Monday, 15 October 2012
October is Healthy Workplace Month
Here is a list of activities that might inspire you to “Take Action” on your Mental Health in the Workplace this week:
Pay a compliment to a colleague
A quick and easy way to brighten someone’s day and hopefully your own
Send an e-card.
Participate in a Sudoku Challenge
Play a game with coworkers
Manage your work stressors
Understanding your stressors and how to manage them helps you cope and be prepared for future stressors.
Get some natural light and/or fresh air
Sometimes a change of focus is as good as a break. Enjoy the scenery just for one minute per hour daily and reflect on the good things in life.
Have a proper lunch break
Relax over lunch, for even just a short time, for a more energized afternoon.
Work on self-awareness
Take time to reflect on your intentions and actions.
No work at home week
Make this the week you don’t take work home. Enjoy time with family or friends instead. It may be helpful to do an activity to transition from work to home such as taking a short walk, doing a crossword puzzle or listening to music before beginning your evening routine.
Talk it out
If you have a rough day, talk it out with family or friends. Talking can help you feel better and resolve problems.
Family Meal Night
Designate at least one night a week as Family Meal Night. No television, cell phones or distractions-just a nice meal and catching up with everyone’s busy lives.
No screen night
Declare one evening a week as “No Screen Night”. Turn of the tv, video games, computers, PDA’s and Ipods. Read a good book or go for a walk with a family member, friend or neighbor.
Family outing day
Board games night
Have a good ol’ fashioned board games night with family or friends
No PDA’s allowed
For one evening, turn off all PDA’s and cell phones from 6:00pm until the next morning
Meet a friend for supper
Girl’s/Boy’s night out
Writer a thank you letter
When is the last time you wrote a letter?? Take this time to send a letter of appreciation to someone who has been an important influence to you
Learn about Mental Health Issues
Shut off negative inner voices
Focus on the positives. Write a list of things that make you feel good and review them when you’re down.
Access your accomplishments
Ask yourself , “what felt meaningful today?”. At the supper table maybe invite your family to share the best part about their day.
Try something new
Try a new activity and see what happens!
Friendly photos
Keep loved ones close to you all day by taking a photo and posting it in your workspace.
Any other activity you feel promotes your Mental Health
Please remember that this is just a sample of activities you may want to try incorporating into your daily lives. If you already have activities you do, you’re way ahead of the game! And if you have other ideas of things you would like to try great! The hope is that starting in the month of October we will all participate in making a conscious effort to work towards creating a Healthy Workplace. This is something we want to continue with all year and hope it becomes a normal part of our workplace.
Provided by:
AHS
For more information, please visit the Healthy Workplace Month website.
Friday, 12 October 2012
October is Immunization Awareness Month
As the weather turns colder and thoughts of winter are not far from our minds, we also need to remember that it is time for our annual Influenza Immunization. It only takes a few minutes to do and it is one of the best ways to protect you and your family from the influenza this winter.
Below we've noted the locations and times of some upcoming immunization clinics that are located in and around Leduc County. Please also refer to your local newspapers for listings. Please note that the information below is provided by Alberta Health Services and could change without prior notice. Check their website for flu clinic locations and dates anywhere in Alberta: Immunization Clinic Schedule
Leduc Fellowship Church
4401 Rollyview Road
Leduc, AB
T9E 7H4
Clinic Date Hours Access
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Thu, Oct 25, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
Thu, Nov 01, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Sat, Nov 03, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Thu, Nov 08, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
Thu, Nov 15, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Thu, Nov 22, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
Devon Community Centre
20 Haven Avenue
Devon, AB
T9G 1A1
Clinic Date Hours Access
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
Wed, Nov 14, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Wed, Nov 21, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
Beaumont Community Church
5423 55 Street
Beaumont, AB
T4X 1A4
Clinic Date Hours Access
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
Tue, Nov 06, 2012 09:30 AM - 04:00 PM Drop In
Tue, Nov 13, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
Tue, Nov 20, 2012 12:30 PM - 08:00 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
Calmar and District Senior Citizens Club
4916 50 Avenue
Calmar, AB
T0C 0V0
Clinic Date Hours Access
Thu, Nov 01, 2012 12:30 PM - 07:30 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
Warburg Cloverleaf Manor Lodge
5204 53 Avenue
Warburg, AB
T0C 2T0
Clinic Date Hours Access
Wed, Nov 07, 2012 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
New Sarepta Agriplex
5088 1 Street S
New Sarepta, AB
T0B 3M0
Clinic Date Hours Access
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Drop In
_________________________________________________________________________________
Christina Vesty, RN
Chronic Disease Management Coordinator
Create a workplace physical activity challenge
The LBD PCN staff recently participated in an activity challenge at work. We did a 50-day activity challenge where we had to get at least 30 minutes of moderate to high activity each day. Each staff member was allowed to miss no more than 8 days total over the 50 days.
