New questionnaire to guide pregnant individuals to be physically active during pregnancy
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology develops Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy to help pregnant individuals overcome barriers that may prevent them from being physically active
OTTAWA, ON, April 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Regular physical activity is a key part of a healthy pregnancy, according to the SOGC/CSEP 2019 Canadian Guideline on Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy. The new Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy released by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) is designed to identify the small number of individuals who should seek medical advice as a first step to becoming or continuing to be physically active during the months that they are pregnant, and to help the majority of healthy pregnant individuals overcome any concerns they might have with getting or staying active.
"This new evidence-informed Questionnaire is designed to be self-administered and provides clear advice to individuals who are pregnant to confirm whether it is safe for them to begin or continue to exercise during this special time in their life," says CSEP's panel Chair, Margie Davenport, PhD, from the University of Alberta's Program for Pregnancy and Postpartum Health. "Physical activity is safe for most who are pregnant, but there are some cases where the individual should consult with their health care provider first and this questionnaire guides them on when this is necessary."
The short Questionnaire helps individuals decide whether they should speak to a Health Care provider before they begin or continue to be physical active. The checklist asks yes and no questions about pre-existing medical conditions (e.g., Type 1 diabetes), pregnancy-related conditions (e.g., placenta previa), as well as other reasons that the pregnant individual may be concerned about being physically active during pregnancy. Positive responses to any of the questions indicate that a conversation with their health care provider would be beneficial. Questions about their level of physical activity prior to, and during pregnancy, and their desired level of physical activity are included to help start a conversation with a qualified exercise professional about becoming or staying active.
Developed in concert with the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy, the companion Health Care Provider Consultation Form for Prenatal Physical Activity helps health care providers have a meaningful conversation about the benefits of physical activity with their pregnant patients and discuss whether any modifications to their activity plan are required. Taken together, these new tools will help pregnant individuals who wish to become active to get the right guidance and reduce uncertainty.
"CSEP has a long history of developing internationally-recognized guidelines and pre-screening forms for physical activity as part of our work to bring science to practice. We were proud to bring together a group of clinicians and exercise professional stakeholders to develop this important tool for individuals who are pregnant." says CSEP Board Chair, Adam Upshaw, PhD, Niagara College. "This Questionnaire is the only one of its kind in the world. It is clear, easy to use, and reduces the barriers to begin or continue to be active during pregnancy. Pregnant individuals, qualified exercise professionals and health care providers across Canada are encouraged to download and use the Questionnaire."
The Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy was developed by a panel of experts from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Society for Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Women's Health Division, and leading academics in the area of exercise and pregnancy from Canada and the US. Both the Questionnaire and Health Care Provider Consultation Form are available on the CSEP website: csep.ca/getactivequestionnaire-pregnancy in English and in French scpe.ca/menezunevieplusactive-grossesse
SOURCE Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
Government of Canada Awards Apotex Inc. a Significant Contract to Supply a Safety Net of Additional Dexamethasone in Canada
Part of the Critical Drug Reserve in COVID-19 Response
TORONTO, April 15, 2021 /CNW/ - As Canadians remain impacted by the spread of COVID-19, Apotex, Canada's largest pharmaceutical company has been awarded a contract with the Government of Canada to supply the Critical Drug Reserve of Dexamethasone tablets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid used in a wide range of conditions for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects.
According to the World Health Organization, "It was tested in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom's national clinical trial RECOVERY and was found to have benefits for critically ill patients. According to preliminary findings shared with WHO (and now available as a preprint), for patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by about one third, and for patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth."
After being informed of the outcome of the competitive process, Apotex significantly ramped up production to manufacture the supply, which represents five times the total current market demand for dexamethasone. The scale up will continue throughout 2021 and will ensure Canadians currently being treated with the drug for approved indications have continued access.
"At Apotex, we are proud to produce more than 95% of our portfolio for Canadians in Canada," said Raymond Shelley, SVP, Commercial Operations-Canada & Caribbean. "This pandemic has further shown the benefits of domestic manufacturing as our fully integrated facilities allow us to easily adjust our manufacturing and distribution in order to meet urgent government and patient needs."
