Canadian journalism award puts spotlight on workplace mental health
LONDON, ON, Oct. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Journalists will compete for an award recognizing outstanding reporting this year on mental health issues in the workplace. The $1,000 prize is being offered by the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, in connection with its widely-used journalist-to-journalist guide, Mindset: Reporting on Mental Health.
The Mindset Award for Workplace Mental Health Reporting will be open to Canadian journalists or media organizations working in any medium, in English or French, the Forum announced today. Submissions must have been published in Canada in the calendar year 2017. Self-published work is not eligible.
In French, the award is styled le prix En Tête pour le reportage sur la santé mentale en milieu de travail.
The award, inaugurated last year, is sponsored by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. The Centre is a leading source of free, practical tools and resources designed to help all Canadian employers with the prevention, intervention and management of workplace mental health issues.
"This award is intended to encourage bold acts of journalism in the public interest - stories that are incisive or investigative," said Forum president Cliff Lonsdale.
The award's rules define "work" and "workplace" broadly, to capture volunteer as well as paid work and include the wide variety of places in which work is carried. Last year the main prize was awarded to the team that wrote The Globe & Mail's Unremembered series exposing the extent of suicide among Afghanistan war veterans. Subsidiary prizes were awarded to work published in The Ottawa Citizen and The Tyee.
Applications will open on January 22 and close on March 2, 2018. Details of the free application process will be posted on the Mindset and En-Tête websites. The award or awards will be presented in May, 2018, at the national conference of the Canadian Association of Journalists in Toronto.
"There's growing awareness that mental illness affects about 20% of Canadians at any given time," Lonsdale said, "so it's clearly an important issue for everyone – paid workers and volunteers, management and unions – in all kinds of work settings. There are lots of important stories for journalists to bring out of the shadows, breaking down stigma."
Mindset, and its French counterpart En-Tête : reportage et santé mentale, were published in 2014 to help general assignment reporters deal with breaking stories that involve mental illness. About 7,000 copies are in use in newsrooms and journalism schools across the country. The guides are supported by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, using a grant from Health Canada, and by CBC News. The Forum is solely responsible for their content.
The Forum is an educational charity concerned with the physical and emotional wellbeing of journalists, their audiences and those they report about.
Our thanks to CNW Group for supporting this announcement.
SOURCE Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Green’s Your Colour. They wanted to send me one of their bottles! I said yes because it sounded right up my ally! Which it was. Not only did they send me a really pretty coloured bottle but Green’s Your Colour is perfect for my lifestyle! And probably yours if you are reading my blog!
Firstly they are a Canadian company! I love support Canadian products, especially in the health and fitness industy. Not only are they Canadian but they are also very local to me. Green’s Your Colour was founded by Sandy Costa in 2011. She realized that she wanted to design and manufacture her own line of products, which began with GYC bottles! She wanted to offer products that were safe and wanted to continue to promote sustainability.
They sent me a 500mL bottle in limited edition. You can find it here.
A little bit more about the bottles:
- Triple Insulated Vacuum Technology.
- Stainless Steel 18/8 (304) food grade inside & out.
- Keeps temperatures hot for 8+ hours and cold for 36+ hours.
- BPA Free, no toxic inner liner.
- Sweat proof, leak proof, no leaching flavours of any sort.
- Temperature of outer wall remains cool to the touch despite temperature inside of bottle.
- Wide neck able to fit large ice cubes and easy to clean.
- Small drinking spout for easy, clean, and comfortable consumption.
- Carrying handle.
- Screw-on lid attached to the bottle, won’t be misplaced and/or lost.
- Comfortably fits into all standard sized cup holders.
- Tea and ice strainer included.
- Optional universal accessories (sports lid, deep tea strainer, fruit infuser basket and coloured lids - sold separately).
- Designed and tested in Canada.
- 1yr. manufacturer’s warranty.
My favourite feature of the bottle is that it came with a tea strainer! That way I can use it for water and tea!! How cool is that! I was also really impressed with the quality of the bottle along with its aesthetics!
Thank you Green's Your Colour!
