing the health of Canada's children and youth.
To participate visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/public-consult/consultations/col/child-enfant/index_e.html
Participants Wanted: Osteoporosis & Physical Activity Research Study
"Drs. Philip M. Wilson and Diane E. Mack are requesting your assistance in regards to their federally funded research study entitled Osteoporosis and Physical Activity. The purpose of this study is to examine the measurement of lifestyle physical activity in those diagnosed with osteoporosis. "—From The Ontario Health Promotion E-bulletin (OHPE) June 21, 2007. Click on the link to read the full post.
Consider subscribing to the weekly OHPE, produced by the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse and The Health Communication Unit.
BC Legal Aid Newsletter
ELAN: Electronic Legal Aid Newsletter for Community Workers is an electronic newsletter published nine times/year by the Legal Services Society.
Each issue includes geat tips and resources, such as:
"Do you have a client looking for free legal services? Check out the Pro Bono map of BC. Search by city or region, and get easy-to-use online maps and driving directions to the nearest locations." (February 2007 issue of ELAN)
To subscribe, visit: http://www.lss.bc.ca/admin/elan_signup.asp
To read back issues, visit: http://www.lss.bc.ca/resources/elan_archives.asp
Women’s Stories about Surviving Stroke
A Change of Plans: Women’s Stories of Hemorrhagic Stroke is a collection of eleven stories by women who experienced hemorrhagic strokes before the age of 50. The author herself experienced a stroke as a young girl. It came on suddenly and the symptoms were misdiagnosed. Who would think that an eleven-year-old girl would be having a brain aneurysm?
As she grew into adulthood, the author thought deeply about the silence that had surrounded her experience and the psychic trauma she wasn't allowed to talk about. In the 1990s, she happened upon an article written by a woman who had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 24, and for the first time she felt less isolated in her experience. With her new awareness that there were others like her, she embarked upon a journey through Canada, the US, England, and Scotland to find and publish their stories.
The book opens with a background discussion of hemorrhagic stroke and the disabling consequences that follow. The women's stories are told honestly and movingly, and touch on the themes of recovery and rehabilitation; being a medical patient; self-image; being or not being recognized as disabled; relations with family, friends and co-workers; and how the stroke so suddenly changed their lives.
The book was published by Sumach Press and can also be purchased through Amazon.ca.
Dr. Sharon Dale Stone is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON. As an activist and academic, she is committed to giving voice to groups of people whose experiences are marginalized in mainstream society, and has published widely on the many issues facing women with disabilities.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
A health education program to help people with chronic conditions—such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, fibromyalgia, depression and others—manage their illness is available throughout British Columbia. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions,” developed by the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging, is free.
Trained and certified local volunteers, many living with chronic health conditions themselves, deliver the program in pairs once a week for six weeks. Groups take eight to 15 participants and each session lasts two-and-a-half hours.
The program offers practical tips on how to cope with the emotional and physical challenges of day-to-day living with a chronic condition. The sessions provide participants with skills for gaining more control over their illness and for boosting their self-confidence. The program, which receives funding from the BC Ministry of Health, is also open to friends, family and caregivers of people with chronic conditions.
For more information, or to register for one of the six-week courses, call the toll-free line at 1-866-902-3767 or visit the website at http://www.coag.uvic.ca/cdsmp.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC) Tidbits
Tidbits are fact sheets "designed to provide concise and useful information on women and health from a gendered perspective." Topics covered include:
Finding a New Doctor
Taking Charge of Your Health Part 1
Taking Charge of Your Health Part 2
Medical Services Plan
Pharmacare
Accessing Abortion
Endometriosis
Depression
Women's Hearth Health
Health Care User Fees: A Gendered Perspective
Women & Health Care in BC: A Gendered Perspective
Rural Women and Health
Facts on Aboriginal Women's Health
Women, Poverty, and Health
The Vancouver Women's Health Collective Menopause Kit
Tidbits are available free of charge as PDF files which you can download from the Vancouver Women's Health Collective website at http://www.womenshealthcollective.ca/newstitbits.html
Study: access to health services and information in the UK
Accessing Information about Health and Social Care Services
Picker Institute Europe
April 2007
Executive Summary
This is the second of two research studies on patients’ information produced for the Department of Health by the Picker Institute. The first, published in 2006*, found that few health information materials included a clear presentation of the likely outcomes of treatment, a discussion of clinical controversies and uncertainties, or an understanding of the patient’s decision-making role. Thus, they did not go very far to help patients make decisions.
