Catégorie : Vision (Clarence-Rockland)

The annual Bell Let’s Talk Day event in Canada encourages people to talk about mental health issues. Bell has been sponsoring the event since 2011 and donates five cents to Canadian mental health programs for every social media post that use #BellLetsTalk during the day. 

The South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC) also wants residents of communities within the South Nation River watershed and outside of the region to consider going outdoors on Lets Talk Day and any other day to help promote both physical and mental health. Being physically active outdoors during the winter is a good way to help prevent feelings of depression and anxiety that may be exacerbated by the short days and long nights. 

“Stepping into nature and staying active is more important now than ever,” stated Shannon Gutoski, SNC communications specialist. “Nature can enhance our health and happiness.” 

The Canadian Mental Health Association noted that many people feel more depressed during the winter season. The pandemic, with its past history of lockdowns and restrictions on social gatherings and other actitivities, has also helped create anxiety and stress for many people. Getting outdoors during the daytime, enjoying the sunlight, and getting active through solo or family activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or tobogganing can provide both emotional and mental relief. 

The SNC has numerous conservation areas open during the winter for outdoor recreation. They include the W.E. Burton and J. Henry Tweed sites in Russell, Two Creeks Forest and Robert Graham Forest in South Dundas, Warwick Forest in North Stormont, and Oschmann Forest in North Dundas. The SNC also provides trail grooming assistance at Nokomis Park in Limoges and the Russell Recreational Trail. All visitors to SNC conservation areas and trails are asked to show respect to other users and to practise social distancing when encountering other trail users. 

“To help everyone enjoy outdoor experiences, please be respectful towards other visitors,” stated Gutoskie. “Many people get outdoors to enjoy nature and seek some solitude. Excessive noise, unleashed pets, and obstructive behavior can take away from the experience, and you never know just how important that experience may be for some.”  

Dr. Roumelioutis, medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), joined Dr. Paula Stewart, medical officer of health with the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (LGLHU), to update the CDSBEO on the current status of COVID-19 and school reopening. 

“Multiple layers of protection are very important for the return to school in Ontario,” said Dr. Roumeliotis. “Well fitted masks are very important, along with the enhanced cohorting measures, daily screening, improved ventilation, and of course, we need to continue to promote vaccination. We do know that with Omicron you are certainly well protected against being admitted to hospital with vaccination, versus those who are unvaccinated. Two doses will prevent severe disease, although it will not prevent infection, and a third booster dose will increase both protection against contracting the virus as well as severe disease.”  

The number of cases peaked in December, and although the cases are gradually decreasing, they’re still very high since a surge over Christmas. The strategy has changed since then; the numbers are too high to follow up on every individual case and identify high-risk contacts for everyone, so instead, the province is allowing the public to manage their respiratory infections themselves and go for medical help if needed. 

If someone suspects they have COVID-19, they should isolate for a period and adhere to all public health measures even more strictly. Children under 12, and anyone fully vaccinated, should isolate for at least five days until their symptoms have continued improving for 24 to 48 hours. They should wear a fitted mask for those five days, maintain two metres of distance, and avoid seniors and anyone with weak immune systems. Anyone 12 and older who isn’t fully vaccinated should isolate for at least ten days until their symptoms have shown to improve.  

Members of the same household as someone with symptoms and/or a positive test must also isolate for the same length of time as the person with symptoms. It is recommended that anyone with symptoms or a positive test inform potential high-risk contacts of their status, as they will have to isolate as well; COVID is contagious a few days before symptoms begin to show. 

Schools will be handing out rapid antigen tests for use by people with symptoms. Two tests should be taken 24 to 48 hours apart, as a single negative test does not rule out COVID. If one of the tests is positive, assume it’s COVID and follow the isolation protocols. Even if both tests are negative, then it is unlikely to be COVID, but isolation is still needed until symptoms improve for 24 to 48 hours.  

Health officials are doing everything they can to ensure schools can stay open. According to data presented by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, school closures are associated with substantial harm to students’ mental health; social isolation is a major contributor to the worsening of children’s mental health in Ontario. 

“A study of Ontario children aged 6 to 18 with no pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis demonstrated increased clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety,” said Dr. Roumeliotis. “The proportion of children with clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety nearly tripled during the COVID-19 pandemic to 1 in 4 for depression and 1 in 5 for anxiety. » 

Le Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario (BSEO) a fermé les cliniques de vaccination COVID-19 à Casselman, Rockland et Winchester pour le 17 janvier, en raison des conditions météorologiques défavorables qui rendent les déplacements déconseillés.

Le BSEO communiquera avec toutes les personnes qui avaient un rendez-vous le 17 janvier au cours des 7 à 10 prochains jours afin de fixer un autre rendez-vous. Les personnes qui n’auront pas été contactées d’ici le 28 janvier sont priées d’appeler le BSEO au 1-800-267-7120.

Les personnes dont le rendez-vous est annulé peuvent également prendre un autre rendez-vous par l’entremise du portail de vaccination COVID-19 de l’Ontario, disponible à l’adresse www.Ontario.ca/bookvaccine, ou en appelant le Centre provincial d’information sur les vaccins au 1 833 943-3900.

La quantité de neige tombée devrait se situer entre 25 et 40 centimètres. Les services d’urgence de la région suggèrent à tous les citoyens de rester chez eux si possible et d’éviter de conduire où que ce soit.

« De la neige, parfois abondante, avec des pics de chutes de neige de 2 à 4 cm par heure possibles lundi matin, ce qui pourrait réduire considérablement les visibilités », indique l’avertissement d’Enviornment Canada. « Poudrerie locale due à des rafales de vent pouvant atteindre 60 km/h ».