The holiday season is a time of joy and relaxation. However, for many reasons, the holidays can also be overwhelming or a source of stress. For some people, this time of year comes with feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Fortunately, there are simple strategies to help manage our mental health this holiday season. Mental…
If you want to talk to your family doctor about your mental health but you’re not sure where to start, here are a few ideas for before, during, and after your appointment.
Your family doctor may refer you to a Behavioural Health Consultant, Registered Psychologist, or Psychiatrist… but what are the differences between these options?
When Jeff Symic discovered he had Type 2 diabetes, he also found out there was a team of health professionals to support him in his medical clinic. That concept of having all these services under one roof is known as a medical home, which helped Jeff take steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Jeff has been…
By Luc TherrienBehavioural Health Consultant What has convinced me to teach relaxation to everyone? I could tell you that relaxation and meditation have been studied extensively over the past 40 years and that we’ve even observed a change at the genes’ level after only one session of relaxation, but that may seem abstract. Instead, I…
Sabine Brouillette credits her health team at Edmonton Southside PCN for saving her life. The 67-year-old COPD patient’s breathing was becoming worse. When she was refused treatment at her dentist because of her breathing, she went to see her family doctor, Dr. Colleen Johnston, at Town Centre Family Clinic. Dr. Johnston referred Sabine to a…
Scott Wood’s life was crashing until a visit to his family doctor brought him back on the right track. His spiral into a deep depression started in 2009 when he witnessed a head-on collision between a small car and a rig truck on Highway 33 between Swan Hills and Whitecourt during a spring storm. “The…
Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network equipped Dr. Mark Antoniuk with resources offering him the opportunity to accept additional patients to his medical practice. “I’ve actually had new patients who’ve wanted to join my practice because I was part of the PCN. They’ve heard of all these services that are available, and they’ve left other clinics…
When Gary Krutzfeldt started feeling so empty and helpless, he turned to his family doctor for help.Dr. Don Korzenowski of Millwoods Family Medical Clinic prescribed anti-depressants for Gary but told him this was only half the answer and he needed to see a behavioural health specialist from Edmonton Southside Primary Care Network. “I have to…
Anxiety has plagued Sheila Hilderbrandt for most of her life. She would lie awake all night worrying about her health issues. She wouldn’t leave her home except once a week to get groceries. Her mind wouldn’t shut off and she couldn’t control her thoughts. “It started with my diabetes. I had to go on insulin….