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Mastering mental health takes work, but working towards becoming resilient and adaptable can help us navigate and manage stressful situations from spiraling out of control. We can use these attributes to weather the highs and lows of normal life, and adjust to the wild extremes of the pandemic. Throughout this pandemic, our mental health has been put to the test. We've been so busy worrying about our family, friends, and work – we haven't always had the energy to take care of ourselves, but it's important that we do.

Find spiritually-minded mental health resources at the United Church Bookstore in their Health and Wellness collection, with books focusing on depression, burnout, loss, and faith-based strategies for healing.

LifeSpeak

Top mental health experts provide you with practical resources, strategies and tools for building a stable, healthy mindset—no matter what life throws your way – with their Mastering Mental Health campaign. It is offered in three parts:

• Yourself
• Your Family
• Your Workplace

Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".

Join the Ask the Expert webchat with Janna Comrie, registered psychotherapist, on October 13, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

The French version will be held by Dre. Amélie Seidah, PhD psychologue, le 14 octobre 2021 à midi HE.

 LifeWorks

LifeWorks (formerly, Morneau Shepell) launched a microsite on their Heartbeat Hub earlier in the year to build your self-care toolkit. In this microsite, explore why self-care should be part of your routine and how to work it into your daily life, no matter the situation.

The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is also a great resource to use for short-term, solution-focused counselling. Your EFAP is a voluntary, confidential counselling service that allows you and your eligible family members to discuss personal or work-related problems and concerns in an understanding and professional environment. Your EFAP is a support service that can help you take the first step toward change.

WorkHealthLife offers numerous articles on mental health under their Health & Wellbeing tab. There is also a section that provides COVID-19 resources. Enter The United Church of Canada to gain access to the site.

LifeSpeak - an extension of the United Church’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), to help keep you and your family mentally and physically healthy - offers a practical guide to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This month, LifeSpeak is focusing on diversity and equity in the workplace.

There are two upcoming workshops that may be of interest to you, with LifeSpeak’s Ask the Expert:

• September 22 at noon EST, join the Creating Accountability for a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace web chat hosted by Tomee Sojourner-Campbell.
• September 23 at noon EST, Carla Beauvais will be hosting Diversité et inclusion au travail : créer des mécanismes de responsabilités in French.

The benefits of diversity and equity are endless, which is why it’s important for us all to be engaged in thoughtful dialogue and work towards tangible action and change. All of us can play a role in making our workplace one that is more welcoming for people of all identities.

Through LifeSpeak, you can also find video modules from Michael Bach, Founder and Chair of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, on how to create a diverse and inclusive workplace. While you’re on the LifeSpeak platform, be sure to check out the video modules on racial discrimination, too. Log in using the Group Account option. The password is "wellness".

WorkHealthLife

WorkHealthLife by LifeWorks has articles and resources dedicated to Diversity and Inclusion under their Health & Wellbeing tab. Everyone has a right to go to work in a safe environment where they can be their full selves, and are valued for their skills, creativity, and work ethic and that honours their racial identity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, age, or physical or cognitive ability. Enter The United Church of Canada to gain access to the site.

Visit UCRD to access a wide range of books on diversity and equity in ministry and communities of faith.

Here are some additional United Church resources that you could engage with.

• Sign up for one of the racial justice workshops. These workshops will provide an opportunity to deepen our understanding of anti-racism and racial justice work and relate it back to our place of work.
• The resource Ending Racial Harassment: Creating Healthy Congregations is designed for congregations and people engaged in church work.

This past year has brought a lot of changes in our daily lives. We had to adapt to new situations, from working remotely to home-schooling - keeping a harmony was challenging.

Back to Work and School considerations are moving to the forefront for many of us as September approaches. With kids returning to in-class learning and work places slowly reopening, this is a perfect opportunity to re-invigorate familiar patterns or establish new routines, prioritize self-care to stay grounded, and keep work-life balance in mind. This video series from LifeSpeak will help you meet the demands of home and work in order to feel healthier and strengthen our personal and working relationships. The video series is also offered in French. Log in using the Group Account, password: wellness

UCRD has Spiritual and Mental Health resources to help achieve a work-life balance. 'Sanctuary: Creating a Space for Grace in Your Life' and 'Sacred Rest' both describe the benefit of breaking away from the culture of 24/7 productivity to restore our spiritual and mental health. 'The Healthy Living Handbook’ offers easy, practical, real-life ways to live well and live better emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

All relationships whether with ourselves, partners, family, friends or colleagues are something to nurture, heal, and build upon. As human beings, healthy connections and relationships are crucial to our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Every relationship possesses unique contributors to one’s life, and consequently bears distinct hardships as well. Nourishing these relationships might be especially difficult during the pandemic, but it’s important that none are overlooked.

