Hope and Area Healthy Communities Committee met on May 30 at the Fraser Canyon Hospital.
Mental health online resource
Fraser Health communications consultant Shannon Henderson said a “very significant population” wanted to find out what services they provide for mental health and substance abuse.
They have set up a new website at fraserhealth.ca/mentalhealth to provide information such as frequently asked questions, substance abuse section, age-group specific information, conditions and symptoms.
Volinspire introduction
Read Right Society executive director Jodi McBride introduced a new volunteer directory website called Volinspire that “is like [online dating website] eHarmony for volunteers.”
To participate, volunteers and organizations will create a profile online. Read Right Society can help by setting it up and maintaining it, with a weekly email for new opportunities. McBride said organizations can post their volunteer opportunities and events, while volunteers can upload information about themselves and this also tracks volunteer hours.
The website also has a section, called “volunteer spotlight” that allows users to recognize the efforts of volunteers.
McBride said that Read Right will not provide training for the volunteers and organizations have to keep a criminal record check.
Smoking cessation and vaping
Responding to a question, Fraser Health’s Dr. Andrew Larder told the committee that smoking cessation includes vaping.
“In general, yes,” said Larder. “It is getting more complicated around its uses as a smoking cessation tool. Right now, there’s not a lot of evidence to show that it’s any better than any other smoking cessation tools but if it’s going to be used, it should be used in that context.”
