Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

CM: Job Burnout: Why We Need Equitable Access to Mental Health Services
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
By Sydney Sheloff

Defining Burnout

“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress” (CAMH, n.d.). While burnout is often associated with work, it is exacerbated by compounding stresses in all aspects of one’s life. Burnout has always existed, but it has been heightened by the pandemic. Work responsibilities have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but individuals and families have also had to deal with the stress of school and child care closures, fears surrounding the virus, increases in the cost of living, and many more stresses. All these factors compound and may lead people to feel helpless, emotionally drained, and unable to function. If not taken care of, burnout can morph into more serious mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression (CAMH, n.d.).

Incidents of burnout vary greatly source-to-source, and as such we do not have reliable numbers on this phenomenon. This variation likely comes from the different ways in which different studies define and measure burnout. A study by Mental Health Research Canada found 35% of Canadians are experiencing burnout at work (MHRC, 2021). Another found that 47% of Canadian workers feel exhausted on a typical workday. Yet another study found 84% of workers at Canadian organizations with 100 or more employees are suffering from career burnout, and 34% of those workers report high or extreme levels (Moore, 2022). While the numbers themselves vary considerably, they all show that burnout is prevalent in Canadian workplaces.

Burnout in different sectors

Experiences of burnout varies by occupation. Folks working on the frontlines during the pandemic face considerable stress. They are dealing with the pandemic head-on as they care for patients with COVID, while dealing with staffing and hospital bed shortages. According to Mental Health Research Canada (2021), 53% of people working in health and patient care, and 66% of nurses reported experiencing burnout. Almost a fifth (17.9%) of health care workers intend to leave their job within the next three years, 63.2% of those workers want to leave due to stress or burnout (Statistics Canada, 2022). Many folks in other caring positions struggle with burnout as well. For example, 38% of people working in education and child care reported experiencing burnout (MHRC, 2021). Teachers had to quickly adapt to teaching children online with little training, and child care workers have faced precarity in the face of centre closures. Women are overrepresented in these roles, making them more vulnerable to all these issues (Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2022).

Parents working from home had to work a full day while simultaneously supporting their children in online learning. Women have had to take on more of the responsibility to manage this situation during the pandemic. In a 2022 poll, almost half (48%) of mothers stated they were at their ‘breaking point’ (Canadian Women’s Foundation, 2022). In addition, having work and home in the same space blurred the boundaries between work and home life, with many people unable to “turn off” and relax at the end of the day. While reasons for and experiences of burnout vary from occupation to occupation, and situation to situation, this is an issue prevalent for almost everyone.

Burnout by demographics

Burnout also varies by demographics, with marginalized communities more likely to experience burnout. 41% of Black Canadians and 37% of South Asians reported experiencing burnout, compared to 17% of non-visible minorities (MHRC, 2021). Black and South Asian peoples were more likely to be working in ‘essential’ occupations such as nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (Turcotte and Savage, 2020). At the same time, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) must also contend with discrimination, feeling invalidated at work, and a pressure to do more than their coworkers (Washington, 2022). In other words, BIPOC folks working in healthcare are deemed “essential” yet continue to be treated as less-than, which has large impacts on their mental health.

Impacts of Burnout

Burnout has significant impacts on an individual’s work. People experiencing burnout feel dissatisfied with their jobs and achievements and miss more work (Salvagioni et al. 2017). They may face a lack of motivation and find it difficult to get tasks done, which impacts their effectiveness on the job (CAMH, n.d.). In more serious cases, affected individuals may want to leave work altogether. However, the impacts of burnout are not isolated to work, but reach into every facet of the lives of those effected.

53% of Canadians report they are unable to reasonably balance the demands of work and personal life (MHRC). In other words, Canadians are overwhelmed with the number of responsibilities they have. They may not have the time or energy to devote to their home and family lives. Being emotionally drained is a symptom of burnout (CAMH, n.d.), so this may mean that people have a hard time connecting with loved ones and relationships can get strained. Furthermore, people simply do not have the time or energy to engage in the activities that bring them joy.

A meta-analysis of studies about burnout found that burnout was a predicator of many physical and mental health conditions. Physical health conditions included type 2 diabetes, heart disease, prolonged fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues. Mental conditions included insomnia, depressive symptoms, and hospitalizations for mental disorders (Salvagioni et. Al. 2017). Burnout is literally making us sick.

