Better access to pain management needed to combat the opioid crisis

Possible solutions to Canada's opioid crisis

TORONTO, June 19, 2019 /CNW/ - A new report from the Coalition for Safe and Effective Pain Management (CSEPM) highlights possible solutions to Canada's opioid crisis. The report's authors believe that optimizing safe and effective non-pharmacological treatments could reduce the use of opioids as a first-line treatment for non-cancer pain.

Many people who become dependent on opioids were originally looking to relieve pain. Unfortunately, many of those Canadians are unaware of pain-management alternatives or are unable to access them because they are not funded through public healthcare or are inadequately funded through insurance. These alternatives include psychological treatments, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments and occupational therapy.

"We want to shine a light on solutions that are designed to reduce the number of people newly introduced to opioids," says Alison Dantas, CEO of the Canadian Chiropractic Association and chair of CSEPM. "We want Canadians, and key decision-makers, to know that alternatives are available and we're eager to partner with groups who are focused on preventing the spread of this epidemic."

The report targets key stakeholders in government and healthcare and highlights four changes that could transform Canada's approach to pain management and, ultimately, harm reduction from opioids:

• Embed non-pharmacological pain management as part of essential health care in Canada. 
• Empower patients and prescribers to make safe choices in pain management. 
• Integrate non-pharmacological pain management into primary care settings. 
• Ensure everyone in Canada has timely access to non-pharmacological pain management.

CSEPM was formed in February 2017 and includes health system experts, associations of health professionals and patient organizations. The coalition, a signatory of Canada's Joint Statement of Action to Address the Opioid Crisis, recognizes the importance and necessity of pharmaceuticals, as well as timely access to surgical interventions.

"Pain is as diverse as the people who experience it," says Arthritis Society President and CEO Janet Yale. "Patients and physicians, therefore, need access to a range of therapies and strategies to help cope with it, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological options, in order to find the right solution or combination of solutions for each person. It's about achieving both patient safety and improved quality of life."

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, more than 10,300 Canadians died as a result of an apparent opioid-related overdose between January 2016 and September 2018. And Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said "the newly released figures serve as a "stark reminder" of the importance of maintaining and ramping up efforts to stop the epidemic."

The full report, including four strategies and six key recommendations, is available here: http://www.csepm.ca/

About CSEPM:
The Coalition for Safe and Effective Pain Management was formed in February 2017. The group brings together health system experts, associations of health professionals, and patient organizations to highlight the benefits of non-pharmacological pain management and address the opioid crisis.

CSEPM's primary objective is to reduce the prevalence of opioid prescribing by optimizing nonpharmacological pain management alternatives in Canada, while recognizing the importance and necessity of pharmaceuticals, as well as timely access to surgical interventions. CSEPM's recommendations must be qualified by its primary objective – which is on prevention.

CSEPM Members:
Arthritis Society 
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists 
Canadian Association of Social Workers 
Canadian Chiropractic Association 
Canadian Nurses Association 
Canadian Patient Safety Institute 
Canadian Physiotherapy Association 
Canadian Psychological Association 
Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada 
Patients for Patient Safety Canada 

Aussi disponible en Français

SOURCE Canadian Chiropractic Association

For further information:

Media please contact: Tari Stork, Director of Public Affairs Canadian Chiropractic Association 905.868.9188

MEDIA ALERT/Photo-Op: The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k take place this Sunday

VANCOUVER, June 20, 2019 /CNW/ - More than 6,500 racers will be taking part in the 2019 Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k, including some of Canada's top distance runners, on Sunday, June 23.

Once again, many participants will be dedicating their races to the 69 local community charities taking part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Since 2007, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in Vancouver has raised over $8 million for local charities and since 2003, over $74 million has been raised as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge across Canada. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all related transaction and credit card fees. 

Kip Kangogo of Lethbridge, Alberta returns once again to defend his title as 2018 winner of the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon. Kip has won the event seven times in the past 10 years and is always a strong contender. Challenging Kip will be Rob Watson (4x Canadian Champion), Chris Balestrini (3^rd place at the Canadian Half Marathon Championships) and Benjamin Preisner.