This new study examines how patients, service users and carers currently find out about locally available services and how to access them.
Key Findings
1. Health professionals—who are often responsible for first diagnosis, or are an initial port of call for help with a condition—do not systematically or proactively provide their patients with information about accessing local services
2. There is a lack of co-ordination between information providers across boundaries—geographical, sectoral and organisational. It is rare for an individual or an organization to take responsibility for providing relevant information about the entire range of services available
3. There is a lack of effective signposting. There is no shortage of information—a significant amount of information is being designed and produced—but the service user is often left to dig it out for themselves, and may not know what it is they need to know
4. The types of information most commonly requested by service users include:
-details of voluntary sector support groups
-support for the family or carer(s)
-condition-specific services
-the financial benefits available, and how to claim them
-how to comment on or complain about services
5. With regard to the quality of information provision:
-users report that most telephone information points offer a friendly service, but do not always lead to helpful or appropriate information
- most health and social care websites contain useful information, but some are poorly designed
-some telephone advice services and websites fail to update regularly
-social care services appear to perform better than health agencies in offering information in various formats, thus making them accessible to people with disabilities
Note:
*Coulter A, Ellins J, Swain D, Clarke A, Heron P, Rasul F, Magee H, Sheldon H. Assessing the quality of information to support people in making decisions about their health and healthcare. Oxford: Picker Institute Europe, 2006
To download the full report (108 pages), visit:
http://www.pickereurope.org/Filestore/Publications/Information_access_final_web.pdf
For other Picker Institute Europe publications on health care and access to health issues, visit: http://www.pickereurope.org/page.php?id=48
[Executive summary reprinted with permission.]
Drug information too hard to read and understand
To make drug information easier to read, researchers recommend:
• using short, familiar words and short sentences
• using short headings that stand out
• using the largest possible type size
• leaving plenty of white space
• using bullet points to organize lists.
Earlier this year, researchers announced the results of a systematic review of studies examining the usefulness to patients of medication information sheets. The review covered the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the United States and found that information does not meet the needs of patients. Poor layout and complex language often hinder communication.
The reviewers emphasize that patients want written information in addition to—not instead of—spoken instructions from their health care professionals. Many people would like information that better helps them evaluate potential benefits and harms of a drug treatment. Lead author D.K. Raynor, Ph.D., of the University of Leeds in England says that one key finding was an apparent dichotomy between prescriber and patient views of the fundamental purpose of drug leaflets.
Some providers see increasing treatment compliance as a primary function. In contrast, patients say an informed decision not to take a medicine is also an acceptable result. “Patients see the role of written medical information as guiding them in terms of which medicine is right for them and, if they take the medicine, how best they can use it,” Raynor said. To that end, patients would also like to see more balance between benefit and harm information.
Current drug information focuses too heavily on warnings and adverse effects of the medication, Raynor said. “Patients also need to know how it might benefit them and how likely it is to benefit them.” Exactly how to convey the likelihood of benefits and harms most clearly remains in question. Verbal descriptors like “rare” or “common” are too vague, according to the review.
Yet, more scientific terminology like percentages or “numbers needed to treat” can also confuse the lay public. More research is needed in how best to communicate probability data to consumers, the reviewers say.
To read the full report:
Raynor DK, et al. A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research on the role and effectiveness of written information available to patients about individual medicines. Health Technology Assessment 11(5), 2007.
We're back!
The Health Literacy Network News blog is up and running again. Please send us news about resources or programs you know about (especially BC or Canadian) that helps to make health information and services more accessible.
You can email them to wdi@bccpd.bc.ca. Thanks!
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Sexual Health Resources for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities often have a hard time finding sexual health information because of myths and discrimination surrounding their sexuality. Some of the myths about people with disabilities, as identified by the Canadian Health Network, are:
- People with physical disabilities aren’t capable of having sex
- People with developmental disabilities can’t understand their sexual feelings and don’t need sexual health information
- People with developmental disabilities have a higher sex drive than people without disabilities and need to be controlled
- Nobody would be attracted to a person with a disability
The AIDS and Disability Action Program (ADAP) at the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities offers sexual health resources designed specifically for people with disabilities. We have five information booklets on sexual health available free of charge:
- Know About HIV and AIDS
- Know About Safer Sex
- Know About Condoms
- Know About Seniors and HIV
- Know About Communicating with your Doctor
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Fostering a dog
Did you read the last post? Are you interested in becoming more active, but not sure you want the responsibility of a dog? Maybe you should become a foster parent to a dog. This means that you would provide a temporary home for a dog until a permanent home is found. The City of
There are lots of benefits to fostering a dog besides increasing your activity level:
- animals that have endured hardship and could really use a loving home where they can get used to living with people again while waiting to find a permanent home
- provides a great lesson in compassion, nurturing, and generosity to children in a home
What type of dog needs a foster home?
