The art of listening in 6 simple steps

4 minutes

Submitted by the Canadian Mental Health Association 

You might have a thousand Facebook friends or followers on Instagram. Or maybe you have friends the “old-fashioned” way. In any case, we know that having a good community of friends is about the quality – and not the quantity – of our relationships. And communication is at the core. So, if we want to strengthen our relationships, practising the art of listening is an effective strategy.

Temporary service interruption at Slocan Community Health Centre emergency department

1 minute

New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre due to limited nursing availability.

Emergency services will be unavailable until 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 and patients can access care at the Arrow Lakes Hospital at 97 1st Ave. NE, Nakusp.

Interior Health prepares to open first complex care homes in Kamloops and Kelowna

3 minutes

Interior Health (IH) and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions are preparing to open the first complex care housing locations in Kamloops and Kelowna in the weeks ahead.

Complex care housing has on-site health care and social supports designed for people who live with significant mental health and addiction and or medical challenges that result in difficulty finding and maintaining housing. Complex care housing in Kamloops and Kelowna will have 24/7 staff who support residents with comprehensive, person-centred services to meet their needs.

Temporary service interruption at Nicola Valley Hospital emergency department

1 minute

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to unanticipated limited physician availability as of 8:30 a.m. today.

Emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Emergency department services will be available again at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

Getting help to quit tobacco smoking

4 minutes

Story by Jacqueline Turvey, primary care respiratory therapist 

Quitting smoking can add years to your life. It improves your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, taste and smell, and has financial benefits as well. 

However, as a clinician, I often remind myself that it is not my responsibility to make people quit or reduce their tobacco and nicotine use. It is my job to support individuals at all stages to achieve their goals, and for those who may not be ready for change, to let them know that I am there for them if and when they change their mind.