Torontonians Get Physical at Rethink Breast Cancer’s 16th annual Boobyball soiree
Toronto, ON – On Friday, Oct. 13, REBEL (11 Polson St.) was full of Torontonians dressed in their best 80s and 90s apparel to celebrate the 16th edition of Rethink Breast Cancer’s Boobyball fundraiser. Themed Get Physical, the annual bash promoted regular physical activity as a means to reduce a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.
Notable celebrities, television personalities and YouTube stars including Amanda Brugel, Cabbie Richards, Chloe Wilde, Karl Wolf and Tara Spencer-Nairn were in attendance to celebrate Boobyball: Get Physical, raising money and awareness for breast cancer support and education. Partygoers were seen shimmying in lycra, legwarmers and shoulder pads, while several aerobic dance-offs took place.
This year, TOPSHOP once again returned to Boobyball as the lead sponsor and wowed the crowd with their Get Physical Lounge. Once inside guests had the opportunity to sweat for a good cause - for every 50m cycled on their 80s retro bike, TOPSHOP would donate an additional $1 to Rethink. Additionally, Toronto kicked off Booyball with a Facebook Live segment from the TOPSHOP Canada Stage showcasing this year's retro-themed bash and hosting interviews with MJ DeCoteau, Founder of Rethink Breast Cancer and Canadian actresses, Natasha Negovanlis, Sarah Fisher and more! Watch the full video here.
Amanda Brugel, The Handmaid's Tale
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Craig McKinnon, The Bachelorette and Cabbie Richards, Sportscentre
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Chloe Wilde, reporter and host, eTALK and E! Canada
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Karl Wolf, Canadian Singer & Songwriter
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Torri Webster, Life with Boys
Photo Credit: Ryan Emberley
Since 2002, Boobyball has raised over $4.2 million dollars for Rethink Breast Cancer’s work for young women concerned about and affected by breast cancer, with this year’s Toronto event raising more than $185,000.
Images from the event are available for download here.
Photo credit: Ryan Emberley
Toronto’s fetch activations included:
- TOPSHOP Get Physical Lounge invited guests to sweat for a good cause. For every 50m cycled on their 80s retro bike, TOPSHOP would donate an additional $1 to Rethink
- Yummy cocktails by teapigs and Tito’s Handmade vodka
- Oxygen Bar, courtesy of Medreleaf
- Tasty treats from Sweet Jesus
- Retro-hair touch-ups and mini manis by Her Majesty’s Pleasure
- VIP eats by STK and Hickory Farms
- Shwinging Suds by Beau’s
- A sweet ride home courtesy of Beck Taxi
- Retro photos by The Kit
- Old school beats by DJ Brains4brkfst
- Like, totally major gift bags
In addition to the Calgary event on October 14, three additional Boobyball events will be hosted nationwide including Vancouver (Oct. 21), Ottawa (Oct. 27) and Halifax (Oct. 28).
Boobyball was launched in 2002 by a group of dedicated young women in support of their friend Sarah O’Regan who, at just 23 years old, was diagnosed with aggressive, advanced breast cancer. Fast forward 16 years, and Boobyball is now one of the most coveted and high profile fundraising events for young philanthropists in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa and Winnipeg, and Sarah is a thriving mother of three. Since 2002, Boobyball has raised over $4.2 million dollars for Rethink Breast Cancer’s work for young women concerned about and affected by breast cancer. For more about Boobyball, visit
www.boobyball.com.
About Rethink Breast CancerTM
Rethink Breast Cancer’s mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer. Rethink is the first ever Canadian charity to bring bold, relevant awareness to the 40s and under crowd; foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond to the unique needs of young women going through it. By taking a breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer – education, resources, advocacy, community building, and fundraising – Rethink is thinking differently about breast cancer. To find out more about Rethink Breast Cancer, visit
rethinkbreastcancer.com.
