Health Promotion at UBC

Open Letter for Mental Health

Miranda Massie — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:10:48 +0000

In honour of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s 62^nd annual Mental Health Week, I have written an open letter to anyone who has lived with, is currently living with, or who knows someone who has ever dealt with a mental health issue.

Dear moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, managers, employees, teachers, children, students, seniors, politicians, world leaders, athletes and friends,

You are my inspiration for this letter. When 1 in 5 British Columbians will experience a significant mental health problem at some point in their lives, we as a society need to take notice. We need to recognize that mental health is the foundation for our overall health and happiness and that without it we will fail to thrive. We need to change our focus to recognize and acknowledge that our mental health is no different from our physical health. Do we choose to have diabetes? Does having diabetes make us a bad person? Would we discourage someone with diabetes from seeking help? Would we be embarrassed if a friend or loved one was diagnosed with diabetes? No.

For those living with, surviving with and thriving with their own mental health every day, I am in awe of your strength and resiliency. I am inspired by the energy that it can take to wake up and exist each day. I am indebted to you for the life lessons that I have learned from being your friend, relative, sounding board and shoulder to cry on. You are the strong, underrated and often invisible and I strive every day of my life to be more like you.

I strive to be brave, because 2 out of 3 individuals with a mental health concerns will not seek help.

I strive to fight stigma, because 34% of Canadians believe that people will think less of them if they suffer from depression.

I strive to be fearless, because feeling different from others is not easy and can make it difficult to see how similar we really are.

If 80% of people with depression recover, why are these recoveries not celebrated? Why do we not get flowers to celebrate a return to work or school following a mental health issue?

If 1 in 5 British Columbians are potentially experiencing a mental health problem right now, why are we not talking about this and why are we not supporting each other to live and manage our mental health each and every day?

The sentiments in this letter are addressed to every human, because mental health issues do not discriminate based on age, gender, occupation, education or socio-economic status. Nor do they imply anything about a person’s character or capacity for intelligence.

Let’s start talking. Let’s celebrate our bravery, strength and resiliency.

This letter is my digital bouquet of flowers to everyone thriving with their mental health today.

All my best,

Miranda

*Statistics in this post are taken from UBC’s Responding with Respect program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Our new name

Miranda Massie — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:10:28 +0000

The Health Promotion Programs has undergone some recent changes and we are excited to share them with our readers and the UBC community.

Health, Wellbeing and Benefits is the new unit name that includes the group promoting and organizing healthy UBC initiatives and programs, EFAP, Disability Benefit Plan Claims support, and the Benefits team.

Workplace Health Services is the new unit name for the Return to Work/Stay at Work program, Ergonomics, WCB and the Occupational and Preventive Health Unit (formerly Workplace Health Services).

We are the same wonderful people doing the same great work within a slightly different structure.

Questions? Contact hpp.info@ubc.ca

New Corporate Discount: Moksha yoga

Miranda Massie — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:10:12 +0000

Moksha Yoga Vancouver is UBC’s latest corporate partner!

Regularly $40, UBC staff and faculty can enjoy their introductory month of unlimited classes for only $20. Just print the UBC discount coupon and bring your employee ID card!

Moksha Yoga is a green, clean, hot yoga series that stretches, strengthens and tones the muscles while detoxifying the body and calming the mind. A regualr Moksha practice gives participants the chance to explore what this means for each individual; whether it’s finding freedom from chronic pain, freedom from self judgement, or freedom from playing Angry Bird marathons.

Find out more about Moksha Yoga Vancouver.

Bike to Work Week

Miranda Massie — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:49:15 +0000

An annual event created by HUB, B2WW is a great opportunity for you to commute to and from work with other cyclists, get fit and contribute to UBC’s sustainability goals by tracking your commuting kilometers in a friendly competition with other workplaces across Metro Vancouver.

UBC’s Bike to Work Week will be held from May 27th-June 2nd 2013 and Transportation Planning is encouraging all faculty, staff and student cyclists to get on bikes, sign-up and log commutes.

Don’t miss:

UBC Cycling Skills Training

Wednesday, May 22^nd
ANGU 335: 12 – 1pm
A fun & interactive free workshop covering everything you need to know about biking to work: safety scenarios, taking bikes on transit, route planning, what to wear & more!

UBC Commuter Station

Wednesday, May 29^th
4 – 6 pm
Agronomy Road and Wesbrook Mall – Pharmaceutical Sciences Building
Free refreshments, giveaways and mechanic services by the UBC Bike Kitchen
Enter to win prizes – including an Opus bike provided by Urban Racks!

Participate in a Study

Miranda Massie — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:08:56 +0000

UBC’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Lab is conducting a study to examine the link between exercise and cancer associated cognitive dysfunction.

The main goal of the study is to determine if an aerobic-based exercise training program can improve cognitive function in breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive changes following cancer treatment.

The lab is looking for both women who have never been diagnosed with any form of cancer and women who are cancer survivors.

Participation criteria:

Women that report never being diagnosed with any form of cancer, including skin cancer.