In the women's race, defending Champion Dayna Pidhoresky will be back to defend her title against Natasha Wodak (2019 10K and 10,000m Champion) and Emily Setlack.

Run, walk, pledge or cheer on June 23, 2019, at the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k. It's not too late to help raise money for important causes in your community! Share why you race to support your charity, using the hashtags: #RunScotia #ScotiaHalf #InfinitePotential on Twitter and Instagram.

For more information about the Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k and the Scotiabank Charity Challenge visit: www.vancouverhalf.com

About the Scotiabank Vancouver Half- Marathon:
The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k is part of the prestigious Canada Running Series. As one of Vancouver's premier running events, the "Scotia Half" attracts more than 6,500 runners and walkers of all levels, including many elite athletes and spectators to the city. The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k take place on Sunday, June 23 starting at 7:30 a.m., for the Half-Marathon and 9:30 a.m., for the 5k.

The Canada Running Series is the nation's premier running circuit with eight events: four in Toronto, two in Vancouver, one in Edmonton and one in Montreal.  It annually attracts some 65,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly-local charities.  The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization. 

About Scotiabank:
At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2018, Scotiabank contributed more than $80 million to help our communities around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in the Americas. We are dedicated to helping our more than 25 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 99,000 employees and assets of over $1 trillion (as at April 30, 2019), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

SOURCE Scotiabank

For further information:

For Media Enquiries Only: Randy Clegg, Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k, Media Relations Manager, rclegg@shaw.ca, 604.209.0611; Grace Kim, Scotiabank, gracej.kim@scotiabank.com, 778.668.2995

Using Laser Technology to Detect Cancer Cells

By Cancer Researcher Joshua Mansour, M.D.

We’ve come a long way since hearing Dr. Evil of Austin Powers' movie fame describe “a sophisticated heat beam, which we call ‘a laser’ ” to take over the world, or sitting in awe watching Jedi knights in Star Wars blast through enemies using lightsabers.   Now in real life, lasers are being used to detect cancers cells.  

Cancer tumors have the ability to break off of their primary site and spread from their primary organ to other sites of the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic system.  The spreading of cancer, known as “metastasis”, is the leading cause of cancer-related death.  Although, there are currently blood tests designed to detect cancer cells in the blood, known as circulating tumor cells, these test many times cannot pick up minimal cancer cells released early on.   If these current tests return as positive, this frequently means that there is a high level of cancerous cells in the blood that have spread to other organs. 

However, the diagnosis and treatment of these cancer cells in the blood may soon change.  In a recent study published in Science Translation Medicine, researchers have devised a laser that can detect these malignant cells and ‘zap’ them from outside of the body.  The current standard methods of detection have limited sensitivity for picking up minimal cells at early stages of the disease, therefore possibly missing an opportunity to eliminate them at a treatable juncture.   A team led by biomedical engineer Vladimir Zharov, director of nanomedicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, has developed a method in hopes of changing that modality. 

In studies with melanoma, they have coupled a laser with an ultrasound detector to create a ‘Cytophone,’ a device that identifies cells acoustically.  To break it down, a laser is first shined on the surface of a person’s skin, penetrating right into some of the near-surface blood vessels.  The passing melanoma cells will then ‘heat up’ because of their darker pigment and create a small ‘acoustic wave’ that then gets picked up by the ultrasound detector.   Melanoma cells absorb more of the energy from the laser because of their dark pigment, allowing them to heat up quickly and expand.

This devised method can pick up a single circulating tumor cell per liter of blood, which makes this up to approximately 1,000 times more sensitive than other available methods of detection that typically examine only about 7- 8 milliliters of a sample of blood.  Additionally, the cytophone was able to detect small clots of blood that could potentially grow and lead to another set of harmful consequences.  

They have tested this on 28 patients with melanoma and 19 healthy volunteers.  Researchers were able to discover that within as little as 10 seconds and as long as 1 hour, the cytophone was able to detect circulating tumor cells in 27 of the 28 patients.  It also did not return any false positives on the healthy volunteers.  Moreover, it was found that when the energy level of the laser was turned up (still to a safe intensity) that the amount of circulating tumor cells came down over the hour, without causing any side effects.  

