I wanted to let you know about this EENet Research Snapshot related to drinking and COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant social changes that have never been seen before. These changes have included physical distancing, stay-at-home measures and closing schools to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus, as well as high unemployment and numerous deaths.

School Mental Health Ontario supports a mentally healthy return to schoolThis is a back-to-school like no other. More than ever, this fall, students need:

At a time when “virtual” is landing as a major direction of human care and action, Stephen Downes https://www.downes.ca/ lays out some theory and constuctivist philosophy which I found helpful to wake up, pause and reflect on as clinicians and organizations embrace virtual technology.  The talk is framed for educators, but it got me thinking we are all advancing a form of: “experiences that create the person.”

In May/June 2020, the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy conducted a survey to learn more about non-medical youth use of opioids.  The driver for this study was the 2018 WDGPH Youth Survey which had identified that 17% of youth in Grades 7 and 10 in Wellington County had used an opioid (non-medically) at least once in the last year.

Check out Skylark's webinar slides on Substance use & COVID-19: A Virtual Workshop for Service Providers. 

This presentation explores:

The start of the pandemic in the North has been described by some as “everything going silent”. Small communities scattered across a large      geographical area suddenly disconnected. In the rural region of the Thunder Bay District, both educators and mental health providers immediately understood that relationships and connection would be critical to the well-being of children, youth, and families through the experience of COVID-19.

Back to School Tip Sheets for Post-Secondary students from BounceBack Ontario 

BounceBack is here for you and your students as the new school year approaches. As you are aware, mental health has been a top concern for Ontarians during Covid-19 and the stress of returning back to school can increase feelings of worry, low mood and stress. Attached you will find resources (in English and French) that can support the return to school process.

For students – Shareable resources (Updated)

Governments around the world have put in place numerous measures to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Research in adults has shown that social isolation has negative mental health effects but there is limited research on its effect on children.

The Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program has just released its 2019 results. On pp. 30-31 of the report, you will find the details related to serious and life-threatening impacts of cannabis on the Canadian paediatric population over this time period.