Conversations with Health Care Providers

More conversations are ongoing with health care providers.  In addition to having insight from the people they serve in the health and community services system, they are also residents of the area.  Our conversations have been enlightening and a great learning opportunity. 

Speaking with Health Care Providers

Over the past couple of days, I've been speaking with some health care providers about the needs assessment.  We discuss the questions that I have been asking all focus groups and we also discuss some of the themes that have been coming out of the primary research to date.  We have a couple more of these sessions to hold and organize and then our primary research will be completed.

Mental Health Association Looking for Board Members

Mental health is something we've heard a lot about during the needs assessment.  The Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador is currently seeking board members to fill some vacancies.  Information about duties and how to apply can be found here.

An Update

It's summer but we're still working away on the needs assessment.  Upcoming we have a meeting with the family physicians in the area and we will be speaking with staff and the Clarenville offices and specialists at the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital.  Towards the end of July, we have meetings set up with our Advisory Committee and our Steering Committee.  Themes are pretty consistent now and the challenge of coming up with recommendations is underway.

The Weather Blues

Today is the first day in a while that we've seen the sun.  It really seems to be impacting on people.  There's lots of talk about people feeling tired and not quite having a spring in their step.  Weather, like a lot of things, has a big impact on our health.  From our mental health and well-being to vitamin D levels it all has an impact.  Of course, too much sun is also not healthy.  Like everything, we need to achieve a balance. 

The Relationship with the School System

One of the themes arising from the needs assessment is the emphasis that must be placed on youth and their health and well-being.  In particular, people who participated in the needs assessment process spoke about the need for strong collaborative relationships between the school system and the health system.  Arising from this theme, we will be meeting with the Eastern School District-Eastern Health Liaison Committee to discuss some of the findings and talk about possible solutions.

Visiting Hillview

We had a wonderful focus group in Hillview this week with people from nearby communities attending.  Some of the discussion centred around the infrastructure of local communities.  For example, water quality issues were referenced and the impact that has on health.  They also spoke about the lack of sidewalks and the lack of street lights as stopping people from walking, particularly at night.  Associated with that is concern with cars speeding through communities.  Some of these same concerns have been voiced in other communities as well.