- older dogs
- dogs with health problems
- mothers and puppies (Fostering a litter of puppies a great way for your family to experience raising baby animals without adding to the pet overpopulation problems)
- dogs with behavioral problems or unaccustomed to living indoors
- any dog who has been at the shelter for more than three months.
My family adopted an older dog and had a great experience. Older dogs need homes and are usually somewhat trained when they join your family - which makes the whole process of getting a dog easier on everyone! I think they also make more loyal and loving pets because they appreciate a good home.
If you are interested in joining the
Dog Ownership and Regular Walking
The Alberta Centre for Active Living recently reported on a study that examined the relationship between dog ownership and regular walking. The purpose of this
The results of their studied revealed:
· dog owners spend more time walking than non-dog owners
· dog owners walked on average 300 minutes per week
· non-dog owners average 168 minutes of walking per week
· dog owners were also more likely to engage in mild or moderate activity than non-dog owners.
What conclusions should be drawn from this? Are dogs the newest exercise fad? The study showed that dog owners who feel a sense of responsibility or obligation for the health and well being of their dog are more likely to walk more. About 25% of dog owners were found to be not walking their dogs! The study’s results suggest that a caring relationship between the owner and the dog was the most important factor that led to increased exercise.
For more information on this study please visit the Alberta Centre for Active LivingMake your grocery shopping more efficient
By Rose Reisman
(NC)—For some shopping is a pleasure, for others it's a chore. Whichever it is for you, when you have a family, grocery shopping is a necessity.
I enjoy grocery shopping and I like to take my time picking the best-looking fruits and vegetables, scanning all the new product offerings and reading labels. The problem is, most of us don't have the time to enjoy the experience. Here are a few tips for grocery shopping that I developed as the national spokesperson for Balanced Living for McCain Foods.
• Make a good grocery list and stick to it, carefully crossing out items that are added to the cart. The best list is based on a weekly meal plan and meal planning is an important tool in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• Keep the list in a handy spot like the fridge door. Jot down things when you're using them up.
• Start shopping from the outside aisles where you usually find the fresh fruits and vegetables – I call it the healthiest section of the store and starting there puts me in the right frame of mind to complete my purchases.
• In recent years food labels have changed significantly. Take a bit of time and become familiar with the labels. Being knowledgeable about labels will allow you to make better decisions in the grocery store. A good source of information about labels can be found at www.healthyeating isinstore.ca/program_resources.asp#consumer.
• Did you know that some words commonly used on labels such as "light" or "lite" can mean different things to different shoppers? The term "light" means that the food contains one-third fewer calories or half the fat of the regular product. "Lite," on the other hand, is often used to describe the product – light in taste, color or texture.
Try doing your label reading at off-peak times. Many supermarkets are open late so this may be an option that works for you. The shopping aisles are not as congested then and you'll feel more comfortable pushing your cart to the side to review labels more completely. If possible, avoid shopping on weekends or the day before a holiday because it's a lot easier to get help from a store attendant when you are one of only a few customers.
Finally, try to always shop at the same supermarket. Familiarity with the layout of the store means quicker and easier shopping! More information is available online at www.livingwell.mccain.ca or www. rosereisman.com.
Rose Reisman, one of
- News
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Good Health Tips: Fight afternoon slump
By J.C. Carroll
(NC)—Do you seem to run out of energy at the same time every afternoon? Feeling tired and lethargic is the price we pay for a jam-packed lifestyle, but mid-afternoon is a bit too early to come to a dead stop. There are solutions to this, say health consultants. With a little know-how, we can quickly feel more refreshed, alert and focused. Here's how:
• Take a walk or get some form of activity during your lunch break.
• Drink more water. Dehydration can often leave you feeling sluggish.
• Choose lunch options wisely. High-fat or high-carbohydrate meals may leave you feeling sleepy.
• Plan for a snack. Low blood sugar often contributes to lack of energy and difficulty concentrating. Choose a snack however, that is not high in sugar.
• Get some fresh air. Try to go outside for a few minutes in the natural sunlight.
• An aromatherapy mist, with fragrances like rosemary or clove, goes a long way to invigorate the senses.