About Apotex Inc. Apotex Inc. is a proudly Canadian, global pharmaceutical company that produces high-quality, affordable medicines for patients around the world. Apotex employs almost 8,000 people worldwide in manufacturing, R&D, and commercial operations. Apotex Inc. exports to more than 100 countries and territories and operates in more than 45 countries, with a significant presence in Canada, the US, Mexico, and India. Through vertical integration, Apotex is comprised of multiple divisions and affiliates including Apotex Inc., focused on generics; Apobiologix, a division of Apotex Inc. focused on biosimilar development; Aveva, an affiliate of Apotex Inc. fully integrated global developer and manufacturer of complete transdermal solutions; Apotex Consumer Products, a division of Apotex Inc. focused on brand name products; and Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (GAPI), a division of Apotex Inc. focused on the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for Apotex and third parties. For more information visit: www.apotex.com.
SOURCE Apotex Inc.
For further information:
All media enquiries: Jordan Berman, Vice-President, Global Corporate Affairs, PH: 416-401-7487, Mobile: 647-272-2287
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GlobalMed, an international provider of virtual health solutions, is proud to introduce the market release of its TotalExam® Lite camera, available in both general exam and otoscope variants. The new offering leverages GlobalMed's extensive digital imaging expertise and deep knowledge of the telehealth industry to provide superior full motion video and intelligent image capture in an affordable design.
Offered as a kit, the TotalExam Lite solution includes two high resolution digital cameras, a general exam and otoscope, both utilizing the same artifact-free imaging technology and optimized illumination. With a focus on providing a complete solution for clinicians and practitioners, the TotalExam camera kit includes all necessary accessories including both 4.0 and 3.2 mm speculas for a patient population ranging from children to adult, as well as two dermatology hoods for stabilizing images utilizing GlobalMed's patented dual-polarizing technology to eliminate glare.
"We're excited to offer healthcare providers a superior imaging suite without the high price tag," said Joel E. Barthelemy, GlobalMed founder and CEO. "We continue to develop state-of-the-art solutions that enable advanced virtual care delivery. The TotalExam Lite was designed with clinicians in mind using our demonstrated knowledge of digital imaging and device manufacturing.
The TotalExam Lite general exam camera and otoscope are optimized for use with GlobalMed's eNcounter® Virtual Health Platform and its USB plug-and-play capability. Use cases for the technology span the breadth of exam types including dermatology, ENT, wound care and optical.
Learn more about the TotalExam Lite camera, the latest medical camera in GlobalMed's family of high-performance medical imagers.
About GlobalMed®
GlobalMed powers the world's largest, most advanced virtual health platform that supports a patient at any point in the continuum of care. Providers are enabled with integrative software and data-capturing tools to deliver a complete and accurate patient encounter for evidence-based treatment and improved patient outcomes. Providers looking to manage capacity, reduce costs, and deliver responsible medicine, will get all they need from one platform.
With over 40 million consults delivered in nearly 60 countries and specializing in both federal and commercial spaces, GlobalMed's virtual health platform deploys in its highly secure Azure environment and is used worldwide from the VA, DoD, and White House Medical Unit to rural hospitals and villages in Africa. Founded in 2002 by a Marine Corps Reserve Veteran still serving as CEO, GlobalMed is proud to be a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB). Learn more at www.globalmed.com.
B.C. Manufacturer Reaches Milestone by Fulfilling Federal Government Contract to Supply 46 Million Masks
Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd. reflects on its first year of operation and commits to the long-term growth of the emerging medical mask manufacturing industry in Canada.
KELOWNA, BC, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - One Kelowna manufacturing company, Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd.("Breathe"), is celebrating a significant milestone less than one year into its whirlwind emergence. Breathe just completed the last shipment of a contract for 46 million masks with the Public Health Agency of Canada ("PHAC") to distribution centres across the country.
Breathe's CEO Robert Balazs could not be prouder of his team as he reflects on the achievement: "At this time last year we didn't even have a facility, and had only just secured the federal contract to produce ASTM Level 1 masks that allowed us to set the wheels in motion. We received the keys to an empty warehouse shell in May 2020. Our first round of equipment arrived in June, and production was fully up and running by August. Since then, our team has been working around the clock—we run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week—to provide safe, high-quality masks to front line workers across all sectors. It's a tremendous accomplishment."
