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Counselling for COVID fatigue necessary, says Premier Doug Ford

The endless lockdown measures are having an immense negative effect on the mental health of the citizens of Canada. And Premier Doug Ford is taking notice of it.

During one of his press conferences, Ford expressed his concern for the mental wellbeing of his constituents. The press conference was about giving an update about the state of the province’s health crisis to the residents.

However, the psychological impact of the grey-level lockdown was also a matter of discussion. The Premier adds that a lot of counselling is necessary for the people who are undergoing lockdown fatigue due to the pandemic.

Ford said this as a response to a reporter. The reporter mentions the case of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Apparently, the federation has started training staff to counsel business owners and entrepreneurs who lost their business during the pandemic. The loss of business for small business owners means the potential loss of entire livelihood.

The reason behind the COVID fatigue

According to Ford, the main reason why many people experience COVID fatigue is bankruptcy. Many small business owners put everything into the enterprise, but the pandemic lockdown shut it down. This means that many entrepreneurs now face the challenge of meeting their basic needs, including food and paying the rent.

As a direct result, there is a drastic effect on mental health. Although measuring the health effects is not easy, Ford also suggests measuring every aspect of the health of the population.

Effects of the COVID fatigue

Due to the fatigue of the pandemic lockdown, the following negative effects are taking place.

  • A rise in the statistics of domestic disputes
  • Increase in the case of addictions
  • Increase in the rate of suicides all over the provinces

What else is on the horizon?

Premier Ford also took time to talk about the Covid-19 vaccine, which will be available within a few months. Getting COVID-19 vaccines to as many people as possible is important for the overall wellbeing. In addition, the vaccination drive will also have a positive effect on the economy and restore the normalcy that has been missed for a long time. The much-awaited normalcy is expected to bring a sigh of relief, especially in areas that have been designated under the red-level lockdown zone.

However, the Premier also does not rule out the possibility of extending restrictions in the virus hotspots. The virus hotspots in Canada include Toronto.

Help.org Substance Abuse And Addiction Resources 1

Help.org Substance Abuse And Addiction Resources

We know that right now people are more isolated than normal, which adds another layer of complexity for those struggling with addiction. Social frameworks that usually exist to provide a supportive presence or accountability are crippled. Meanwhile, COVID-19 related life changes and stresses are compounding, likely leading to or furthering substance abuse and addiction.

In order to provide support during these challenging times, we put together a series of guides that provide comprehensive information on the various faces of addiction and how to get help. It is written for both individuals who are struggling with addiction at any phase, as well as concerned friends or family members that are looking for information to educate themselves or to share.

You can learn more about some of our guide here:

62 years of marriage and their take on marriage counselling

Couple Married for 62 Years and Their Take on Marriage Counselling

Whenever a married couple seeks the help of a counsellor, it gets people talking. Neighbors, friends, and anyone who knows the couple start assuming that the marriage is falling apart. Some people go so far as to assume extramarital affairs and many other problems. 

But this is not always the case. Take the example of Ralph and Bev Milton. The couple has been married for a grand 62 years. And they have not been shy about seeking the help of marriage counsellors to make the marriage successful. In fact, the couple has been through four seasons of professional counselling in the course of their marriage. 

Ralph was a co-owner of a publishing house that deals with liberal Christian books. On the other hand, his wife Bev served as a United Church minister. 

The couple does not think that seeking professional help in their marriage is easy. The beginning is always the hardest. They also understand that it can be difficult to confess certain things to your partner. 

But they know that the benefits of the counselling are better than the risk of not looking for professional help. The retired couple also believes that there are other important components for a successful marriage.

What are the ingredients for a successful marriage?

According to the Miltons, there are a number of factors that make a marriage successful. These include:

  • Professional marriage counselling – It is one of the most important components of a successful marriage. The Miltons believe that irrespective of the time you spend together as a couple, changes occur in life. It can be personal interests, and children growing up, among others. 

 

All of these changes can affect everyone differently. So professional counselling offers a couple the chance to examine their relationship, evaluate their strengths, and find ways to enrich their relationship even further. 

 

  • Having common interests – Another very essential component of a successful marriage is having common interests. It can be as mundane as cooking, hiking, or enjoying each other’s company. This allows couples to bond more and have a deeper connection with each other.