Sodexo and the University of Ottawa Make Sense of Seniors' Quality of Life
New audit tool paired with real-world solutions gathered by researchers helps long-term care communities create "sense-sensitive" environments for seniors with hearing, vision, smell, taste and touch impairments
OTTAWA, Oct. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Sodexo, world leader in quality of life services, and the University of Ottawa Life Research Institute today released the first comprehensive study of how the five senses impact quality of life for those living in long-term care communities. All five senses can diminish as we age, and "How and Why the Five Sense Matter for Quality of Life: A Guide for Long-Term Care Communities" reveals the importance of understanding sensory impairments when creating environments for seniors, whether at-home or in a long-term care community.
Research in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society shows that the rapid growth of the world's senior population, minimal awareness exists regarding the negative effects sensory impairments have on seniors living in long-term care communities. In fact, 94 percent of people will experience diminishment of at least one of their senses as they age.
With this reality in mind, the Sodexo-uOttawa study presented strategies for creating "sense-sensitive" environments that will facilitate person-centered care for seniors. For example:
- Seniors with low vision may have difficulty distinguishing between similar colors, so long-term care communities might use high-contrast colors to help them see different items and areas.
- Sense of smell can diminish with age and impact the ability to taste. Creating an open kitchen area helps residents better smell food—which can stimulate appetite.
- Hearing impairment can make participating in conversations difficult. Minimizing background noise from heating and cooling systems, equipment and cleaning services to may make it easier for seniors to hear others.
"Good care must begin with empathy," said Marc Plumart, Sodexo CEO of Healthcare & Seniors Worldwide. "This study helps senior-care managers put themselves in the shoes of their residents to understand how they experience the world—which is different for those with diminished senses. By understanding their needs, they can design services and environments to improve quality of life."
In addition to the guide, the research team developed an audit tool to help long-term care communities assess and improve their level of sense-sensitivity. This tool is a useful, practical way to gauge quality of life through resident perceptions, physical environment, and existing policies and procedures. The audit includes a series of questions targeting residents, family members, clinical, technical and administrative staff.
"Healthcare today is complex, but many answers lie in taking care of people's needs—and how these are affected by their diminishing senses," said Hélène Perrault, Professor and Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences at University of Ottawa. "This guide and audit tool will give users benchmarks and a strategy to track the impact of sensory loss on quality of life."
"The guide and audit tool produced by our research collaboration demonstrate clearly the value of genuine engagement between Sodexo and leading researchers." said Thomas Jelley, Vice President of the Sodexo Institute for Quality of Life. "It's been a privilege to broker and support this partnership with the University of Ottawa."
To download the study "How and Why the Five Sense Matter for Quality of Life: A Guide for Long-Term Care Communities" visit www.qualityoflifeobserver.com.
About Sodexo
Sodexo Canada delivers on-site services at nearly 750 locations for more than 230 clients in the Healthcare, Education, Business & Industry and Energy & Resource sectors. The company's 10,000 employees work together to improve the Quality of Life for their customers by designing, managing and delivering a wide range of solutions—from project management to energy planning, from technical building maintenance to concierge services, from housekeeping to fitness centre management, and from catering and food services to clinical technology management. Sodexo has been operating in Canada for over 40 years.
The Sodexo STOP HUNGER Foundation is an independent charitable organization that has donated more than 1,000,000 meals to at-risk youth in Canada since it was founded in 2001. Globally, Sodexo operates in 80 countries and serves 75 million consumers each day. Follow us on Twitter @SodexoCanada
Key figures (as of August 31, 2016)
20.2 billion euro consolidated revenue
425,000 employees
19th largest employer worldwide
80 countries 75 million consumers served daily
17.1 billion euro in market capitalization (as of July 5, 2017)
About The University of Ottawa—A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada's top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today's challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe.
SOURCE Sodexo Canada
Put the News on Snooze… Taking a Break is Healthy
by Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD, Neuropsychologist
Overloaded on bad news? You're not alone. When we tune in to see what's going on all we see is suffering from natural disasters, shootings, terror attacks, reports about economic uncertainty and a divided political climate, plus celebrity deaths and just mean people being mean. We hear about a tragedy or disaster and we become glued to our TV’s and news feeds growing more and more anxious as rapid updates flow in.
