I am on a roll today highlighting Canadian resources.
As part of a nation-wide effort to provide high-quality psychosocial care to all Canadians affected by cancer, several of Canada's leading authorities for psychosocial oncology have partnered to provide counsellor-led online support groups.
These online support groups are available to Canadians who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families/loved ones and are free of charge no matter where they live.
Weekly sessions are 1.5 hours long and take place in "real time". The groups operate continuously throughout the year for 8 - 10 weeks at a time.
Please contact Cancer Chat Canada toll-free at 1-800-663-3333 extension 4955 or 4966, or email cansco@bccancer.bc.ca.
Before teaching in the Dr John Morgan online program in death, dying, palliative care education (which became www.LDMonline.ca) I questioned if death dying and palliative care education could be taught online in a satisfactory way. If you had asked me at that time if an online support group could be effective I would have questioned that as well!
After five years of teaching online, developing strategies designed to meet the needs of individual learners, utilizing various new technologies, and enjoying phenomenal discussions during teleconferences and within forum postings, I am convinced that online communities can support, educate and energize one another. And so I am very interested in hearing of these support groups and expect that they will be very successful!
In the online education program (Death Dying and Palliative Care Education Online www.LDMonline.ca) we see individuals who may not be comfortable sharing in a face to face group, share more easily in an online discussion. Those who like time to consider before responding, often share later via postings. Participants with visual, auditory and mobility challenges appreciate the opportunities in online participation and posting.
This project is limited to individuals who are affected by cancer.
Recently Deb Ribeyre, on Vancouver Island led both a phone and an online support group for caregivers of people with dementia. (Deb is going to teach the online course "Loss Grief and Dying with Dementia" with LDMonline.ca in the fall)
We repeatedly hear how our lives are changing because of the new technologies. Here is another great example of this!
If you have feedback on these groups, please share via comments.
Kath
Monday, July 26, 2010
From Loss to Life - New Canadian bereavement resource
Cynthia Mitchell has launched her new website "From Loss to Life". (http://fromlosstolife.com/index.html)
It appears that she will provide: counselling for individuals and groups who have experienced a variety of losses, workshops on death education, and funeral/memorial services.
The site offers: a blog, practical suggestions for people who are grieving, and a place for upcoming events.
It is great to see the development of Canadian resources.
All the best to Cynthia!
Kath
It appears that she will provide: counselling for individuals and groups who have experienced a variety of losses, workshops on death education, and funeral/memorial services.
The site offers: a blog, practical suggestions for people who are grieving, and a place for upcoming events.
It is great to see the development of Canadian resources.
All the best to Cynthia!
Kath
Award goes to Canadian Virtual Hospice
I am a fan of Canadian Virtual Hospice! They provide excellent online resources and respond individually to questions from patients, caregivers, and professionals.
Last month the website was "recognized as “exceptional” by an international panel of judges at an awards ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts. The site, received a silver award in the website category from the Health & Science Communications Association (HeSCA)...
“This is the Olympics of health care communication so obviously we are very pleased,” said Shelly Cory, Executive Director of Canadian Virtual Hospice, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, Chair of Virtual Hospice said, “most gratifying is the feedback we receive every day from Canadians saying that we’ve made a real difference in their lives - that we’ve made a difficult time a little easier.” (Canadian Virtual Hospice, News Release June 14,2010, Retrieved July 27, 2010 from http://www.virtualhospice.ca/Assets/HESCA%20award_20100614133538.pdf )
Congrats to the CVH team - they are a great group of individuals, with insight, heart, and compassion. Great to have a Canadian resource do so well on the international stage!
Kath
Last month the website was "recognized as “exceptional” by an international panel of judges at an awards ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts. The site, received a silver award in the website category from the Health & Science Communications Association (HeSCA)...
“This is the Olympics of health care communication so obviously we are very pleased,” said Shelly Cory, Executive Director of Canadian Virtual Hospice, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, Chair of Virtual Hospice said, “most gratifying is the feedback we receive every day from Canadians saying that we’ve made a real difference in their lives - that we’ve made a difficult time a little easier.” (Canadian Virtual Hospice, News Release June 14,2010, Retrieved July 27, 2010 from http://www.virtualhospice.ca/Assets/HESCA%20award_20100614133538.pdf )
Congrats to the CVH team - they are a great group of individuals, with insight, heart, and compassion. Great to have a Canadian resource do so well on the international stage!
Kath
Monday, July 12, 2010
Loss Grief and Growth is on Curriculum Services Canada's website
It is very exciting to announce that the Loss Grief and Growth Resource is available free of charge for download from http://www.curriculum.org/ . Simply go to the site, choose English or French, then choose Classroom Resources, then Supplementary Resources, and then scroll down until you come to Loss Grief and Growth. Click on the link, and you will come to a description of the resource, and click to download.
Mary Kay MacKenzie and I presented the LGG Resource at the Canadian Association of School Administrators last week in Quebec City. It was gratifying to see the response, to hear the interest in the resource, and to know that it fits in the school budgets (it is free!). Way to go to the Teachers of Ontario who wrote the original curriculum, and to the Funeral Associations of Ontario and Canada, and the Ontario Board of Funeral Services who provided leadership/support to bring this to fruition!
Let us know what your thoughts are as you look at it, plan to use it, and then as you integrate it either proactively or as you respond to the needs of kids when a loss occurs.
Happy Summer,
Kath
Mary Kay MacKenzie and I presented the LGG Resource at the Canadian Association of School Administrators last week in Quebec City. It was gratifying to see the response, to hear the interest in the resource, and to know that it fits in the school budgets (it is free!). Way to go to the Teachers of Ontario who wrote the original curriculum, and to the Funeral Associations of Ontario and Canada, and the Ontario Board of Funeral Services who provided leadership/support to bring this to fruition!
Let us know what your thoughts are as you look at it, plan to use it, and then as you integrate it either proactively or as you respond to the needs of kids when a loss occurs.
Happy Summer,
Kath
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