 

  • A network of friends – The Miltons do not underestimate the value of having meaningful friends in their network. The bigger the network is, the better. 

 

Having a solid network of friends will broaden your relationships. These friends also become indispensable when you face some problems as a couple or as an individual. 

 

  • Cultivate individual interests – Another very important ingredient of a successful marriage is to cultivate individual interests. While it is crucial to spend meaningful time as a couple, it is also essential to spend time away from each other. 

 

This way, you are not always invading each other’s space and getting on each other’s nerves. Spending time away from each other also makes you value the time you spend in each other’s company. 

Final thoughts

Seeking professional counseling can feel similar to starting the marriage all over again. But it shows your commitment to each other. It also reflects how much you are willing to work to make the marriage successful.

Workshop on Community Safety in Kenora 2

Workshop on Community Safety in Kenora

On October 18, 2019, a good number of community stakeholders attended a workshop under the banner “Community Safety and Well-Being.” Ever since the legislation of Ontario made it compulsory for municipalities to develop community safety plans, Kenora has been on the forefront by making a lot of changes in the community.

This was noted by the MD of Canadian Municipal Network on Crime Prevention, Felix Munger, who also facilitated the workshop. Kenora’s Community Safety and Well Being Plan was introduced in 2015, way before the mandatory law was introduced.

What topics are discussed in these workshops?

Kenora’s community members are proactively trying to identify the root causes of crimes in the community. In these types of workshop and forum, a wide range of problems and social issues are discussed at length. In this particular workshop, community members focused on these issues:

  • Mental health and addiction – Mr. Munger comments that up to 80% of calls made to the police are related to social disorder. The calls that are crime-related almost always are a result of addiction and/or mental health issues.
  • Youth – Sheri Norlen from the Creighton Youth Centre in Kenora emphasizes the need to connect with young offenders on a personal level. Ignoring their individual needs has a direct link to criminal behaviour. She suggested different measures, which includes child counselling, connecting with family, anger management classes. Through these programs, she hopes to get to the bottom of their criminal behaviours.
  • Housing and poverty
  • Human trafficking/sexual exploitation
  • Violence/victimization

Why does traditional criminal justice not work for young people?

According to data, the traditional criminal justice system is not effective for the young folks. It is because the traditional system primarily involves punishment of some sort and trying to correct the criminal behaviour.

It does not attempt to get to the bottom and isolate the reason behind the criminal activity. Ms. Norlen, who is a manager of services that works with young offenders in the age group of 12 to 18, says that understanding the needs of these erring youngsters as people is the best way to correct the behaviour.

She is of the opinion that most criminal activity has roots that can be traced to family problems as well as poverty. Along with her, the entire community of Kenora hopes to keep their youth in a stable environment through prevention programs as well as workshops. These can be a solace for young offenders to stay sober, regroup and make changes in their lives.

a new life post divorce

Pursuing a New Life Post Divorce

Dealing with Divorce

We know the impact of a divorce and the struggles of starting a new life after a painful separation. The fear of financial instability, caring for the children in separate homes and dealing with single parenting are all relevant issues that many people seeking a divorce from their partners have to consider.

 Starting Fresh

The first step to establishing your self-esteem on your own is to get a clean break from the mess of the divorce by consulting a divorce lawyer who is familiar with family law. That way, you can be independent of your decisions and not share accountability for the success of your plans with your divorced partner.

You can consult a divorce lawyer or a family lawyer and start a new life, explore your abilities and creativity and have a successful career on your own even after divorce!

Setting a Clear Track

Many clients commit the mistake of jumping into a career out of desperation without considering the impact it will have on their family and the time it takes to commit to establish a stable job.

Consulting a family lawyer helps you determine the right path in choosing what is best for you, your family and your spouse with dignity and empathy without going against the law.

Choosing the Right Career

It can be challenging to support a family and have a stable career single-handedly at the same time. Starting a new life after a divorce requires you to invest your time in creating a new home and spare time to self-care as well.

So for starters, choosing a career that allows you work at your pace and channelling your energy into a positive routine where you can meet new people, explore new ideas and gain new perspective is an excellent place to start.

To find the right lawyer to support your future career decisions, you can discuss with a family lawyer at Fight Traffic Tickets.

If you are not sure of your potentials and where to begin, look for something online such as joining a hairdressing school in your locality where you can develop skills and learn online at your own pace.