While it is important to be informed being a “news junkie” can be very damaging. It can cause insomnia, stomach and headaches due to anxiety. It can also lead to mindless eating, alcohol consumption and other coping behaviors that are unhealthy. What’s worse, is constant attention on negativity creates neuropathways in the brain that tell us we are unsafe activating a constant state of fight or flight. This fight or flight conditioning damages our cells depletes our immune systems allowing disease and chronic conditions to fester.
The opposite is taking a self-imposed weekly break from the news, TV and social media. What follows is a list of some benefits of unplugging or “going off the grid” and what we can do to shift our mood from doom and pessimism to hope and optimism.
- You reconnect with yourself.When you unplug from the outside, you plug into the inside of who you are. You’re able to think of the kind of world you want to live in and assess what you can do within your own life to live well. People make the mistake in feeling guilty, selfish or uncaring if they aren’t commiserating with others on some negative news event. What you are doing is self-preserving and protecting how you feel.
- You’re attentive to those who matter most.When you watch the news, you get absorbed and tune out everyone around you. Your kids may try to get your attention or worse, may hear the news on in the background while they are around making them anxious and concerned for their safety.
- You have time to take action! We have to remind ourselves watching the news helps no one. Some people find it helpful to volunteer in some way. Donating blood, collecting clothing or other supplies from neighbors and organizing a donation gets you away from the TV and into positive action.
- You become mindful of your mood and make how you feel top priority. When you’re filling your mind with negativity, you attract more of it into your own life. This impacts your work, family, friends, even your pet! When you don’t feel happy and optimistic you can’t possibly be there for the people and things you care about. Substituting negative news for an audio book, a new course or workshop, even a more entertaining uplifting TV show will lift your spirits.
- You’re less distracted and more focused. When you’re not preoccupied with the constant barrage of negative news, you’re able to be more present and focused. This impacts everything from driving your car to meetings at work. When you’re clearer, tasks are done right the first time with attention to detail.
- You laugh more and worry less. Taking a break from the news frees you up from worry. You immediately open yourself to more fun topics of conversation and aren’t taking life so seriously anymore.
- Your energy rises! When people are pessimistic their facial features and posture sags. Their eyes lose their sparkle. No one wants to be around sluggish energy zappers. When you consciously decide to take a break from the news, you aren’t starting your day with negativity but instead perhaps a nice morning walk or some other form of exercise.
Try a no-news is good news approach every weekend and pay attention to how you feel. Create your own good news!
About the Doctor:
Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a 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 twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com
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PUR ATTITUDE™ SUPPORTS
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, INC.®
BOCA RATON, FL (October 2017)—Today, PUR attitude™ announced that it will donate 50% of proceeds for its HA85 PUR Relief Lotion (MSRP $45) and HA85 PUR Relief Spray (MSRP $45), advanced therapeutic topicals designed to be safe for use by cancer patients, to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF) during the month of October. The brand also will donate 25% of proceeds for items in the rest of the PUR attitude collection to the charity during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NBCF is an organization dedicated as much to the prevention of the disease, as it is to the cure, and holds excellent ratings with independent charity reviewers. PUR attitude chose to work with NBCF due to its alignment with PUR attitude’s own core mission to carry out responsible industry practices by providing carcinogen-free skincare.
“PUR attitude is vigilant in its pursuit of high-performing skincare ingredients that are noncarcinogenic. We believe that by creating greater awareness and integrity in our industry, we can go a long way in providing safe topical therapeutics with outstanding performance,” said Jerry Rayman, President of PUR attitude. “We appreciate that, in addition to funding research, NBCF promotes early detection, as well as care for women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.”
Each product in the PUR attitude line is dermatologist tested and approved, backed by independent clinical studies, and follows the brand’s philosophy of “Safe Beauty,” avoiding harsh chemicals and known carcinogens, parabens, PEG’s, glycols, sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes. Further details and samples available upon request.
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About the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®
Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. A recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for nine years, NBCF provides women Help for Today…Hope for Tomorrow® through its National Mammography Program, Beyond The Shock®, Early Detection Plan, MyNBCF online support community, and breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.nbcf.org.