A Lack of Support

Often, solutions for burnout focus on individual level self-care techniques. People experiencing burnout are told to socialize more, exercise, eat healthy foods, engage in relaxing activities, and disconnect after work (CAMH, n.d.., Dene, 2022). However, it isn’t that simple. In modern ‘hustle’ culture, taking time for oneself can make people feel worse, as they’ve been conditioned to think they should be productive all the time (Healthline, 2022). Some professions, such as nurses, work long, demanding hours and do not have the time or flexibility to engage in self-care activities. Encouraging people to take care of their own mental health downloads more responsibility onto already overworked people. What is truly needed is accessible and affordable mental health care.

Edmontonians face several barriers to accessing mental health care. A survey from the Canadian Mental Health Association found that almost a quarter (23%) of Albertans needed help for problems with their emotions, mental health, or substance use, but did not receive it. Of those who did not receive help, 47% did not know where or how to access help, 54% could not afford it, and 26% reported their insurance would not cover it. Canadian workplaces are both creating the conditions that produce burnout, and not giving employees the resources, they need to deal with it. All Canadians, regardless of their employment status, should have access to robust mental health care. Perhaps it is time we consider folding mental health care into the universal health care system.

Note: This is an excerpt from our December 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

Did You Enjoy this Article? Please provide feedback here: Microsoft Forms

Resources

Canadian Women’s Foundation (2022). The facts: Women and pandemics. https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/women-and-pandemics/

Center for addiction and mental health (CAMH) (n.d.). Career Burnout. https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/career-burnout

Canadian Mental Health Association (2022). Summary of Findings Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19: Round 4. https://cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Key-findings-summary-UBC-round-4-Final.pdf

Environics Institutes (2021). Making up time: the impact of the pandemic on young adults in Canada.

Healthline (2022). For Many People with Anxiety, Self-Care Just Doesn’t Work. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/self-care-is-hard#1

Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) (2021). Psychological Health & Safety in Canadian Workplaces

Moore, Dene. (2022). Worker burnout is becoming endemic and it’s everyone’s job to treat it. The Globe and Mail. Worker burnout is becoming endemic and it’s everyone’s job to treat it – The Globe and Mail

Salvagioni, D., Melanda, F. N., Mesas, A. E., González, A. D., Gabani, F. L., & Andrade, S. M. (2017). Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies. PloS one, 12(10), e0185781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781

Statistics Canada (2022). Experiences of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, September to November 2021. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220603/dq220603a-eng.htm

Turcotte and Savage (2020). The contribution of immigrants and population groups designated as visible minorities to nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate occupations. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/article/00036-eng.htm

Washington, K. (2022). Why BIPOC Employees Are Burning Out—and What People Leaders Can Do About It. Spring Health. https://springhealth.com/blog/help-bipoc-employees-reduce-burnout/
[/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
February 8, 2023

Blog: Intersection of Mental Health and Substance Use

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Mental health and substance use often co-occur and are complications that require trauma-informed and person-centred care. Destigmatization and harm reduction approaches are important in these circumstances.

By Amethyst Zapisocky, ESPC Volunteer

Substance use and mental unwellness can be interlinked. When they are co-occurring they typically reinforce each other which has many adverse effects on well-being and life functioning. (1) It is indeterminable if mental health complications or substance use comes first for many reasons: drugs may be used for self-medication purposes, they have common risk factors (such as genetic predisposition, stress, and/or trauma), and the substance(s) may heighten/awaken preexisting mental illness or even cause them by altering brain structure. (1) (2) Nonetheless, substance use and its interaction with mental health is a grave and serious reality in Canada, as reflected by the ongoing opioid crisis. (3)

There have been 1443 deaths from drug poisoning (any substance) in Alberta between January and November 2022, with 556 occurring in Edmonton. (4) Furthermore, more than 1 in 4 adults living with a mental health diagnosis also struggle with substance misuse, (5) and people with mental illness are twice as likely as other Canadians to engage with substances. (6) Common susceptible mental disorders include ADHD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. (2) (5) For example, those with major depressive disorder (MDD) are twice as likely to use alcohol harmfully, with drug dependence being four times as likely. (7) Those with both substance dependence and MDD are less likely to seek treatment while more likely to have heightened suicidal thoughts and psychological distress. (7)

