Bay Psychology

Happy Friday Folks! Another lovely reminder from the very talented A Peace of Werk

A friendly reminder.

SELF- CARE SUNDAY! Did you know there are many ways to take care of yourself? Below we describe ways to take care of yourself when you are feeling emotionally drained, agitated, bored, sad, stuck , scattered, or when your work follows you home...... These are challenging times so please try to take care of yourself. You like everyone else, deserve it! Designed by Emma Kehoe for Bay Psychology. #selfcaresunday #mentalwellness #mentalhealthmatters #covidkindness #baypsychology #northbay #psychology #youmatter

~Our Veterans~ As mental health providers, we know that not all wounds can be seen. It can be difficult for us to imagine what they have gone through. For many veterans, Remembrance Day can be extremely difficult. They might be reminded of friends that were lost, of battles that took a harsh toll, and scars both physical and mental. Approximately one-fifth of soldiers and veterans suffer from major mental health conditions that stem directly from their service, such as PTSD, ...depression, and suicidal thoughts. This is yet another sacrifice our veterans have made for us. There are incredible stresses put on soldiers, both in and out of war. In return for their service, they deserve the care of mental health professionals who can address their problems and help them heal. ~Gratitude for Peace~ This Remembrance Day, allow yourself to feel gratitude for the peace and quality of life that we enjoy in Canada today. This is a time to appreciate those who have fought for us and remember the bravery and sacrifice that our freedom has cost. As we approach this Remembrance Day, let’s also remember that just because the war is over for veterans, their battle often continues. As a country, we must do whatever we can to help those veterans in need and provide the mental health support that will allow them to move on from their war and forward with their lives. It’s the absolute least they deserve. Lest we forget.

Please welcome Emma Kehoe to the Bay Psychology team as our Social Media Student Ambassador! Emma is completing a bachelor's degree in Psychology and minoring in Gender Studies at Wilfred Laurier University. She is incredibly passionate about psychology and the role each of us plays in helping others. Outside of school and her work as a research assistant in a psychology lab, Emma enjoys volunteering at her local women's shelter, yoga, and spending time in nature. Welcome, Emma we are so excited to see the content you develop. Learn more about Bay Psychology's team and the services we offer @ www.baypsychology.ca

Happy Friday! Thank you @peaceofwerk for the beautiful inspiration #mentalhealth #baypsychology #inspiration #mentalhealthmatters #selfcompassion #bethechange #kindness #psychologyworks

Please take our #SURVEY4CHANGE To help understand perinatal mental health care in Canada https://bit.ly/perinatalhcp The survey takes 10 minutes to complete and you can remain anonymous

It makes sense if you are feeling sad , anxious , irritable or all three, these are exceptional times! Most of us have a harsh inner critic that places judgement on our feelings resulting in kicking ourselves when we are already down. Try reframing irritability as a symptom of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed similar to a fever indicating that you are physically unwell and needing rest. Both are signals to redirect current behaviour. You do not judge yourself when you have a fever ,try not to when you are irritable too. If you can, try to meet your feelings with acceptance and counter with kindness and compassion. Try to be a bit more gentle. You deserve to be easier on yourself. You really deserve it

Happy World Mental Health Day! People often ask me what I do for my own wellness as a practicing clinical psychologist so here are the top five things that I have found to be helpful. I hope this inspires you to think about what you can do to cultivate wellness in your own life Top Five Things I Practice for Wellness:... 1. Prioritize sleep and practice sleep hygiene especially as a parent of two young children Learn more about sleep hygiene (https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/sleep-hygiene) 2. Engage regularly in body based movements such as hiking in nature , yoga, walking, exercise and of course dancing! Research has shown that physical activity assists with reducing stress, anxiety, insomnia and improving mood (https://adaa.org//managing-anx/exercise-stress-and-anxiety) 3. Eat balanced healthy meals . I follow intuitive eating practices which honours hunger, rejects diet culture, practices body respect and 7 other principles you can look up here ( https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive/) 4. Create a social support network of friends and family that I can lean on when times are tough. Human beings are wired for connection and we thrive when we feel a sense of belonging and purpose in our life. 5. Engage in therapy to ensure that I am practicing what I preach, living intentionally, and recognition when my life is not well balanced See more

This is Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW). 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental illness, including anxiety and depression. For Métis in Ontario, today’s rates... are even higher. Despite its prevalence, conversations on mental health are often surrounded by stigma, silence and shame. The MNO offers a wide range of mental health and addictions services and supports for Métis youth and adults. Delivered in person where possible, or over videoconference and telephone, we provide Métis people with seamless and timely access to comprehensive assessment, treatment and follow-up from a variety of mental health and addictions professionals, some of which are Métis and bilingual. Help is always available: If you are in crisis call the 24-hour Crisis Line (1-877-767-7572) For non-urgent inquiries call 613-217-3143 or email: [email protected] The rapid change and stress brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has put even more strain on people, making this the ideal time to talk about mental illness openly and respond to everyone with compassion. Be sure to prioritize your mental wellbeing this weekend by practicing self-care or by checking in with family, friends or loved ones! #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek #MIAW #WorldMentalHealthDay