Although the mechanism will likely not destroy all of the patient’s cancer cells, it can help in several different ways.  Initially, it can be used in high-risk individuals as a screening tool to detect cancer cells in the blood.  Similar to mammograms in breast cancer, it can be added to skin checks in patients that are at high risk for melanoma.  While undergoing treatment, it could potentially be used to monitor the effects of that particular treatment, in addition to or separate from imaging and other blood tests, to determine if the circulating cancer cells in the blood are decreasing.   Following the completion of treatment, it can be used to monitor for relapse of disease.  

Even though this has been tested recently in melanoma, and the dark pigment of melanin plays a role in its detection, Zharov and his colleagues are currently working to develop methods of ‘tagging’ other cancer cells with small nanoparticles to be able to ‘heat up’ and be distinguished from the normal cells.  This study holds promise but it now needs to be expanded to in a larger population including patients with a higher content of melanin.  

Movies aside, the future holds promise in the new hope of using lasers to fight off the evil invasions of metastasis.

About Joshua Mansour, MD…

Dr. Joshua Mansour is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist working and in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy in Stanford, California. In June 2019 he was a recipient of the ‘40 Under 40 in Cancer’ award. Abstracts, manuscripts, and commentaries by Dr. Mansour have been published in more than 100 esteemed journals and media outlets including Canada Free Press, Today’s Practitioner, Physician’s News, and KevinMD. He has given countless presentations at conferences and other institutions, and he has helped design and implement clinical studies to evaluate current treatment plans, collaborated on grant proposals and multi-institutional retrospective studies that have been published. Recently Joshua Mansour. M.D. was featured on Fox Television.

DON’T LET YOUR FEAR OF FLYING GROUND YOU THIS SUMMER

Psychologist Explains How You Can Conquer the Skies

www.comprehendthemind.com

More Americans will travel the skies this summer than ever before, an aviation trade group said in a recent study. Airlines for America said it expects nearly 260 million travelers will fly U.S. airlines this summer. Even with those statistics, as many as 25% of all Americans suffer some nervousness about flying and remain grounded due to fear. The most extreme suffers have a condition called Aviaphobia, where the mere thought of air travel causes them to shudder. How can people break this cycle and see the skies as “friendly?” We turned to NYC Neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez, who discusses what people can do to prepare themselves to fly as well as during flight to prevent anxiety/panic.

How to Ease Your Fears Before Your Book a Ticket

Develop some knowledge of flying- Read a book called, “Ask the Pilot: Everything You Need to Know about Air Travel.” By Patrick Smith. People are afraid when they don’t’ understand what is happening to the plane and why. What do certain noises mean? Why does the wings flap in flight? Can turbulence cause the plane to crash?  What's wind shear - and can it really rip the wings off a plane? How does a plane get off the ground? Why does the plane sometimes bump, jig, and turn at a high angle during climb out? Flying is statistically the safest form of transportation. It is far more mysterious to most than driving a car. By educating yourself through a consumer-friendly book written by a pilot, this will help to ease your fear and take some of your power back.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- This is a form of therapy, also known as (CBT) If you change your thoughts, you can change your response and behavior. Addressing general anxiety can reduce the intensity during triggering moments, like being on a plane. The therapist may suggest exposure therapy, where your first assignment is to drive to the airport and walk into the terminal. The second assignment might be to take the shortest flight possible from your home with a trusted friend or loved one. The third time might involve a longer flight alone until the fear is de-escalated and flying begins to feel “normal.” This type of “practice” is known as exposure therapy.

Attend a Fear of Flying Clinic- There are online courses such ashttp://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/lessons-intro.html There are also more tactile in-person groups such aswww.fofc.com  Fear of Flying Clinic has provided intensive therapy to familiarize anxious travelers with the airborne experience. Founded in 1976 and based at San Francisco International Airport, Fear of Flying Clinic includes 24 hours of instruction spread over two weekends. It involves a licensed behavioral therapist to teach coping mechanisms, as well as lectures from airline pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. Participants also familiarize themselves with the cockpit, control tower, and maintenance facility.

