CNA TODAY’s Post

Happy Mental Health Week! This year, the Canadian Mental Health Association designated the theme #CompassionConnects. As veterinary professionals, we're all about fostering compassion not only for the animals in our care but also for each other. Recent research underscores just how powerful compassion can be for our wellbeing. It turns out, giving compassion can be just as rewarding as receiving it. When we extend kindness, our brains release oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, giving us a natural mood boost. But the benefits don't stop there. Compassion has a ripple effect, triggering a cascade of kindness. When others witness acts of compassion, they're more likely to show compassion too. It's contagious! Moreover, showing compassion isn't just good for others; it's a catalyst for optimism within ourselves. By actively giving compassion, we can shift our perspective, cultivating a more positive outlook on the world around us. And here's a fascinating tidbit: research suggests that giving to others can bring us more happiness than spending money on ourselves. Whether it's donating to charities, volunteering our time, or simply offering a helping hand, the emotional payback is immense. So, let's continue to spread compassion like wildfire. Together, we can create a culture of kindness where everyone's mental health thrives. #MentalHealthMatters #VeterinaryMedicine #MentalHealthWeek #VeterinaryWellness #MentalHealth #VeterinaryWellbeing #RevivingVetMed #Compassion #SelfCompassion #CompassionFatigue #WellnessWednesday #WellbeingWednesday

To my incredible colleagues in the humanitarian field, 🏃♀️➡️🏃 In these challenging times, I want to take a moment to acknowledge your tireless dedication. Whether you're a psychologist, social worker, or NGO worker, your efforts to support those in need —through donations, assistance, advocacy, and reporting— are nothing short of remarkable.💎🤝💎 ‼️ But amidst all of this, I want to remind you of something crucial: YOU ARE ALSO LIVING THROUGH THIS CRISIS.🫂🫶 Please, do not forget to take care of yourselves. Allow yourself moments to pause, step back, and recharge. 🧘♀️🧘♂️ Whether it’s something small like enjoying a mindful meal 🍟🍔, taking a quiet shower 🛀, or something bigger like watching a movie 🎞 or spending time with loved ones👨👩👧👦, these moments matter. ‼️ It’s not selfish or wrong to carve out time where you’re not helping others. In fact, it’s essential. 🌸🌻 We can only give our best when we ourselves are cared for. So, take breaks, breathe deeply, and give yourself permission to enjoy life’s simple joys. We are in this together, and in caring for ourselves, we ensure we can continue to care for others. ❤️🩹🕊 With deep gratitude and respect for all that you do. Stay safe mentally 💙🤍 #HumanitarianHeroes #MentalHealthMatters #SelfCareIsEssential #CaringForCaregivers #StrongerTogether #ResilienceInAction #WellbeingAtWork #SupportTheSupporters #HelpWithoutBurnout #BalanceAndCompassion #WeAreInThisTogether #TakingCareOfYou #HumanityFirst #CompassionInCrisis #LebanonStrong

Not ST James’ Place, though the charity James’ Place deserves a saintly name. It provides an emergency service, outside the NHS, for men who have reached the point of thinking of taking their own lives. It offers a gentle alternative to turning up at the local A&E, which those in that state of mind may be reluctant to do (though kindness is on offer from the NHS too). Remember the name - James’ Place - and use it if anyone you know (including yourself) is in a desperate state of mind. Hang on to hope, even if that hope feels no more than 1%: it will grow. #jamesplace #wellbeing #mentalhealth