Stigmatization

Despite a need for respectful and effective intervention, mental unwellness and substance use are frequently marginalized and stigmatized – much to the detriment of impacted individuals. (3) (8) This negatively affects how the (opioid) crisis is perceived, hinders the establishment of necessary help-giving services, perpetuates misinformation on mental and substance use disorders, and poses a barrier to accessing treatment. (3) These negative effects are further complicated when judgment comes from medical professionals, which can result in inadequate care and system mistrust. (3) Destigmatization is paramount. It involves challenging the misconceptions that people who struggle with mental health and/or substance misuse are morally corrupt or unworthy. (3) (8) It also requires addressing systemic gaps, training for trauma-informed care in healthcare (and other front-line services), establishing contact, and educating on substance use and recovery. (3) (8)

Because abstinence from substance use is not always possible, harm reduction is a beneficial approach to addressing the use of substances. (8) (9) Harm reduction aims to minimize harm from substance use by providing care that is inclusive, trauma-informed and person-centred. (8) (9) Rather than focusing on abstinence, this approach meets individuals where they are, listens to them, and recognizes the person’s particular circumstances and needs. (8) (9) It serves those who use substances by providing them with information on the potential risks along with informing them on safe use. (8)

A substantial percentage of people who experience mental and/or substance use difficulties do not seek treatment or services, which is heightened in street-involved populations. (10) Studies conducted in Edmonton have found that such populations have complex circumstances, enduring trauma and facing both social and care exclusion. (10) (11) According to a study published in 2022, Edmontonians in this situation often perceive a need for health services (89%) and do pursue them (73%). (10) However, only 8% of respondents who sought help had their needs met. (10) This percentage of unmet care is much higher than what is reported in the general population, indicating a care system in need of improvement for this underserved community. (10) The reported reasons for not accessing care were wanting to manage care by oneself (most common), not wanting help at the time, not knowing where to find help, and being allowed a limited amount of time (least common); this could reflect mistrust in the system, based on intersectional negative biases/discrimination that persons who are unhoused experience. (10)

Finding Help and Responding to Drug Poisoning

Challenging misconceptions about mental illness and substance dependence is important in minimizing harm and destigmatizing these serious (and often co-existing) conditions. Further, recognizing and knowing the signs and symptoms of mental unwellness and substance misuse can be the first step in initiating healing (HelpGuide lists some indicators). (1) If a mental or substance use disorder is suspected, professional advice should be sought.

Preventing overdose and minimizing harm from substance use is crucial. If you suspect an overdose is occurring call 911 immediately. (12) Signs of drug poisoning, as outlined by Alberta Health Services (AHS) are (12):

Slow or no breathing
Lack of or no responsiveness
Pale face
Blue lips/nails
Gurgling sounds

Choking
Vomiting
Cold/clammy skin
Narrow pupils
Stiff body or seizure-like movement

For opioid overdose, Naloxone Kits are vital and are available here. (13) For other drug poisonings, stay with the person and call 911. (13) Placing the individual in the recovery position may also be helpful–especially for alcohol poisoning. (13) Avoiding overdose can also occur by not using substances alone, and by utilizing supervised consumption sites. (14) (15) AHS educational tools are available here, along with their information on drug safety available here. Further supports available are as follows:

AHS offers a 24/7 line for Addiction & Mental Health available at 780-424-2424
Indigenous-specific substance use and wellness support can be found through The Thunderbird Partnership Foundation or from the Government of Canada’s website
Edmonton services for mental health and addiction for adults, youth, and seniors

The Edmonton Housing Directory lists places and services for those in need of housing (PDF for the latest 2022 version)

Amethyst Zapisocky is working towards a BA in psychology at the University of Alberta. A fourth-year undergraduate student, her career focus is on research and social development. She values equity, learning, and philanthropy. Personally, Amethyst enjoys statistics, mindfulness and jazz music.