Over the next few weeks, let LifeSpeak’s experts guide you in strategies to strengthen and develop your relationships. The campaign will run from July 5 - 30 and will feature four relationship modules including:

1. Yourself
2. Partners
3. Family
4. Friends & Colleagues

Be sure to also join the “Ask the Expert” discussion on July 21 at Noon ET with Allison Villa, Registered Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert.

The French version will be with Nathalie Gauthier on July 22 at Noon ET.

Log in at: united-church.lifespeak.com
Password: wellness

As Pride celebrations continue this month, LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) wants to help you better understand inclusivity as it relates to the LGBTQIA+ and Two Spirit community.

As we all deserve to be valued for who we are regardless of our gender identity or sexual orientation; LifeWorks’ key resources offer informative tips on inclusion, support, as well as how to build a more inclusive workplace, home and community.

Be sure to check out these helpful tips on:

Being an LGBTQ ally

Gender identity: Understanding basic terms

Creating an LGBTQ Inclusive Workplace

The recent news of the discovery of a mass grave of children on the site of a former residential school in British Columbia has left us very saddened and devastated.

A crisis or traumatic event can trigger overwhelming emotional responses. Remember that the immediate and confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services are accessible 24/7/365 by calling 1-844-880-9142 or visiting www.workhealthlife.com. The website features additional information and tips on coping with trauma.

Crisis Support Line now open

While the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) help line is open for eligible employees, LifeWorks (formerly Morneau Shepell) has also opened up a Crisis Support Line for anyone in the community in need of emotional support in relation to these events. The Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at: 1-844-751-2133.  By calling, individuals will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone and everyone. 

According to The Canadian Mental Health Association, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness. It involves exposure to trauma involving death or the threat of death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

This month, as we acknowledge the importance of Mental Health, LifeSpeak wants to shine a light on PTSD through their training sessions and learning resources. These include:

• This month’s featured training- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Dr. Simon Rego. Watch helpful videos on the important issues surrounding PTSD, including how it is assessed, diagnosed as well as some prevalent treatment options.
• LifeSpeak’s Expert Blog post – Your Brain on change by Cindy Smith, Organizational and individual change management expert.
• Join the ‘Ask the Expert’ chat on May 26^th at 12pm ET, as Dara Roth Edney speaks on the topic- Supporting Yourself and Others through Anxiety and Depression. Click here to learn more.
  The French version with Dr Nadia Gagnier will be on May 27^th at 12pm ET. For more info click here

Log in at: united-church.lifespeak.com
Password: wellness

Mental health is a vital part of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.  It affects our decision making, how we cope with stress and relate to others. LifeSpeak’s May Mental Health marathon will set out to help you prioritize and understand your mental well-being and how it can affect others.  Topics to be discussed include:

• Mental health in the workplace
• Children’s mental health
• Anxiety, depression, and other mental health inquiries
• Mental health and relationships

The marathon includes four (4) “Ask the Expert” sessions between 8:30am and 6pm EST on May 5^th.

The French Version will be on April 6th between 8:30am and 6pm ET.

Be sure to also check out Lifespeak’s Online Library which offers helpful videos on mental health. Some of these videos include:

Helping a Loved One with Mental Illness

Getting Help for Mental Illness

Loneliness in the 21st century

Addressing Suicide

Assessment and Diagnosis of Depression

What are the Anxiety Disorders?

Log in at: united-church.lifespeak.com
Password: wellness

On May 3^rd, 2021, for Mental Health Week and Mental Health Awareness month, Morneau Shepell is launching their new Microsite- Building Your Self-care Toolkit, to bring recognition to this vital aspect of your total wellbeing. The site goes live on Morneau’s Heartbeat Hub.

The Microsite will feature articles, an infographic and a video which will explore:

• The importance of self-care
• How to set up a self-care action plan
• Why sleep is an important part of self-care
• How meditation can help

Be sure to check out the live link in our Pandemic Wellness Toolkit on May 3^rd.