Donate now - https://lnkd.in/gT4xaYED I'm gonna be real honest here...Two years ago, I could barely do a push up let alone walk up the stairs without being out of breath. AND I've just completed the second week of the push up challenge supporting and raising awareness for mental health. For the push up challenge - Participants complete 3,249 push-ups in 24 days, from 5-28 June. This number represents the number of lives lost to suicide in 2022. I'm just over half way and I can tell you I AM SORE and I have been doing a mix of push ups, squats and sit ups so I don't cause any injuries. I need your help to raise awareness and funds to #pushforbetter mental health services. Help make a difference by donating to my fundraising page for The Push For Better. https://lnkd.in/gT4xaYED Here are some important stat's you should know. 🌊 Getting in the ocean at least once a week improves mental well-being. 🏳️🌈 11% of LGBTQIA+ young people aged 16 and 17 reported attempts of suicide in 2019. 🌳 Experts recommend spending at least 120mins a week in nature for good health and well-being. 🐕 74% of Pet Owners report mental health improvements thanks to owning a pet. 💻 Aussies are 1.29 times more likely than the global average to burn out at work. 💊 18% of Aussies filled a mental health related script at least once last year. 👩⚕️ 17.4% of Aussies saw a professional for their mental health at least once last year. Let's remove the stigma on mental health and #pushforbetter mental health services in Australia. 🐕 Picture of Beyonce for attention 🐕

I haven't typically shared personal news here, but my mother passed away a month ago after a difficult journey with Alzheimer's. I wanted to share a few reflections, and also highlight a great effort led by Paurvi B. to address the need for more investment in WOC-led care organizations and culturally adapted services and workforces in the care economy.   - Home care is complicated and difficult to navigate. I am so grateful for my father, my mom’s primary caregiver, and everyone who helped us keep my mom at home as her dementia advanced. - Care services are underpaid, understaffed and underappreciated. It was very difficult to find part-time caregiving support – every company that would even talk to us told us how hard it was to find people to employ and keep employees. We need to pay care professionals more. Increase reimbursement rates. - Culturally specific/adapted care services are difficult to find. We had some concerns about whether or not the various home care providers would be kind and respectful to my Asian parents, especially since my mom had lost her grasp of English. We feel extremely lucky to have had a compassionate and kind home care team. - Paid bereavement time for most employers is insufficient. It took us 3+ days just to make all the arrangements and plans, and that leaves no time for the actual bereavement and grief part. For many cultures, death rituals and traditions extend beyond 2 days. We had 2 lengthy and significant services for my mother before her official funeral, and we are still currently observing cultural and religious traditions as part of the mourning process. - It can be difficult to find culturally specific/adapted end-of-life services and resources. For some of us 1st, 2nd and beyond-generation kids of immigrants, it can be difficult to find resources or support to help plan culturally appropriate, religious, and/or language-specific funeral arrangements. My father had to take on the coordination with his temple for the different services we needed to have. Unfortunately, given language barriers and lack of knowledge, us "kids" couldn’t help much.   This brings me to the asks: - Consider supporting efforts like the CareWorks Fund to increase investment in WOC-led care organizations and culturally adapted services and workforces in the care economy. All contributions of any size are welcome! https://lnkd.in/gGGXVEew - Share any great WOC-led or culturally specific care organizations you know about – please message or comment. - Help bring visibility to care-related issues that impact you. Many folks who work are also caregivers but may be quiet about those responsibilities. We need to shift culture so that all employees have the support and flexibility they need for their lives, caregiving, and work. I am so grateful for the kindness so many have shown me throughout this journey. If I can ever be helpful, please reach out.