Growing rapidly, and currently employing more than 175 people out of its Kelowna production facility, Breathe is located near major transportation and distribution routes (including the Kelowna International Airport). While the main effort has been focused on completing its commitment to the federal government, the company has also serviced contracts ranging from a few thousand units per month up to the millions of units required monthly in the PHAC contract. Now Breathe is working with its national and international distributors to supply to additional markets and industries, including provincial and regional health agencies, dental offices, industrial sites, food processors, educational institutions, and health and beauty care facilities that will require ongoing access to safe, high-quality, "made in Canada" PPE long after the COVID-19 pandemic diminishes.
"COVID-19 has taught all of us that Canada needs to establish its own high-quality PPE supply chain. This is after we experienced Canada's vulnerability, marked by panic buying, lack of inventory, shipping delays, and quality-related recalls at the start of the pandemic last spring," said Balazs. "Not only that, Breathe is creating high-quality jobs in our communities. Many of our production staff came from industries such as hotels and casinos that were severely impacted by the events of 2020, particularly here in the Okanagan where tourism and hospitality are such a vital part of the local economy. We know we are making a difference right here at home in British Columbia."
Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd. is also a founding member of a new industry association committed to fuelling the long-term growth of this emerging industry. The Canadian Association of Medical Mask Manufacturers (CAMMM www.cammm.ca) is working to build relationships and be a strong voice around mask manufacturing issues between federal/provincial governments, industry partners and the public.
Balazs commented on the next year of business: "Looking ahead to the next 12 months, the team at Breathe is continuing to push forward with product innovation. In response to customer demand and feedback, MRI-compatible masks, masks with anti-fogging technology, and 95PFE respirators are all in various stages of development, regulatory approval and production. The company is developing good jobs that are close to home and focused on an important mission: helping to keep Canadians safe."
About Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd. Breathe Medical Manufacturing designs, manufactures and distributes disposable surgical/procedure masks and N95 particulate respirators. Breathe services multiple global markets, including medical, health and beauty, industrial, and food and beverage processing plants. Headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, the company produces ASTM medical levels 1, 2 and 3 and N95 respirator masks for the Canadian and US markets. For more information, visit www.breathemedicalmanufacturing.com.
SOURCE Breathe Medical Manufacturing Ltd.
Alimentiv Health Trust Launches AcelaBio (US) Inc. - A Commercial State-of-the-art Research Laboratory Delivering Histopathology And Precision Medicine Services For Global Clinical Trials
LONDON, ON, April 14, 2021 /CNW/ - Alimentiv Health Trust, the parent company of Alimentiv, Inc. (formerly Robarts Clinical Trials), a specialized global gastrointestinal (GI) contract research organization (CRO), and McDougall Scientific Ltd., a niche CRO, announced today the launch of AcelaBio, a commercial state-of-the-art research laboratory delivering histopathology and precision medicine services for global clinical trials.
AcelaBio's primary focus is to accelerate biomarker discovery and development by providing end-to-end specialty histopathology & precision medicine services for global clinical trials. This state-of-the-art laboratory has strong synergies with Alimentiv (CRO) that will enhance the ability to deliver clinical research to pharmaceutical and biotech industry partners.
"Delivering healthcare innovation through investment in research and development and new commercial entities is central to the purpose of the Trust," said Jeff Smith, CEO Alimentiv and Trustee, Alimentiv Health Trust. "We are excited to launch AcelaBio which demonstrates this commitment."
AcelaBio brings together people, technology, and science to deliver accurate and consistent high-quality data and digital pathology.
"We are committed to improving patient health by delivering innovative histopathology and precision medicine services to develop new disease activity and biomarker assessments that enable efficient drug development and diagnoses," said Dr. Niels Vande Casteele, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California San Diego, and President of AcelaBio.
The AcelaBio laboratory is based in San Diego, California, United States, and is currently pursuing accreditation with the College of American Pathologists. AcelaBio will begin providing commercial laboratory research services, in the summer of 2021, to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, to enhance the understanding of disease mechanisms and support the development of safe and effective therapies for patients.