To encourage and motivate the staff, we collected a $20 sign up fee from each participate and put each participating staff member’s name on a poster. Each day the completed the 30 minutes of activity, they got to put a sticker on the board. Everyone was very excited and motivated by the shiny stickers and looked forward to putting them on the board each morning!
Sixteen out of our 18 regular staff members took part in the challenge. At the end of the 50 day challenge, each staff member who completed the challenge with no more than 8 days off had their name placed in a hat for a draw. The person who’s name was pulled won all of the money collected at the start. Our only caveat was that the money was to go towards something for themselves like a massage, new workout clothes, new runners, etc. The winner of our challenge put the money toward a year membership at her local gym.
The goal behind these types challenges is to create a habit that will continue past the 50 days and become a regular part of everyday routine. The majority of our staff continued on with 30 minutes of activity day after the challenge was over, the habit was formed.
Corinne Cutler
Exercise Specialist
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
World Mental Health Day - October 10, 2012
World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. This year the theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”.
Depression affects more than 350 million people of all ages, in all communities, and is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease. Although there are known effective treatments for depression, access to treatment is a problem in most countries and in some countries fewer than 10% of those who need it receive such treatment.
For more information, visit the World Health Organization website.
For local resource, please contact:
Leduc Mental Health: 780-986-2660
The Support Network 24 hour Distress Line: 780-482-HELP (4357)
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
October is Healthy Workplace Month
Looking to add more activity to your workday? Here are some simple ideas:
• Walk to an employee’s desk instead of emailing or calling
• Use the washroom or water cooler on a different floor
• Set a timer every hour or two to get up and stretch and walk around
• Walk a flight of stairs or two whenever possible
• While waiting at the fax or photocopier machines due some heel raises or wall push-ups
• While filing do a few extra squats• If there is the option to have adjustable desk heights to promote more standing
• Sit on stability balls while working at the computer
• Start a walking group at lunch or even set up a staff activity challenge
~ Corinne Cutler, LBD PCN Exercise Specialist
Don't overlook the benefits of stretching. It can increase circulation, balance and flexibility and improve your posture, all of which can be issues for those who sit at a desk for long periods of time. Click the poster to view larger or print for your workplace:
For more information:
Healthy Workplace Month
We are on Twitter!
@lbdpcn is on Twitter and today we celebrate our first 100 followers!
We tweet about local, health related events and issues and we promote healthy living with trusted, evidence-based health information. Wondering when the Leduc After-Hours Clinic operates? Where are flu clinics being held this year? Looking for a PCN family physician? Want information on our programs and services? Follow us and find out about these and other health related subjects.
Tweets are provided by the multi-disciplinary health care team at the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network including Registered Nurse and Chronic Disease Management Coordinator Christina Vesty, Registered Nurse Ledise Mason, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator Andrea Lewis, Exercise Specialist Corinne Cutler, Registered Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator Nandini Desai as well as Communications Coordinator Candra Tinis.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Mental Illness Awareness Week September 30th - October 6, 2012
The key to good mental health is balancing your life
Mental Health means striking a balance in all aspects of your life: social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental. Reaching a balance is a learning process. At times you might lean in too much in one direction and have to find your footing again. Your personal balance will be unique, and your challenge will be to stay mentally healthy by keeping that balance.