About PUR attitude
Based in Boca Raton, Fla., PUR attitude was created by a team dedicated to the research, development and manufacturing of advanced therapeutic topicals and skin care. All PUR attitude products contain only safe beauty ingredients. More than 1,300 chemicals have been banned from the company’s lab, which adheres to strict EU standards. Additionally, all PUR attitude products are created with 100 percent pure, active ingredients, and are not diluted with water. |
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The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting - October 11 to 15, 2017 - Beanfield Convention Centre – Toronto
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology will be hosting their 72nd meeting at the Beanfield Convention Centre. This year brings together an outstanding faculty of Canadian and international speakers who will share their expertise and insights as they cover the wide spectrum of clinical and basic sciences.
As the primary Canadian gathering for the allergy community, it will provide an excellent opportunity for specialists, researchers as well as allied health professionals from Canada and around the world to meet and share their knowledge in an atmosphere conducive to medical, scientific and social interaction.
"We are excited that this year's CSACI Annual Scientific Meeting has now attracted a record-breaking number of attendees," said CSACI President, Dr. David Fischer. "This meeting is the premier forum for presenting innovative research in the allergy, asthma and immunology community. I look forward to seeing the Pro/Con debate on how to assess/treat siblings of children who are peanut allergic."
On Friday, sessions will include Food Allergy & Air Travel and compare and contrast current US and Canadian policy regarding flying with a peanut allergy; Early Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) and OIT: Clinical Experience.
This year's Keynote speaker is Dr. Derek Puddester, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, will discuss practical tips and strategies to promote resiliency of busy health professionals: lessons learned from physician health.
Later on Friday, plenary speakers will delve into Food Allergy and discuss the development of a new guideline on food allergy management in schools; Epinephrine auto-injectors and clinical modifications to address dose and needle length, followed by a panel discussion on LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut) implementation in Canada.
We are pleased to welcome at this year's meeting speakers from Denmark, the United States and Canada where they will review perioperative allergic reactions; discuss the role of Biologics in Asthma and review updates on Insect Sting Allergy.
The CSACI meeting will include the presentation of abstracts. Get first-hand access to the latest discoveries and research in the field of allergy, asthma and clinical immunology where authors will present their research in clinical or basic science and case reports.
Other symposia during the conference will include hands-on sessions on Conflict Management, motivational interviewing and so much more.
About the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI)
The CSACI is the largest national professional medical specialty organization in Canada representing allergists, physicians, allied health professionals and scientists with special expertise in the management of allergic and immunologic diseases. The Society is also dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with allergies through research, and continuing professional development and public education
Pioneering Digital Mental Health Solution Bridges the Care Gap for Sufferers
Inspired by a serial entrepreneur's personal experience and proven through clinical testing, digital solution BEACON gives Canadians affordable access to CBT-based treatment for mental illness
TORONTO, Oct. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - A leading cause of suffering and disability in Canada, mental illness is truly non-discriminatory. It affects people of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds and comes at tremendous cost to individuals, employers and the economy. In fact, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), it is the number one cause of disability claims in Canada.1
The statistics are staggering.
In the last year alone, 7.5 million Canadians struggled with a mental health or addiction problem.2 In any given week, 500,000 Canadians miss work due to a mental health problem or illness,3 while the estimated combined cost of absenteeism and presenteeism on the Canadian economy is more than 50 billion dollars annually.4
Witnessing these challenges first-hand, BDC Chairperson Sam Duboc (Air Miles, EdgeStone Capital, Pathways to Education Canada) and his wife Claire Duboc (Trustee, SickKids Hospital) decided it was time to make a change. Having experienced the impact of mental illness in their home and on their friends, they sought out and partnered with Dr. Peter Farvolden and Dr. Eilenna Denisoff – who ran a leading Cognitive Behavioural Therapy clinic in Toronto, called CBT Associates.