About the Alimentiv Health Trust Alimentiv (CRO) is a global research organization providing clinical trials, central image management, and precision medicine services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Headquartered in London Ontario, Alimentiv employs approximately 400 people across its operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Its unique model combines the efforts of leading, internationally recognized academic researchers with operational experts to offer integrated solutions to its customers. Founded in 1986 at the Robarts Research Institute, the clinical trials division was initially led by Dr. Henry Barnett. In 1997, Dr. Brian Feagan, Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & Biostatistics at Western University assumed leadership and built upon the foundation of academic excellence by focusing the organization on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) research. Over the past 20 years, Alimentiv has become recognized as an expert in clinical trial design, central image management solutions, outcome measure development, and precision medicine for drug development in IBD. Today, Alimentiv provides services in over 60 countries worldwide, collaborates with leading academic research institutions across the globe, and partners with many of the leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations to bring new and improved treatment options to patients.
SOURCE Alimentiv Health Trust
Garlic… a staple in many dishes across the world. Garlic adds so much flavor and character to even the simplest of foods. Pasta too bland? Throw some garlic in it. Need the perfect flavoring for your protein of choice? Throw some garlic in it. Want to add a kick to your veggies or side dishes, or ward off vampires? Throw some garlic in it.
While many of us can agree that garlic makes everything taste better, did you know that it also has some potent health benefits too?
Dr. Vikki Petersen, Certified Clinical Nutritionist, Chiropractor and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, highlights the incredible health benefits of adding garlic to your diet:
“Garlic is part of the allium family along with onions, shallots, chives, leeks and green onions. The allium family is high in beneficial sulfur compounds, giving them a unique aroma and flavor to your food. Beyond flavor (and perhaps warding off vampires!), garlic should be a daily addition to your diet because of all the health benefits it provides, including boosting immunity, decreasing the risk of cancer, reducing inflammation, reducing blood sugar, and protecting your heart,” says Dr. Petersen.
Here are Dr. Vikki Petersen’s top 4 health and wellness benefits of garlic:
Benefit #1: Boosts your immune system and fights cancer Garlic can help boost your immune system to help avoid and fight off viruses (like the common cold and Covid-19) and can even reduce the risk of cancer. The chemical compounds (flavonols) and sulfur compounds have known anti-viral and tumor inhibition properties.
Benefit #2: Garlic is rich in antioxidants Garlic is very rich in antioxidants and, therefore, lessens the effect of oxidative damage, which is tied to premature aging, DNA damage and diseases of the brain including Alzheimer’s and dementia. This is one food that promotes both good physical and mental health!
Benefit #3: Garlic has natural anti-inflammatory abilities This is important because the degenerative diseases that many Americans are dying from, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and more, are all driven by inflammation. Garlic acts to reduce inflammatory proteins, and as such can help ward off aches and pains in the body, fight depression and sadness, and even help combat brain fog.
Benefit #4: Garlic is low in calorie and adds incredible flavor Not only is garlic a low-calorie option, but it also adds delicious flavor to healthy foods you want to eat more of, including vegetables, beans and whole (gluten-free) grains. (E.g. hummus, homemade salad dressing, roasted vegetables, sauteed vegetables, and more). Want just about anything to taste better? Throw some garlic on it!
Three Lies About Hard Work That Could Be Ruining Your Life
We pride ourselves on being hard workers. But Steve Cook says your hard work pays
off more if you work smart. He debunks three lies about hard work and shares a
better way to meet your career goals and have time left over to enjoy life.
Knoxville, TN (April 2021)—Working hard is the American way. Our work culture is all about grinding out long hours, sacrificing time with family and friends to earn as much as possible, and keeping what we do for a living at the center of our identity. And if we keep working hard, one day we will be rewarded with the proverbial “good life,” right?
Wrong, says Steve Cook.
“We often go into our careers prepared to give them our all, because we have always heard that working hard pays off in a big way,” says Cook, author of Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99). “The bad news is, it’s not true. But also the good news is, it’s not true.”
Cook says you don’t have to work yourself to the point of exhaustion or burnout to have a rewarding career. If you’re doing that now, you owe it to your family and yourself to quit and find a saner way. (That’s the good news!) What’s the point of killing ourselves for money—or worse, the possibility of having money at some point down the road—if we don’t get to enjoy it?
The hustle and the grind are bad for us in many ways. Yet, they’re amazingly seductive.
“A few years after I started my business, I started seeing quite a bit of rewards coming in,” says Cook. “That’s when I started questioning why I was working so hard. I wanted to slow down, but I had fears. I was scared I wouldn’t make as much. I believed the lie that working less meant I wasn’t working hard. I started to notice that there were many lies I was believing.”