You will be aware that the Hub at Antwerp is heavily engaged in its own projects. One involves the feeding of children who are unfortunate to go without a hot meal each day. Alex Ceustermans is taking this forward. Lester Staepels is engaging with another project of equal importance. This involves Children Central, which is a multidisciplinary centre for children up to the age of 18. It has 20 employees including therapists, coaches, grief counsellors and psychologists. It is designed to help families, and accommodate those who lack financial resources. Financial help is still required to give these children the right guidance and support, which will alter their lives for the better. The Antwerp Hub is full of people like Alex, John and Lester who have a mission to improve the lives of others. This is badly needed when you consider how many people in Europe alone that require help and assistance. In Britain, for example, some 14 million people are either on or below the poverty line. Every four minutes someone somewhere becomes homeless. Millions cannot get to see a dentist, leading to high hospital admissions to remove rotten teeth, especially for children. Some three million are forced to use food banks. These are shocking statistics aggravated by poor administration, and rank disregard for those in need from those who should know better. Antwerp then is a shining example to us all of what can be done, and what should be done locally and nationally wherever you are. Lagos, Benin and Singapore too are to be commended for their initiatives. Please support John, Lester and Alex in what they are doing especially for putting in such enormous amounts of time and effort. For that is what NOKS is all about. Time, effort, plus a commitment to a higher cause. Please note that the Investiture for Antwerp will be on the 19th of June, and only invited members can attend given the arrangements that have been already made. With regard to new member applications, we will shortly be putting in place a new distinct email address to make this easier to access. Please continue to use the Secretariat email address until this is formally announced. We will also be setting up a subscriptions email to ensure that it is evident when people have paid to avoid any possible confusion. This is all part of an expanding re-organisation into a fully professional body. NOKS is all about Service Above Self as the Rotarians rightly say. What is happening now in northern Europe, Africa and Singapore is a clear sign of this commitment to the benefit of others. All it takes is one small light to illuminate the darkness, to paraphrase a quote by Miep Gies as mentioned. An examination of what she did is an example of what an ordinary person can do in difficult and desperate circumstances. All it takes is one person to make a difference. Build on that example wherever you are. Michael Saunders GIKC Chancellor and Secretary secretariat@nobleorderofkingsolomon.org

Day 1️⃣8️⃣ of The Push-Up Challenge and there’s nothing like leaving them till the last minute. Simone was gearing up to settle in for a movie, but not before I bang out 200 quick ones. Thanks to Darryl Reed and Chris for donating yesterday. We’ve now helped raise $1000 for Lifeline Northern Beaches Yewww!! Today’s numbers - 200 for the 20% decrease in mortality associated with the health and wellness benefits of volunteering. In one study, people who volunteer were shown to have increased activity in the parasympathetic nervous system (aka our body’s natural ’calm’ response). Volunteers also showed less inflammation markers, suggesting that lending a hand plays a role in boosting our immunity. Science reveals that helping others is good for our mental health, too. In fact, helping those around you can actually make you happier. Scientists call this phenomenon the ‘Helper’s High’ 😊 – because it has been found that giving to others in a selfless act of service induces positive emotions in the giver. If you’re able to support the cause, please do. Otherwise you know the drill - give this push up content a much needed boost with a like and a share. https://lnkd.in/gcVQwgAZ #pushforbetter #mentalhealth #healthandfitness #headspace #calisthenics #bodyweightworkout #lifeline #pushups #chestdayeveryday

I’ve been a bit quiet these past few months because of some big changes in my life (amongst other things, I’ve moved countries again and am still settling in). But now I feel I’ve got the headspace again to take up some of the things I’ve been putting on the back burner. So just in time for this year’s World Mental Health Day, I’m going to restart my Monday Morning Mindfuless sessions again. If you know me, you'll how important mindfulness, mental health, and self-compassion are to me. I think a lot of us (myself included) could do with being a bit more compassionate and patient with ourselves, and get better at looking after our mental health and wellbeing. So from 14 of October, let’s meet for a short session on Monday mornings to check in with ourselves and each other. The sessions won’t be recorded so we can share in a safe, non-judgmental space. Start your Mondays with half an hour of self-care to set the tone for the week! 😊. To join, drop me a line so I can send you the Zoom link.   #mentalhealthawareness #BettinaRoehricht #supporteachother #mindfulness   🪴 What: Mindfulness and sharing sessions (20 to 30 minutes) 🪴 When: Monday mornings, 8.00 am Central European Time - CORRECTION!!! 🪴 Where: on Zoom 🪴 For whom: Anyone who wants to support their wellbeing 🪴 How much: These sessions are free of charge. Donations welcome. I’ll give 100% of all donations to an animal welfare, environmental or conservation charity.

Working with charity leaders, I've seen the tough mental challenges they deal with. They often feel alone and helpless without any support. In this article I have discussed the real issues charity leaders face day-to-day. Things like burnout, financial struggles, and too much responsibility. But I also talk about how getting help can make a big difference. It's an honest look at what these hardworking people go through, and why taking care of their mental health is so important for keeping up their good work. https://wix.to/ZG5XBtG #newblogpost