The result? BEACON. A brand new digitally delivered solution aimed at helping Canadians improve their mental and emotional well-being through timely and affordable support. Using the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and a therapist relationship, BEACON delivers high-quality, consistent, evidence-based treatment via highly trained clinicians. Utilizing a diagnostic assessment, core components of in-clinic best practices and the flexibility associated with innovative digital delivery, BEACON reduces the cost of treatment by up to 75 per cent, eliminates barriers of geography and time, significantly reduces the barrier of stigma and ensures the delivery of evidence-based personalized care.
"There's an urgent need to make mental healthcare solutions accessible and affordable in this country," says Sam Duboc, BEACON Executive Chair. "With provincial health agencies covering only a small portion of these costs, Canadians are left with hefty bills, incredibly long wait lists and the task of navigating a system of barriers to care."
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CBT is a psychotherapy treatment that helps change negative and anxious thoughts, as well as behaviours, so a person can feel and function better to improve his or her quality of life. Numerous clinical trials over many years prove CBT's effectiveness for treating the most common mental health problems, including mood and anxiety disorders. Of significance to the development of BEACON, research has demonstrated that digitally delivered therapist-assisted CBT (or TAiCBT) for common conditions, such as depression and anxiety, is equally beneficial as traditional in-person CBT.1 In fact, studies show that TAiCBT results in significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and improvements in quality of life.2 TAiCBT with therapist guidance – which is what BEACON delivers – consistently results in better treatment outcomes compared to self-guided iCBT.3 For example, iCBT for depression has been found to be twice as effective when supported by a therapist compared to when it is self-guided.4
"Through outcome data and patient experience, we've seen first-hand the difference BEACON can make in the lives of those in need of mental health treatment," says Dr. Peter Farvolden, BEACON Lead at CBT Associates. "Technology has changed the way we live our daily lives, so why shouldn't this also include the way we access mental health treatment? Offering CBT methodology through digital means is an effective way to provide sufferers with not only an immediate channel to their e-therapist, but also accessibility to their individual treatment plan and subsequent tools. Many of our clients, who have tried both, strongly prefer BEACON TAiCBT to traditional face-to-face therapy."
Proven through rigorous testing in a clinical environment, BEACON is available both as a digital support to traditional CBT as well as a standalone, fully digital CBT solution, with therapist support delivered via the platform and accessible by mobile or desktop. An individual's journey begins with either a rigorous self-assessment or full diagnosis (with the addition of a call with a registered Clinical Psychologist). Users are then guided by a credentialed e-therapist to ensure patients achieve comparable outcomes to traditional treatment – something that is out of reach for so many Canadians. BEACON ensures continuous care delivery by allowing patients to complete the readings, worksheets and outcome measures that are part of a typical CBT treatment plan, on both mobile and desktop. BEACON is also available as a digital adjunct, complementing traditional in-person psychologist sessions at CBT Associate offices.
Some of the forward-thinking organizations partnering with BEACON to develop innovative mental health programs for Canadians include Carrot Insights, Cossette, Deloitte, League, Manulife Financial, Medisys Health Group, Porter Airlines, Public Services Health and Safety Association, Sun Life Financial, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
Physicians interested in referring a patient, can do so via the website at www.mindbeacon.com. Patients interested in signing up for BEACON can do so by visiting the website to complete the rigorous online self-assessment or diagnostic assessment.
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| 1 |
Hedman, E., Ljotsson, B., & Lindefors, N. (2012). Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Via The Internet: A Systematic Review of Applications, Clinical Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 12 (6), 745-64. http://dx.doi.org./10.1586/erp.12.67 |
| 2 |
Hadjistavropoulos, H.D., Pugh, N.E., Nugent, M., Hesser, H., Andersson, G., Marchildon, G.P., et al. (2014). Therapist-Assisted Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: Evidence to Practice. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28, 884-893. |
| 3 |
Richards, D. and Richardson, T. (2012). Computer-Based Psychological Treatments for Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 32 (4), 329-42. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.02.004, 329-342. |
| 4 |
Andersson, G. and Cuijpers, P. (2009) Internet-Based and Other Computerized Psychological Treatments for Adult Depression: A meta Analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 38(4), 196-205. |
BEACON
Developed by CBT Associates, BEACON is a digitally delivered solution using the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and therapist relationship to treat mental illness. Utilizing validated core components of in-clinic best practices, BEACON eliminates the barriers of cost, geography and time, reduces the barrier of stigma and ensures the delivery of evidence-based personalized care to those suffering with mental health issues across Canada. www.mindbeacon.com
SOURCE Beacon
SPINCO SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Throughout the month of October, SPINCO will be supporting Breast Cancer Awareness with the below initiatives, and welcomes the local community to join them and get involved!