The truth is, plenty of lies get lumped into the definition of “working hard.” Here are three big ones, and what you should be doing instead.
Lie #1: Working hard means working A LOT. This is one of the biggest lies about hard work. Putting in 12-hour workdays is not the same thing as consistently working hard. Why? Because working too many hours tends to diminish the quality of your output.
“I coach many business owners across the country,” says Cook. “Almost without exception, they’ve achieved some level of success. But they’re not feeling it. Why? Because they work too much. They’ve bought into the lie that working a lot is working hard.”
What to do instead: The real secret is being efficient and productive—really giving 100 percent when you sit down to work. You don’t have to work many hours, but you must work very hard during those hours. “I always tell people, when I work, I work hard,” says Cook.
“Cut down the hours you work, but make sure every hour counts,” he continues. “I find that most entrepreneurs are at their highest efficiency if they work four hours a day, give or take an hour. Beyond that, their productivity diminishes substantially.”
Lie #2: If you work hard now, you’ll have a great life in the future. Our society has it completely backward, says Cook. We are told to work hard during our “prime years,” but this takes us away from our kids and family who need us.
What to do instead: A far better solution is to keep life simple and keep your needs low so you can work less and spend more time living life with the ones you love most. It’s not that Cook wants us to give up on having a great career. He just wants us to consider enjoying life now. There is plenty of time for more ambitious pursuits at a later stage of life. Admittedly, this requires a huge shift and the ability to tune out society’s “more, bigger, better” narrative.
“When you are busy living a life trying to keep up with the Joneses, you’ll have to work so much to make ends meet that you may miss your kids’ formative years,” says Cook. “That’s time you can never get back. It’s far better to keep your needs low. Without a huge mortgage, extravagant vacations, and two car payments, you can live on less and spend quality time with your children now when they need you the most.”
Lie #3: Not working much is the same as being lazy. After years of conditioning, people believe that working hard is working a lot. Once they actually have the chance to work less, they feel lazy and guilty about having downtime.
“I’ve helped many people change their lives and cut down their hours,” says Cook. “When they’ve accomplished this, they sometimes feel that they aren’t doing enough. They used to work 50-plus hours per week and now they are working only 20—and by the way, they’re usually making more. Only now, they feel lazy.”
When people suddenly have a windfall of time on their hands, they don’t know what to do with their free time, says Cook. Some find activities to fill that time with, but the problem is that they don’t feel that what they are doing is significant.
What to do instead: It’s all about how you spend your free time. If you fill it with worthwhile activities and projects, you will feel engaged and empowered, not lazy.
The right way to accomplish your career goals without spending your life tethered to work is to work smart.
“I’m 100 percent for hard work,” concludes Cook. “But instead of working constantly, I work less. And I give it my all in the short period of time that I do work. That short time of efficient work produces much more than most people do in their overdrive 60-hour work weeks. If you are giving your all during the short period of time that you work, you will see a massive shift in your productivity. This is truly what working smart is all about.
“I’m all for working hard, but not at the expense of the things that are most important to us,” he adds. “It’s my passion to help people work less so they can live more, and oftentimes make more.”
# # #
About the Author:
Steve Cook is the founder of Lifeonaire, an author, coach, real estate investor, speaker, father, and husband. He has a passion for teaching, giving, and his faith. After two failed restaurant ventures in 1998, Steve hit rock bottom and lost everything. With no money and nothing but a strong will to succeed, Steve turned to real estate investing, and his efforts were met with an uncommon success.
As a professional real estate investor, he has done over 550 deals, and it was that very success that led him to realize that having true abundance isn’t about a lot of money or possessions—it’s about having a wealth of life.
With this understanding, Steve founded Lifeonaire, and now his passion is sharing the message with others to help them live prosperous, abundant lives.
About the Book:
Lifeonaire: An Uncommon Approach to Wealth, Success, and Prosperity (Lifeonaire Promotions, LLC, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-9863228-7-7, $14.99) is available from major online booksellers.
Tips for Improving Your Agility at Any Sport
Sports are great for hiding exercise in fun activities, honing your physique, or spending time building camaraderie with friends. Agility is an important aspect of just about any sport you can think of, and improving this attribute could help you become a better player. There are a few things you can do to work on your agility. In most cases, tips such as the ones below can apply to various disciplines.
