Discussion Paper on Youth Health Rights in Canada

In Canada, many young people are not aware of their rights when it comes to health, and even those young people who are aware of their rights may face barriers in seeking to exercise them, particularly in accessing health services.

In partnership with the AstraZeneca Young Health Program, the Young Canadians Roundtable on Health (YCRH) is undertaking a multi-phase Health Rights and Responsibilities Project to bridge these knowledge and practice gaps.

In September 2016, the YCRH engaged the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB) to establish a research base that would inform subsequent phases of the Health Rights and Responsibilities Project. 

The YCRH is excited to announce that the JCB's findings are ready to share!

For more information about the Health Rights and Responsibilities Project, contact Alyssa Frampton. 

New Program Focuses on Families of First Responders Impacted by PTSD

Family members of first responders impacted by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will now have access to new supports in increasing resiliency and improving mental health outcomes. As part of Mental Health Week (May 1-7), Medavie Health Foundation has announced its partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada to develop Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) for Families and other Supportive Relationships.

A New Resource to Support and Promote Mental Health in the Classroom

With research indicating that 20 per cent of Canadian students suffer from a mental health illness and teachers facing higher levels of stress than the general public work force, there is a need for more support for mental health resiliency in the classroom. To meet that need, Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada), along with Supporting Partner The Co-operators and program partners, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and University of Western – Centre For School Mental Health, is proud to announce the launch of Teach Resiliency.
 
TeachResiliency.ca is a public online portal offering teachers simple-to-use tools and strategies to assess resilience needs and access to resources to promote and enhance both teacher and student mental well-being. Teach Resiliency will feature more than 150 evidence-based mental health resources, 20+ videos and podcasts, tip sheets and more, covering a range of mental health matters to support teachers and their students.

“Through our research we identified a significant gap in education,” said Brian Storey, PHE Canada president and CEO. “But this gap has provided an opportunity to make a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of students and teachers across the country – and Teach Resiliency is a great first step in this effort.”
 
Every day in Canada more than five million kids go to school, with statistics indicating that one in five suffer from a mental health problem or illness - from anxiety and depression to severe emotional disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. As such, a typical Canadian classroom can expect to have at least four children who need extra mental health support. At the front of these classes are teachers, who are contending with the stress of helping students who are struggling, while still managing all the other roles and responsibilities laid upon them as professional educators. Research shows that teachers experience burnout at a rate greater than that of the general public workforce.
 
“As a group benefits provider, we understand the challenges related to mental health in the workplace and are committed to being part of the solution,” said Rob Wesseling, president and CEO of The Co-operators. “Teachers face tremendous pressure and responsibility. They are better able to support their students when their own well-being is taken care of. The Teach Resiliency program provides much-needed resources that will make a difference to teachers and students across Canada.”

To learn more, visit teachresiliency.ca.

Participants needed for online study about screen time

Do you know anyone aged 12-18 years old who plays video games, social networks, watches TV or plays on their smartphone? The Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group (HALO) is looking for participants to complete an online survey about screen time quality and health. There is a chance to win a $50.00 CAD gift card.  For more information about how you can participate please follow this link.

2017 Healthy School Communities National Forum: Research Abstracts Now Being Accepted

Deadline for abstracts is Friday, June 2

PHE Canada is hosting a research symposium in conjunction with the Healthy School Communities (HSC) National Forum taking place November 2-3, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario. Researchers, graduate students and professionals are invited to submit an abstract to present a:

  • 15 minute traditional oral presentation & discussion,
  • 20 minute round table or panel presentation & discussion, or a
  • Traditional poster presentation.

Abstracts are to be submitted online, and must be received by Friday, June 2, 2017. Potential presenters will be informed about the status of their proposals by Wednesday June 21, 2017.