References

Robinson, L., Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2023, January 4). Dual diagnosis: Substance abuse and mental health. HelpGuide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/substance-abuse-and-mental-health.htm
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021, March). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/substance-use-and-mental-health
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2020, October 14). Stigma and the opioid crisis: Summary. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/stigma-and-the-opioid-crisis-summary/
Government of Alberta. (2023, January). Acute substance deaths overview. Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://healthanalytics.alberta.ca/SASVisualAnalytics/?reportUri=%2Freports%2Freports%2F1bbb695d-14b1-4346-b66e-d401a40f53e6&sectionIndex=0&sso_guest=true&reportViewOnly=true&reportContextBar=false&sas-welcome=false
MentalHealth. (2022, March 10). Mental Health and substance use co-occurring disorders. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/mental-health-substance-use-disorders
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (n.d.). Mental health and substance use. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/what-we-do/mental-health-and-substance-use/
Currie, S. R., Patten, S. B., Williams, J. V., Wang, J., Beck, C. A., El-Guebaly, N., & Maxwell, C. (2005). Comorbidity of major depression with substance use disorders. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 50(10), 660-666. https://doi.org/10.1177/070674370505001013
Danda, Michelle. (2022). Meeting substance use patients where they are. American Journal of Nursing, 122(4), 11. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000827256.97267.59
Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). Harm reduction: Harm reduction services. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page15432.aspx
Hyshka, E., Anderson, J. T., & Wild, T. C. (2017). Perceived unmet need and barriers to care amongst street-involved people who use illicit drugs. Drug & Alcohol Review, 36(3), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12427
Addorisio, S., Kamel, M. M., Westenberg, J. N., Heyd, A., Maragha, T., Abusamak, M., … & Krausz, R. M. (2022). Unmet service needs and barriers to care of individuals experiencing absolute homelessness in Edmonton, Canada: a cross-sectional survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(2), 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-021-02080-2
Alberta Health Services. How to spot an overdose. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page16025.aspx#symptoms
FraserHealth. (n.d.). Information, resources and tips on how to respond to an overdose. https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/mental-health-and-substance-use/overdose-prevention-and-response/responding-to-an-overdose
Alberta Health Services. (n.d.) Supervised consumption services. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page15434.aspx
Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). DrugSafe. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page12491.aspx

[/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

February 7, 2023

CM: Poundmaker’s Lodge and its Role in Combatting The Fear of ‘Stigma’ and its Social Violence
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

By Siobhan Dreelan and Virginia Duran

Mental Health and Wellness can have both positive and negative effects on the individual, family, community, and Nation. In today’s society, you can see people struggling with Mental Health and Wellness negatively – suicides, addictions, homelessness – however what fails to be recognized and/or addressed are the ‘stigmas’ around mental health that limit the possibilities for effective services. These existing stigmas put fear and blame on the individual, while society distances itself from those who are suffering. This is quite problematic because people don’t understand mental health and wellness, although they are quick to judge, deny, and create barriers.

Studies have proven that trauma has lasting impacts on people’s mental health, and trauma is experienced every day. For example, losing a job, breakups, losing a loved one, or injuries. Further, we know that intergenerational and historical traumas continue to impact the lives of Indigenous Peoples. The lasting impacts of trauma play out though addictions, chronic negativity, mental unwellness, hopelessness, poverty, violence, and more that continue to plague many people.

What is Poundmaker’s Lodge?

Poundmaker’s Lodge is a residential treatment service provider that offers two treatment programs, a 42-day program and is open to anyone over the age of 18 and a 90-day program that is structured and guided by Alberta Health Services, which focuses on life skills and is tailored for persons ages 18-24. Poundmaker’s Lodge has a medical detox centre onsite and has some harm reduction strategies particularly in the opioid dependance program. It also offers the Iskwew women’s healing lodge, where women can stay for 3 months to a year where they learn life skills, and gain support, skills and access to counselling, school, volunteer opportunities and employment.

Programming at Poundmaker’s Lodge is a combination of Indigenous and Western modalities, a blend of perspectives that provides a unique approach that can start where people are comfortable, provide wrap around care and involves collaborative teamwork.

Poundmaker’s Impact

Poundmaker’s Lodge works with numerous Indigenous communities who might not otherwise have access to help with substance use. These folks come from all over Treaty 6, including Saskatchewan as Treaty 6 crosses provincial borders. Folks also come from Treaties 7 and 8. Poundmaker’s Lodge offers culturally competent programming including bringing in Indigenous Elders from various different tribes and communities, recognizing that the Indigenous umbrella is broad and encompasses many different groups of people with unique perspectives, experiences and ways of knowing.

The idea of representation is incredibly important at Poundmaker’s Lodge, where a person can feel at home around others like themselves. Having people who walk with, and role models recovering from addictions and who talk about mental health is integral to the work of connecting with folks at Poundmaker’s Lodge as a community. As well those at Poundmaker’s Lodge advocate for reducing stigma associated with Indigenous Peoples.

Challenges

Where there is trauma, healing is the answer. Those who work at Poundmaker’s Lodge find it very difficult for the clients they serve and support to access assessments (psychiatrist), get identification, receive Alberta healthcare, obtain safe and affordable housing, access affordable therapy and medications, peer support, community, follow-up and transition support, and services for those who are hearing and visually impaired.

