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- 🚨 $4B Mental Health Crisis? 🤔
🚨 $4B Mental Health Crisis? 🤔
Good morning, Other Siders!
As the snowflakes gently kiss the ground and the festive lights drape our streets with joy, I can't help but feel a surge of warmth and gratitude. Welcome back to our cozy, enlightening nook, 'The Other Side of the Care.' And to our newest family members who've joined in the last fortnight – you've just made our circle even more special. Welcome aboard!
Here we are, at the cusp of bidding farewell to 2023. This year has been a tapestry of challenges and triumphs, weaving stories that have touched us all deeply. As we prepare to close this chapter, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of connection to each of you. Our shared journey through the evolving world of healthcare, from the bustling streets of Canada to the farthest corners of the globe, has been nothing short of extraordinary.
This edition, our last before the New Year, is a tribute to you – the heart and soul of our community. We've laughed together, learned together, and grown together. As we sit with our loved ones this holiday season, reflecting on the year gone by, let's cherish these moments of togetherness and the bond we've nurtured here.
So, with a mug of your favourite holiday drink in hand and a spirit full of hope, let's dive into this edition. It's brimming with stories and insights that resonate with our journey this year. Here's to a holiday season filled with love, reflection, and joy – and to a new year that promises even more reasons to smile and grow together.
In today’s edition, we’re serving up:
✅ Exploring Healthcare Coverage Challenges
✅ Mental Health Awareness and Healthcare Efficiency
✅ Technological Innovations in Healthcare: AI and Advanced Scanning
✅ COVID-19 Updates and Maternal Mental Health Concerns
News that Impacts You!
‼️ Skiing Abroad? Check Your Coverage!
Quick travel tip as we gear up for winter adventures: remember, our health coverage tends to take a 'staycation' when we travel abroad. Yep, only a few places like PEI and those frosty territories keep our health care packed with our passports. The Canadian Snowbird Association's latest report reminds us that universal health care's portability is more a dream than a reality for most provinces. So, before jetting off, remember: our health care might not be as globe-trotting as we are!
Picture this: You're skiing in the Alps, take a tumble, and bam, your health bill skyrockets faster than a downhill racer – because back home, your province scores a 'C+' in health care portability.
So, fellow travellers, how are you planning to stay covered on your winter escapades?
Did you hear about the $4 billion yearly cost due to delayed mental health care for kids? Yep, it's real. This new report, 'Nurturing Minds for Secure Futures,' says ignoring youth mental health isn't just hurting the kids—it's draining our healthcare system big time. Over 800,000 Canadian children could be struggling silently, and the ripple effects? Huge. We're talking health-care costs, lost parental income, and education and justice system impacts. Think about it – little Jamie's anxiety untreated today could mean more than just a few tough nights. It's affecting mom's work, dad's stress, and even Jamie's future prospects.
🚨 Long Lines, No Care?
Quebec's ERs are in shambles, folks. Overcrowding, long waits, and patients are literally dying in waiting rooms. Doctors are screaming for help, but it seems like the Health Ministry's too busy with new health-care reforms to notice. Imagine being in a crowded mall on Black Friday, but instead of shopping, you're waiting for urgent medical care – that's Quebec's ERs right now.
How would you feel if your local hospital was more jam-packed than a summer music festival?
💭Let us know what you think by writing to us at [email protected]
Tools & Tech to Keep a Tab On!
🆘 iHEAL: More Than Just Help!
Over 40% of Canadian women face intimate partner violence, but shockingly, only 20% seek formal help. Enter iHEAL, a game-changer app from Western University, UBC, and the University of New Brunswick, offering a private, bilingual lifeline for these women. It's not just a help tool; it's a journey towards empowerment and healing, customized for each woman’s needs, from safe housing to legal advice. Think of it as a friend who's got your back, anytime, anywhere.
📝 AI Writing Hospital Papers?
Fraser Health in Surrey, B.C. is pioneering a project where they're using AI to make doctors' lives easier. They're teaming up with Google Cloud and MEDITECH to use AI for writing those lengthy discharge summaries at hospitals. Imagine a doctor spending less time typing and more time with patients - that's the goal here. It's like your doctor got a super-smart assistant who drafts up all the paperwork, leaving them more time for the real deal - taking care of you. And with Fraser Health being a giant in Canadian healthcare, this move could set a new standard nationwide.
Picture this: Aunt Mary's doctor in Surrey spends less time on her discharge papers, meaning more time discussing her recovery plan.
🩻 Scan Delays? Not Anymore!
Waiting 10 weeks for an MRI? That's no joke! These long waits for scans are more than just a headache—they're a real pain for patient care and our economy. Imagine missing work, and feeling worse, while waiting for a scan. Now, there's hope with this idea of a pan-Canadian teleradiology network. Think of it as Uber for radiologists—connecting patients to doctors across provinces for faster diagnoses.
Picture this: a New Brunswicker getting their scan read by an Ontarian doc, without leaving their couch. Sounds awesome, right?
Do you think – is this the digital health leap Canada needs?
Evolving Global Health
🦠 JN.1: The Latest COVID Guest?
WHO has labelled COVID-19's JN.1 as a new 'variant of interest.' Don't stress yet, the global health risk is low, but with winter coming, it might join the respiratory infection party. Good news? Our current vaccines are still the bouncers, keeping severe illness out.
🤰40M Moms Suffering in Silence?
A new study in The Lancet Global Health just dropped a bombshell: 40 million women yearly suffer long-term health issues post-childbirth. We're talking about a whole range of troubles, from pain during... you know, intimate moments, to back pain, and even anxiety and depression. And get this – it's not just a 'right after birth' thing. These problems can stick around for months, even years. Despite being super common, they're often overlooked in healthcare and research. The study's calling for more attention, better care, and a holistic approach to maternal health. Because let's face it, being a mom is tough enough without having to deal with all these health issues solo.
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