Hypnotherapy-

Like any phobia, a fear of flying is rooted in your subconscious. You may have had a traumatic experience, watched a plane crash or saw a movie that disturbed you.  Whatever the cause, your mind is trying to protect you. It thinks that flying is dangerous. Thus, fear is created to warn you away from flying. To conquer your fear, you must address it. Hypnosis finds out what triggers that fear in your subconscious. Over time, a hypnotist helps to reprogram the mind so that you are no longer afraid. Your mind relearns positive truths about flying. As a result, you can escape from your long-held fear.

Monitor Your Media Intake

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning: Avoid airplane disaster movies, news coverage of plane crashes, or other scary media images. Remember that the vast majority of flights arrive safely, but only the problem flights make the news. Don’t let that skew your impressions of flying.

How to Avoid Anxiety and Panic When Are Airborne

Talk to the Senior Flight Attendant Before you Board- Ask to board early by telling the gate attendant that you suffer from fear of flying and wish to talk to the flight attendant in the pre-boarding phase. They are accustomed to dealing with nervous fliers. Explain your fears to him/her. Perhaps it is take off that concerns you the most, or maybe it turbulence or landing. Tell them your seat number and ask if they could come and check on you during the inflight times that are most concerning to you. If you are traveling alone and your seatmate seems friendly, perhaps you could ask them to engage you in conversation during take-off to keep your mind off things during this phase of the flight. Strangers can be surprisingly nice inflight.

 Bring an Inflight “Tool Kit” Distraction is key to staying out of fear/panic. In your carry- on, pack crossword puzzles, coloring books, download books or movies that are “light.” Do not watch or read anything that includes topics of murder, terrorists, plane crashes, fires, death, or anything that can trigger fear. Anything you are reading or listening to, or watching should conjure pleasant thoughts.

Brain games are great because they keep your mind occupied, and that is the goal. The last thing you want is to be clutching your seat handles waiting for every little air pocket.  While you are at it, skip the inflight coffee or Diet Coke. The last thing you need is caffeine to make you jittery.

 Progressive Muscle Relaxation- In progressive muscle relaxation, you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out. You work on your muscle groups in a specific order. When your body is physically relaxed, you cannot feel anxious. Practicing progressive muscle relaxation for a few weeks will help you get better at this skill, and in time, you will be able to use this method to relieve stress. You can use an audio recording to help you focus on each muscle group, or you can learn the order of muscle groups and do the exercises from memory. Choose a place where you won't be interrupted and where you can lie down on your back and stretch out comfortably, such as a carpeted floor. Breathe in, and tense the first muscle group (hard but not to the point of pain or cramping) for 4 to 10 seconds.

 Benzodiazepines- If your fear is really intense and you have discussed this with your psychiatrist, they might feel it appropriate to prescribe you a low dose of a benzodiazepines such as Klonopin or Ativan which work very quickly to calm intense anxiety or panic. These medications are habit forming, so it is best to use them only in extreme situations of panic when you are faced with a phobic situation. Remember not to mix them with alcohol. Sometimes just knowing they are there as a "rescue" can make the phobic person feel better.

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz. Connect with her via Instagram @drsanamhafeez or

