**EXCLUSIVE** - Interview with the new Executive Director of the Société Santé en français.
The SSF enthusiastically announces the appointment of Antoine Désilets as its next Executive Director. After working for the organization for nearly 10 years, he officially assumes his duties effective 1 April 2021. On behalf of the entire team, congratulations!
Read the media release here (in french only)
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Only available in French
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A look back at the official launch of the Health-Francophone Immigration initiative
On 24 March 2021, the Société Santé en français (SSF) officially launched the Santé immigration francophone (SIF) initiative, which will have a budget of $2.7 million to support 39 projects related to the health of newcomers to Canada’s French-speaking communities through to 2025. The aim of these projects, which will be implemented by SSF’s 16 member health networks, is to help newcomers cope with the many challenges posed by health issues. Santé immigration francophone was made possible through a funding agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada signed in September 2020.
Special thanks go out to the French-language health networks in Alberta, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island for the presentations on their respective projects. The relevant information can now be found on a new page of the SSF website devoted to the issue of Francophone immigration.
For more details on the program and the 39 projects, visit: https://www.santefrancais.ca/les-projets (in French only)
Video recording of the 24 March press conference.
Launch of the new eQUITY Link (Accès éQUITÉ) platform
The French Health Network of Central Southwestern Ontario, with the support of the SSF and Health Canada, wish to announce the launch of the eQUITY Link (Accès éQUITÉ) platform. This initiative aims to help healthcare administrators and social services with the goal of promoting equal access to health care services in French.
https://vimeo.com/531368011 (in French only)
Register
Symposium sur la petite enfance (early childhood symposium)
On 12 and 13 April 2021, the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC) will hold its Symposium national en petite enfance [national early childhood symposium] in a virtual format for the first time. The Symposium will share not only best educator training practices, but also intersectoral perspectives on services in Francophone minority communities.
See you there! (in French only)
Mental Health: Roundtable on the needs of Francophone communities
On 22, 23 and 26 March 2021, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and the Société Santé en français (SSF) hosted health in French networks and national partners interested in mental health in French at a round table on the theme of mental health and the needs of Canada’s Francophone minority communities.
The objectives of the round table were to:
- Review the state of affairs (programs, issues, access)
- Identify needs for training, awareness, and information, and
- Establish an action framework for building mental health care capacity
The fruitful discussions will allow us, the SSF and the MHCC, to continue to work together to implement a framework with short-, medium- and long-term strategies for bolstering the mental health care provided in French in Canada. The primary purpose of this framework is to build the capacity of the MHCC to support Francophone minority communities and to suggest national strategies for organizations that want to provide better support for mental health in French.
The SSF and MHCC are currently looking at the idea of creating a working group to follow up the round table.
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Webinar
Webinar - Health in All Policies (HiAP): Engaging with all sectors to improve population health and reduce social inequalities in health.
Presented by Lucie Lemieux, M.D., consultant in international health and Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Francophone Network for Health Promotion (Réseau francophone international en promotion de la santé, RÉFIPS) – Americas.
When: 14 April 2021 – 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Register
Webinar - Being a student during a pandemic: Effects on mental health and risk behaviours.
Presented by Danielle De Moissac, PhD, Professor, St. Boniface University, Manitoba
When? April 28, 2021 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (EDT)
Registration:
A recording of the 31 March 2021 webinar is available: “Le RÉFIPS, pour améliorer durablement la santé des populations dans l’espace francophone ici et à l’international” (The RÉFIPS, for long-term improvement of the health of members of Francophone communities at home and abroad).
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Let’s Talk Values and Health Equity
By the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (2020)
A paper intended to facilitate discussion, reflection and action related to values and health equity.
CANADA’S FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITIES
Government of Canada, Discover Canada’s Francophone communities
Consult (in French only)
Talking to Children About a Suicide
The “Talking to Children About a Suicide” guide is designed to help parents, guardians and caregivers of children under 12 know how to speak with them when a suicide occurs in their family or community. Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2012.
Consult
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- National Immunization Awareness Week
National Immunization Awareness Week is an annual event held in the last week of April to highlight and recognize the importance of immunization. The Immunize Canada website provides extensive information on COVID-19 vaccination.
- Launch of the Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge: Submit your proposal now!
The Public Health Agency of Canada has launched the Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge. The Challenge calls on individuals/groups to propose innovative communications campaigns that use creative ideas to reach diverse audiences. Community-based health measures have been key to moving through the COVID-19 pandemic successfully.
Ready to submit your proposal? Have questions? Please e-mail phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca with the subject line “Vaccine Community Innovation Challenge.”
Proposals must be submitted by 9 April 2021 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
Find Out More...
- A recording of the 15 March 2021 Canadian Heritage virtual information session about the vaccine rollout can be accessed here
- Fighting Vaccine Misinformation–
A coalition of scientists, communicators and health experts have come together in a nationwide initiative to empower Canadians to work together against misinformation about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. #ScienceUpFirst
25 January 2021, media release by the Canadian Association of Science Centres.
Read the media release here
Learn about the campaign
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Health: Provincial and territorial premiers want a long-term federal commitment
25 March 2021, media release by Canada’s Premiers
Read the media release here
RSFS Health Forum 2021 (Forum Santé)
The Réseau Santé en français de la Saskatchewan held its annual health forum, virtually, on the theme of the toll the pandemic takes on our mental health (Les effets de la pandémie sur notre santé mentale.) Workshops were offered on:
- Toll of the pandemic on mental health and sleep, Rebecca Robillard, PhD
- Fighting mental health stigma, Nicole Loreto, PhD
- The pandemic as viewed by students, Meggan Porteous, B.A., Ph.D. candidate in psychology
- Panel – Experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 4 members of the Saskatchewan Francophone community
You can find video recordings of the workshops and discussions on the Forum Santé 2021 playlist on the RSFS’s YouTube channel.
Consult
Earth Day - the environment and health (22 April 2021)
- Discover this publication by Trevor Hancock showing the close, conclusive links between environment and health
- The International Francophone Conference on Climate and Health (Colloque international francophone climat et santé)
- Attend the virtual international Francophone conference hosted by Médecins francophones du Canada, to be held from 17 to 22 May 2021.
The conference will bring together doctors, health care professionals, biologists, experts on the environment, law, and economics, and members of non-profit environmental organizations.
This conference will focus on intersectoral collaboration and possible courses of action in the areas of health and the environment in French-speaking communities around the world.
You can still register for the conference, up until 24 hours before it starts. (in French only) (N. B. registration Fees)
Register
- The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health provides a topic page to promote key COVID-19 resources to environmental health practitioners and related professions. It includes many environmental health resources for the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The recording of the webinar entitled “L’environnement : un déterminant de la santé qui compte” [the environment: an important health determinant], held on 24 November 2020 and offered by the UNESCO Chair and the WHO Collaborating Centre in Global Health and Education is available online. (in French only)
Advance Care Planning Day in Canada
- Every year, April 16th marks Advance Care Planning Day in Canada. Advance Care Planning is the process of thinking and talking about your wishes, values, and preferences for your future care in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. Decide who would speak for you — choose your Substitute Decision Maker.
On April 16, Canadians are encouraged to set aside time between 6-8 p.m. to talk openly with family, friends and loved ones. Tell them what would be most important to you in a health care emergency.
It’s important to your health to have that discussion, talk about it!
To find out more or to access campaign materials, click here.
- The webinar “ Briser les mythes des soins palliatifs et de la planification préalable des soins” [shattering the myths of palliative care and advance care planning] will help you understand palliative care and why advance care planning is so important.
Link to the webinar recording
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