An interdisciplinary research team led by Dr. Mary Bartram at the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Dr. Ivy Bourgeault at the University of Ottawa and Canadian Health Workforce Network has asked us to inform you about an important study they are conducting. Their team is working to assess how COVID-19 is impacting the capacity of Canada’s mental health and substance use workforce.

Statistics Canada has released the results of a survey on cannabis and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among those who had previously consumed cannabis, more than one-third (34%) reported that their consumption had increased during the pandemic. Among those who reported increased consumption, 35% reported consuming cannabis on five or more days per week during the past month.

12% of those who used cannabis reported decreasing their use during the pandemic.

The Ontario Peer Development Initiative is looking for Peer Supporters who would be interested in sharing their personal and/or professional experiences with Peer Support as a part of OPDI's training program.

All participants will be compensated for their work.

The two distinct requests are detailed below.

Call for Written Stories

Deadline for Expressing Interest: 31 March 2021

Proposed Deadline for Completed Story: 31

Dear Colleagues,My name is Ruxi Gheorghe, and I’m an MSW student at the Carleton University School of Social Work in Ottawa, Canada.Carleton's SIM Social Work Research Lab is currently conducting a pilot study on mental health professionals’ online/video-conferencing work in the context of COVID 19 pandemic stress, with the research questions of: (1) How do clinicians engage client assessment of pand

The Salvation Army Immigrants & Refugee Services is looking for volunteers 

OBJECTIVES: To provide language skill training to assist immigrants and refugees in the process of settling in Canada.

QUALIFICATIONS:• Verbal and written fluency in English• Willingness to help newcomers• A TESL certificate would be an asset• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills• Good organizational skills, self-motivated, and have the ability to work independently• Some experience teaching adults

AVAILIABLITY

Hope + Me - Mood Disorders Association of Ontario is seeking youth volunteers ages 15 to 25 to be part of the youth-oriented Peer Support Drop-in Group which will be held online every Saturday.

The role will require the volunteer to work on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  The start date is Saturday, April 3, 2021. Applications will be accepted to March 28, 2021 (inclusive).  

PLEASE SEE OPPORTUNITY ATTACHMENT

2020-2021 TEACH EDUCATIONAL ROUNDS Presents:

Webinar Title: Seeing Through the Vapour: An Expert Panel on VapingDate: Wednesday, March 24, 2021(12 PM – 1PM ET)

[La version française suit le texte anglais]  

On behalf of Dr. Michaela Hynie, Dr. Branka Agic & Dr. Kwame McKenzie and the research team for Promising Practices in Accessing Virtual Mental Health: Supporting Refugees during COVID-19 :

You are invited to participate in a 10 minute anonymous online survey about mental health services for refugee newcomers during COVID. We are interested in hearing from:  

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is now accepting submissions for its Issues of Substance 2021 conference.

The conference acknowledges the principle that all voices should have a platform to share knowledge and experience. With this in mind, the organizers welcome submissions for research, program or policy abstracts (Academic Abstracts) and submissions based on personal experience related to substance use (Personal Experience).