When clients come for intake, Poundmaker’s Lodge admissions team has been noticing that many of the clients are struggling with mental health, and clients have disclosed that it is difficult to get a bed at the Alberta Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital for their mental health needs. It can take months for someone to see a psychiatrist, and for clients that have co-occurring disorders it is very challenging for them to address addictions when their mental health isn’t stabilized. Mental health should come first and then addiction treatment.

Funding continues to be a challenge. In part this is because Poundmaker’s Lodge is not recognized by funders as a cultural program. This creates barriers for folks on the Saskatchewan side of Treaty 6 gaining funding to access Poundmaker’s Lodge, because while Treaty 6 extends into Saskatchewan, the funding does not. Another example is the challenge of accessing places where Indigenous medicines can be picked when funders do not have the cultural understanding and competency to understand this is an important part of the healing process.

When folks leave treatment at Poundmaker’s Lodge or other community supports, there are not enough resources like housing. Often times the individual is blamed as if they are lacking or should be responsible for the entirety of their situation. The reality is it is societal pressures and factors that contribute to the continued struggles. Poundmaker’s Lodge has recovery coaches who help get people started once they leave the treatment centre and provide the bridge of support for people on their path of recovery as they reintegrate into society.

Indigenous Ways of Knowing

There are four parts to every person, the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Mental wellness and how it intersects with substance use can be seen in all four dimensions, and so healing must happen holistically in all four dimensions. All the quadrants are worked on during programming where clients learn to understand that there are root causes to addiction, including the numbing of trauma.

In addition to recognizing and incorporating the 4 quadrants, on the spiritual level the 7 directions are incorporated. Each has a value system, medicine and connectivity with things outside the self. The goal is to work towards the centre, which is the love component – where healing can happen. This further develops into a focus on the self and how actions such as a choice of kindness are the responsibility of the individual and relate to how they can connect to recognize their place and role in the community.

Through the Indigenous Ways of Knowing people learn to cope and co-exist with their mental health challenges, because these can continue well after substance use has been addressed.

Note: This is an excerpt from our December 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

Did You Enjoy this Article? Please provide feedback here: Microsoft Forms

To learn more about Poundmaker’s Lodge or if you are in need of help:

Phone: (780) 458-1884 Toll Free: 1-866-458-1884 Fax: (780) 459-1876

Intake : admissions@poundmaker.org

Medical Detox : detox@poundmaker.org

General : info@poundmaker.org
[/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
February 1, 2023
Research Review – The State of Childcare Services in Canada: Towards Affordability

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Research-Review-2.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Download the Research Review (PDF)” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#008ac1″ custom_margin=”||19px|||” custom_padding=”||5px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.5″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
The cost of childcare services has steadily risen over the years and the federal government announced an ambitious plan to decrease fees to $10 a day in all provinces and territories. There are however several considerations to analyze before this reality can take place.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

January 31, 2023
CM: How a Livable Income Impacts Mental Wellness
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]
By Brett Lambert

The ability to make ends meet—which includes keeping a roof over one’s head, putting food on the table, and meeting other basic necessities—is integral for both a person’s physical and mental well-being. Whether a person’s primary source of income is from employment, or they are reliant on income support programs, everyone deserves a livable income that allows them to meet their needs, especially at a time when inflation is at an all-time high.

Research has shown that living in low-income is a risk factor for psychological distress. A Statistics Canada longitudinal study showed that lower incomes are significantly related to future episodes of psychological distress and that the everyday social environments of low-income Canadians were implicated in these health disparities. In addition, living in low-income means having fewer resources to cope with and mitigate these stressors. The presence of these stressors and the absence of supports have been linked to physical and mental disorders. (1)

If living in low-income has detrimental effects on a person’s mental health, will raising their income contribute to an improvement in mental health? The research seems to point to a resounding yes.

Increases to the minimum wage – which is the lowest hourly rate of pay allowed by law – has been linked with lowering suicide rates. In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, the research showed that for every dollar added to the minimum wage, suicide rates among people with a high school education or less dropped by 3.4 to 5.9%. Among adults with levels of education above high school, there was no reduction in suicide rates because they would be less likely to work in lower-wage jobs. (2)

Within Alberta, there have been dramatic changes to the minimum wage within the last decade. Between 2015 to 2018, the minimum wage was raised incrementally each year from $10.20 per hour to eventually $15 per hour. (3) Workers who received a raise overall reported feeling more at ease with the greater financial stability. (4) With a change in government in 2019, the provincial government rolled back the minimum wage to $13 per hour for youth under the age of 18. This change to the minimum wage was particularly jeopardizing to the morale of marginalized youth striving to attain financial independence who may also be experiencing homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health issues. (5)

