Sacred Journey Therapy Blog

What to do when you feel sick and can’t make it to work?

The Ontario Medical Association suggest that we stay home when we are sick and further they say employees should not be required to get a note from their doctor. Yes, I understand that some employers do not trust their employees but that is an outdated and archaic relationship that needs to change.

The medical system is overloaded and yet many people are forced to go to the emergency department or walk in clinics to fulfill the requirement of a doctor’s note. Could our scarce medical resources be put to better use than policing employees? How did the medical system in Ontario take on the  Human Resources function for all the Ontario companies?

Perhaps we can support our medical system by removing needless visits and free up the doctors time for assessment and treatment of medical issues.

“Employers should encourage workers to stay home when sick – not require sick notes which has a discouraging effect and forces patients into the doctor’s office when they are sick, which only encourages the spread of germs to those in the waiting room, who in some cases are more vulnerable.” (Scott Wooder, MD, President, Ontario Medical Association, 2014)

211 …. What is that? …. Yes you just call!!

211 is a helpline and online database of Ontario’s community and social services.
211 is answered and updated by highly-trained specialists.
Call 2-1-1 | Free | Confidential | Live answer | 24/7

211 is a three-digit phone number like 411 and 911. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)  assigns three-digit phone numbers for services that are of broad public interest and of universal social value. The CRTC decision was approved in 2001:

211 began in the United States in 1997. As of December 2010, 82% of the US population had access to 211. Canada’s first 211 service launched in Toronto in 2002, and is under consideration or development in most provinces.

Here in Peterborough, Ontario
In 2009 United Way of Peterborough and District initiated 211 services here and it is running and available 24/7.

The service, which was already operating in eight other Ontario communities including Toronto, connects Peterborough area residents with an operator who can direct them to services in their community.

http://www.211ontario.ca/basic-page/resources

This is the new team at Core Healing Arts 315 King Street, Peterborough

A great group of people who are all loving, compassionate and highly skilled in their field of practice.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a 4 day intensive workshop training session in “Somatic Experiencing”. This is the process that has evolved from the Trauma recovery work of Peter A. Levine, PhD.

The approach (as I understand it so far) puts our human response to trauma in a biological context.  Symptomatic responses to trauma are considered through the lens of an understanding of the anatomical nervous system and specifically the dorsal and ventral vagal systems.

The process works by resolving and releasing the energy of trauma gradually and not getting stuck in the memories or the narrative of the traumatic event(s).

Recently a study on mice has shown that traumatic events experienced by a parent mouse can be passed down to subsequent generations. The study found “these transgenerational effects are inherited via parental gametes” (Dias, Ressler, 2014).

It is interesting to note that the initial trauma takes place before the conception of the next generation and yet they are still influenced by the historical trauma.

What might this say about humanity, our family traumatic experience, the use of genograms, and much more? While more research is needed the results of this study indicate a potential for our behavior (anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more) to be influenced by the experiences of our parents and grandparents, long before we were born.

Reference
Nature Neuroscience 17, 89–96 (2014)
Brian G Dias   & Kerry J Ressler

“Ontarians with mental health and addiction disabilities have lower levels of education, lower income, are less likely to take part in the labour force and are less likely to live in adequate, affordable housing compared to people with other disabilities and people without disabilities.” (OHRC)

• Of all Ontarians who report a disability, almost one-third (30.9%) report a mental health or addiction disability.
• People aged 15-24 account for 9.3% of all Ontarians who report mental health and addiction disabilities, which is more than twice the proportion of people with other disabilities (3.5%)
• A higher proportion of Ontarians with mental health and addiction disabilities are separated or divorced (19.3%) than people with other disabilities overall (10.4%) and people without disabilities (7.1%). A smaller proportion of Ontarians with mental health or addiction disabilities are married or in a common-law relationship (45.6%) than people with other disabilities overall (60.6%) or people without disabilities (59.8%).
• Ontarians with mental health and addiction disabilities are more at risk of poverty than people without disabilities. A greater proportion (19.6%) are in low-income status compared to people with no disabilities (10.4%) and people with other disabilities (7.9%).

For the full report visit the Ontario Human Rights Commission website (OHRC)

This is a continuing initiative but a new face on their web page with some updated material and resources. Excellent material from the Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario.

“In any given week, more than half a million Canadians will be absent from work because they’re struggling with their mental health.” (CMHA)

Employers, managers, supervisors

1. Look for Signs –Sudden behaviour changes, consistent late arrivals/absences, decreased productivity, making excuses for missed deadlines/poor work, and displays of anger/defensiveness may indicate a potential mental health issue.
2. Talk About It – Arrange to meet an employee to raise concern and offer help. Beforehand, find out what resources – such as Employee Assistance Programs or community services – may be available and have information handy when you meet.
3. Build Comfort – You want to minimize stress, not contribute to it. It’s important to talk about how the employee is valued before raising concern. Think about an individual’s strong points and contributions they’ve made. Be honest, upfront professional and caring in your approach.

Employees

4. Talk to your doctor –1 in 5 people will experience a mental health problem this year but only a third will seek help. Depression is treatable, and most people who receive the right supports recover fully.
5. Connect with a professional – Combining professional counselling with medical treatment is generally more effective than only doing one or the other. A psychologist, a psychotherapist, or a social worker has specialized training to help you learn new coping skills. Most EAP and benefit plans will provide access to these services.
6. Reach out to those you trust – Close personal connections are one of the most powerful healing and protective tools to combat depression. Tell a family member, friend, or co-worker exactly what you need. It may be simply to listen, provide encouragement when you’re down, or doing things together that you enjoy.
7. Live well – Exercise, sleep, and healthy eating are some of the first things to be compromised when experiencing depression. However, research shows that it works the opposite way too. Making conscious choices to lead a healthier lifestyle – especially when you don’t feel like it – can boost your mood.

For more practical tips, visit the newly relaunched Mental Health Works website.

Please refer to  (CMHA) for more details

“You Are Not Alone” 9 current and retired RCMP members speak openly about PTSD. This video was produced in the hopes of reaching new members who may not know the effects of PTSD, those who may be in the initial stages and do not understand what is happening to them or senior members who have been suffering in silence for years. This video is a message of hope to them so they will be able to step forward knowing they “Are Not Alone”.

Consider for a moment that addiction is not a result of what we have been told for years.

What if addictions are more complicated and yet more simple than we ever thought, what if addictions were a result of stress, trauma, negative environments, lost connection with loved ones, and a sense of separation from ourselves, the world, and our source.

Please take 15 minutes and have a look at this TED talk by Johann Hari

Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong


Julia Rucklidge talks about nutrition and its impact on mental health. She spoke at TEDxChristchurch (Newzeland) and published on Nov 10, 2014

Micronutrients and optimum nutrition is a viable and cost effective way to reduce, control and treat mental illness

Poor nutrition is a significant and controllable risk factor for the development of mental health issues.

Dr Rucklidge’s talk is only 17 minutes long but well work the time to listen to her message and decide for yourself if this information can have a positive effect on your life and the lives of your loved ones.