May 2nd, 2024

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, the focus is on “A call to be kind: because compassion connects us all.”  By focusing on self-care and practicing self-compassion we can enhance our overall well-being, resilience, and joy. 

In the words of Christopher Germer “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.”

With this in mind, here are some strategies to taking care of our own Mental Health! (Pictured to the left)

January 24th, 2024

BELL LET'S TALK DAY 

"Bell Let’s Talk Day marks the start of a new year to take action in mental health. We can all create real change by doing one or more of the following:

•        Choose a mental health organization to learn about or support

•        Help a friend struggling with their mental health by learning how to support them

•        Ask about how your school, workplace or community is creating change for mental health

•        Nurture your own well-being by practicing and learning mental health strategies

•        Get involved in a mental health initiative or organize an event to support mental health

•        Engage in conversations about mental health to fight stigma

Share your actions using #BellLetsTalk and help inspire others.

You can find resources and learn more about organizations providing mental health supports and services throughout Canada at Bell.ca/letstalk. You can also download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit for tools to get the conversation started and to create real change at home, school, or in the workplace.

Let’s kick off a year of action together and show support for all those who live with mental illness. Together, we can create a Canada where everyone can get the mental health support they need."

(Bell Let's Talk, 2024)

December 7th, 2023

The Holiday season is approaching quickly. No matter how you feel about the upcoming season, here is a reminder  to take care of yourselves during this busy time!

Putting your own health and wellbeing on your holiday to-do list doesn’t have to be time-consuming. The steps you take can easily translate into simple things you can continue doing throughout the New Year. Here are our some wellness tips to get you through the busy holiday season. 

https://cmha-yr.on.ca/self-care-during-the-holidays-keep-the-me-in-merry/

November 17, 2023 

THE CHILL SPACE LUNCH CLUB IN MORRIS IS BEGINNING NEXT WEEK!

Every Wednesday during lunch hour, highschool students are welcome to join the Chill Space Lunch Club in Morris. Students will have an opportunity to connect and play activities with peers. Snacks will also be provided! 

November 17, 2023 

November 19-25 is Manitoba Substance Use and Addictions Awareness Week!

"Throughout the week Mental Health and Addictions, Shared Health is proud to present several webinars to discuss the harms and explore solutions related to substance use and addictions.

All of the webinars and educational activities throughout the week are open to staff and the public at large."

For more information, click HERE.

(Shared Health Manitoba, 2023)

June 5, 2023

As summer holidays approach, many of us are looking ahead to fun things to do with the family. Here are some ideas including festivals, outdoor activities, museums, and more!

Tourism Winnipeg: Summer Top 50 Things to Do

Free and Affordable Summer Family Activities in Manitoba

March 1, 2023

March is National Nutrition month.

This campaign started 50 years ago and invites everyone to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. This year's theme is "Fuel for the Future." Eating with sustainability in mind is a tasty way to nourish ourselves during every phase of life and protect the environment.

Taken from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, here are a few tips to help you and your family get back or stay on track this month. 

https://www.eatright.org/national-nutrition-month-2023

Eat with the environment in mind.

• Enjoy more plant-based meals and snacks.

• Purchase foods with minimal packaging.

• Buy foods in season and shop locally when possible.

• Start a container or backyard garden to grow food at home

Stay nourished and save money.

• Plan your meals and snacks.

• See what food you have at home before purchasing more.

• Use a grocery list and shop sales when purchasing food.

Eat a variety of foods from all food groups.

• Include your favorite cultural foods and traditions.

• Eat foods in various forms including fresh, frozen, canned and dried.

• Avoid fad diets that promote unnecessary restrictions.

• Practice gratitude for your body by giving it the fuel it needs.

Make tasty foods at home.

• Learn cooking and meal preparation skills.

• Try new flavors and foods from around the world.

• Find creative ways to use leftovers rather than tossing them.

• Create happy memories by eating with friends and family when possible.

February 6, 2023

February 7th is Safer Internet Day.

Time online has increased and, sadly, so has online luring. As tomorrow is Safer Internet Day, it is a great time to talk to your youth about staying safe online.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection shares the following tips:

One of the best defenses against luring and all types of online harm is keeping youth informed and prepared to face different scenarios online.

Start the conversation with youth:

• Explain what online luring is and how it happens.

• Ask them why they think this is a criminal code offence in Canada. Listen to their perspective and discuss the importance of laws to keep youth safe online.

• Teach them about red flag behaviors that signal a situation is unsafe.