Lateral Running
This type of running is important for greater overall stability in athletes. Specifically, it tends to help with both ankle and knee stability. If you play a sport on a court, this is almost certainly one of the exercises you'll do regularly. For this one, you'll keep the knees bent in order to maintain a low center of gravity. Using an agility ladder, you'll step between each rung quickly. You should be doing a side-to-side motion during this exercise. The goal is to land on the ball of your foot as much as possible.
Forward Running High-Knee
Both speed and coordination are integral parts of good agility. If you want to work on both of these at once, running drills that focus on keeping the knees high and flexible are a good place to start. Programs such assoccer training in Spain would make use of techniques like these to improve the length of players' strides and coordination. To start, experts recommend that you put out an agility ladder and keep your knees high and forward with each step. Make sure you plant your feet firmly each time.
Jumping
This may sound simple at first, but what you're really going for is power jumping. A power jump is designed to help you increase your reaction time, which is part of your speed repertoire. In most cases, a trainer will recommend that athletes start with some lateral power jumps. These movements will help you change direction on the field quickly. Being able to do this is an invaluable skill when things can change at a moment's notice during a match with real opponents.
Cooling Down
Although a brief period to cool down is not part of everyone's routine, it is crucial a crucial step if you want to get the best results from the tips. This time should involve light cardio to get your heart rate at a more acceptable level. Light walking works well here. Some people prefer to cycle on a stationary bike. If you like to keep moving, you can try some yoga poses.You can use some of the tips above in combination with each other to work on your agility. It's important to remember that there isn't just one approach that will work for everyone. However, you should be able to tweak the ways you hone your agility to suit your needs. No matter what path you choose, you shouldn't jump into exercises like these without warming up your body first. Standard cardio and stretching exercises
EHN Canada offers their first gender-specific treatment facilities at Nova Scotia-based Ledgehill
ANNAPOLIS COUNTY, NS, April 13, 2021 /CNW/ - EHN Canada, a network of mental health and addiction facilities across Canada, is adding a unique new option to its roster: their first on the East coast and their first with separate treatment offerings for men and women.
Ledgehill is located in picturesque Lawrencetown in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, about an hour outside of Halifax, adding to EHN's existing facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Ledgehill, which will be undergoing some renovations as it joins the EHN Canada network, also offers patients of both facilities the serene, calming surroundings that can often aid in recovery. Each located in Annapolis County on acres of beautiful land, male and female treatment quarters are 7km apart, and patients from either centre won't have opportunities to connect.
"Something we've been wanting to bring to the network for a number of years is gender-specific treatment," Cara Vaccarino, EHN Canada's Chief Operating Officer explains. "We know that recovery can be enhanced by treatment protocols that are sensitive to gender-based experiences."
While all patients may not need or request gender-specific treatment, the facility offers a powerful new option to seek effective therapy and begin their path to recovery. Ledgehill is open to trans and non-binary patients as well, but for an inclusive experience that is designed to address the unique challenges faced by this community, EHN Canada's Edgewood facility in Nanaimo, BC offers its LGBTQ+ program.
Why can this new gender-based option be so essential? "Many of our patients who suffer from a substance abuse disorder—it stems from early childhood abuse, or late childhood abuse, some type of trauma, often trauma that is interpersonal, often times involving a male aggressor or an unhealthy physical conflict with a man," Vaccarino says.
"So, it's about providing a much safer space for women to explore issues around gender bias, abuse, and domestic violence. Women in group therapy with men may feel reluctant to explore the consequences of early childhood abuse or domestic violence in front of men. For women, in particular, having a program that's really focused around the female condition is essential."
The benefits of gender-specific treatment aren't only for women. Vaccarino continues, "When you have genders mixed in a treatment environment, it can be distracting for both men and women. A lot of the people we treat have established patterns of unhealthy relationships, so when you have them separated in a treatment environment, it can really take distractions away and help them focus."
While Ledgehill won't be the country's only gender-specific treatment facility, it will be the only one to offer the high-quality, evidence-based treatment programs that aren't available anywhere else in Canada right now. And the facility is also a response to requests for EHN Canada to expand its facility options to the East coast.
"We're responding to the needs and the requests of many long-standing referral sources, like the RCMP, the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs, interprovincial ministries of health. They're all excited about us setting up standards of care and clinical excellence in the Maritimes," Vaccarino says.