Improvements to mental health have also been linked to universal basic income—a government program that gives its citizens a set amount of money regularly to cover their living expenses with no strings attached. While basic income programs have largely been implemented regionally as pilot programs through the years, the results of these studies have shown that improvements to a population’s mental health are among the impacts of such a program. This included improved time with family and friends, a reduction in perceived stigma, and a renewed sense of hope for the future. (6) For the Ontario basic income pilot from 2018 specifically, 83% of respondents who took part in the pilot program reported feeling less stressed and anxious and 81% reported feeling more self-confident. (7)

Current income support programs in place within Alberta pay recipients below the poverty line, which is roughly defined as an annual income of $40,777 for a family of four or $20,289 for a single individual in Alberta. (8) For example, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)—which pay a maximum monthly benefit rate of $1,685 per month—does not keep pace with the cost of living. While the program is finally being re-indexed for inflation as of January 1, 2023 as a response to the price of essential goods becoming more expensive, AISH recipients are still having to catch up after more than three years of stagnant benefit rates. (9) When elected officials merely discuss making changes to the program—often to the detriment of current or future recipients—this has impacts on a recipient’s mental health. When the provincial government was considering re-evaluating eligibility for those with mental illness, recipients reported feeling their anxiety levels going up over the thought of losing their benefits. (10)

No matter the primary source of income people live on to make ends meet, it is clear that the amount they receive can either be a major stressor if it is inadequate or can alleviate a lot of pressure if their basic needs are met. Providing adequate and livable incomes will not necessarily solve all mental health challenges, but it will save lives. Any conversation on addressing mental health challenges needs to robustly consider the ways in which livable incomes and poverty intersect with this issue.

Note: This is an excerpt from our December 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

Did You Enjoy this Article? Please provide feedback here: Microsoft Forms

References
1. Orpana, H.M., L. Lemyre, and R. Gravel. Statistics Canada (2009). Income and psychological distress: The role of the social environment. Health Reports. Vol. 20, no. 1 (March 2009). Pp: 21- 28. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/82-003-x/2009001/article/10772-eng.pdf?st=A55AkkD2
2. Kaufman, J.A., Salas-Hernández, L.K., Komro, K.A., and Livingston, M.D. (2020). Effects of increased minimum wages by unemployment rate on suicide in the USA. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. Vol. 70, no. 3. Pp. 219-224. https://jech.bmj.com/content/74/3/219
3. Government of Alberta (2020). Minimum wage expert panel. Retrieved from: https://www.alberta.ca/minimum-wage-expert-panel.aspx
4. Issawi, H. and Doherty, B. (2018). Alberta’s minimum-wage workers tell us what $15 an hour really means for their bottom line. Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2018/09/30/paid-in-full-albertas-low-wage-workers-mull-over-the-final-pay-bump.html
5. Wyton, M. (2019). ‘Difficult realities’: Vulnerable youth left in lurch by UCP cut to minimum wage, advocates say. Retrieved from: https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/vulnerable-youth-left-in-lurch-of-uncertain-pay-following-ucp-cuts-to-youth-minimum-wage
6. Wilson, N. and McDaid, S. (2021). The mental health effects of a Universal Basic Income: A synthesis of the evidence from previous pilots. Social Science & Medicine. Volume 287. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953621007061
7. Ferdosi, M., McDowell, T., Lewchuk, W., and Ross, S. (2020). Southern Ontario’s Basic Income Experience. Retrieved from: https://labourstudies.mcmaster.ca/documents/southern-ontarios-basic-income-experience.pdf
8. Canada. Employment and Social Development Canada (2018). Opportunity for All: Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/poverty-reduction/reports/strategy.html
9. Tran, P. (2022). Alberta’s government benefit programs to be re-indexed starting next year. Retrieved from: https://globalnews.ca/news/9309545/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-reindexing-aish/
10. Fletcher, R. (2020). What it’s like living on AISH while the government spars over its future. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-assured-income-for-the-severely-handicapped-feature-1.5752665
[/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
January 25, 2023
Blog: Experiences of Grief: Intersectional Healing
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Grief is a response to profound loss which comes in many forms and affects people differently. Resources, wellness practice and support networks are important ways to facilitate healing from this experience, especially as it pertains to marginalized loss.