40-65 yr-old,
report <150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous exercise
are postmenopausal

Breast cancer survivors that have undergone chemotherapy and treatment that are experiencing “chemo brain” criteria:

40-65 yr old
are within 3 years of diagnosis and completing chemotherapy treatment
report <90 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity

Click here for more detailed criteria and contact information.

Introducing: The UBC Dental Clinic

Miranda Massie — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:10:20 +0000

Did you know that UBC has a Faculty Practice Dental Clinic?

The UBC Dentistry Faculty Dental Clinic is open on UBC’s Point Grey Campus. It operates Monday to Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm offering leading-edge dental care delivered by faculty members in a state of the art clinic.

Click here for more info.

Remember to look after your oral health!

Calling all Health Gurus!

Colin Hearne — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:07:29 +0000

Are you your offices designated ‘go-to person’ for health information and initiatives? Or are you simply interested in health and wellness? If so UBC Health, Wellbeing, and Benefits would like you to become a UBC Health Contact.

The Health, Wellbeing, and Benefits team, as one of many campus stakeholders, is actively involved in the creation of a safe community that encourages staff and faculty health. Our commitment is part of the larger university goal to create an outstanding work environment.

We are currently in the process of developing a network within departments at UBC where one member of staff would voluntarily be a point of contact for us. This person would receive occasional emails, e-newsletters and information to disseminate to colleagues.

If you feel that you, or someone within your department, may be interested in being our Health Contact – or would simply like more information call 6048273047 or email colin.hearne@ubc.ca

Focus on Men’s Health

Colin Hearne — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:09:45 +0000

Cholesterol

Following on from this columns maiden voyage last month (Cardiovascular Health and Men) I was extremely eager to keep the momentum flowing on men’s health – so I chose my next topic, cholesterol, and decided to conduct a mini-study purely out of my own curiousity . I intercepted the first man I met (Alex, 26. HR Assistant. Canadian. Red-blooded) and decided to ask him a few knowledge based questions. This was an extremely convenient sample I know (he works about 2 metres from me), not at all far-reaching (n=1), and not exactly in-depth (more impromptu chat format style questions) – but it was a study nonetheless. It went something like this…..

Begin experiment: 4.16pm April 12 2013

Colin: Alex, tell me this, what do you know about cholesterol?

Alex: Hmm, I know the word but I really don’t know anything

Colin: C’mon something must spring to mind, what do you think when you hear the word

Alex: Bad?

Colin: Ok, anything else?

Alex: Not really

Colin: That’s it? Nothing else?

Alex: No, I just know it’s bad

End experiment: 4.18pm April 12 2013

Findings:

1) 100% of participants think all cholesterol is bad

2) 100% of participants know nothing else about cholesterol

So that was it, a conversation I tried to begin with the first male I met, on what the Canadian Heart and Stroke foundation deems ‘a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke‘, lasted a little under 120 seconds and had 2 major findings. It’s definitely time for Men & Cholesterol 101…

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is one of the fats in your blood. Your body uses it to make cell membranes, vitamin D and hormones such as testosterone. There are two main types of cholesterol:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is often called the bad cholesterol because high levels in the blood promote the buildup of plaque in the artery walls.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is called the good cholesterol because it helps carry LDL-cholesterol away from the artery walls.

How does LDL Cholesterol affect heart disease and stroke?

According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS ) (2012) about 40% of Canadian men have high cholesterol which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It can lead to a buildup of plaque in the artery walls, narrowing your arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis. It can also make it more difficult for blood to flow through your heart and body, putting you at increased risk of circulatory problems, heart disease and stroke.

The good news is by lowering your cholesterol; you can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke

Maintaining Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Here are 9 recommendations from the Canadian Heart and Stroke foundation:

Ask your doctor to test your cholesterol. Especially if you are male and over 40/ have heart disease, stroke, diabetes or high blood pressure/ Your waist measures more than 40 inches, or 35 inches for men of Chinese or South Asian descent/You have a family history of heart disease or stroke.
Reduce your fat intake to 20 to 35% of your daily calories.
Choose healthy fats such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, found mainly in vegetable oils, nuts and fish.
Limit your intake of saturated fat to less than 7% of your daily calories. Saturated fat is found mainly in red meat and high-fat dairy products
Avoid trans-fats often found in foods made with shortening or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, including hard margarines, fast foods and many pre-made foods. Trans-fats raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol.
Use Canada’s Food Guide to plan a healthier diet. Eat more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Click here to get started
Use lower-fat cooking methods such as baking, broiling or steaming. Avoid fried food
Be smoke-free. Smoking increases LDL (bad) cholesterol
Get physically active. Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that adults should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity a week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. Being active on a regular basis can improve good cholesterol levels

Getting Heart Healthy at UBC

UBC Health, Wellbeing, and Benefits is committed to encouraging you to be heart healthy – here are some on campus events we have planned over the coming weeks, and some other information, to boost your ticker!

