Adversity in early life linked to higher risk of mental health problems, RCSI research
Risk can be reduced by improving parent-child relationship and increasing child self-esteem and physical activity
DUBLIN, April 22, 2021 – New research has found that childhood adversity, such as parental conflict, death of a close family member or serious injury, before the age of nine was associated with mental health problems in late adolescence.
However, the research also shows that improving the relationship between parents and children could prevent subsequent mental health problems, even in children who have experienced severe adversities. The research also indicated that improving a child’s self-esteem and increasing their levels of physical activity can help to reduce the risk of developing mental health problems.
The study, led by researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, is recently published in Psychological Medicine.
The research team analysed data from over 6,000 children in Ireland who took part in the Growing Up in Ireland study. The results showed that just over a quarter of children had experienced childhood adversity before the age of nine.
At age 17 and 18, almost one in five of the young people were experiencing significant mental health difficulties. 15.2% had developed internalising problems, such as anxiety or depression, and 7.5% had developed externalising problems, such as conduct problems or hyperactivity.
Those who experienced childhood adversity were significantly more likely to report mental health problems in late adolescence.
Parent-child conflict explained 35% of the relationship between childhood adversity and late adolescent externalising problems. The conflict also accounted for 42% of the relationship between childhood adversity and internalising problems.
The child’s self-esteem (also called self-concept) explained 27% of the relationship between child adversity and later internalising problems. The child’s level of physical activity explained 9% of the relationship between childhood adversity and later internalising problems.
“Children who experience multiple or severe life events are at an increased risk of mental health problems, but not all of those exposed to such events develop such problems. Our research points to some factors that can be useful for off-setting the risk of mental health problems in those who have been exposed to difficult life events,” said Dr Colm Healy, the study’s lead author and postdoctoral researcher at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The work was funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland and the European Research Council.
“Among children who have experienced adversity, we found that reducing conflict between the parent and child and fostering a warm relationship can protect them from a broad range of later mental health problems,” said Professor Mary Cannon, the study’s principal investigator and professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health at RCSI.
“We also found that improving a child’s self-esteem and encouraging physical activity may also be useful intervention targets for preventing difficulties with mood and anxiety following earlier adversity. On the whole, this is a hopeful story that points towards effective interventions to improve outcomes for children who had experienced difficulties early in life.”
ENDS
About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Ranked number one globally for Good Health and Well-being in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is an international not-for-profit university, with its headquarters in Dublin.
RCSI is exclusively focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. It is among the top 250 universities worldwide in the THE World University Rankings (2020) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.
Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise.
Precision Biomonitoring Receives Grant for Innovative Agrifood Testing Device to Safeguard Farm-to-Fork Continuum
The CFIA awards grant funding through Innovative Solutions Canada for Project BISTRO for the detection of salmonella, listeria and other food borne pathogens in leafy greens and produce
GUELPH, ON, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ -Precision Biomonitoring has received a grant from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) through the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) Program to develop a rapid, highly-sensitive, mobile and specific testing methodology aimed at the improved detection of food borne pathogenic bacteria.
Project BISTRO aims to develop a rapid point-of-need solution to detect harmful pathogenic bacteria, including listeria and salmonella, particularly in leafy greens and produce, with greater sensitivity than current state-of-the-art testing technology.
"As food borne illnesses rise, it will be important that Canada is equipped with the innovative tools and resources that will enable bacteria detection before products reach stores and consumers," says Dr. Mario Thomas, CEO, Precision Biomonitoring. "We are looking forward to being able to potentially improve food borne illness detection that will ensure the health and safety of Canadians."
Project BISTRO is an ultra-portable, low-cost platform that uses on-site sample preparation tools with an integrated enrichment step to extract nucleic acids from various contaminated sample types. Using highly sensitive amplification coupled with digital lateral flow devices, the solution will be able to deliver reliable detection results in less than two hours. Project BISTRO is an adaptation of Precision Biomonitoring's successful TripleLockTM platform, which was approved by Health Canada to support rapid testing needs in response to COVID-19.
"If successful, a portable tool like this could help reduce risk in food supply by detecting food borne pathogens throughout the farm-to-fork continuum," says Tammy Switucha, Chief Food Safety Officer for Canada and Executive Director, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Directorate, CFIA. "The CFIA appreciates the work being done by Precision Biomonitoring to support innovation and evolve with rapidly changing technology that can help keep our food supply safe."
The device will provide food producers, farming and agriculture operations, distribution centres and large-scale grocers with peace of mind that they are providing their customers with safe food and produce.