By Amethyst Zapisocky, ESPC Volunteer

Grief is the experience of and response to loss. (1) Although typically associated with the death of a loved one, it can occur after any loss. (1) (2) It can take many forms, making it difficult to pinpoint because grief varies across persons, situations and cultures. Some examples of specific subforms are abrupt (sudden/unexpected), climate (environmental anxieties), and anticipatory (loss about to happen) grief. (3) Major systemic forms of grief are demonstrated through collective grief (grief typically found in large-scale tragedies or under human rights violations) and disenfranchised grief (when grief is stigmatized or disregarded by others). (3) Connected to this latter form is disenfranchised guilt and stress, whereby an individual feels frustrated yet unentitled to grieve because it has been socially disregarded. (4)

On the broadest level, grief can be separated into two categories: uncomplicated and complicated. (2) The former follows the healthiest progression where the person’s grieving journey finalizes with acceptance and/or peace. Uncomplicated grief rarely needs medical intervention, as it is healthy to allow the grieving process to play out with appropriate wellness and support systems in place. (2) Conversely, complicated grief is prolonged suffering, where the individual is perpetually yearning and in distress from their loss. (2) In this case, targeted therapies can be important for the griever’s well-being. (2)

There are many physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms attached to grief, including isolation, eating and/or sleep disturbances, distress, shock, denial, anxiety, and (when extreme) substance abuse and/or suicidality. (1) (2) (5) (6) Many wellness techniques can be beneficial for relieving grief whenever it arises, including self-care and connecting with others. (1)

Disenfranchised and Collective Grief

Collective grief is a result of large-scale tragedies, disasters or loss that affect all members of a population. (7) Examples include the devastating Fort MacMurray fire in 2016, (8) as well as Edmonton communities forming from widespread eco-grief. (9) Such events can negatively impact community, interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning. (7) In this case, grief, confusion, disrupted living, safety fears, and disenfranchisement are common. (7) Furthermore, social justice implications are involved in collectivized grief because the pain of marginalized populations is more likely to be stigmatized, undermined and/or unacknowledged. (7) (10) The impacted communities are less likely to receive the support or resources they need for healing/rebuilding. (10) In some cases, the grievers are viewed as at fault for their circumstances and are, subsequently, underserved. (10)

Grief from and alongside drug addiction or overdose is frequently invalidated, despite the ongoing crisis and cycle of guilt, trauma, and loss associated with those affected. (11) (12) Despite efforts such as Edmonton’s Overdose Awareness Day (first held on August 31, 2022), those struggling with addiction have difficulty accessing adequate treatments and resources. (11)

Indigenous communities face disproportionately high levels of loss, which is further complicated by stigmatization, difficulty accessing resources (such as rehabilitation centers), and a need for thorough investigations/justice for violence against Indigenous Peoples (for example, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls). (13) (14) A recent workshop intended for Inuvialuit and Gwich’in youth was hosted by the Western Arctic Youth Collective in Inuvik; it targeted mental wellness by establishing an Indigenous safe space for discussion and activities on grief and promoting hope which yielded promising results for healing. (15) (16)

Collective and disenfranchised grief are intertwined. Outside observers can also experience collective grief as a result of being exposed to the loss of others. (7) As such, adequate and honest exposure to the loss of marginalized communities is imperative for understanding, destigmatization, and inclusive efforts for healing. (7) Bearing witness to grief is a powerful way to support grieving communities. The pain that loss brings needs to be attended to through acknowledgement, support, and resources, with systemic gaps needing to be filled in order to help every griever.

RECOVER’s Soloss Project

Albertans are not immune to grief. RECOVER’s Soloss project targets disenfranchised grief in street-involved Edmontonians. (17) Soloss conducted an ethnographic study which found that profound grief was pervasive in this population, which has been minimized and ignored (disenfranchised) producing further stigmatization, mental illness, substance use, isolation, and eviction. (17) Subsequently, Soloss has become a community care intervention which employs diverse Losstenders (trained recruits who connect with grieving Edmontonians) to facilitate intercultural healing through art and bearing witness to loss. (17) This has not only helped marginalized persons receive important support for their bereavement but also informs fellow Edmontonians to understand this suffering. (17) The project has helped many grieving populations including Indigenous Peoples, those in addiction recovery, refugees and immigrants, and social service workers through acknowledgement and holistic therapies. (17) Overall, this intervention seeks to fill the gap in resources available to equity seeking grievers in Edmonton by establishing connections and integrative practices to facilitate peace. (17)