www.comprehendthemind.com

5 Ways States Can Unify BehindMarijuana And Reap The Benefits 

Medical marijuana is now legal in 33 states, but some have been slow to reap the economic benefits. Advocates say this is because of a long legislative and legal process that delays the rollout of legalization and results in numerous restrictions. “How the states regulate marijuana varies greatly,” says Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish(www.sarahleegossettparrish.com), a cannabis industry lawyer. “Each state has to decide how much a patient can possess, where and how they can obtain it, and what medical conditions warrant a physician’s recommendation for its usage. “The more permissive state regulatory systems result in more patients and usually in more dispensaries.” Oklahoma, though regarded as a conservative or red state, is viewed as one of the most liberal when it comes to medical marijuana laws, Parrish says. And about a year after voters approved medical cannabis in Oklahoma, business is booming in the state.  Now comes Oklahoma’s “Unity Act,” signed into law in March. Parrish says it was  designed to streamline state regulation of medical marijuana without impeding commerce and imposing too many restrictions. “The Unity Act further develops Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program, an exemplary model for states that seek a more permissive regulatory scheme,” Parrish says. “There are compromises added for employers, but overall it benefits the patients and entrepreneurs. Oklahoma rolled out its medical marijuana program quickly and efficiently, wisely avoiding the quagmire of regulations that strangle the industry in other states.” Parrish explains some key provisions of the Unity Act that promote the industry’s growth while ensuring proper oversight: Sale of seeds. “The Act includes language allowing commercial growers to sell seeds or clones to other commercial growers, thereby providing a much-needed legal way for new growers to obtain seeds and clones,” Parrish says. “Language that would also have allowed the sale by growers to patients or caregivers was deleted.” Patient confidentiality. “The Act preserves confidentiality of patients and caregivers, making the handling of all records subject to all relevant state and federal laws, including HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996),” Parrish says. Employment Issues. The Act permits employers to refuse to hire workers for safety-sensitive jobs, examples of which are listed in the legislation. It provides that employers are not required to permit or accommodate the use of medical marijuana at the place of employment. “It also recognizes employers’ right to establish written policies about drug testing and impairment in accord with current Oklahoma law,” Parrish says. Seed-to-sale quality and safety checkpoints. The Act requires a medical marijuana seed-to-sale inventory tracking system, and mandates quality testing by licensees. “This includes testing for contaminants and THC/CBD content,” Parrish says. New licenses. The Act creates a medical marijuana transporter license, a testing laboratory license, research license, a caregiver license and an education facility license. “These components show how the Unity Act represents a concerted effort to create a working framework for regulation and oversight,” Parrish says. “It’s encouraging to see both sides of the aisle work together to achieve a common goal,” Parrish says. “Oklahoma is on its way to becoming a thriving cannabis industry, and that’s good news for everyone.” About Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish Sarah Lee Gossett Parrish (www.sarahleegossettparrish.com) is a cannabis industry lawyer whom The National Law Journal named a 2019 Cannabis Trailblazer — one of only 30 trailblazers recognized in the nation. She represents numerous dispensaries, growers, and processors, and is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and Texas. Ms. Parrish is a member of the National Cannabis Bar Association, NORML, and the National Cannabis Industry Association. She is also admitted to practice in all state and federal district courts in Oklahoma; the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Parrish received her B.A. in letters from the University of Oklahoma, Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude. She also served as chairman of the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women for the State of Oklahoma and was instrumental in starting the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and her legal thriller, Guilt of Innocence, placed second in the New York Law Journal's national fiction writing contest. 

Canada's National Dementia Strategy is Bold and Balanced

Persons with dementia were active participants  

CALGARY, June 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Dementia Advocacy Canada applauds the inclusion of people living with dementia as equals in the creation of Canada's first national dementia strategy: A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire.

The strategy was informed by extensive consultations with individuals with lived experience and guided by the Ministerial Advisory Board on Dementia, whose members include two individuals living with dementia: Jim Mann, a retired executive entrepreneur and advocate from B.C., and Mary Beth Wighton, Chair and Co-Founder of the Ontario Dementia Advisory Group from Ontario. Wighton is also co-chair of Dementia Advocacy Canada.

"This is a bold and balanced dementia strategy with human rights as a core principle," says Wighton, noting the government's commitment to follow through on promises to allocate at least one per cent of dementia care costs (currently over $8 billion) to research funding.

The new dementia strategy emphasizes reducing stigma, access to timely diagnosis, rehabilitation, effective care coordination and the importance of a skilled workforce. It acknowledges care-partner challenges, including burnout and financial hardship as well as low wages, lack of training and limited resources for personal support workers.

More than half a million Canadians are currently living with dementia and there are approximately 70 new cases of dementia in Canada each day. Dementia Advocacy Canada is hopeful that this strategy will be fully implemented, be appropriately funded and address the organization's three priorities:

• A single point of contact to mitigate the difficulty navigating a fragmented system 
• Standards of excellence in dementia education 
• Rehabilitation to live as well as possible with dementia

About Dementia Advocacy Canada
We are a grassroots group of people living with dementia and care partners. We want to influence policy, inform program development and improve access to support and services across Canada.