- News
Understanding Brain Stroke and Injury: A workshop for family and friends
Where: GF Strong Rehab Centre,
When: June 24th, 2006 - 9:00 a.m. to Noon - in the Board Room
Facilitators: Karen McCombie and Jennifer Wonders
Still need more info? Contact Jennifer @604-737-6221.
Queer Summer Camp
Gab Youth Services is organizing a Queer Summer Camp for youth 25 and under. This year the invitation is being extended not only to Gab youth, but to any Queer or Straight Allied youth who would like to attend. This will be a free camp, but space will be limited to 25 youth due to funding.
Feel free to visit www.zajacranch.com or the Gab Youth web page
Gab is looking for 8 committed youth 25 and under who would be interested in being part of a planning committee as well as becoming youth leaders at the camp.
Friday, June 02, 2006
LGTB Health Matters – New resource launched!
LGTB (Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual) Health Matters, An Education and Training Resource for Health and Social Service Sector was developed to increase access to health and social services for LGTB people in BC and across
LGTB individuals continue to experience homophobia and transphobia in accessing health and social services. Many LGTB people also experience a lower health status than the general population. LGTB individuals indicate that they do not feel comfortable coming out to their primary health care providers who often have received little or no training on the unique health issues they face. They believe that they would not receive the best care if the service provider was uncomfortable with their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
For more information or to obtain a copy contact The Centre at educationoutreach@lgtbecentrevancouver.com or 604-684-6548. Available in coil bound hard copy or in PDF at www.lgtbcentrevancouver.com
Got a question about asthma?
(NC) — When a child is diagnosed with asthma, it can raise a lot of questions and concerns for parents. For this reason, The Lung Association and the Division of Respiratory Medicine at The Hospital Children (SickKids) are pleased to present, Questions and Answers about Asthma - a parents handbook of information.
The book is free of charge and available by calling The Lung Association's Asthma Action Helpline at 1.800.668.7682 or at the AboutKidsHealth Family Resource Centre located at SickKids.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Free publications on violence against women with disabilities
The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (NCFV) offers free publications on a wide range of topics under domestic violence. Some of the topics covered are:
- violence against women with disabilities
- violence against women during pregnancy
- violence against women who do not speak English or French
- the link between violence against women and eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia)
Publications are available online in PDF or HTML form. They are also available in print and can be ordered online via the NCFV’s new Shopping Cart ordering system.
To explore this new ordering system and the NCFV website please visit:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/familyviolence/index.html
The Community Advocate Support Line
The Legal Services Society of BC recently launched the Community Advocate Support Line (CASL). The CASL line will be operated through the LawLINE. CASL will be staffed full-time by a lawyer who will be available to provide brief legal advice and legal information to BC advocates in relation to certain client files the advocate is handling.
- income assistance;
- residential tenancy and other housing issues (including foreclosure);
- family law;
- employment insurance;
- Canada Pension Plan (including disability benefits);
- debt collection and bankruptcy;
- consumer contracts; and
- judicial review.
If you have a legal question regarding a client with a problem falling outside the specified CASL case priorities, please contact CASL and they will review the situation.
To access services through the CASL project, you must provide the CASL lawyer at the outset with the full legal name, address and phone number (if any) of your client. You will also need to provide the full legal names of any opposing parties involved in your client's legal issue. CASL’s professional responsibilities as lawyers require them to confidentially review and record this information. This means that before calling the advocate should generally obtain their client’s consent to release this information to the CASL project before calling.
The CASL line has requested that the phone number not be distributed because it only has one line and is for advocates. If you are an advocate and this service would be helpful to you please contact LawLINE for a referral at 604-408-2172 or 1-866-577-2525 (toll free outside of the Lower Mainland).
If you not an advocate, but are looking for legal information, advice or referrals you can call LawLINE at the above numbers as well.
Friday, May 19, 2006
May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Did you know?
- One in 10 Canadians has a speech, language or hearing problem.
- About 4% of preschool children have a significant speech or language problem.
- About 1% of Canadians and 4% of preschoolers stutter. Men are four times more likely to stutter than women.
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month is coordinated by the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists (CASLPA). There are events taking place across
· "50 Years of Making Waves" - The Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is celebrating 50 years of service to deaf, deafened and hard of hearing British Columbians with a cocktail reception and entertainment on May 26 at the Vancouver Aquarium and a dinner and dance, May 27th held at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites.
Contact: Susan Masters masters@widhh.com for details.