CFIA has awarded Precision Biomonitoring a Phase I grant through the ISC program to continue development of Project BISTRO. If successful, following Phase I and analysis of results, Precision Biomonitoring will apply for an additional ISC grant for Phase II, which would enable the partners to bring Project BISTRO from concept to commercialization.
About Precision Biomonitoring Founded in 2016, Precision Biomonitoring provides industry-leading expertise in molecular direction of organisms. Their very own TripleLock™ technology aims to deliver rapid, on-site environmental, food, animal and human diagnostic testing solutions. Customers are any organizations that need onsite surveillance and rapid identification of any organism in any environment. The Precision Biomonitoring team is at the forefront of technological innovations in the genomics industry. Our vision is a world where we can identify any organism on the spot, in an instant, anywhere on the planet.
About CFIA As a science-based regulator, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has a broad mandate that encompasses food safety, animal health, plant health and international market access. Mitigating risks to food safety is the CFIA's highest priority, and the health and safety of Canadians is the driving force behind the design and development of CFIA programs. The CFIA, in collaboration and partnership with industry, consumers, and federal, provincial and municipal organizations, continues to work towards protecting Canadians from preventable health risks related to food and zoonotic diseases.
SOURCE Precision Biomonitoring
HOLISTIC MD SHARES 6 WAYS to BRING MINDFULNESS to MEALTIME
An Excerpt from
“Living Your Best Life: How to Think, Eat, and Connect Your Way to a Better Flow”
by Dr. Robert Kiltz, MD
Slow Down
Take the time to chew and enjoy your meal. Sit down with it and allow your senses to take over. How does the meal smell, taste, and feel? Make mealtime a tactile experience and don’t rush to eat. Stay in the moment with your meal. If you find your thoughts drifting away from your meal or bouncing into the future with what you are going to do next, gently bring your focus back to the meal. Notice the smells; savor the taste and texture in your mouth as you are eating. Bringing the focus to the present moment while you eat will help you slow down and enjoy your food. This connection also helps you appreciate your food and creates a positive vibrational frequency, which results in happier mealtimes.
Say Thank You
You don’t have to be religious to say grace before a meal. Simply saying thank you for this abundant meal and respecting the source from which it came is an empowering way for you to connect to your food. Thank the farmers who grew your vegetables or raised your cattle. Think about everything that your food has gone through before arriving on your plate, and take a moment to appreciate and respect that process. Saying thank you will fill you with abundant joy and love and will make you feel a greater connection to the universe and your food.
Avoid Multitasking at Mealtimes
Put down your mobile phone, switch off the television, and close your laptop when you are eating. When you are distracted, you cannot consciously eat your meal and enjoy it the same way you can when you are solely focused on it. Avoid engaging in activities that are distracting or noisy while you are eating, and seek some solitude with your food. If you are eating with your family or loved ones, focus on sharing the experience of the meal with them. Talk about the taste, texture, and smell.
Find the Joy in Your Food
We focus so much on what we shouldn’t eat that often we get stressed or anxious at mealtimes because we have created a negative association with our food. This negative association ends up being the reason that we do not enjoy our meals because instead of focusing on the experience of the food, we are focused only on what we are not allowed to consume. We think about all of the things we cannot eat or shouldn’t eat and then reach for something healthier, not because we choose that food, but because we are acting on conflicting motivations. Learn to seek out the joy in your food. If you are at the stage where you don’t feel good about eating healthy because you feel deprived, try branching out and experiencing varying types of healthy options until you find something that you really enjoy. Enjoying food is as much about taste as it is about the way it makes you feel. Unhealthy food may make you feel happy while you are eating it, but shortly afterward, we often feel tired, sick, or sluggish. This is not the case with healthy food from the earth. Our energy is boundless and carries us throughout an entire day. Fresh food makes us feel alive and creates an inner vibration of wellness.
Don’t focus on what you can’t or shouldn’t eat. That is not the way to look at it. Instead, think about the world of options that are available to you and how those things resonate with your being. Experience the joy in the food that you eat and experiment with different types of vegetables and ingredients until you find something that makes your body, mind, and spirit feel harmonious. When experimenting with food, notice all of the flavors and textures—truly allow yourself to stay in the moment with your meal. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even when they are outside of your comfort zone. Experience the joy in your food by eating the things that make you feel happy and connected to your spirit.
Trust Your Intuition
When it comes to your diet, trust in your intuition. Your higher self knows what is best for you, and you will have a sense when you eat something if your body likes it or not. A lot of it will be common sense, but sometimes you may have to listen to the cues that your body is providing you. Don’t keep trying to eat something because it is good for you. Sometimes you will simply not like a certain food, and that is okay. Move on to something else. Healthy eating provides us with a world of opportunity; it’s not just about salads and nuts. There are many great websites that can help you find easy and delicious recipes using the ingredients that you like most. Listen to the inner wisdom of your body to guide you with your eating. If you feel bad about eating something or that you shouldn’t, it may be that your body is trying to tell you to reach for a healthier alternative.
