June 2013 health newsletter

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McLeod Lake Indian Band Health Services J U NE

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Staff : Shelley Barwise Home Care Nurse will be in community once per month Tracey Baldwin, Home Support Worker Georgina Chingee, Cultural Advisor Shandi Covell, Youth Worker Charlene Dohl, Child Care Worker Natasha Dumont, Public Health Nurse comes in 2x per month Jen Dyble, Band Social Development Worker Linda Innes, Community Health Rep Chris Kaip, Band Social Worker Josie Sharpe, Headstart Coordinator Matt Shaw, Clinical Counsellor Norm Strand, Home Support Nicole Thomas, Infant Development Worker Nicole Peterson, Youth Counselling Support Roberta Valiquette, Youth Worker Meaghan VanSomer, Social Services & Health Manager

I have been working with the McLeod Lake Indian Band membership for three weeks and have enjoyed the community and the job very much.

As a counsellor, with my office located in the Band Office building, I offer personal, drug and alcohol, and clinical couselling to Band members and employees.

Prior to working with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, I worked twenty years as a counsellor and adult education teacher with Prince George School District 57.

I grew up in Kamloops but have lived in Prince George for the last twenty-two years. My wife and I have been married for thirty years, and we have one child, a fourteen-year-old boy. I appreciate the warm welcome I have received during my first three weeks, and I look forward to many years of working with the McLeod Lake Indian Band.

Welcome Matt and we look forward to working with you throughout the year.

Matt will be in the office from Monday to Thursday each week. You can reach Matt by telephone at 250-750-4415 or come by the office to introduce yourself.

On Wednesday nights you can meet Matt at the Community Movie Nights and he is available for counseling service Wednesday nights.

MATT SHAW

Nicole Peterson continues in her position of Youth Support Worker.

Nicole is also contracted to provide additional Counselling Support to the general public.

Nicoles’ hours of work are from 8:30 to 4:00 pm Tuesday to Friday each week.

Nicole is also available during the evenings for Counselling Support.

For more information, contact Nicole Peterson at 250-750-4415

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SUN SCREEN SAFETY Sunscreen safety Sun safety tips tips 

 Did you know?

Sunscreens are not meant to increase the

  

amount of time you spend in the sun. They are meant to

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increase your protection



when you have to be outside.)

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

Choose a high SPF. Protect your health by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. The sunscreen should also say "broad-spectrum" on the label, to screen out most of the UVA and UVB rays.

Look for "water resistant". Look for claims on the label that the product stays on better in water (water resistant, very water resistant).

Read application instructions. For best results, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label.

Use lots of sunscreen. Use the recommended amount of sunscreen.

Apply it early. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go outside; reapply 20 minutes after going outside and at least every 2 hours after that. Use a generous amount. Cover exposed areas generously, including ears, nose, the tops of feet and backs of knees.

Reapply often. Reapply sunscreen often to get the best possible protection especially if you are swimming or sweating heavily.

Protect yourself. Sunscreen and insect repellents can be used safely together.

Apply the sunscreen first, then the insect repellent.

Sunscreens and babies. Do not put sunscreen on babies less than 6 months of age. Keep them out of the sun and heat as their skin and bodies are much more sensitive than an adult's.

Test for an allergic reaction. Before using any tanning product on you or your child check for an allergic reaction, especially if you have sensitive skin. Apply it to a small patch of skin on the inner forearm for several days in a row. If the skin turns red or otherwise reacts, change products.

Cover up. Wear light-colored long sleeved shirts, pants and a wide brimmed hat made from breathable fabric. When you buy sunglasses, make sure they provide protection against both UVA and UVB rays.  Limit your time in the sun. Keep out of the sun and heat between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

When your shadow is shorter than you, the sun is very strong. Look for places with lots of shade, like a park with big trees, partial roofs, awnings, umbrellas or gazebo tents.

Always take an umbrella to the beach.



Protect yourself. Reflections off snow, water, sand, and concrete can increase the effect of UV rays. You need to protect yourself on cloudy days, when you're swimming, and even while skiing.

Use the UV Index forecast. Tune into local radio and TV stations or check online for the UV index forecast in your area. When the UV index is 3 or higher, wear protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen.

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Use sunscreen. Put sunscreen on when the UV index is 3 or more.

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Drink plenty of cool liquids (especially water) before you feel thirsty. If sunny days are also hot and humid, stay cool and hydrated to avoid heat illness. Dehydration (not having enough fluids in your body) is dangerous, and thirst is not a good indicator of dehydration.

Avoid using tanning beds. If you do use them, understand the risks and learn how to protect yourself.

HTTP://HEALTHYCANADIANS.GC.CA/ENVIRONMENT-ENVIRONNEMENT/SUN -

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Women's Health Clinic The Women’s Health Clinic is set to take place on June 17th, 2013 at McLeod Lake Health Centre.

Confidential clinic includes:   

Natasha Dumont, Public Health Nurse and Kate Vanwely, Nurse Practioner will be on site.

Breast Exams Pap Smears Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections

If you would like an appointment please call Linda Innes, CHR at 250-750-4415. Drop in Appointments are also available.

Returning to Spirit: Indian Residential School Reconciliation Inc. Returning to Spirit (Aboriginal Workshop November 18-22, 2013 in Prince George) RTS Is a Residential School Reconciliation Workshop that involves both aboriginal and nonaboriginal communities.

program, and focuses on moving people forward through the principles of personal empowerment.