· Mayoral Proclamation of May Month at
If you or your organization is interested in celebrating Speech and Hearing Awareness Month it isn’t too late to download electronic files of the “May Month Marketing Kit”.
This kit contains everything needed to promote the month. It includes: a media release, publicity tips, celebration ideas, ad mats, public service announcements, assorted fact sheets and feature stories, poster, clip art sheet and photo gallery.
For further information please visit CASLPA's web site - www.caslpa.com
Self-defense Workshop for Lesbian, Gay, Transgender & Bisexual People
The Centre serving and supporting Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered, Bisexual People and their Allies is offering a free, participatory workshop with information and techniques to help LGTB people stay safe and defend themselves against violence. If interested, please come wearing running shoes and loose, comfortable clothing.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Free online guide to Family Health and Literacy
This guide is designed to help integrate health and literacy education in family literacy programs. It contains easy-to-read health materials and websites for family literacy teachers, health educators and practitioners who work with low literate parents. The resources listed can help teach health to families with lower literacy skills and are free online. There are listings of easy-to-read health information, lesson plans and teaching activities, online activities to use in class and activities and games for parents and children to do together. It also discusses how to integrate health and literacy education, how to get started and engage adult learners, and how to build connections between literacy programs and local health services.
To access the Family Health and Literacy online please visit:
www.worlded.org/us/health/docs/family
This guideline is a PDF that only will open with Adobe Reader 7. If you don’t have Adobe Reader 7 you can download it via the above address.
Hard copies are also available free of charge for a limited time: please
contact Leah_Peterson@worlded.org
Request for Stories: Life Experiences of Adults with Developmental Disabilities
There are no length requirements and no firm due date. However, her April 27th email asked for them as soon as possible! Stories can be published anonymously if requested. If your story is chosen you will receive 3 free copies of the book once it is published.
For more information please visit: http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/documents/CallForStories.pdf
PLAN workshop for families of teens transitioning from school to adulthood
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Council of the Federation Literacy Award
Created in 2004 and first awarded in 2005, the Council of the Federation Literacy Award acknowledges outstanding achievement, innovative practices and excellence in literacy. The award honours a person or group in each province and territory whose accomplishments have shaped the landscape of literacy. BC nominees must have lived in the province for at least 2 years and be a current or former student, literacy volunteer, pracitioner, teacher, administrator, researcher, business or organization.
The May 15 deadline for nominations is fast approaching!
Nomination forms are available at: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/literacy/nominations.htm
BC Multicultural Health Directory
The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) is providing the BC Directory of Multicultural Health Expertise as a free on line service for health organizations, institutions, community agencies, communities and individuals to facilitate the identification of public health care professionals with multicultural health expertise as well as cross-cultural health care services.
To register your program in the directory click on the following link:
http://amssa.org/multiculturalhealthyliving/phase3/directoryForm.cfm
Monday, May 01, 2006
Just released: Quick Guide to Health Literacy
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' recently released the new Quick Guide to Health Literacy. The Quick Guide is a reference for professionals interested in health literacy. Strategies discussed in the guide are taken from current research in health literacy and health communication.
Some of the strategies explored in The Quick Guide include:
* improving the usability of health information
* improving the usability of health services
* building knowledge to improve health decision-making
* advocating for health literacy improvement.
To take a look at the Quick Guide and a sample Power Point presentation please visit: http://www.health.gov/communication/literacy/default.htm.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
New booklet available! Know About…Communicating with your Doctor
The AIDS and Disability Action Program has added a new booklet to it’s “Know About” series – Know About…Communicating with your Doctor.
The aim of this new booklet is to give people strategies to prepare for a doctor’s appointment so they can get the most benefit out of their visit. Communicating with your Doctor outlines the benefits of a good patient – doctor relationship and gives readers tools to help them communicate effectively with their doctor. Readers are encouraged to prepare for their appointment by writing down their questions, gathering information their doctor might need and taking responsibility for their communication needs. For example, if the reader uses a hearing aid they should let the doctor know and make sure it is working well before the appointment.
This booklet is now available free of charge. If you are interested in receiving copies of this 13 page, plain text booklet with illustrations please contact Claire by phone at 604-875-0188 or email at hln@bccpd.bc.ca. Booklets are available in Braille.
New website on Health Communication Activities
The US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recently launched a new web site on health communication activities. Health communications is the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence decision that enhance health.
