Hello To Our Community Supporters!

 

PROTECH Updates

PACER Updates: Many of us are at increased risk of mental health problems, and front-line workers are also struggling in their efforts to respond. PACER Training is here to help. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have completed 30 cohorts and more than 400 service providers and affected community members.  The PACER team is currently running three cohorts in collaboration with service providers/agencies during April and May.  For more information, visit PACER page.

Community Engagement Update: The Project PROTECH Community Engagement Advisory members met recently to discuss the planning of an end-of-project knowledge translation forum collaborating with our community partners. Under the theme to leverage on the wise practices learnt from the pandemic that will support long-term community mental health, and advance social justice, we aim to plan an event that will be interactive, action-oriented and fun. Stay tuned for more information.

Curated Article: Why navigating your COVID risk is now harder than ever
BA.2 is evading protections like masks and vaccines, but experts say it’s not time to abandon precautions. The rapidly spreading BA.2 subvariant has been evading all of our layers of protection — from vaccines to masks — and fuelling a surge of COVID-19 levels across Canada during a time of few restrictions.But while attempting to avoid COVID-19 risk entirely isn’t realistic, abandoning strategies that have worked to lessen the impact of the virus isn’t either — making this phase of the pandemic incredibly difficult to navigate. Click here to read more.

Curated Article: How to explain third dose vaccine hesitancy in Canada? Experts point to a few reasons 为什么加拿大人不愿打第三针疫苗？原因在这里
While COVID-19 vaccination was relatively high in Canada for the first two doses, the same can’t be said for the booster shot. Numbers are similar across Canada, with a large drop-off in uptake between the second and third vaccine dose. In addition to some misinformation stifling the third dose uptake in Canada, there are still real roadblocks from those experiencing homelessness, or hesitation from racialized communities. Click here to read more.点击这里，阅读原文。

Curated Article: Assessing the mental health impacts of COVID on employees 
“In the 2 years since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, business leaders have discovered a lot. We’ve learnt lessons in leadership, change, and competition. But one of the biggest learning curves has been how to manage mental health at work.” Isolation, loneliness, health concerns and uncertainty compounded to create a mental health crisis around the world. In fact, a study by mental health charity Mind revealed that more people experienced a mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic than had ever been previously recorded. Businesses everywhere have stepped up and put measures in place to support people through this difficult time. Click here to read more.

Curated Article: COVID-19 Racism in Canada Incident Reporting-More Anti-Asian Racist Incidents Reported, two years into the pandemic 加拿大反亞裔種族仇恨持續上升 新數據令人擔憂
In Canada, xenophobia and racism toward Chinese and other Asian communities have been on a rapid rise since the outbreak of the COVID-19. To confront that racism we need to make our voices and experiences heard. COVIDRacism.ca, is a national project between several Chinese Canadian organizations across Canada recently released its report. Click here for to read the latest report released. 全加華人協進會（平權會）多倫多分會和“Project 1907”今天發布新一年度報告，數據顯示加拿大各地的反亞裔種族主義和仇外情緒持續上升，令人擔憂。點擊這裏，閱讀原文。

Curated Article:Medical workers tend to push through their mental health trauma. COVID-19 is changing that.
A study of 2,579 health care workers at New York City’s Mount Sinai Health System early on in the pandemic, between April and May 2020, found that nearly 40% of respondents were experiencing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety or depression. A much more recent national survey of approximately 12,600 nurses conducted in January 2022 found that acute care nurses were still experiencing high rates of burnout and that younger nurses were more vulnerable than older nurses. Among those under 35, two-thirds reported feeling anxious, and 43% reported feeling depressed. Click here to read more.

Curated Article: Experts say it’s time for a renewed COVID vaccination strategy in Ontario
Ontario is entering a sixth wave of COVID-19 with few remaining public health measures and experts say now is the time for a renewed vaccination strategy aimed at boosting third-dose uptake, shots for kids and preparing for wider fourth doses. Click here to read more.

Curated Article: Toronto seeing dramatic spike in anti-Asian hate crimes, new police data says
Toronto continues to see a dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, including hate-fuelled attacks where the victim was punched, spat on or blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new police data. Click here to read more.

Curated Article: 加拿大研究：未接種者增加已接種者感染風險 Unvaccinated disproportionately risk safety of those vaccinated against COVID-19, study shows
加拿大新冠疫情已經走過第6波。最新研究顯示，那些未接種新冠疫苗的人，會增加周圍人的感染風險。這份研究於週一發表在加拿大醫學會期刊上。研究發現，已接種疫苗人士與未接種疫苗的人處在一起，感染風險要比與已接種的人在一起高得多。相反，未接種疫苗的人與已接種的人在一起，感染新冠的風險下降，因為接種者對傳染起到了緩衝的作用。點擊這裏，閱讀原文。, Click here for English version

Curated Article: 杜鲁多总理就全国免疫宣传周发表声明Statement by the Prime Minister on National Immunization Awareness Week
2022年4月23日至30日是“全国免疫宣传周”，贾斯廷·杜鲁多总理就此发表声明：“我要借此机会感谢加拿大民众参与我国历史上规模最大的疫苗接种运动。在全国各地，人们以前所未有的数量参与了这次疫苗接种活动，帮助保护他们自己、他们的家人和他们的社区免受COVID 19疫情的冲击。由于这些努力，才使我们得以重新做我们钟爱的事情，同时增长经济并创造良好的就业机会。"点击这里，阅读原文。Click here for the English version.

 

Community News

Diversity and Equity in Mental Health and Addictions Conference May 12-13
Hong Fook Mental Health Association together with 12 collaborating hospitals and community mental health agencies, will re-launch the biannual Diversity and Equity in Mental Health and Addictions Conference, with the theme Pandemic Recovery for All: Promoting IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism) and System Transformation through Institutional and Community Collaboration. We welcome service partners, health professional students/trainees, and individuals with lived experience to attend this two-day virtual conference on Thursday May 12 and Friday May 13, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Click here for more information and registration.

Consultations for Canada’s first ever National Action Plan on Combatting Hate加拿大首个打击仇恨行动计划 邀请所有人发声
“Those interested in participating in the consultations are invited to fill out an online questionnaire by April 30, 2022. In the weeks ahead, the Government of Canada will also hold a series of roundtables, which will bring together members of various communities with lived experiences, academics, and activists.” Click here for more.
加拿大联邦政府正在制定第一个反歧视仇恨国家行动计划，并展开全面咨询，收集和反映社区受歧视、遭仇恨的状况，并请大家填写调查表。请于2022年4月30日前完成在线问卷。点击这里，阅读原文。