Posted On: Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
Carlene is a former staff member of PAN. Carlene Dingwall is the coordinator of PAN’s Mental Health, Substance Use and HIV/HCV committee. She is currently living in Kelowna (for a couple of more months) before she heads back to the north. She is currently finishing an interdisciplinary PhD focused on intergenerational trauma and healing. … Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, February 11th, 2015
It is widely recognized that while only seven per cent (7%) of British Columbians are Aboriginal, Aboriginal people comprise roughly 25% of all British Columbians who use mental health and substance use services. Service providers who are less attuned to Indigenous cultural and history, or their own preconceptions, may be at a disadvantage to forming… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, February 11th, 2015
In 2012, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) released Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada. In order to build Canada’s capacity to promote mental health and improve the lives of people living with mental health problems and mental illnesses, the Strategy identified the need for better data collection through… Read more »
Posted On: Friday, January 9th, 2015
January Updates Community of Practice: If you haven’t had a chance to join in our Community of Practice, then now is the time to start some new trends. The CoP is a community of frontline workers across the province who are interested in Mental Health and Substance Use. This is a forum to share your… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, December 10th, 2014
Advice for Healthcare Professionals From the BCCDC: Nov 26, 2014 by Derek Kline, Outreach Nurse, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC, & Anna Kline, M.Psych., RCC Anxiety and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) go hand-in-hand.[1,2] Worry can take many forms and is often related to fears about social stigma.[2,3] Waiting for the right time to get tested or… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
The Mental Health and Substance Use Competencies Self-Assessment is a self-assessment tool designed for a range of practitioners in the community who are working in the field of HIV and Hepatitis C. The self-assessment tool will help you identify the strengths and weaknesses in your current practice -which can then help direct your future professional growth and development…. Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
By Tim Dyck at CARBC Can simply asking someone how often they smoke marijuana, or how much alcohol they drink, or what impact doing cocaine is having on them, cause them to rethink their use pattern? Questions like these are part of common screening tools. Can they play a broader, more dynamic role? Typically, the questionnaires… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, October 29th, 2014
This website is designed to help youth and young adults in British Columbia check out how they’re feeling and quickly connect to mental health resources and support. Support includes education, self-care tools, website links, and assistance in connecting to local professional resources. Check out the website here: Mindcheck.ca
Posted On: Wednesday, October 29th, 2014
PAN recently sent Dr. Perry Kendall, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, a letter of congratulations on his recently released report: HIV, Stigma and Society: Tackling a Complex Epidemic and Renewing HIV Prevention for Gay and Bisexual Men in British Columbia. PAN notes that: “This is a very significant report in that it highlights the importance of HIV… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
Do you want to learn more about suicide prevention, postvention, and intervention efforts in Canada? The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) recognizes the importance of talking about suicide prevention and how we can all work together to reduce the number of deaths by suicide. In an effort to share knowledge, resources, and lessons learned,… Read more »
Posted On: Tuesday, September 16th, 2014
Abstract: Gay and bisexual men experience numerous health disparities relative to heterosexual men, including high rates of HIV and suicidal behavior. Systematic community health assessments could provide direct comparisons of the burden of mortality across diseases and thus facilitate the prioritization of public health activities; however, such assessments have been precluded by the absence of sexual orientation information in vital… Read more »
Posted On: Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014
Connecting Canada while Supporting Individuals’ Emotional and Mental Health The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) invites you to attend Connecting Canada while Supporting Individuals’ Emotional and Mental Health, the seventh in a free webinar series on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. This prerecorded webinar is taking place at a special time and date —… Read more »