Health communication aims to improve patient – doctor relationships through training doctors and individuals in effective communication skills. Improving health communication has many benefits:
* raises awareness of health risks and solutions
* provides the motivation and skills needed to reduce health risks
* helps individuals find support from other people in similar situations
* contributes to health promotion and disease prevention
* can increase demand for appropriate health services and decrease demand for inappropriate health services.
There are 4 separate sections on this website: Health Communications, Health Literacy, the Prevention Communication Research Database, and e-health.
To check out this website please visit: http://www.health.gov/communication/
Friday, February 10, 2006
Health Literacy Fact Sheets
Written by Linda Potter and Constance Martin and published in August 2005.
"This series of nine fact sheets was created for those who are designing patient education materials for consumers with low health literacy skills."
Fact Sheet 1: What is Health Literacy?
Fact Sheet 2: Who has Health Literacy Problems?
Fact Sheet 3: Impact of Low Literacy Skills on Annual Health Care Expenditures
Fact Sheet 4: Health Literacy and Understanding Medical Information
Fact Sheet 5: Strategies to Assist Low-literate Health Care Consumers
Fact Sheet 6: Preparing Patient Education Materials
Fact Sheet 7: Tools to Evaluate Patient Education Materials
Fact Sheet 8: Health Communication and Cultural Diversity
Fact Sheet 9: Resources for Health Literacy Information and Publications
Download the fact sheets in PDF format at:
http://www.chcs.org/publications3960/publications_show.htm?doc_id=291711
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Multi-format health information
Healthy Roads Media offers "free audio, written and multimedia health education materials in a number of languages. They are being developed to study the value of these formats in providing health information for diverse populations."
So far, information is available on the following topics (some have several sub-topics):
* Abuse
* Asthma
* Cancer
* Dental
* Diabetes
* Diseases and Conditions
* Exercise
* Health Services
* Heart
* Immunization
* Nutrition
* Smoking
* Tuberculosis
* Women's Health
Languages include: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Somali, Bosnian, Russian, Hmong and Khmer.
Particularly interesting are the online video clips which are specially formatted to make them accessible with low-speed Internet connections.
Visit Health Roads Media at http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Helen Osborne's Tips: The Power of Pictures
Tips for February 2006
by Helen Osborne
Reprinted with permission.
Patients and their family members need to consistently and completely understand health information. They need this in order to understand how to access care, follow directions, recognize emergencies, and comply with other health tasks.
But many people have trouble understanding health information. One reason can be due to readers' limited literacy or learning skills. Another reason may be that the information itself is very difficult. Almost always, problems in understanding arise when there are mismatches between ways patients learn and how information is presented.
Pictures and other visual aids can help patients "get the picture" of what health professionals are talking or writing about.
... read tips for using visual aids and learn about Helen's workshop "How to Draw and Use Pictographs" at her website:
http://www.healthliteracy.com/tip-feb2006.html
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Helen Osborne's Tips: 8 Ways You Can Improve Health Communication
Tips for December 2005
by Helen Osborne
Reprinted with permission.
Communicating health information effectively takes more than just short words, bullet points, or colorful pictures.
Based on strategies in my book, Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, here are 8 ways you can improve health communication.
1. Know your audience, in general. Begin by getting familiar with the "average" person in your intended audience. This means knowing about literacy level, language, culture, and age. It also means being sensitive to disabilities or emotional issues which may affect how the "average" person understands and uses health information.
2. Tailor communication, in specific. But no one really is "average." After you know where to begin, tailor or adapt communication to meet the needs of each individual. This may be drawing pictographs for someone who speaks limited English. Or teaching just one concept at a time to someone who has trouble concentrating. You can also tailor communication by giving resources to learn more.
... read the remaining tips at Helen Osborne's website: http://www.healthliteracy.com/tip-dec2005.html.
You can order a copy of Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, in any of these ways:
Health Literacy Consulting website at www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745502/
Amazon.com website at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763745502/002-0417300-8614462?v=glance&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Copyright 2005, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, http://www.jbpub.com.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Helping people with disabilities find health information
Shelley Hourston, Director of BCCPD's Wellness & Disability Initiative, AIDS & Disability Action Program, and the Health Literacy Network, made a presentation at the Canadian Community Information & Referral Conference in October 2005. Her topic was "Helping People with Disabilities Find Health Information" -- "to explore our perceptions of disability and how they affect communication and information seeking behaviour...and how people with disabilities find health information...."