• Discuss how to get out of conversations and/or online relationships when they feel uncomfortable.

• Emphasize the importance of getting help – coming to a safe adult or reaching out to NeedHelpNow.ca™ for help.

• Walk through a real case together and identify the red flag behaviours/ tactics and discuss what the youth should do.

Download How to Talk with Teens about Online Luring for more information and a real case example.

January 17, 2023

Happy New Year! The start of a new calendar year is often a time that people reflect on the year before and set goals or resolutions for the new year. Often, resolutions are focused on things that we think we "should" do - "I should eat better", "I should go to the gym more", "I should be more productive", "I should meditate"... When we frame goals that way, we set the stage with guilt. To state that we "should" sets us up to feel a sense of failure or guilt if we lack motivation or are unable to meet our goals for whatever reason. Instead, if we frame goals as things that we would like to do for reasons that will enrich our lives, we are shifting our view. One helpful idea is to reflect on the things you accomplished or felt good about in the past year. Whether or not you accomplished your 2022 goals or stuck to your resolutions is not as important as acknowledging all the things you did, the things your experienced, and even the difficult things that you had the strength to make it through. This can set us up to look forward with self-compassion and kindness!

December 7, 2022

The health benefits of Joy & Laughter

Is laughter really the best medicine? Research indicates that laughter can, in fact, improve your health! The Mayo Clinic agrees. Here’s what The Mayo Clinic identified as the benefits of laughter:

Short-term benefits:

• enhances oxygen intake, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.

• Activates and relieves your stress response.

• Reduces physical symptoms of stress by soothing tension, stimulating circulation, and aiding in muscle relaxation.

Long-term benefits:

• Improve your immune system. Positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.

• Relieve pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

• Increase personal satisfaction and helps you connect with other people.

• Improve your mood and self-esteem.

For more on how laughter is the best medicine, check out this article on Helpguide.org https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/laughter-is-the-best-medicine.htm .

How do you connect with others through laughter and joy? Lyla who is 3 years old gives this advice “you know what? Sometimes you just have to stop and dance”. There are so many ways to get a good joyous giggle: watch your favourite sitcom, go to a comedy dinner or stand-up comedy show, or check out your favourite funnies on YouTube. One of my go-to’s for a quick cuteness overload or giggle is Live from snack time on Instagram - @livefromsnacktime where you can find the funny and cute things that kids say.  Whatever you do to spark joy, rest assured that it is contributing to your overall health.

RRVSD Parent/Caregiver Group!

Let us know if you are interested! 

• The group will run for 45 mins weekly

• Opportunities to meet and connect with other parents

• No pressure to share

• Attend weekly or join when you can for however long you can! No commitment required.

Welcome Back!

The school year has started and schools are busy and buzzing! We hope that everyone had a nice, restful, fun summer and we are excited to be back in schools and start connecting with families and students again!

Please feel free to reach out to your school or us if you are looking for additional support for your child or yourself! Have a great school year!

February 8, 2022

Today is Safer Internet Day – Take Time to Talk with Teens

Every February on Safer Internet Day (SID), organizations around the world join forces to help make the online world a safer place for young people. The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), through Cybertip.ca, has been seeing an increase in online sexual violence against teens, with the pandemic escalating the frequency and tactics even further.

This SID, C3P is urging families and educators to talk with youth about what constitutes online sexual violence, how to safely navigate these situations online, and where to go for help.

Cybertip.ca has seen a spike in online harm impacting youth in the past year:

37% increase in overall online victimization of children

97% increase in reports of online luring

38% increase in reports of the non-consensual distribution of an online intimate image, with a 39% increase in youth reporting

74% increase in reports of sextortion involving platforms youth use every day

When sexual violence occurs, youth, in most cases, are not telling anyone… not friends, caregivers, or their teachers.

Parents in the Know
Recognizing it’s often hard for families to broach these kinds of conversations, C3P has created new resources to address the urgent issue of online sexual violence at cybertip.ca/osv. #SaferInternetDay.

For more information, register for “ONLINE DANGERS: Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Cyberbullying,” an online panel presented by Public Safety Canada tonight at 5pm. Click HERE to register for free.

December 13, 2021

Supporting Children and Teens During This Holiday Season

The holidays are approaching and with them come an array of emotions, challenges, and possible disappointments. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has put together some ideas to help make it special while acknowledging that things may still be different than we hoped for.

• 'Talk to your children/teens about this holiday season.