When we look after our homes and our cars, we spend a lot of time finding out what the problem is, asking questions, and getting to the core of the matter. Why would we not do the same with the most important asset of all, our bodies? We take our bodies for granted and spend our lives treating symptoms that would disappear if we were to eat and nourish them the way they really need to be nourished. Our hospitals and waiting rooms are packed with people seeking help for physical symptoms related to poor eating choices. Type 2 Diabetes is a man-made disease that is a direct result of a poor diet. It has been said that our bodies contain everything they need to repair and heal themselves, so long as they are properly nourished.
Follow your intuition and lead your body to a place of higher vibration by eating food from the earth that is plant-based and high in nutrition. Just listen to how your body responds when you allow yourself the luxury of eating this way.
Food and Sharing
Have you ever noticed the way you feel when you are sitting around a dinner table with good friends or family sharing an incredible home-cooked meal? Sharing in the experience of a meal is a great way to connect with your food and enhance the experience by enjoying it with others. Our hearts expand and our spirits soar when we share and give to others, and there is no greater gift you can bestow on someone than the gift of a home-cooked meal prepared with love and attention. When you go to a fast-food restaurant, the experience of sharing a burger and fries with your family is not the same as having a picnic with them in a park with things that you have prepared in the home. The energy that you bring to the food when you prepare it, cooked or not, is paramount to the experience of sharing a meal. Your intention when you cook for others is to make them happy and fulfilled. That intention carries such a positive vibration that it permeates through the food and into the people who ingest it. This is why the experience of sitting down to a meal with family is very different than going out to a fast-food restaurant. Have you ever noticed that you can taste the passion of a chef at a really great restaurant? The food tastes brilliant because they love what they do and they love to share that passion with diners.
Consider all of the ways in which you interact with food. What is your relationship like currently? How can you improve the experience of eating and enjoying your meals? We all eat on a daily basis and go through our days getting hungry, eating, and drinking. Conscious eating can completely change the way we interact and feel about our meals and bring us to a place of light and love. Food is a spiritual experience, and so your relationship to food should be one of respect, appreciation, and enjoyment. Healthy eating isn’t meant to be miserable and make you feel unhappy. In fact, it is meant to be the opposite. Healthy eating should make you feel amazing and uplifted; it gives you the energy and vitality you need to be more and do more. Your higher self only wants the best for you in this human life, and eating a diet that is loaded with fat, carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium only takes away from your quality of life here on earth. Your higher self knows this, and your body knows this and repeatedly attempts to communicate this to you when you mistreat it.
We are getting better as a society and have been placing a greater emphasis on locally grown produce, gardening, and clean food. Our collective consciousness has been rising, and so too have our standards for what we are willing to accept in our lives. We know that the way we have been doing things is not sustainable and does not help the planet or each other. Every time we visit our grocery stores, we have a choice to make. We can buy locally grown organic produce, or we can buy vegetables that have been shipped from thousands of miles away and have been sitting on trucks for days. Similarly, we can buy meat that is born from unhealthy conditions and negative karma, or we can buy meat from ethical conditions where the animals actually get to enjoy their lives and feel good. When you head out to the store to buy your groceries, think about every item that you put into your cart. If you are unsure about something, find out. Know what you are putting into your body. It is your right and your responsibility to know this, and it is perhaps one of the best things you can do to honor and love yourself, ensuring a long and healthy life.
"Living Your Best Life: How to Think, Eat, and Connect your Way to a Better Flow" by Dr. Robert Kiltz is now available on Amazon or at DoctorKiltz.com. For more information, visit Dr. Kiltz's website, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Dr. Robert Kiltz is a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist who has earned recognition outside of the fertility world for pioneering the holistic health movement and the keto lifestyle. In his latest book “Living Your Best Life: How to Think, Eat, and Connect your Way to a Better Flow,” Dr. Kiltz provides guidance to help you to live your best life and bring your mind, body, and smile into balance. For more information, check out Dr. Kiltz's website, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Living Your Best Life: How to Think, Eat, and Connect your Way to a Better Flow" will provide the resources necessary to help create the ideal you by focusing not only on the body but on the mind and the soul as well. Dr. Kiltz applies a holistic approach to medicine, working collaboratively on his patients’ physical being as well as their emotional and spiritual selves. In his book, Dr. Kiltz provides guidance on various self-help techniques such as the power of mediation, eliminating stress, the benefits of yoga, and listening to your inner voice.
- RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2021 - PUBLISHER: Waterside Productions - ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-70-8 (print) - ISBN-13: 978-1-951805-71-5 (ebook) - PURCHASING DETAILS: Available on Amazon.
Coinciding with Autism Awareness Month, New Kids Book Helps Us Navigate Differences in Our 8 Senses
Richmond, VA, April 22, 2021 — Published to coincide with Autism Awareness Month, and armed with a lot of confidence and inspiration, neurodiverse author Lindsey Rowe Parker releases her first children’s book, Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down (April 1, 2021; BQB Publishing; ISBN 978-1945448; $14.95; Hardcover), with autistic illustrator Rebecca Burgess, whom Lindsey met on Twitter. The book is also available in Spanish, titled Meneos, Pistones, Y Apretones Para Calmar Mi Cosquilleo. When Lindsey became newly diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and ADHD, her world finally made sense—giving her the confidence as a parent to go through a medical journey with her daughter, who is autistic. This story is written from Lindsey’s own sensory experiences and inspires parents who are looking for that sensory input, which they themselves may not have a name for.
The theme of Wiggles… is that the child is accepted and understood. They are not asked to change; they are supported; they can be themselves; and most importantly, they are loved. Wiggles… focuses on the eight senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste, touch, PLUS proprioception, vestibular and interoception.
The brightly illustrated story follows a young girl with heightened sensory experiences through her day with fun, interactive sounds and motions. The reader may vicariously experience the vibration when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her spoon on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands—these are the things that calm her jitters down.
Lindsey recounts, “There were sensory preferences that I had as a child that I thought were weird or strange, not like other kids I knew. Through pediatric occupational therapies with my kiddos, I have a greater understanding of not only some of their sensory needs, but my own. It’s like a lightbulb went on, and I thought, “Oh wow, now I get it.” On working with Rebecca to illustrate the book, “Rebecca was absolutely the perfect person to bring this story to life because she understood life’s experiences as an autistic person. You can feel the support and understanding in the illustrations.”
Author Lindsey Rowe Parker is a mom at the tail end of toddlerhood, embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her young autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community, learning all she can from neurodiverse voices. This is her first picture book, and she hopes it connects with everyone who has felt the need for a wiggle, stomp or squeeze! Lindsey lives in the Richmond, VA, area with her family. Rebecca “Bex” Burgess is an autistic illustrator living in the UK. They love history and nature, but comics and illustration most of all! Their passion has led them to work with the likes of The Guardian and Jessica Kingsley Publishing. Rebecca is most famous for their online comic, Understanding the Spectrum, explaining autism that has been shared in several books and used by parents, teachers and doctors. For more information, please visit wigglesstompsandsqueezes.com.
AbbVie Receives Health Canada Approval of HUMIRA® (adalimumab) for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
With this approval, HUMIRA, an anti-TNF monoclonal antibody, offers pediatric patients from five years of age with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) the first subcutaneous anti-TNF treatment option1
Approval based on results from the pivotal Phase 3 ENVISION I study, the largest clinical trial in pediatric ulcerative colitis to date, showing HUMIRA provided significant rates of response and remission both at week 8 and 521,2
MONTREAL, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Health Canada has approved HUMIRA® (adalimumab) for inducing and maintaining clinical remission in pediatric patients five years of age and older with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and/or azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine or who are intolerant to such therapies.1 With this approval, HUMIRA offers pediatric patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis the first subcutaneous anti-TNF therapeutic option.1
"Ulcerative colitis is a miserable illness when it is not well controlled, and it has a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents. When the disease is active, it is disabling and embarrassing, and affects how children can engage in their normal lives with peers and at school. Although we are able to treat a lot of children who have ulcerative colitis today, there is still a group of children and adolescents that we cannot help as well as we would like, which is why we do need access to new therapies," said Dr. Anne Griffiths, Co-Lead, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Ulcerative colitis is characterized by inflammation of the large intestine with symptoms ranging from mild to severe bowel urgency and bowel incontinence as well as weight loss and fatigue.4,5 It remains a lifelong condition that is not adequately controlled in many patients, underscoring the need for more treatment options.3,4 Children with ulcerative colitis may fail to develop or grow properly due to malabsorption of nutrients by the diseased bowel.5 Significant unmet needs remain in moderate to severe pediatric ulcerative colitis, compared to adults, as pediatric patients tend to have more extensive disease often causing significant illness in children.4,6
Cal Spellman, who is now 17, remembers getting diagnosed when he was 11 years old. "It was very scary for me. As a kid, it can be intimidating when a doctor says you have a chronic illness, and even though it is treatable, it can be hard to manage. I remember having a really difficult time when I was about 12. I was hospitalized twice, four months apart from each other. I was having uncontrollable symptoms, which is particularly hard for someone going through puberty, when you are feeling self-conscious about things. But for anyone who is newly diagnosed, know that it does get better. It will be hard, but it is something you can manage, and it is possible to live a normal life," he explained.
