When you hear the word ‘psychosis,’ what words and images come to mind? Have you ever heard someone call something or someone else ‘psychotic?’ Psychosis can be a heavy-sounding word for what is a treatable mental health condition. Like many other mental illnesses, however, it also comes with stigma and shame.

Name: Deborah (Deb) Loney (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered NurseYears of Service: 41 Worksite:  Hillside CentreCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be kind – you never know what battles others are fighting.” – Deb Loney As a child, Deborah (Deb) Loney lived all over the world. The daughter of a Royal Canadian Air Force serviceman, she was born in London, Ontario, and lived in France, Belgium and Virginia. She calls Ottawa her hometown. When she was 18 years old, Deb joined her girlfriend on a bus trip to Kingston to check out the nursing program. “I got into the program. She didn’t,” recalls Deb. “I was accepted into the accelerated program during a nursing shortage, and graduated at 20 years old. That was 50 years ago.”

Fear and anxiety are natural reactions to stressful events such as wildfires. Here are some tips that can help you cope with the stress that wildfire season and wildfires can bring.

Name: Jennie Bui (she/her/hers)Job Title: Communication and Engagement consultant Years of Service: 2 Worksite:  Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “You can’t ever reach perfection, but you can believe in an asymptote toward which you are ceaselessly striving.” - Dr. Paul Kalanithi Originally born and raised in Haiphong City, Vietnam, Jennie Bui joined IH more than two years ago as a communications professional. Starting out as a co-op student, Jennie has continued to develop and grow her skills with the Communication and Engagement team as they tackle new and exciting changes in the industry. Learn more about Jennie, her love for food and how innovation is playing a role in communications.

Name: Catherine Turcotte (she/her/hers)Job Title: Licensed practical nurse (LPN)Years of Service: 6Worksite:  Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity:  PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Don't let anyone steal your sunshine! Take it one day at a time. Licensed practical nurse Catherine Turcotte is a positive person who has a go-with-the-flow personality. She was born in Holland, and lived in Germany for a brief time. As a child, Catherine’s military family was posted to Canada, and for most of her childhood she was raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Your living situation could change quickly during wildfire season if you’re evacuated, but your need to access health care could remain the same. Consult these resources on how to access health care if you are evacuated.

Name: Heather Jane Johnson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Manager, Support ServicesYears of Service: 5Worksite:  Kootenay Lake HospitalCommunity:  Nelson         Ancestral Territory:  Ktunaxa TerritoryFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “My current manager taught me this one and I often see its relevance in my everyday work: 'Less is more.” Whether she’s leading and inspiring others in her role as Support Services manager, or riding her motorcycle through the mountains of the Kootenays, Heather Jane Johnson is passionate about living life to the fullest.

What’s in your drugs? As the toxic drug emergency continues unabated, drug checking is one of the ways to find out what’s in your drugs. In fact, drug checking provides the most accurate information about what is in substances, so people who use drugs can make informed choices about where, when and how much to use. The service is fast, free and confidential, and is legal at approved sites. Samples can be as small as a grain of rice, and results are typically available within 10 minutes. The technicians who provide the service are non-judgmental. No matter the test results, we don’t confiscate drugs, and they can be returned to you. Whether you’re planning to experiment with drugs for the first time, you rely on the illicit supply for pain relief, or use substances regularly and purchase from a familiar source – no matter the reason – we want you to bring in or drop off a sample before you use for testing. Get alerts to your phone and stay safe For up-to-date information on toxic drug alerts, sign up for text alerts by sending the keyword JOIN to ALERTS (253787). We also publish toxic drug alerts. 

Name: Barry Hengel (he/him/his)Job Title: Manager, Clinical OperationsYears of Service:  6Worksite: Westview PlaceCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle Barry was born and raised in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Cranbrook, B.C., home to five Stanley Cup champions – as he proudly points out. Today, Barry lives in Summerland and is also proud to be leading the clinical operations team at Westview Place long-term care. “I’m inspired by all the great people I get to work with, and the positivity they bring,” he says.