Please contact Nicole Peterson (250) 750-6849 (or drop by!) for more information or to register.

The Aboriginal Workshop is the first half of the two part training

INFANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: Community Kitchen/Sharing Circles COME OUT, HAVE FUN, AND RELAX!!

Community Kitchen—Open to Parents/Community Members to get out together, cook a meal and eat in & take home!!

Sharing Circles— Parents get together and do arts, crafts, or whatever your hearts desire, such as scrapbooking, gardening, play cards, board games and sports.

For more information contact Nicole Thomas.

“If we want to support each other’s inner lives, we must remember a simple truth: the human soul does not want to be fixed, it wants simply to be seen and heard. If we want to see and hear a person’s soul, there is another truth we must remember; the soul is like a wild animal – tough, resilient, yet shy. When we go crashing through the woods shouting for it to come out so we can help it, the soul will stay in hiding. But if we are willing to sit quietly and wait for a while, the soul may show itself.” Parker Palmer

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Myths & Facts about schizophrenia (http://ubcmhac.sites.olt.ubc.ca/?p=2497)

If you ask people to describe someone who best fits the traditional, stereotyped idea of “crazy”, chances are most people will describe something like schizophrenia. But exactly how much do you know about schizophrenia?

When it comes to mental disorders, a rough line could be drawn between neurosis and psychosis. Unlike neurosis, which is described by Sigmund Freud to be the exaggeration of the otherwise “normal” emotions (such as depression as an exaggerated form of sadness), psychosis was first described by the German psychiatrist Karl Canstatt in 1841, as an alternative to insanity. It is characterized by losing touch with reality and, basically, being “insane”. It is therefore only natural that schizophrenia, a most prevalent form of psychosis, is surrounded by misunderstandings. In this article I try to list a few myths that are more or less uniquely attached to schizophrenia.

Myth #1: schizophrenia is the same as “split personality”.

Truth: schizophrenia, a psychotic disorder, is different from dissociative personality disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder), a dissociative disorder, in almost every possible way. The term “schizophrenia”, meaning “split mind”, refers to the mismatch between the person’s thought and feeling, which, in turn, refers to a common symptom found in patients with schizophrenia where they have mismatched emotion and affect (such as telling a sad story with smile on their face). A person with schizophrenia may lose touch with reality, appearing as if they are talking about multiple things at the same time, but the symptoms are fundamentally different from that of a person with dissociative identity disorder.

Myth #2: people with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous.

Truth: while it is possible that some people with schizophrenia can have violent outbursts, the vast majority of them are non-violent, and instead tend to be more aloof and withdrawn. On the other hand, schizophrenia often co-morbid with substance abuse, which tend to make them more violent. Around 10% people with schizophrenia commit suicide, making it one of the two mental disorders with the highest suicide rate (the other is bipolar disorder). Conversely, people with schizophrenia are in greater danger of being victimized than the general population.

Myth #3: people with schizophrenia never recover.

Truth: some types of schizophrenia are harder to treat than others. (And yes, there are different types of the disorder.) But people generally do well over time, at least better than the common portrait in popular media. Symptoms may come and go in response to life stressors (just like a lot of other mental disorders), but most can be managed by medicine and/or psychotherapy. In fact, there is a fairly big chance that somewhere in your life you have already encountered a person with schizophrenia, whose symptoms are so well managed and monitored that you never suspected a thing.

Myth #4: people with schizophrenia have sub-normal intelligence.

Truth: people with schizophrenia are just as smart as the rest of the population. In fact, there are some evidence show that schizophrenia is linked with creativity and genius.

Myth #5: schizophrenia is caused by child abuse, terrible parenting, or other forms of childhood trauma.

Truth: although neglect or abuse has not been shown to play an important factor in causing schizophrenia, the disorder is the result of an interaction between genetics and environment. Environmental stressors also tend to make the symptoms worse.

Further reading:http://www.peoplesayimcrazy.org/schizophrenia/myths, http://www.everydayhealth.com/schizophrenia/ schizophrenia-myths-and-facts.aspx

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9 YouthCulturalActivitiesW/ Nicole 10am—2pm

30 YouthActivitiesW/Shandi 10am-2pm

Elder’s Bingo At MLIB Gym 10am Cultural Youth Activities W/ Nicole from 10am-2pm

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YouthDayCancelled!

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2 YouthActivitiesW/Shandi 10am–2pm

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Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

Mon

Sun

Infant & Family Development

25 Craft Night 6pm-8pm

Shopper’s Arrival Community Kitchen 5pm– 7pm

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Craft Night 6pm-8pm

Shopper’s Arrival Community Kitchen 5pm– 7pm

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Tue

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

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Shopper’s Order Last Day of School!!

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Shopper’s Order Father’s Day Dinner 4:30pm

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McLeod lake Indian Band

Infant & Fam. Dev. Worker

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Sat

Fax: (250) 750-4420

Phone: (250) 750-4415

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7 Comm.Lunch & B.Day CakeatGym,12pm

Fri

June “Time of the Fish”

6 MoccasinMaking (Finishingup) 10am-12pm&4pm-6pm

Thu

Nicole Thomas

3:45-4pm Stay - In - School BBQ 4pm—6pm

Breakfast Bags

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

Breakfast Bags 3:45-4pm

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12

5

Wed

Ihoowe Inza 2013

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