"Canada has one of the highest rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world5. With the number of cases increasing in children, it is important that we continue to expand the number of pediatric treatment options available" said Susan Cowan, CEO of Crohn's and Colitis Canada. "Ulcerative colitis, one of the main forms of IBD, is an unpredictable disease often requiring medication to manage debilitating symptoms. The introduction of a new therapy for children living with ulcerative colitis is an important advancement."
"This approval marks an important milestone for children and adolescents living with ulcerative colitis, who often struggle to control this lifelong condition, particularly because pediatric patients tend to have more extensive disease," added Tracey Ramsay, Vice President and General Manager, AbbVie Canada. "AbbVie is proud of our heritage and dedication to discovering and delivering innovative therapies that help adults and children living with inflammatory bowel disease."
About the ENVISION I Phase 3 Study2,7
The Health Canada approval is based on results from the ENVISION I study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, multicenter study designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and the pharmacokinetics of HUMIRA in pediatric patients (ages 4-17) with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, administered subcutaneously.
The ENVISION I study showed that HUMIRA met the co-primary endpoints of clinical remission at week 8 and, among those who responded at week 8, clinical remission at one year (52 weeks).1,2
No new safety signals for HUMIRA were observed in this study.1,2 In patients exposed to HUMIRA during the study, 23 percent experienced a serious adverse event.1,2 The most frequently reported (greater than or equal to five percent) treatment-emergent adverse events during induction and maintenance periods were headache and ulcerative colitis.1,2 No deaths, malignancies, active tuberculosis or demyelinating disease were observed in this study.1,2
HUMIRA resembles antibodies normally found in the body. It works by blocking TNF-α, a protein that, when produced in excess, plays a central role in the inflammatory responses of many immune-mediated diseases.
For further information, please see the HUMIRA Product Monograph available on www.abbvie.ca.
About AbbVie in Gastroenterology
AbbVie has focused on improving care in gastroenterology for more than 10 years. With a robust clinical trial program in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we are committed to cutting-edge research to drive exciting discoveries and developments in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. By innovating, learning, and adapting, AbbVie aspires to eliminate the burden of IBD and make a long-term impact on the lives of people with IBD.
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.caand www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbviecanada on Twitter or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Croft N.M., et al. Efficacy and safety of adalimumab in pediatric patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis: results of a randomized-controlled phase 3 study. UEGJ. 2020;8(8S):98-99.
Jakobsen C., et al. Differences in phenotype and disease course in adult and paediatric inflammatory bowel disease—a population-based study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011;34(10):1217–1224pmid:21981762.
“About Natalie is groundbreaking. It doesn’t preach or pretend to offer a panacea. Instead, it offers a refreshing, authentic look at one family’s struggle with addiction, easily the most powerful book published on the subject in the 21st century.”— Dr. Maryel McKinley PhD, Addictions Expert, Former Co-Host, “All Talk Recovery Radio,” Los Angeles, Arbitron rated No. 1 in Southern California
Pittsburgh, PA, April 22, 2021 — Like the band that played on as the Titanic sank, Christine Naman unpacked the groceries and made a meatloaf — the simple act of normalcy distracting her from an unthinkable reality: addiction was pulling her daughter under.
“Even with the picture of the situation coming more clearly into focus, I clung to denial like a kayaker who has been thrown from his boat would cling to a branch lying across the water,” Christine says. “It is amazing how deep into denial a person can go and how strongly they can hang onto it before reality smacks them around enough so that they let go.”
Christinetraces her daughter's years-long battle with addiction in About Natalie, a gripping, cautionary tale of how, in spite of a loving family and a comfortable life, a child can end up on the wrong path, meet the wrong people and get lost in the unthinkable.
About Natalie takes readers deep inside Christine’s emotional and mental turmoil as she grows into her new, unfortunate role as the parent of an addict. She steps on syringes left on the floor and wrestles one from the family dog’s mouth. She lives the nightmare of finding an unresponsive child on the floor and uses Narcan to revive her. She chases away a drug dealer and stays up all night waiting for her missing child to come home. She rejoices during periods of recovery and hope and is devastated during relapses. When her daughter suffers, Christine suffers right along with her.