• Help them understand why things may remain different this year. You may want to share that you are doing things differently because you want to keep everyone safe and healthy.

• Let them talk about their feelings, what they are sad about, what makes them upset.

  • Let them know that they are not alone. You hear them.

  • Validate their feelings. It makes sense that they are feeling sad, disappointed, frustrated, angry...because the holidays are not the same, because they miss friends and family...

  • Even when you can't "fix" things, you are giving children the gift of your support.

• If loved ones have died during this year, find a way to honor their memory this holiday season and find ways to share your feelings as a family.

• Think together about your family values and traditions related to the holidays (the way you celebrate may still be different, but the meaning behind the holiday does not.).'

(NCTSN, https://www.nctsn.org/print/2437, 2020)

November 8, 2021

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2021

The Royal Canadian Legion shares some ways that we can remember our fallen Veterans and help ensure that we never forget their sacrifices. Some ways to pay our respects include: 

• Saying "Thank you" to a Veteran

• Wearing a Poppy

• Take a moment of silence to honour the fallen

• Honouring a fallen Veteran on the Legion's Wall of Honour and Remembrance

• Planting Poppy seeds or growing a garden of Remembrance

• Visiting a cenotaph

• Inviting a Legion Branch to make a presentation at a school or community event

• Wearing or displaying commemorative items

• Visiting the Canadian War Museum or local history museums

• Volunteering to help Veterans

The Royal Canadian Legion shares that most importantly, we should take a moment now and then to reflect on the freedoms and peace in our lives, and to remember the individuals who served and sacrificed for all we have today. 

Source: https://legion.ca/remembrance/importance-of-remembrance

October 27, 2021

HALLOWEEN FUN!

With Halloween around the corner we thought we'd jump into some Halloween fun and share some easy and creative ideas for activities you can do with your children. I have included the Country Living link as they have come up with these wonderful ideas!
Here are a few favorites of mine that I hope to try! Please note that all print-outs and instructions are included in the attached link. 

1) Setting a Spooky Table: Find some leaves and paint them white. Once dry, add two black eyes. Add them to your table for some spooky decor. 

2) Paint some spooky rocks and use them to play "Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe"

3) Bake a batch of Gooey Monster Cookies . Recipe is in the link.

4) DIY Halloween masks. There is a link where you can print out masks and decorate them at home. 

5) Have a Halloween Movie Marathon. Hocus Pocus is my all time favorite Halloween movie!

6) Pin the Spider on the Web. A fun spin to the regular party game. 

7) Paint pumpkins instead of carving, or do both!

8) Toilet Paper Mummies game. Have your kids roll themselves up with toilet paper and become mummies! 

Have fun this Halloween and Stay Safe :)

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g22355935/halloween-family-activities/

September 13, 2021

Welcome to a new school year! It's been so nice seeing students back in our buildings! We thought it might be a good idea to introduce ourselves again. Find out who we are by checking out the who are we section here. Also, stay tuned for news on our parent sessions starting up soon! Check back here for new weekly posts on various topics and resources. For information on topics or resources check the topics and resources tab above. We are wishing everyone a positive start to the 2021-2022 school year! Looking forward to connecting with you!

June 7, 2021

Talking about suicide.

Wellness is about more than self-care and promoting positive mental well-being, it is also about acknowledging the difficult and uncomfortable topics that we often choose to avoid. Many people have thoughts of suicide and sometimes those thoughts are acted on. Having thoughts of suicide does not mean we are weak, it is not selfish, and it does not mean that we have a mental illness. Having thoughts of suicide often means that there is a lot of pain or a belief that it is the only option. Many people who have thoughts of suicide hide it, but the weight of those thoughts can be reduced by simply talking about it and acknowledging the thoughts and feelings. The risk is often higher when we don't talk about it. If you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide, reach out, talk about it, and find support. You are not alone.

• Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line: 1-877-435-7170 (http://reasontolive.ca/)

• Kids Help Phone: Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 'CONNECT' to 686868 (https://kidshelpphone.ca/) 

• Any of the RRVSD school social workers are also happy to help and offer support. You can find our contact information HERE.

April 19, 2021

Take in some good news.

Our current news is exhausting. Things are shifting and while we receive some hopeful news, we continue receiving negative and unhappy news. Continually being bombarded with negative news can take a toll on our mood and mental health. Try taking a break from the regular news and find good news sources. Here are a few to check out:

• https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/good-news/

• https://www.positive.news/society/what-went-right-in-2020-the-top-20-good-news-stories-of-the-year/

• https://www.cnn.com/specials/us/the-good-stuff

April 14, 2021

How to Build Resilience

Here is a great resource for useful tips on how to build resilience!