SOURCE Dementia Advocacy Canada

First of its Kind, Private Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Centre in Western Canada Opens on Vancouver Island

First private stand-alone inpatient mental health services in Western Canada

VICTORIA, June 18, 2019 /CNW/ - Today marks the grand opening of Homewood Ravensview, the first and only private facility in Western Canada offering evidence-based, medically-led, inpatient, mental health, trauma and addiction services. With over 135 years of experience as Canada's leader in the delivery of national mental health and addiction services, Homewood Health's new facility located in North Saanich, just outside Victoria, BC, offers 75 beds and employs a world-class team of 50 professionals, including four on-site physicians and psychiatrists as well as 24-hour nursing. With its specialized programs for first responders, military, veterans, executives & professionals, adults, and young adults, Ravensview addresses an ever-growing need for services.

"Ravensview's best-in-class treatment is delivered by a team of world class health care professionals and is steeped in Homewood's 136 year history in delivering mental health and addiction services to Canadians," says Jagoda Pike, Homewood Health's President and CEO. "We've built programs that support people who are deeply impacted by mental illness and addiction in achieving their goals, whether it's returning to work, to function, or to productive and happy lives." Pike goes on to say, "in addition to working directly with individual patients, Homewood has worked for decades with Canadian employers and insurers to help them access good quality treatment resources to support a timely return to work for their employees and claimants."

Each year, over 400,000 Canadians are off work due to mental illness. These cases are often more complex and typically have durations that are longer than physical health-related claims, resulting in significant human and economic costs impacting all Canadians. These cases carry the additional impact of adding weight to an already over-burdened public health system. Canadian employees suffering from mental health, trauma, addiction and concurrent disorders remain off work for extended periods of time, waiting for access to assessment and treatment, with their conditions often worsening over time. 

"Delivering innovative, evidence-based treatment, our programs are truly unique in Canada," says Robert De Clark, General Manager at Homewood Ravensview. "Our Guardians program for first responders, members of the military and Veterans is designed specifically for the challenges these real life heroes face. We have our Cornerstone program for adults and the My Path program for young adults wrestling with mental health or addiction problems.  We're also proud to launch the Vanguard program, the first of its kind in Canada, that meets the specific treatment needs of executives and professionals." 

In developing Ravensview programs, Homewood Health sought the input of researchers, clinicians, employers and insurers. "The diversity and quality of the treatment we provide will help a large number of clients get well and move forward with their lives," says De Clark. "By providing Canada's employers and insurers with additional, innovative options for care, we multiply the impact of treatment, benefiting not just the employee and their family, but the organization and ultimately the country as a whole."

Ravensview is also Western Canada's leading facility in the treatment of concurrent mental health and addiction disorders. "Those with substance use problems are up to three times more likely to have a mental illness," says Dr. Michael Berry, Ravensview's Clinical Director. "These concurrent conditions are complex and require experienced, medically-led treatment. No other facility in Western Canada is equipped with the staffing complement and clinical expertise to treat a primary diagnosis of mental health with a secondary diagnosis of addiction."

For all Ravensview programs, the full treatment plan includes psychiatric care, medical care, counselling and integrated therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and cognitive processing therapy as well as music, horticultural and art therapy. The average length of inpatient treatment is typically 6 to 9 weeks, and one year of recovery management care at Homewood outpatient clinics across the country is included for all clients.  

Ravensview accepts referrals from employers, insurers, medical and healthcare professionals, but a referral is not necessary for treatment and clients are typically able to start treatment within 24 hours of their first call.  

Visit Ravensview.com for more information.

Homewood Ravensview's grand opening ceremony is taking place on June 18 at 1 p.m. The event will be attended by, and will feature remarks from: the Right Honourable David Johnston; the Honourable Bob Rae; Pauquachin Chief Rebecca David; Shelagh Rogers, Chancellor-University of Victoria; the Honourable Adam Olsen; and Jagoda Pike, President and CEO of Homewood Health.  All media welcome. Ravensview is a 30 minute drive from downtown Victoria located at 1515 McTavish Rd North Saanich, BC V8L 5T3. 

About Homewood Health
Homewood Health is Canada's leader in the delivery of national mental health and addiction services. With more than 135 years of experience, Homewood achieves outstanding outcomes through its national network of more than 4,500 employees and clinical experts. Homewood's complete suite of services includes organizational wellness, employee and family assistance programs, assessments, outpatient and inpatient treatment, recovery management, return to work and family support services, all customized to meet the needs of individuals and organizations. 