Interwoven with Christine’s reflections are Natalie’s compelling poems that share her personal pain and the unvarnished truth of her struggle.
At its core, About Natalie is a story of fighting for — and right alongside — the ones we love, no matter how difficult the circumstances. It is a story of keeping the faith, battling hard and never giving up.
Bestselling author Christine Pisera Naman is a wife to a beautiful man named Peter and a mother to three fantastic kids named Jason, Natalie and Trevor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, which she does poorly; painting, again poorly; and volunteering at her local hospital, which she hopes she does well. She is the author of the Faces of Hope series of books that are now housed in the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Her other works include Caterpillar Kisses, Christmas Lights, The Novena and The Believers.About Natalie is her heart poured onto paper.
She hopes that by sharing her family’s difficult story she can bring understanding and knowledge to those who do not know the problem firsthand as well as provide comfort to those who know the nightmare of addiction all too well.
Don’t Let Your Vet Pay the Ultimate Price: Happy Vet Happy Pet Delivers Life-Saving Insights
Atlanta, GA, April 22, 2021 — If you have a pet, then you have a vet. And if you know a vet, you know someone statistically at a higher risk of anxiety, depression and even suicide. But you have the power to positively impact — and even save — that veterinarian’s life, asserts Sandy Weaver, author and Program Director of the Center for Workplace Happiness.
Her groundbreaking new book, Happy Vet Happy Pet: Caring for Your Pet’s Caregiver, outlines three simple rules that all pet owners should follow when interacting with their pet’s veterinarian.
“I’ve known for years, as have those in the veterinary field, that there was an issue with suicide and veterinarians,” Sandy says. “Then in early 2019, the CDC report on veterinary suicide was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and what had been anecdotal became data: male veterinarians are 2.1 times more likely, and female veterinarians are 3.5 times more likely, to complete suicide than their non-veterinarian peers.”
Happy Vet Happy Pet is a distillation of Sandy’s research into neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology mixed with data from the CDC report. The result is an impactful approach that weaves easy-to-understand science with stories that touch the minds and the hearts of pet owners — empowering them to be part of the solution.
Chapters dive deep into topics all pet owners should understand, including:
1. The heart, mind and life of a person who decides to become a veterinarian; 2. The very human, very vulnerable person behind the scrubs; 3. The ways clients unknowingly mistreat their pets’ caregivers; 4. Three simple rules to follow to help your veterinary team; and 5. What to do if you feel that someone near you is facing suicidal desperation.
Happy Vet Happy Pet will change your relationship with your veterinarian and their team forever. And what you learn in this book could save your veterinarian's life.
Author Sandy Weaver is an expert speaker, trainer, mastermind facilitator and lover of all things dog.
As the Program Director of the Center for Workplace Happiness, Sandy creates the training programs, workshops, mastermind groups and keynotes that help people lead happier, more successful lives. She is also a citizen-scientist in the fields of neuroscience, neuroplasticity and positive psychology. In 2019, she took the resilience tools and strategies she’d been teaching to general audiences and crafted programs specifically for veterinary teams. Her goal is to touch the life of every veterinarian and technician in a way that helps them avoid the pain and despair that comes with an inability to manage stress.
Now in her 40th year of Siberian Husky ownership, Sandy is a passionate advocate for veterinarians and their teams and an ongoing donor to Not One More Vet.
Ledcor donates $1.25 M to help Variety – the Children's Charity to support families of young children living with Type 1 diabetes
VANCOUVER, BC, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Ledcor and Variety – the Children's Charity in British Columbia, Alberta / Saskatchewan and Ontario jointly announced today that Ledcor would be donating $1.25 Million over 5 years to provide new innovative glucose monitoring technology to low income families with young children living with Type 1 diabetes.
"Variety steps in where health care ends by providing medical equipment to families in need," said Cally Wesson, Variety BC's CEO. "Demand for lifesaving medical equipment for kids living with T1D has been increasing, and has been hard to meet, especially because most families cannot afford a continuous glucose monitors."
"The management of Type 1 diabetes in children is particularly challenging. The advent of Continuous Glucose Monitors – or CGMS for short – means that parents no longer have to poke their children six to ten times a day," said Dr. Tom Elliott, Medical Director, BC Diabetes & Clinical Associate Professor, UBC. "A CGM means that parents can sleep well at night not worrying about their child going low and having a seizure. And when the child is at school, they don't have to worry about the same thing happening in the classroom or on the playground."
Recent technological advances have resulted in the development of less intrusive, continuous glucose monitoring sensors that work with smart phones and smart watches.
