Interior Crisis Line Network record number of calls and 450,000 minutes of support
In 2020, Crisis Line Responders across the Interior Region provided close to 450,000 minutes of empowering support, skilled assessment and crisis de-escalation. A record since the service began in 2012. “Crisis Line Awareness week is a time to recognize the impact of this service and the important commitment of our staff and...
Column: Food and how we grow it: effects on our planet's health
By David Suzuki We all have to eat. But the ways in which we grow, harvest, process, transport, prepare and consume food are profoundly affecting everything on the planet, from climate to biodiversity to water. A comprehensive new study finds food systems are responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions....
Trail, Rossland residents 'Walk Your Own Way' in support of people affected by dementia
To mark Brain Awareness Week, a global campaign is encouraging Trail and Rossland residents to consider their brain health. While the causes of and cure for dementia are still being researched, we know there are things we can do to reduce our risk of developing the disease. This includes being physically active. People who ...
BC sees less than 500 new cases overnight, 31 in IHA
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia: “Today, we are reporting 498 new cases, for a total of 89,427 cases in British Columbia. “There are 4,851 active cases of COVID-19...
LIVING HERE FEATURE: Check up on local medical professionals one year into pandemic
Dr. Kyle Merritt is what you call a busy person. He works part-time in the emergency department at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, British Columbia, where he happens to be the current department head. Kyle also has a group practice. That means looking after patients in the clinic and hospital and long-term care settings. ...
Interior Health opens COVID-19 vaccine bookings Monday
Interior Health will open up its call centre on Monday for seniors to book COVID-19 vaccine appointments. On Monday, seniors aged 90 and over, and Indigenous peoples aged 65 and over, can begin booking appointments by calling 1-877-740-7747. The call centre is open seven days per week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Immunization...
Myths About the Overdose Crisis in B.C.
More and more, the conversation about substance use is changing. For example, people are becoming more aware of using words and language that reduce stigma. However, common myths still exist, including some about the overdose crisis – an ongoing public health emergency in B.C. Inaccurate information or beliefs about substance...
Let’s talk about sex: A look at sex and sexual health services in the time of COVID-19, according to BCCDC
A survey led by the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Clinical Prevention Services highlights challenges in accessing sexual health services during the pandemic and the potential for virtual care. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact us both personally and professionally, altering the way we work, live and play. Everything...
542 new cases overnight in BC, 43 in IHA
Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia: “Today, we are reporting 542 new cases, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 81,909 cases in British Columbia. “There are...
BC records deadliest January yet as opioid crisis continues
Following a record-setting year in 2020, the BC Coroners Service reports 165 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths in January 2021, the largest ever number of lives lost due to illicit drugs in the first month of a calendar year. “These figures are heartbreaking, both in scale and for the number of families who are grieving...