Quitting smoking –Use one of your benefits, EFAP, to help you quit – click here
Be Food Smart – Learn about the hidden ingredients in your food on May 9th
Learn about CrossFit on May 7th
Sign up for ‘UBC’s Bike to Work Week‘ from May 30th – June 5. Click here for more information
Get more physically active with our Stretching for Health workshop on May 16th, Moving Minds on May 16th, Zumba on May 28th or why not join UBC’s twice weekly Walking Group?
Be your departments Health Guru by being a Health Information Contact for Health Promotion Programs here
Read about latest research on heart health conducted at UBC here
Check out all the Health Smart Coaching Services available through your EFAP provider Homewood Human Solution here
Join one of UBC’s many on-campus gyms/fitness facilities – many with staff discounts – here

For more information visit the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation by clicking here or contact me @ colin.hearne@ubc.ca or 604-827-3047 for information on how your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) can help.

Free Healthy UBC Events for May

Colin Hearne — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:24:03 +0000

Food Labels-Reading between the lines: Join food literacy expert Francesca Gesualdi from Vancouver’s own extremely popular, family run social enterprise -Foodwisdom - and let her guide you through a one hour workshop on what exactly to look for, and what to avoid in food labels. This workshop on Thursday May 9th is a must for all interested in hidden dangers. Click here to register

CrossFit – An Introduction: CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program that can be applied to pretty much everyone - if you’re interested in moving your body, it can probably help you. Come along on Tuesday May 7th as ‘CrossFit West10‘ introduce this fantastic new way of achieving physical fitness and offer concessions and discounts exclusive to UBC staff and faculty. Click here to register

Become an Ergo Rep: Would you like to learn how to promote, educate and ensure musculo-skeletal health in your department? The Ergonomics program at UBC strives to have an Office Ergonomics Representative for each department and so Health Promotion Programs is providing FREE training on Thurs May 16, 2013 from 1-4pm. Click here for more information

Stretch to Survive: An Active Workshop : Unlock that inner athlete with certified Senior Personal Trainer at the UBC BodyWorks Fitness Centre Rachel Wong on Thursday May 16th . Learn to incorporate flexibility training and the key stretches that are necessary to prevent injuries by incorporating these quick and easy stretches into your daily routine. Click here to register

Health Sleep Habits: Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. Our thoughts are clearer, our reactions faster and our emotions less fragile. Come along on Wednesday May 22nd to pick up a few tips and let sleep expert Mary Roncarelli get you back on track. Click here to register

Zumba: Join professional dance artist, instructor and choreographer Kirby Rae-Snell for this one-of-a-kind dance/fitness program on Tuesday May 28th. Achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in an exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate. Click here to register

Power Walking: Take a time out for your mental and physical health. Join your campus colleagues for a lunch hour walk on Mondays or Fridays. All abilities welcome. Mondays at 12.30pm and Fridays at 12.10pm outside the General Services Administration Building (GSAB). For more information call 604-827-3047, email efap.info@ubc.ca or click here

Be Kind for your Health

Miranda Massie — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:12:35 +0000

Over the past month, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the ways in which we can create a healthier and more connected UBC community. For those of you familiar with the size and labyrinth-like qualities of this university, you can understand that this is a complicated task.

I sat down to read the paper on my lunch break one day and found inspiration in a Vancouver Sun article written by Joe Kelly, a Professor at Capilano University, on the beneficial effects of kindness. Whether you call it altruism, doing a good deed or paying it forward, it turns out that performing acts of kindness can have a positive effect on our health. Not only do these acts help to increase happiness levels but they can also improve heart function, reduce inflammation, strengthen social ties and protect against mental illness.

Acts of kindness make us happier: Known as the “Helper’s High”, kindness elevates levels of dopamine in the brain leading to feelings of exhilaration and increased energy.

Acts of kindness help our hearts: Our bodies produce the hormone oxytocin in response to the increased emotional warmth that comes from acting kind towards others. Oxytocin works to reduce blood pressure and inflammation within the body to protect our hearts from cardio-vascular disease.

Acts of kindness allow us to Thrive: From an evolutionary perspective, we have been hard-wired to survive and thrive as a result of cooperation. Stronger emotional and community ties led our ancestors to greater chances of survival. Today, social connectedness and community support are protective factors against depression and loneliness.

Kindness is free. It does not require a membership, registration or enrolment fee. Kindness can be done at home, on the bus or at the office. It is contagious and its effects are limitless. Hold the door open for a colleague, smile at a stranger or thank a campus security officer. For more ideas visit the Radom Acts of Kindness Foundation website.

As we move into spring, let’s grow our campus connections and use our acts of kindness to not only to reap personal health benefits but to strengthen our supportive networks and the health of the campus at large.

Have a happy April!

Miranda

References:

Hamilton, David R. (2010). Why Kindness Is Good for You. Hay House.

Ilardi, Stephen. (2009, July). Social Isolation: A Modern Plague. Psychology Today: The Depression Cure.

Keltner, Dacher. (2009) Born to Be Good. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Perform random acts of kindness and you might be hit by a boomerang. (2013, March 1). The Vancouver Sun.