According to statistics from the Canadian Pediatric Society, 33,000 school age children (5-18 years old) in Canada have Type 1 Diabetes and there are several thousand under the age of 5.
"Ledcor's community giving focus is on pediatric medical care and helping children who face significant healthcare challenges," said Dave Lede, Chairman and CEO of Ledcor. "The new 'no finger stick' blood sugar monitors can make a huge difference for young children and their parents, but they are very expensive for many families. That is why we have partnered with Variety to provide funding to acquire this life-changing equipment for young children with diabetes."
"We appreciate Ledcor's support in helping Variety launch a new community initiative to enable wellness and independence for children and families who are facing difficult medical challenges," said Jana Hand, CEO, Variety Alberta. "We know of many families in our service areas (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario) will appreciate receiving this new technology and using it every day."
"The cost of these new sensors can be very significant for many families, usually $3600 a year," said Variety Toronto CEO, Karen Stintz. "We are pleased that Variety will be able to assist families on a limited budget and help manage their children's diabetes more efficiently."
Corporate and employee giving is embedded in Ledcor's company culture and embodied by its Ledcor Cares programs. The spirit comes from a desire to assist others in need and to help move our communities forward by coming together to help organizations that have a place in our hearts. Over the past 10 years, Ledcor and its employees have invested over $24 million (CAD) to more than 200 charities across North America, as well as supporting communities through various professional development, sustainability, research, and educational initiatives.
About Ledcor
The Ledcor Group of Companies is one of North America's most diversified construction companies, serving the building, oil & gas, infrastructure, mining, power, and telecommunications sectors. Ledcor also owns operations in property investment, forestry, aviation, and marine transportation services. Ledcor employs over 7,000 people across 20 offices, and numerous construction sites. Since 1947 we have been growing with our clients and partners: Forward. Together. Find out how at www.ledcor.com.
About Variety in Canada
Variety – the Children's Charity steps in where health care ends, providing direct help to children with special needs in BC, Alberta, and Ontario. For over 50 years, Variety has ensured that children have the support to reach their potential and thrive.
With an almost nine-decade legacy of caring for children across the globe, Variety – the Children's Charity has become an international organization in more than 13 countries, raising over $1.7 billion worldwide to assist the treatment and care for children with specialized needs and financial hardship.
SOURCE Ledcor Industries
Canadian Paralympic Committee to host refreshed, virtual Paralympian Search for women
Taking place June 5 & 6, "Connection 2021" event will introduce women to Para sport opportunities
Several female Paralympians will also share their experiences in sport
$200,000 funding support for the event provided by Sport Canada
OTTAWA, ON, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ - With a goal of connecting more women with disabilities to opportunities in Paralympic sport and attracting more female athletes, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is hosting a virtual event this spring specifically for female participants.
Taking place over two days, Saturday June 5 and Sunday June 6, the "Connection 2021" event will feature various information sessions, interactive workshops, and engagement opportunities. The event will be virtual and is an adapted form of CPC's Paralympian Search series. Called "Connection 2021", the event, being hosted as a pilot, is a shift to an innovative, more customized approach designed to welcome and support women. Led by women within the Canadian sport landscape, women of all sport experience backgrounds, including those new to sport or looking to try sport for the first time, are welcome to apply to participate.
"We know there are fewer women accessing Para sport in Canada, not only at the highest Paralympic level but also at the community and recreational levels," said Karen O'Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "This virtual event is just one innovative way by which we hope to encourage more women with a disability to participate in sport, and learn how we can create better environments within our sport system for female athletes. Our goal on June 5 and 6 is to offer safe, welcoming, and inclusive sessions as well as resources going forward so each participant has a positive experience and feels empowered to engage in sport and stay in sport."
Typically a one-day event held in person, Paralympian Search has been hosted in various cities over the past few years including Toronto, Montreal, Victoria, Calgary, Ottawa/Gatineau, Halifax, and Kelowna. Due to COVID-19, this updated version has been re-imagined to be virtual, which will allow women from across Canada to connect with the event. CPC is working with a number of female researchers and experts in the disability and sport spheres to help shape the event's format to build the best experience possible for participants.
Funding for the event was fully provided by the Innovation Initiative component of Sport Canada's Sport Support Program. There is no cost for participants to attend. In order to create a welcoming environment in which each woman can participate fully, the event will be capped at 25 people.
Participants will learn about a variety of Para sports, including through presentations by Athletics Canada, Cycling Canada, Canoe/Kayak Canada, Nordiq Canada, Alpine Canada, and Canada Snowboard. Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, and Institut national du sport du Québec are also part of the event, and participants will hear from female leaders on their sport sciences teams.