SOURCE Homewood Health Inc.

Who is caring for Canada's seniors? A new report from the Royal College provides insights on physician services for our aging population

OTTAWA, June 18, 2019 /CNW/ - The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada released today a comprehensive report focusing on the care physicians provide to seniors. 

The study, Health Care for an Aging Population: A Study of how Physicians Care for Seniors in Canada, is based on an analysis of 216 million medical services provided by almost 54,000 physicians and hones in on fundamental questions, such as how much care do physicians provide to seniors, how intensively do different specialists focus their practice on seniors and what types of medical care do seniors receive. 

"If we do not know how seniors are accessing care and how we are delivering it, then we do not have an accurate idea of how effective we are caring for this population with distinct needs," says Dr. Andrew Padmos, chief executive officer at the Royal College. 

The study findings reveal that

• Although seniors comprised only 16% of the population, they received about one-third of all services provided by physicians in 2015-16. 
• Together, family physicians, internists and ophthalmologists provided 85% of all medical services received by seniors in 2015-16 (51%, 23% and 11% provided by each specialty group, respectively). 
• Some specialty groups concentrate their practices on medical care for seniors. In fact, seven specialty groups provided more than half of their medical services to seniors: geriatricians (92%), ophthalmologists (62%), cardiovascular/thoracic surgeons (57%), nephrologists (55%), oncologists (54%), cardiologists (53%) and urologists (52%). 
• Seniors use relatively more medical services per capita compared to the rest of the population, especially services related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (four times more), major surgery (five times more) and hospital care days (10 times more). 
• Patient gender is an important consideration in the provision of medical care to seniors. For those aged 65 and older, physicians were more likely to see women but they provided relatively more medical services to men. 
• The study calls for a more robust research agenda to provide provincial policymakers with data to inform health workforce planning to support this growing demographic. 

"Seniors will continue to be a growing part of Canada's population and we have good data to show how physicians make unique contributions in caring for seniors," says Steve Slade, director, health policy and advocacy at the Royal College. "We've been talking about the grey tsunami for years; now it's time to use our data to show how medical care – and all care – translates into longer, healthier lives for seniors." 

The full report and a media backgrounder are available at http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/health-policy/senior-care-e.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national professional association that oversees the medical education of specialists in Canada. We accredit the university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices, and we write and administer the examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists. In collaboration with health organizations and government agencies, the Royal College also plays a role in developing sound health policy in Canada.

www.royalcollege.ca

SOURCE Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

DON’T LET YOUR FEAR OF FLYING GROUND YOU THIS SUMMER

Psychologist Explains How You Can Conquer the Skies

www.comprehendthemind.com

More Americans will travel the skies this summer than ever before, an aviation trade group said in a recent study. Airlines for America said it expects nearly 260 million travelers will fly U.S. airlines this summer. Even with those statistics, as many as 25 percent of all Americans suffer some nervousness about flying and remain grounded due to fear. The most extreme suffers have a condition called Aviaphobia, where the mere thought of air travel causes them to shudder. How can people break this cycle and see the skies as “friendly?” We turned to NYC Neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez, who discusses what people can do to prepare themselves to fly as well as during flight to prevent anxiety/panic.

How to Ease Your Fears Before Your Book a Ticket

Develop some knowledge of flying- Read a book called, “Ask the Pilot: Everything You Need to Know about Air Travel.” By Patrick Smith. People are afraid when they don’t’ understand what is happening to the plane and why. What do certain noises mean? Why does the wings flap in flight? Can turbulence cause the plane to crash?  What's wind shear - and can it really rip the wings off a plane? How does a plane get off the ground? Why does the plane sometimes bump, jig, and turn at a high angle during climb out? Flying is statistically the safest form of transportation. It is far more mysterious to most than driving a car. By educating yourself through a consumer-friendly book written by a pilot, this will help to ease your fear and take some of your power back.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- This is a form of therapy, also known as (CBT) If you change your thoughts, you can change your response and behavior. Addressing general anxiety can reduce the intensity during triggering moments, like being on a plane. The therapist may suggest exposure therapy, where your first assignment is to drive to the airport and walk into the terminal. The second assignment might be to take the shortest flight possible from your home with a trusted friend or loved one. The third time might involve a longer flight alone until the fear is de-escalated and flying begins to feel “normal.” This type of “practice” is known as exposure therapy.