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH CHARITY RIDE
On Sunday, October 29that 1:00pm, SPINCO is hosting a charity ride at their studio with all proceeds going towards Breast Cancer research. There will be a donation fee of $25 per person.
SPIN-IT-FORWARD
For the month of October, all proceeds from SPINCO's Spin-it-Forward classes every Monday at 6:30pm will be going towards Breast Cancer research via the Canadian Cancer Society.
SPINCO X PEACE COLLECTIVE
In light of Breast Cancer month, SPINCO and Peace Collective have partnered on a limited-edition Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt collection. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
SCOTIABANK TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON
On Sunday, October 22nd, team SPINCO will be running in the 5km race at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The 5km race will kick off at Exhibition Place at 8:15am. SPINCO will also have a cheer station located at Cherry St. and Eastern Ave., where they will be cheering on all marathon runners from the side lines!
The SPINCO race package includes the STWM technical t-shirt, registration for the 5km run/walk, a SPINCO x Peace Collective limited-edition tee and a generous donation towards Breast Cancer research. This can be purchased in-store and online [https://www.spinco.ca/pricing-toronto]
National Family Caregivers Month is an ideal time to reflect on both the responsibilities and rewards of being a caregiver.
Being a caregiver is deeply challenging. Especially when those we’re caring for cling fiercely to their independence, resisting support and insisting on remaining independent even when this is no longer a safe option.
Melanie Merriman, hospice expert and author of Holding the Net: Caring for My Mother on the Tightrope of Aging, knows this all too well from her experience caring for her fiercely independent aging mother.
Torn between the need to protect her mother’s safety on the one hand and preserve her autonomy on the other, Melanie and her sister struggled every step of the way to find solutions that gave their mother the assistance she needed without wounding her pride or damaging their relationship. Paradoxically, her mother’s desire for independence actually created a greater strain on Melanie and her sister.
In the process, Melanie learned a lot about how to how to strike this delicate balance, and would be happy to share the lessons with your audience:
● Let yourself be human. Start by acknowledging the fact that there is no foolproof recipe for caring for an aging loved one. There is no such thing as perfection. Even professionals such as hospice care experts get caught up in minutiae and bickering when caring for their own family members. All you can do is simply do your best.
● Pay close(r) attention to the signs of aging. Some signs of aging are so small they’re barely detectable. Most of the ones you need to watch out for signal a step back from everyday life. Is your loved one canceling in-person meetings? Is she refusing to drive to unknown places? Is she skipping meals here and there? All of these can be signs.
● Be more realistic about the consequences of aging. This is tough, but crucial. Even though your father is eighty-eight and still wins the annual bridge tournament at the rec center up the street doesn’t mean this will go on forever. It’s easy to sink into rosy thinking about those we love. It’s necessary to remember that aging and decline are universal processes that we must prepare for.
● Start discussions long before it feels like it’s time. Being proactive means talking to your aging loved one months or even years before it feels “right”. As we age, mental faculties can go. Changes in health can happen quickly. It’s best that everyone discuss the game plan long before it’s needed.
Taking these steps can help improve well-being during what Melanie has dubbed “the tightrope of aging”—the stage between active independent living and end-of-life.
About the Author:
Melanie Merriman is author of Holding the Net: Caring for My Mother on the Tightrope of Aging. She is also the co-author of Merriman’s Hawai‘i: The Chef, the Farmers, the Food, the Islands, a cookbook with stories about chef Peter Merriman. Melanie has spent much of her life as a research scientist, hospice consultant, and foundation grant evaluator—driven by a passion to illuminate, understand, and find meaning. Melanie and her husband Klein split their time between South Florida and Cape Cod, MA.