<-----Click on the link and check out the Kids Can Cope: Parenting Resilient Children at Home and at School Booklet

You can also find other interesting Parenting For Life booklets on the Psychology Foundation of Canada site too!

March 29, 2021

Spring Break Activity Ideas!

• Game night (non-virtual) - let kids pick the game. Make it a fun competition (whoever wins picks the snacks for movie, loser has to clean up, make some food together beforehand)

• Go outside - walk, hike, make a fire together

• Spring-break camps (Fort Whyte Alive, hockey, sports, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, gymnastics, children’s museum)

• Check out the zoo, museums, go to the pool or see other attractions

• Day road trips (Gimli, the Whiteshell, Riding Mountain National Park...)

• Plan a big meal and get the whole family involved (each plan and create a dish)

• Family home/car dance parties

• Make a home spa day (nail polish, facials, do each other's hair, massage)

• Create a fun competition (using chores or time off of devices etc. Use points and aim towards a goal such as doing one of these activities)

• Build a fort and have a fun movie night

• Take out bikes, trampoline, rollerblades

• Do something kind for others (pick up litter, create care packages, bake for someone, purge and donate clothes or other belongings)

6 Tips to Help You Spring Forward

Most of us look forward to springtime, but not to losing the hour of sleep when clocks spring forward!

Losing that one hour of sleep can affect productivity, concentration, and both physical and mental health. Here are some simple tips we can use to help us adjust to the time change.

It's important to keep sleeping patterns the same during the change to daylight saving time. Here are a few tips for doing that:

1. Start getting to bed earlier.

You can ease your body into the time change by starting your nighttime routine 15 minutes earlier in the days leading up to the start of daylight saving time. This can be especially helpful for small children, who often feel the effects of the time change more than adults.

2. Be consistent.

Wake up at the same time each morning to keep your sleep cycle more regular. This means even on weekends! Although sleeping in can help you feel more rested in the short-term, it causes difficulties falling asleep and waking up during the week. In fact, getting out of bed at the same time every morning is the single best way to improve sleep and wake functioning. 

3. Enjoy the longer evenings.

One great perk about spring and daylight saving time is that there is more sunlight in the evenings. Enjoy the natural lighting outside or indoors with your curtains open. Sunlight helps naturally reset your body clock. Letting natural light come into your bedroom in the morning also aids in greater alertness upon awakening.

4. Exercise.

Being physically active is good for your health and it can help you sleep better, too. Go for a walk or run outdoors during daylight where you are exposed to natural sunlight. But try to avoid working out too close to your bedtime. It’s best if you can allow at least two hours to "cool down" from exercise before going to bed.

5. Be mindful of what and when you eat and drink.

Eat dinner earlier in the evening to help your body prepare for bedtime. Try to avoid spicy or fatty foods, especially as bedtime is approaching. They can lead to indigestion and insomnia. Avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day so you fall asleep more easily.

6. Reduce screen time.

Television, tablets and phones may help you unwind for the evening, but they can stimulate your brain and actually make it harder to fall asleep. Try avoiding hand-held screens and computer displays at least two hours before bed, and avoid television at least an hour before bedtime.

Summarized from: https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/6-tips-to-help-you-spring-forward/

March 1, 2021

Reminder that our virtual parent group continues every Friday. Here are the details. Join us, we'd love to see you there!

Virtual Parent Group!

Join the school social work clinicians for a virtual drop-in parent group Fridays at noon. New themes and topics discussed weekly.

What to expect:

• Information shared by Jill, Joanne and Mel (school social work clinicians) on topics relevant to you and your children

• The group will run for approximately 45mins weekly - Fridays at 12pm

• Opportunities to meet and connect with other parents

• No pressure to share - Feel free to keep your mic and video off (but we’d love to see and hear you too!)

• Attend weekly or join when you can for however long you can! No commitment required.

• You can join on a computer, tablet or phone!

Next topics:

March 5, 2021 - cancelled

March 12, 2021 - Substance Use - trends & services**Special Guest - Mehgan Addictions Foundation of Manitoba** 

March 19, 2021 - Supporting healthy connections

March 26, 2021 - Supporting children with low & depressed mood

How to join:

• Access this link to join the group every Friday at noon. https://meet.google.com/dmg-jxqc-sbr

• To join the mailing list and receive notifications/reminders regarding upcoming groups as well as information and resources on topics being discussed please email Mel Bazin at mbazin@rrvsd.ca with subject line “parent group”

• Note: group times/dates are subject to change.