Disabilities and Health Information--main paper
Barriers & Solutions Tip Sheet
Seeing with New Eyes--Appreciative Storytelling Exercise
Health Literacy Tools & Resources
To download the paper, tip sheet, exercise or resource list, visit the December 5, 2005 Community Alert at the BCCPD website: http://www.bccpd.bc.ca/s/CommunityAlert.asp.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Speak Up! against intolerance
Prejudice and discrimination have a profound effect on our health and ability to ask for the information and help we need. Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry is a new 80-page guide published by the Teaching Tolerance Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center. The guide and many other resources are available at a website called tolerance.org. Materials to promote tolerance and to help cope with bigotry are available for teens, kids, parents and teachers. View or download Speak Up! at http://www.tolerance.org/order_forms/.
Our thanks to Mind Matters: BC Mental Health E-News (Vol 37 January 2006) for alerting us to the great material at www.tolerance.org. And speaking of great resources, Mind Matters is a terrific source of information in a convenient monthly electronic newsletter produced by the Canadian Mental Health Association's BC Division office (CMHA). Check it out at http://www.cmha.bc.ca/.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
December 1st is World AIDS Day
Check for World AIDS Day events in your community.
If you are in Vancouver, join us for World AIDS Day
at the Gathering Place (609 Helmcken Street).
The day begins with coffee and muffins at 9:45 with
speakers all day until 5:00 pm. Evening events include
PWA Support Group Gathering and Candlelight Vigil
from 7:00-9:30 at 1107 Seymour Street in Vancouver
and a Service of Celebration at 7:00 pm at Central
Presbyterian Church, 1155 Thurlow Street, Vancouver.
Visit BC Coalition of People with Disabilities World AIDS Day
displays at seniors organizations as well as at
disability centres at many colleges and universities throughout
the province.
View a Knowledge Network Tribute to World AIDS Day
on December 1st
Their Brothers' Keepers: Orphaned by AIDS
TV premier10:00 pm December 1st, repeats December 27th
at 7:00 pm
Call Me Average -- a portrait of Vancouver artist, Joe Average
December 1st at 11:00 pm
Knowledge Network http://www.knowledgenetwork.ca
Learn about HIV and AIDS so that you can help to educate others.
Contact the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities' AIDS &
Disability Action Program / Wellness & Disability Initiative / Health
Literacy Network at 604-875-0188 or by email at wdi@bccpd.bc.ca
for our free HIV prevention booklets.
Fall issue of "Literacies" journal now available
The Fall 2005 issue of Literacies journal is available at
http://www.literacyjournal.ca/literacies/6-2005/readers_f05.htm.
The theme is "Literacy and Community."
Take a look at over 50 pages of terrific Canadian news and articles,
including Janet Pringle's "No Justice without Clear Language"
(http://www.literacyjournal.ca/literacies/6-2005/pdf/pringle.pdf).
Pringle is a plain language writer and trainer working with and for
people with developmental disabilities.
In this article she writes:
"When I'm asked to create a plain language brochure, report or list of
instructions, for example, I usually begin by writing the first draft
alone, using language that I think will be clear. Then I work with
teams of two or three 'translators' with developmental disabilities.
They are the experts in this field and they tell me what they
understand."
And while you're at the Literacies website, check out back issues,
including the Fall 2004 issue on Health and Wellness
(http://www.literacyjournal.ca/literacies/4-2004/readers_f04.htm).
This issue includes an article called "Health Literacy and People with
Disabilities"
http://www.literacyjournal.ca/literacies/4-2004/pdf/hourston.pdf.
Support Literacies by subscribing. One year is only $15.00/two years
$25.00. Details at the website.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Sources of Translated Consumer Health Information
The following websites provide consumer health information in English and a variety of other languages.
BC HealthFiles offer reader-friendly health information in English and are also available in Chinese, French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/bilingua/index.stm.
The Region of Peel (ON) Public Health provides fact sheets on a range of health topics in Chinese, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
http://www.region.peel.on.ca/health/translated/.
The Canadian Mental Health Association provides information on a variety of topics in:
Farsi/Dari, Hindi, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Somali, Serbo-Coration, Tamil and Urdu.
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=4-42-211&lang=1.
The BC Schizophrenia Society offers information in English, French, Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish, and Urdu.
http://www.bcss.org/information_centre/translations/index.html.
The Australian Multicultural Health Communication Service offers one of the most comprehensive websites of translated consumer health information. Languages include:
Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Bengali, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dari, English, Farsi/Persian, Filipino/Tagalog, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Khmer/Cambodian, Koori, Korean, Kurdish, Lao, Macedonian, Maltese, Maori, Oromo, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Pushto, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Sinhalese, Somali, Sorani, Spanish, Tamil, Tetum, Thai, Tigrigna, Tongan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
http://mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/health-public-affairs/mhcs/publications/langindex.html.