Build healthy self-esteem
Self-esteem is more than just seeing your good qualities. It is being able to see all your abilities and weaknesses together, accepting them, and doing your best with what you have. For example, you may not play tennis enough to be a star, but that should not stop you from enjoying the game.
Build Confidence - Take a good look at your good points. What do you do best? Where are your skills and interest areas? How would a friend describe you? Now, look at your weak points. What do you have difficulty doing? What things make you feel frustrated? Remember that all of us have our positive and negative sides. We let our strengths shine, and we build on our weak points to help us mature and grow.
Receive as well as give
Many of us confuse having a realistic view of our good points with conceit. We have trouble accepting kindness from others. We often shrug off a compliment with a “yes, but…” and put ourselves down.
Accept compliments – The next time someone compliments you, say “Thank You! I’m glad you think so.” Think about other compliments you have had, and how good they made you feel.
Create positive parenting and family relationships
Work on building good family relationships. Learn to value each member’s skills and abilities. Learn how to give and accept support.
Make time - Make time just to be a family. Schedule time for both serious things and fun. Listen respectfully without interruption to what each person has to say. Do it frequently.
Make friends who count
Friends help you understand that you are not alone. They help you by sharing your “ups” and “downs” and you in turn help them. Together, you and your friends share life’s challenges and celebrate life’s joys.
Build a “friendship tree” – Keep in touch - invite a friend to lunch. Encourage new friendships - ask your friend to bring someone you have never met.
Figure out your priorities
Advertisers try very hard to convince us that we “need” their products and services. Our challenge is to know the difference between our real needs (food, shelter, clothing, transportation) and our “wants” (bigger TV, new CD player, the latest fashions, flashy car), and to find the right balance in our spending. Financial problems cause stress, so it’s important to avoid over-spending.
Create a meaningful budget - Write out a budget for yourself. Is it realistic? Have you planned what to do with the money left over for your “wants”? Which “wants” are most important to you.
Get involved
Being involved in things that really matter to us provide a great feeling of purpose and satisfaction. You should always remember that you make a difference, no matter how big or small your efforts.
Volunteer - Read to children at your local library: visit and elderly person at home or in hospital: serve on a committee or the board of your favorite charity, organize a clean-up of a local park or beach, help a neighbor clean out his/her garage.
Learn to manage stress effectively
Stress is a normal part of life. How you deal with it will depend on your attitude. You may become overwhelmed by things that other people deal with easily. Learning to keep a balance among work, family and leisure is difficult and needs skillful management of your time. Planning helps, and so does staying calm.
Take a five- minute vacation – Each day, set aside five minutes for a mental health break. Close your office door or go into another room, and day-dream about a place, person or idea, or think about nothing at all.
Cope with changes that affect you
It would be nice to “live happily ever after” but there will always be challenges in our lives. Children have accidents, parents get ill, jobs disappear. Dealing with these unexpected ( and often unwanted) changes can be stressful, so we need to be flexible and learn ways to cope.
Find strength in numbers - Search out a support group that deals with the issues you are facing. By teaming up with people who share your problems, you may find a fresh solution. Try starting a group of your own by suing the public service announcements in your local newspaper, radio station or TV station.
Deal with you emotions
We are all challenged to find safe and constructive ways to express and share our feelings of anger, sadness, joy and fear. Your ways of experiencing and expressing emotions are unique because you are unique.
Identify and deal with your moods - Find out what makes you happy, sad, joyful, or angry. How can you deal with your moods? Share joyful news with a friend; “cry on a friend’s shoulder” when you feel blue. Physical exercise can help you deal with your anger. Keep a stack of your favorite funny cartoons or a collection of humorous stories or video tapes for times when you feel the need to laugh.
Have a spirituality to call your own
Learn to be at peace with yourself. Get to know who you are, what makes you really happy, what you are passionate about. Learn to balance what you are able to change about yourself with what you cannot change. Get to know and trust your inner self.
Spend quality time with yourself - Set aside time to be totally alone. Do a breathing exercise- try counting your breaths from one to four, then start at one again. Or do something you love to do, like dancing, going, to a baseball game or building a bird house- whatever works for you!
This information was provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association.
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