Connections will be made with many female Paralympians and Para athletes as well, who will be involved as event ambassadors over the two days to share their experiences and answer questions. This includes Canadian Paralympic Hall of Famers Colette Bourgonje (Para nordic skiing and Para athletics) and Karolina Wisniewska (Para alpine skiing), Tokyo 2020 hopefuls Jennifer Brown (Para athletics), Marissa Papaconstantinou (Para athletics), and Andrea Nelson (Para canoe, and also a Paralympian Search alumnus), and Beijing 2022 hopeful Sandrine Hamel (Para snowboard). The complete list of athlete ambassadors can be found HERE.
"Paralympian Search was such a positive experience for me and set me on this incredible path in Paralympic sport, so I am really excited for the opportunity to help introduce more women to sport," said Nelson, a 2017 Toronto Paralympian Search participant. "I think this is a really important initiative to show what opportunities are out there and the many ways that sport can be a part of people's lives. I hope sharing my own story will help all of the women at the event feel confident and comfortable to start their own unique journey in Para sport."
For more information about the virtual "Connection 2021" Paralympian Search and to express interest in attending this event, please visit Paralympic.ca/connection-2021.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee:Paralympic.ca
SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (Sponsorships)
Women: Answer Your Call to Lead with a Confident ‘Yes’
Jacksonville, FL, April 22, 2021― The world needs women who answer the call to lead with a confident “yes.” If you’re one of the female leaders around the globe making meaningful contributions in their industries and communities — or if this is exactly what you aspire to do —the techniques and inspiration contained between the covers of Called to Lead: Success Strategies for Women can fuel your passion and determination.
Power Women Worldwide founder Pegine Echevarria, along with Mindy Gibbins-Klein, Diana Watson, Cindy Tschosik plus 14 other successful female leaders from a variety of industries around the globe share their stories, advice and actionable tips for helping women leaders navigate their multifaceted lives.
“Natural leadership can only go so far,” Pegine says. “Long-term, successful leadership requires training, tools, techniques and wisdom to lead powerfully, effectively and compassionately.”
The consortium of talented, powerful women featured in Called to Lead have thrived in their respective fields while enjoying vibrant personal lives. Each woman draws upon her unique strengths and experiences to deliver relevant, useful strategies to help other women grow and succeed while balancing family, relationships and self-care.
Called to Lead is organized into five sections, each comprised of several chapters:
1. The Power of Being Called to Lead;
2. The Power of Self-Mastery in Leadership;
3. The Power of Influential Leadership;
4. The Power of Emotions and The Mind in Leadership; and
5. The Power of Leadership Love.
Leadership is a calling. The guidance and mentoring from each of the influential female leaders in Called to Lead aims to help readers answer the call with know-how and confidence.
“You are a leader,” says Pegine. “Embrace your gift. Invest in yourself and your leadership skills. The world wants and needs women who lead. Be bold. Be brave. Be seen. Be heard. Be paid well. Be you.”
About the Authors
Pegine Echevarria, MSW, HoF, CVP
Quoted in The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and featured on Speaker and Minority Business Enterprise magazines, Pegine, who goes by her first name, is the only Latina in the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame, alongside stars like Jack Canfield. Through Power Women Worldwide groups, she focuses on uplifting women in leadership. She is the founder and leader of multi-million-dollar businesses and a sought after speaker and presenter. Pegine has received business recognition from the Women’s Business Minority National Council, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Small Business Administration, which named her a Women in Business Champion. www.powerwomenworldwide.com
Mindy Gibbins-Klein, MBA, CVP
Mindy Gibbins-Klein is a multi-award-winning international speaker, thought leadership strategist, book coach and publisher. She has authored and co-authored 10 books, and has presented to and coached over 50,000 business executives and entrepreneurs in 18 countries. Mindy created The Book Midwife® brand, and designed the methodology that has helped over one thousand leaders to take their ideas and turn them into thought-leading books.
“Am I Strange?” is Diana Watson’s most renowned presentation with over one million views within two weeks. As a bilingual professional, Diana also presents in Mandarin, and this one video transformed how the world views Black people who speak Chinese. Her first book, The Speaking Seed: Secrets to Successful Foreign Language Public Speaking, is the first book ever dedicated to foreign language public speaking. www.dianawatson.net
Cindy Tschosik
Cindy Tschosik is a certified ghostwriter, professional speaker and mental wellness advocate. For more than 25 years, Tschosik held leadership roles in legal, corporate, IT and nonprofits. In 2013, she launched SoConnected, a full-service marketing firm for business owners and professional speakers. During a challenging summer in 2008, Tschosik was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Her mission came out of her mental wellness journey.
