Giving Thanks

As a Canadian, this weekend marks our Thanksgiving holiday. We've been blessed with some beautiful weather, so the pup and I have spent as much time as possible outside enjoying the spectacular display that Mother Nature puts on this time of year. I honestly don't know what I would do without our hikes. The fourth wave of the pandemic is hitting hard, and seeing the pup's absolute joy at every. single. squirrel. we come across really is the best medicine for keeping my mental health in check.

And while we are on the topic of joy and thanks, I definitely have lots to be thankful for this year. Although this pandemic is affecting pretty much everyone, we're all having different experiences based on our specific scenarios. I find that watching the news is especially heartbreaking, and I know for every story reported there are many, many more. So today I want to tell you about some resources I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to access, in case anyone out there finds them helpful as well.

BounceBack

According to their website, this "is a free program from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) that helps you build skills to improve your mental health". My primary care provider provided a referral to the program for me back in March, and personally I've found it helpful. The program consists of 6 telephone sessions with a counsellor, and workbooks that they send through the mail.

Live Well

According to their website, this "is a Health Coaching program residing with Heart&Stroke NB and funded by the Government of New Brunswick. Free and accessible to anyone 19 and older, our Health Coaches are currently in six regions across the province, working to support clients in the pursuit of their wellness goals." I have been working virtually with a coach through this program since June, and find it's a great complement to BounceBack as it's less structured and therefore I find it more personal.

Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

I am extremely fortunate that my employer has partnered with a third party organization to provide advice and counselling on a wide variety of topics. I contacted my EFAP recently about an issue, and I was very impressed with the services that they offer.

As I said before, we're all doing our best to navigate our boats through this storm; if you're struggling, know that you're not alone, and there's no shame in asking for help ♥

One last thing before I sign off. Back in June I ran for a seat on the executive of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association (CNIA), and I'm thrilled to announce that I am now a Co-Director of Communications. I chose to run for that role because the responsibilities includes the design and content management of their website, along with their social media feeds. I'm still hoping to keep this website & blog going, but if you notice long gaps between my posts, it's because I'm busy with the CNIA work.

That's it for now, wishing you all a wonderful weeekend.