Questions:

• Email Melanie Bazin at mbazin@rrvsd.ca with any questions or concerns. 

February 22. 2021

Many of our schools have been taking part in Festival du Voyageur activities this week and next. While we aren't able to partake is some of our usual pancake breakfasts and festival activities, singing and learning about our manitoban culture can be heard and seen around our schools. 

Here is a link to some free virtual activities and concerts offered by the Festival this year: 

https://heho.ca/en/2021-virtual-programming/  

February 1, 2021

You made it through January! Yay!

Celebrating small wins or successes can help promote wellness in ourselves and our families. We can be quick to minimize and tend to have high expectations for ourselves, which can lead us to overlook the smaller things that are going well. Now, more than ever, those small successes are important to acknowledge. Celebrating small successes doesn't set us up to be lazy or complacent, as we sometimes believe.  They can boost our mood and can motivate us to continue to do positive things. I went for a walk. Yay! I made a good meal. Yay! I had patience instead of snapping at my partner. Yay! Or for our children: You got started on your math assignment. Yay! You made your bed. Yay! Celebrate those 'small wins' without adding a 'but...' and experience the benefits.

For more on the benefits of celebrating 'small wins', check out these articles:

• 'I celebrated my 'small wins' for a week and it changed my whole perspective' - Bodyandsoul.com.au

• The Power of Celebrating Small Successes - Umbrella.org.nz

November 2, 2020

Write it down.

Our thoughts often spin and keep us up at night. There is so much going on right now that adds stress and worry to already full minds and schedules as parents. A simple way to help stop our minds from spinning and calm some of our stress is to simply write it down. Some people think that journaling isn't for them because they can't do it every day or they aren't "writers" or they don't know what to write. Journaling can be as simple putting words on a page ("I feel so stressed!", "I'm so angry!", "What do I do?", "I'm struggling", "COVID / Stress / Sick / Unmotivated / Etc.") to get them out of our mind. Putting thoughts and feelings on paper helps us to sort them and process them in a way that eases our minds. If you don't want to keep a journal, write on a scrap of paper and rip it up when you are done writing. This can help us to release some of the things that consume our thoughts.

We can also write down things we are grateful for. In a time when there is so much stress and negative news, it is even more important to shift our minds towards the positive. Writing 3 things down that you are thankful for each day can help shift your feelings to be more hopeful and find joy even when things are incredibly difficult.

(Photo credit: @justgirlproject)

October 26, 2020

Connecting to the earth and nurturing our spirit

Mother earth nurtures and sustains all life. Being in nature and appreciating all living things can provide a sense of connection to spirit. We encourage you to connect to the earth by noticing and appreciating what you can smell, see, feel, hear, and taste when in nature. Go for a walk, sit on the land, touch the earth and notice all the colours, see how they blend or contrast, listen to the rustling of the leaves, the birds chirping, the wind whistling, smell the pine trees, the leaves, the rain, feel the plants around you, the crisp air on your face, taste the freshness of the outside air, taste the garden carrots. Notice the birds, squirrels and other life. Appreciate all the beauty and spirit of mother earth and allow this connection to nurture your spirit.

October 19, 2020

FUN FALL ACTIVITIES! 

Fall has "fallen" upon us and we thought it might be nice to include some fun, engaging, and interactive ideas for all of us to do with our family and friends as we embrace these cooler days.

We know that spending time in nature provides us with many wonderful benefits. So make a socially-distanced date with a family member or a friend and go through the list included in this post. 

We hope you enjoy these beautiful, crisp, beautifully colored Fall days! Enjoy :)

October 13, 2020

New Virtual Parent Group starting November 6th!

Join the school social work clinicians for a virtual drop-in parent group every Friday at noon. 

Themes discussed will include:

• Coping with stress

• Taking care of ourselves

• General parenting support

• Managing challenging behavior 

What to expect:

• Information shared by Jill, Joanne and Mel (school social work clinicians) on topics relevant to you and your children

• The group will run for 45mins weekly - Fridays at 12pm

• Opportunities to meet and connect with other parents

• No pressure to share - Feel free to keep your mic and video off (but we’d love to see you too!)

• Attend weekly or join when you can for however long you can! No commitment required.

• A link will be sent to you and all you need to do is click the link to join! 