The Ohio State University Medical Center provides reader-friendly information on nearly 100 health conditions, diseases and procedures. Languages include African French, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, English, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
http://www.healthinfotranslations.com/english.php.
Ethnomed Patient Education Resources also offers consumer health information in a variety of languages.
http://ethnomed.org/ethnomed/patient_ed/.
Needs of Parents with FASD in Prince George
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is among the most common developmental disabilities of our times. It is caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol in utero and is a leading cause of birth defects and mental handicaps. The available data on FASD focuses largely on the challenges faced by children affected with FASD, and the challenges of parenting children with FASD. In the thirty years since FASD was first recognized, an entire generation of individuals has reached adulthood. Despite the fact that one million Canadians over the age of 15 may have FASD, the amount of information about adolescents and adults who are affected by FASD remains a mere trickle.
UNBC graduate student Velma Abraham has been working to change this. In particular, she has been studying the perspectives of adults with FASD who go on to become parents themselves. Service providers and parents were interviewed in Prince George, BC to explore the needs of adults who face the dual challenge of parenting and living with FASD.
People with FASD have limited cognitive skills, are less likely to participate in the labour force, are more likely to be the victims of violence, and are vulnerable to cycle between prisons or institutions--or at least to live in substandard conditions. Although FASD was first diagnosed in the late 1960s, it remains difficult to accurately diagnose adults who suffer from the disorder and therefore provide access to appropriate services.
The research was initiated by the Parenting Services division of Northern Health and undertaken by Abraham for her master’s degree in Psychology, which was completed under the supervision of professor Cindy Hardy.
More information: www.unbc.ca/releases/2005/09_27fasd.html.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Education Evening Thursday, October 20th - Mood Disorders Association of BC
The MDA is hosting an Education Evening on Thursday, October 20th at Sunrise Hall - located at 1950 Windermere St. Dr. Hiram Mok, a psychiatrist at the UBC Mood Disorders Clinic, will be giving an update on depression. There will be a question and answer period followed by light refreshments.
For more information please visit the MDA's website at www.mdabc.ca
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
BC's Access to Health award nominations close October 31st
The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities' Access to Health awards are given each October to mark International Health Literacy Month. Nominations must be received by 4:30 pm October 31, 2005.
Awards are given each year to individuals in:
- the community agency category and
- the healthcare professionals category.
To nominate someone for an award:
- you must be a person with a disability living in BC
- contact the Health Literacy Network for a nomination form or visit Community Alerts (August 10, 2005) at the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities website: http://www.bccpd.bc.ca
- complete all three parts of the nomination form
- mail or fax your nomination form by 4:30 October 31, 2005.
Monday, October 03, 2005
October 3 - 9 is Mental Illness Awareness Week
This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. MIAW is an annual national public education campaign designed to show Canadians the reality of mental illness.
Mental illness affects more than six million—or one in five—Canadians. Mental disorders constitute 5 of the 10 leading causes of disability around the word. Many Canadians do not realize they are ill and don’t seek help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness. There are a lot of misconceptions about mental illnesses and the people who have mental illness. The goal of Mental Illness Awareness Week is to help bring mental illness out from the shadows and to prove that people with metnal illnesses can lead healthy, productive lives.
There are many events across BC celebrating Mental Illness Awareness Week. Here are some highlights:
Making Mental Health Matter, Prince George BC
7 – 9pm, October 4, 2005
A 2 hour workshop geared at “looking after your mental health”
For further information please visit http://www.bcsspg.org
'People Say I’m Crazy’ – Film viewing and Mental Health Panel Dicussion, Penticton BC
7 – 9pm, October 4, 2005
The 1st documentary by someone with schizophrenia. John invites his audience to tour the world of “his beauitful mind” and see how the illness binds his family together as he fights to build a fulfilling life. Panel discussion to follow.
Please contact Joanne Perry at cmhaunity@shaw.ca or 250-493-6327 for further information
Mental Illness Awareness Display at West Vancouver Memorial Library, West Vancouver BC
1 – 8pm, October 5, 2005
Brochures, refreshments and a short video will be on display to help increase awareness and educate the community about available resources.
For further information please visit http://www.bcssnorthshore.org
For more information about Mental Illness Awareness Week, an event in your area or to post your own community event please visit the Mental Illness Awareness Week’s official website at http://www.miaw-ssmm.ca/