Attend a Fear of Flying Clinic- There are online courses such ashttp://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/lessons-intro.htmlThere are also more tactile in-person groups such aswww.fofc.com  Fear of Flying Clinic has provided intensive therapy to familiarize anxious travelers with the airborne experience. Founded in 1976 and based at San Francisco International Airport, Fear of Flying Clinic includes 24 hours of instruction spread over two weekends. It involves a licensed behavioral therapist to teach coping mechanisms, as well as lectures from airline pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. Participants also familiarize themselves with the cockpit, control tower, and maintenance facility.

Hypnotherapy-

Like any phobia, a fear of flying is rooted in your subconscious. You may have had a traumatic experience, watched a plane crash or saw a movie that disturbed you.  Whatever the cause, your mind is trying to protect you. It thinks that flying is dangerous. Thus, fear is created to warn you away from flying. To conquer your fear, you must address it. Hypnosis finds out what triggers that fear in your subconscious. Over time, a hypnotist helps to reprogram the mind so that you are no longer afraid. Your mind relearns positive truths about flying. As a result, you can escape from your long-held fear.

Monitor Your Media Intake

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning: Avoid airplane disaster movies, news coverage of plane crashes, or other scary media images. Remember that the vast majority of flights arrive safely, but only the problem flights make the news. Don’t let that skew your impressions of flying.

How to Avoid Anxiety and Panic When Are Airborne

Talk to the Senior Flight Attendant Before you Board- Ask to board early by telling the gate attendant that you suffer from fear of flying and wish to talk to the flight attendant in the pre-boarding phase. They are accustomed to dealing with nervous fliers. Explain your fears to him/her. Perhaps it is take off that concerns you the most, or maybe it turbulence or landing. Tell them your seat number and ask if they could come and check on you during the inflight times that are most concerning to you. If you are traveling alone and your seatmate seems friendly, perhaps you could ask them to engage you in conversation during take-off to keep your mind off things during this phase of the flight. Strangers can be surprisingly nice inflight.

 Bring an Inflight “Tool Kit” Distraction is key to staying out of fear/panic. In your carry- on, pack crossword puzzles, coloring books, download books or movies that are “light.” Do not watch or read anything that includes topics of murder, terrorists, plane crashes, fires, death, or anything that can trigger fear. Anything you are reading or listening to, or watching should conjure pleasant thoughts.

Brain games are great because they keep your mind occupied, and that is the goal. The last thing you want is to be clutching your seat handles waiting for every little air pocket.  While you are at it, skip the inflight coffee or Diet Coke. The last thing you need is caffeine to make you jittery.

 Progressive Muscle Relaxation- In progressive muscle relaxation, you tense a group of muscles as you breathe in, and you relax them as you breathe out. You work on your muscle groups in a specific order. When your body is physically relaxed, you cannot feel anxious. Practicing progressive muscle relaxation for a few weeks will help you get better at this skill, and in time, you will be able to use this method to relieve stress. You can use an audio recording to help you focus on each muscle group, or you can learn the order of muscle groups and do the exercises from memory. Choose a place where you won't be interrupted and where you can lie down on your back and stretch out comfortably, such as a carpeted floor. Breathe in, and tense the first muscle group (hard but not to the point of pain or cramping) for 4 to 10 seconds.

 Benzodiazepines- If your fear is really intense and you have discussed this with your psychiatrist, they might feel it appropriate to prescribe you a low dose of a benzodiazepine such as Klonopin or Ativan which work very quickly to calm intense anxiety or panic. These medications are habit forming, so it is best to use them only in extreme situations of panic when you are faced with a phobic situation. Remember not to mix them with alcohol. Sometimes just knowing they are there as a "rescue" can make the phobic person feel better.

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz. Connect with her via Instagram @drsanamhafeezor

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