Establishing Wellness in The Face of Grief

There are many ways to promote healing when grief arises. Different resources and wellness practices work for differing persons and circumstances, but some tips for healing are as follows:
- Connect with loved ones and/or a support network (1)
- Practice self-care/self-loving strategies (1) (6)
- Avoid trying to rush the healing process (1)
- Plan ahead for triggering holidays or occasions which may reignite grief (1)
- Be honest about your feelings and acknowledge your loss (1) (6)
- Allow for life to change while still remembering and honouring your loss (1) (7)
Connecting with resources can also be beneficial, with many targeted programs/services available to help. Edmonton’s Grief and Trauma Healing Centre is available for therapeutic aid. Alberta Health Services lists many services for grief available here. As previously described, Soloss is also open for disenfranchised grievers, with Losstenders available to be booked here.

Amethyst Zapisocky is working towards a BA in psychology at the University of Alberta. A fourth-year undergraduate student, her career focus is on research and social development. She values equity, learning, and philanthropy. Personally, Amethyst enjoys statistics, mindfulness and jazz music.

References
1. Canadian Mental Health Association (n.d.). Grieving. CMHA Alberta Division. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://alberta.cmha.ca/documents/grieving/
2. Zisook, S., & Shear, K. (2009). Grief and bereavement: What psychiatrists need to know. World Psychiatry, 8(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2009.tb00217.x
3. Gillette, H. (2022, December 19). 9 different types of grief. PsychCentral. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://psychcentral.com/health/types-of-grief
4. Degges-White, S. (2021, March 30). Disenfranchised grief: Mourning events that never were. Psychology Today. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/lifetime-connections/202103/disenfranchised-grief-mourning-events-never-were
5. The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre. (n.d.). Your journey to healing. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.healmyheart.ca/
6. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2022, September 6). Grief and loss. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/grief-loss/index.html
7. Kropf, N. P., & Jones, B. L. (2014). When public tragedies happen: Community practice approaches in grief, loss, and recovery. Journal of Community Practice, 22(3), 281-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705422.2014.929539
8. Baretta,, G. (2016, June 1). The fire is out, but the grieving continues. The Grief and Trauma Healing Centre. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.healmyheart.ca/blog/fire-grieving-continues
9. Wdowczyk, A. (2022, August 29). Edmonton climate activists use their ‘eco-grief’ as a tool for building communities. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-climate-activists-use-their-eco-grief-as-a-tool-for-building-communities-1.6562046
10. Bordere, T. C. (2016). Social justice conceptualizations in grief and loss. In D.L. Harris, R.A. Neimeyer & T.C. Bordere (Eds.), Handbook of social justice in loss and grief (pp. 9-20). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315659756
11. Junker, A. (2022, August 30). Edmonton and area to mark International Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday. Edmonton Journal. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-and-area-to-mark-international-overdose-awareness-day-on-wednesday
12. Giacomucci, S. (2020). Addiction, traumatic loss, and guilt: A case study resolving grief through psychodrama and sociometric connections. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 67, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2019.101627
13. Stewart, C. (2022, September 28). ‘Nothing is being done’: Services desperately needed in Maskwacis says grieving father. APTN News. https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/grieving-father-services-drugs-murder-samson-cree-nation/
14. Liewicki, N. (2022, December 4). Grief in Long Plain First Nation after 2 women from Manitoba community identified as homicide victims. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/sadness-grief-long-plain-first-nation-chief-1.6673225
15. ‘My pain had a place’: Youth mental health event in Inuvik focuses on grief and loss. (2022, December 17). CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuvik-youth-mental-health-gathering-1.6687303
16. Western Arctic Youth Collective. (2022, November 18). WAYC is hosting a Youth Mental Wellness Gathering in Inuvik Dec 9-11, 2022 for youth ages 18-30. During [Image attached] [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/waycwaycwayc/photos/a.117064356752069/693637732428059
17. RECOVER. (n.d.). Soloss. Urban Wellness Edmonton. Retrieved January 3, 2023, from https://www.urbanwellnessedmonton.com/soloss
[/et_pb_text][dmpro_button_grid _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_button_grid][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
January 24, 2023

Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

CM: Job Burnout: Why We Need Equitable Access to Mental Health Services

Blog: Intersection of Mental Health and Substance Use

CM: Poundmaker’s Lodge and its Role in Combatting The Fear of ‘Stigma’ and its Social Violence

Research Review – The State of Childcare Services in Canada: Towards Affordability

CM: How a Livable Income Impacts Mental Wellness

Blog: Experiences of Grief: Intersectional Healing