• Join with computer, tablet or phone

How to sign up:

• Email mbazin@rrvsd.ca with subject “Parent Group” and the link to join will be sent to you.

June 23, 2020

While self-care is important, even the thought of it can feel like a huge task and something to add to our "to-do" list, which we don't need. Here is an anti-to-do-list with 9 ways to practice self-care by simply going easy on yourself:

1. "Don't worry about keeping up with the news

2. Or be nice to yourself if you can't look away

3. Be a little "gross"

4. Eat whatever you want

5. And wear whatever you want

6. Use shortcuts to avoid creating chores (example: stick to the same two “outfits” to avoid clothes piling up when too depressed to put them away every day)

7. Be kind to yourself if your place is messy or dirty

8. Accept your new sleep schedule

9. Give yourself plenty of room to do absolutely nothing"

For the full article and more ideas for your "anti-to-do-list", click HERE.

June 22, 2020

Community Financial Counselling Services is now offering a NEW SERVICE:

CRA-APPROVED FREE VIRTUAL TAX CLINIC

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

Taxes will be prepared using “virtual” methods: by telephone or video.

Who is eligible?

• Single person earning $35,000 or less

• Single parent with one child earning $45,000 or less (add $2,500 for each additional child)

• Married or Common Law couple earning $45,000 or less (add $2500 for each dependent) 

Who is not eligible?

• Person wishing to file a deceased return

• Person with self-employed income

• Person with rental income

Call the tax line at 204-989-1913, or send an email to taxes@cfcs.mb.ca to request an appointment. 

June 17, 2020

Wellness Wednesday.

Stress relief does not mean we eliminate all stress. Even small moments of stress relief can be helpful for our emotional well-being and help us get through the day. We can do small things to relieve stress:

• Talk to a friend

• Go for a walk

• Take a deep breath

• Strike something off of your "to-do" list

• Set boundaries (practice saying "no" when needed)

• For more ideas, visit our Self-Care section ('Topics'>'Self-Care')

June 16, 2020

The Psychology Foundation of Canada has a FREE new workshop for parents! Stress and the School-Aged Child: What Parents Can Do to Promote Lifelong Resilience is on Wednesday, June 24th (12 pm-1 pm ET). Register here! 

May 28, 2020

The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba is offering a free webinar today at 10:00am!

Families and Substance Use in the Time of COVID - 19 Webinar Description:

With an increase of social isolation and a decrease in access to services, many families may be struggling with how they can support a loved one with a substance use issue. This webinar will focus on what we can and cannot control during these unprecedented times as well as coping strategies for both the family members and the loved one who may be struggling.

REGISTER NOW!

 Webinar link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6443875218444222224

Once you register, you will receive a notification that can be saved directly in your calendar with information on how to join the webinar. A step-by-step guide is also attached to help guide you through the process.

A reminder email will be sent to you, both the day before and the hour before, the webinar.  

Presenter Bio:

Sheri Lysy-Sigurgeirson is a Prevention and Education Consultant for the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM).  She has worked with the agency for 10 years.

During her time at AFM, she has worked in the Youth unit, the Women’s and Family unit as well as the Corporate Services Unit. Sheri has had the opportunity to travel across the province, in her role, to deliver information about addiction issues.

May 13, 2020

How can we build more resilience? Resilience is the ability to come back up when life knocks us down. Highly resilient people find a way to accept change, repair and heal while having a goal and moving towards it. So how can we build up our resilience? There are many things that can increase resilience but here are a few simple things that can provide a resilience boost. 

• Living a healthy lifestyle, such as eating well, sleeping enough and doing regular physical activity. 

• Close relationships. Taking care of your close relationships so that those close to you can help you find support when needed. 

Check out this article by Psychology Today to learn more.

May 5, 2020

Phase one of Manitoba's restoring services COVID-19 response has begun. Here is what you need to know. schools will remain closed, non-urgent surgery and diagnostic procedures are restored, therapeutic and health care services are restored, some retail businesses will reopen, restaurants - patio/walk-up services may reopen, hairstylists and barbers may reopen, museums, galleries and libraries may reopen, outdoor recreation and campgrounds are reopen.

If phase one results or any future phase results are not favorable, the province will not proceed with further easing of secondary public health measures and may reintroduce others. If you'd like to learn more please click here. 

April 29, 2020

Here is a reminder to rest from @holisticallygrace on instagram. With all the things we are juggling right now, it's important to take time for rest. Sleep is not the only answer. Here are some other ideas.