But she wants to be clear that the facility, which is staffed by both male and female clinicians, "is actually not about avoiding men; it's about building competency around relating to men."
ABOUT EHN CANADA EHN Canada is the nation's largest network of industry-leading mental health, trauma, and addiction treatment facilities, each with a passion for providing quality treatment for Canadians. We are committed to both caring for our patients and supporting their loved ones. With over 100 years of collective experience, our inpatient, outpatient, and online programs are offered across the country, providing essential compassionate care to patients wherever they are.
Recent Survey Cites Poor Behaviour and Reduced Attention Span as Top Symptoms of Digital Eye Strain in Alberta Children
Survey Commissioned by the Alberta Association of Optometrists Finds Increased Screen Time Fueling Alberta Parents' Concerns Around Children's Eye Health
EDMONTON, AB, April 13, 2021 /CNW/ -A recent survey commissioned by the Alberta Association of Optometrists (AAO) reveals 75 per cent of Alberta parents are concerned about increased screen time and its impact on their children's eye health. This comes more than one-year into the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of parents claiming their children's time spent on digital devices has increased in the last year. The survey found approximately 40 to 50 per cent of a child's waking hours are spent on digital devices – this number increases to more than 60 per cent in teenagers.1
75 per cent of Alberta parents are concerned about increased screen time and its impact on their children's eye health.
The AAO is urging Alberta parents to be on the lookout for signs of digital eye strain, which can cause discomfort and serious eye and vision-related problems like myopia, also known as nearsightedness. According to the survey, one-in-four Albertans say their child has experienced more symptoms of eye strain this year than in other years. At 33 per cent, poor behaviour is the top cited symptom, followed by reduced attention span; tired eyes; eye strain; shoulder, back or neck pain; and headaches.
"While it's alarming how many hours children are spending on digital devices, it doesn't really come as a surprise," said Dr. Richard Cowles, President of the AAO. "With families staying closer to home and more kids doing school virtually, spending time on digital devices has become an extension of our current reality. Excessive screen time can significantly impact our vision and eye health, especially among children – unfortunately, many common symptoms are not outwardly visible or are ignored by children, who simply don't know any better."
As the amount of time children are spending on screens increases at home and school, so does the risk of myopia. Twelve per cent of Alberta parents say they have a child who was diagnosed with myopia in the last year. Young children who develop myopia are more likely to experience worsening nearsightedness with age, which can lead to a higher risk of severe conditions like glaucoma, cataract and retinal detachment later in life. To protect children's eyes during these important developmental years, parents are encouraged to balance screen time with more outdoor time.
"Recent studies estimate that by 2050 half of the world's population will be myopic2," said Dr. Cowles. "This rise can be attributed to environmental factors and changes in our lifestyle like spending more times on screens and less time outdoors. From the survey, we know that nearly half of Alberta parents are unfamiliar with how to spot signs of myopia in their children. This is why it's so important to visit your optometrist annually – we're here to help you protect your child's vision and eye health."
__________________________
1 Based on the assumption children sleep between 8-11 hours per day and teenagers sleep 8 hours per day
2 Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016; 123: 1036-1042
To reduce the impact of screen time, parents can implement easy, everyday actions, including limiting handheld devices, planning for outside play time, putting away electronics one to two hours before bedtime, and ensuring children hold reading material away from their face. Most importantly, parents should implement eye health breaks or even set routine 'unplug' days following screen-heavy time periods to give their children's eyes a rest.
The Alberta Association of Optometrists recommends children receive an eye exam annually, and there is Alberta Health coverage towards these eye exams until age 19. Optometrists are available to discuss concerns around children's vision and eye health. To find an optometrist and book an eye exam, please visit www.optometrists.ab.ca/findanoptometrist.
Survey details This survey was conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of the Alberta Association of Optometrists between February 26 and March 2, 2021, among a sample of 551 Albertans with children aged 18 and under. The interviews were conducted online in English, and respondents were sourced using the Angus Reid Forum online panel.
About the Alberta Association of Optometrists:
The Alberta Association of Optometrists represents more than 800 optometrists across the province. The Association works to promote excellence in the practice of optometry, to enhance public recognition of optometry as the primary vision care provider in Alberta, and to advance the interests of the profession. For more information or to find an optometrist, visit www.optometrists.ab.ca.
SOURCE Alberta Association of Optometrists
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