Rory van der Merwe’s Post

Congrats to Teresa Rangel, Gary Weisbrich, Sarah Sumner, Adam G., Robert Leavitt, MDiv, MAT, BCC with your new Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy publication: Factors associated with health personnel–chaplain interactions in the hospital setting: a cross-sectional survey study. https://lnkd.in/gn56XRNK From the abstract, “Health personnel may seek #chaplain support to discuss stressors related to complex patient cases, difficult team dynamics, and personal issues. In this survey study of 1376 healthcare interprofessional clinicians, participants reported interacting with chaplains most frequently over patient-related stressors in the prior 12 months. Factors associated with chaplain interactions to discuss all three stressors included: reporting chaplains provide #spiritual support to health personnel, more years of service, seeking professional help to deal with stressors, and higher levels of secondary traumatic stress.”

What is compassion? A concept that I thought about recently but had a hard time defining. Compassion means "suffering with” and is defined as: "a deep awareness of suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it." Read below to learn more about compassion. ♻️ Repost to help others. ➡️ We are building something great, subscribe to Healthcare Humanized (https://lnkd.in/gU9YUMyb) and Echoes in Healthcare (https://lnkd.in/gyinPPXZ) 👍 Like | 💬 Comment | ↗️ Share

The science is clear: Early adversity dramatically affects health across a lifetime.The groundbreaking ACE Study by Dr. Felitti and Dr. Anda illuminates how early adversities reverberate through our lives, shaping our well-being in ways we might not anticipate. Embracing this understanding with empathy and insight compels us to integrate it into every facet of healthcare, fostering a paradigm shift towards holistic, patient-centered approaches.

May is mental health awareness month. I feel that it is very important to get this message out to everyone. Thank you Kristy Hunter for sharing this with us today! People pleasing is often seen as an insecurity & is considered a problem within our culture. Watching this video truly opened my eyes. I imagined my higher self as a healer while listening to him. I have tried to focus on putting myself first, but it seems I struggle with that. This video taught me that my love for humanity and the world is a true gift that I should cherish and never lose. 🫶🏼🙌🏼👏🏼 He mentions in the video, “we need advocates & agents for change, to transform.” One of the steps towards change is learning how we can feel comfortable talking through our emotions. When physicians feel burnt out, they should be able to confidently express how they’re feeling. Leaders should recognize what the physician is experiencing and recommend taking a moment for themselves. All of us, together, can be those advocates for change! We all need to know that it is OK to talk about our emotions without feeling as if others are belittling our character. Kristy mentioned that this video is from 2017… I hope and pray that physician suicide percentages have dropped these past seven years. All of that being said, I am currently reading a book called “Reasons To Stay Alive” by Matt Haig. It is a really comforting read for those with mental health illnesses or have known someone with a mental illness. It is possible that this book could even save lives. Here is a link to purchase the book. The paperback version is less than $10. https://lnkd.in/euKGQmEN Stay blessed & Joyful my beautiful friends. 🌸

Optimizing Your Health 101: Cold Therapy

I had a brilliant day yesterday meeting members of ukactive. With rising levels of obesity, mental illness, and chronic disease, there is an opportunity (and urgent need) for the health and active sectors to work together. It was encouraging to see leaders in the active sector, with ideas and enthusiasm for working with the health sector, offering their resources and expertise to improve people's health. There is real potential here. With an incoming new government, there is an opportunity to rethink what preventive and holistic care looks like. To develop new community-based care models. With a national policy focus and effective local collaboration, we can achieve more active, healthier, and happier communities.

Over the last number of years, I have become aware that my health was struggling. I experienced muscular pain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and bouts of feeling blue. In addition to nursing, I am a long-time meditator and energy health practitioner. Despite all my resources, I came up empty in making a dent in helping myself feel better. Two years ago, these symptoms were escalating. I felt anti-social and without any energy to participate in activities outside of work. I knew something had to change, but I felt hopeless to understand what or how. I know that I am not alone, and I think it is important that we share our stories. I am excited to be hosting a powerful conversation for care professionals called Running in Circles: The # 1 Reason Why Health Care Professionals Struggle with Self-Care. Wednesday, May 22nd, from 6:30 -8:30pm at Roots and Wings in Natick, MA This workshop is devoted to your relationship with self-care. We'll honestly look at your current relationship with self-care—where you are, what you want, and what's keeping you stuck. There are two slots left. If you are interested, please message me for more information.  

Every year in November, the world celebrates Family Health History which reminds us of the importance of understanding our genetic background. Your family's health history can provide vital insights into potential risks, hereditary conditions, and preventive measures. Here are some steps to make the most of this month: 1. Talk to your relatives: Ask questions about any known health conditions or diseases in your family. 2.Create a family health tree: Document this information to visualize patterns and share it with your healthcare provider. 3.Discuss your family history with your doctor: They can help tailor your healthcare plan based on your genetic predispositions. Know your family's health history this month to make informed decisions about your well-being. Knowledge is key, and at HomeMed, we're here to help you turn that knowledge into a personalized health plan.

Saluting the dedication of healthcare professionals like Dr. Ashok Kumar on Doctors' Day! His words remind the doctors of the importance of caring for our mental and physical health. Let's honor their commitment to our well-being. #MartinDowGroup #CreatingDistinctionForLife #MartinDowLimited #DoctorsDay

I recently listened to a CBC radio show that was under 30 minutes long, featuring two psychiatrists from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. They discussed the well-known impacts of trauma and neglect on overall health in adulthood—not just mental health. What shocked me was learning that approximately 1 in 4 Canadians (around 9 million people) have been severely affected by childhood trauma. These doctors are calling for a ‘general care revolution’ to address the root causes of major societal issues. I fully agree, but it raises questions: How do we achieve this? How can we better support parents in their journey? While poverty is a significant factor, neglect also plays a crucial role, impacting people across all economic levels. Is this “just” a matter of budget allocation? Should we make significant investments in education, treatment, and rehabilitation to break the cycle for as many people as possible? Would this be a form of collective healing? Is there anything more important than that? What would a revolution in this area look like?