Other useful resources available online and in the community

In this personal and insightful talk, Lauren Cannell shares her experience of chronic pain and discusses the ways in which the brain can hold onto pain after the injuries have healed.

In this deeply personal talk, health technology specialist Trevor Tessier reflects on the delicate intersection between artificial intelligence and human connection, and how AI can serve not as a replacement, but as a tool to empower families to be better equipped, informed, and involved in the journey of healing.

Most immigrant and refugee children new to Canada have not had a reliable, accurate or valid health assessment. It is vital to diagnose health conditions that could affect a child’s growth and development, including infectious diseases, chronic illnesses and psychosocial issues. Caring For Kids New to Canada has prepared a comprehensive overview of how to assess immigrant and refugee children effectively and with cultural sensitivity.

"The internet has revolutionized how we access information, including health-related content. With just a few clicks, individuals can find a wealth of resources on mental health conditions, symptoms, and treatment options. This democratization of information has its benefits, particularly in reducing stigma and promoting awareness. However, it also comes with significant challenges, especially when clients present with self-diagnoses based on their online research ." This article from the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute offers tips on how to respond to self-diagnosis with sensitivity and expertise.

About Grief is a website created by the Canadian Grief Alliance to offer a wide variety of resources about grief and grieving. The site includes information about how to cope with grief, advice on how to support others through their grief, and links to further resources and programs that can help you or someone you know deal with grief.

The Ontario Shores Centre For Mental Health Sciences has created a program that offers mental health support services designed specifically for health care workers in Ontario. If you are a community or health care worker whose mental health has been impacted by a wide array of stressors - including the pandemic OR other crises – confidential and fast access supports are available to help you manage. Supports include access to resources, and brief interventions. The program is available to anyone who works in a health or community care setting, regardless of your role.

There are many services available to help people who have survived a stroke, their family members and their caregivers. This site identifies areas where patients may be having difficulty or need help following a stroke.

My Health Finder is a great website to search health information that is accurate and reliable. You don't have to be afraid or confused by all the information on the web. Check out the fun video-I think we can all relate to it!

HowsYourHealth.org is a website that provides health information and several tools that help you become more Health Confident, improve your health and your health care. Take the quiz, use the tools, design and create your personal health plan.

A New Year brings the opportunity to start fresh. Check out this website, sign up for their newsletter and join others every Monday by committing to the healthy behaviours that can help end chronic preventable diseases!

Mindfulness has been used to improve blood pressure, boost the immune system and help with anxiety and depression. This site offers free guided meditations for use in the comfort of one’s own home. Share with patients or try them yourself!

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Thames Valley Family Health Team, and Hamilton Health Sciences Centre are partnering together to offer virtual urgent care services through www.urgentcareontario.ca . The site offers urgent online medical care services to adults, children and residents of long-term care across Southwestern Ontario. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – provides virtual urgent care for adults in Southwestern Ontario Thames Valley Family Health Team – provides virtual urgent care for children/youth Hamilton Health Sciences – provides virtual acute care consultations for long-term residents (currently Hamilton and Niagara North West) Whenever possible, a family doctor should be the first point of access for care. A virtual urgent care appointment may be right for you if you or a loved one have a medical issue that is NOT life threatening, but requires urgent medical attention.  If you are in severe distress, call 911 and do not drive yourself to the hospital. If you’re having a medical emergency or your symptoms worsen while you’re waiting for a virtual appointment, visit your nearest emergency department or urgent care centre in person.

As fulfilling as a career in healthcare can be, the pressures of modern medicine make burnout a risk healthcare workers in every job and setting. Stanford Medicine's self-assessment tools can help you measure your well-being and understand the factors that affect your job satisfaction. You can learn more about the assessments and take them here .

The Mankoski Pain Scale is a numerical scale ranging from zero to 10: zero indicates no pain and 10 represents pain so severe that an individual loses consciousness. Like other pain scales, the Mankoski scale is a tool that individuals with chronic pain can use to systematically track their pain. It helps clinicians better understand an individual’s pain intensity, helping to ensure their pain is adequately addressed and managed. You can learn more about the tool and how to use it here .

ConnectMyHealth is a digital health solution that provides you with an online, single access channel to view your health records from participating hospitals in Ontario Health West Region (Southwestern Ontario). ConnectMyHealth can be used on desktop and mobile devices from within Canada, and there's no cost to use it. ConnectMyHealth is different than other patient portals because it combines various types of health records created at hospitals you've been to in the Ontario Health West Region into one, consolidated view. ConnectMyHealth can be an ideal complement to in-person or virtual visits with your care providers by providing you easy access to your hospital records, and to additional functionality you may have through your local hospital, like appointment scheduling.

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario has created a tip sheet to help clients with health appointments and health education.

A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario is your resource for information about programs and services available to Ontario's seniors. It is produced by the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat and distributed by ServiceOntario Publications. This guide is maintained by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility. All URLs and telephone numbers provided in this document were accurate and active prior to publication. This document is updated periodically but for the most up to date information, please refer to the online version of this guide .

This resource offers simple exercises and suggestions to improve your muscle strength, balance, endurance, and reduce your risk for falls. Created by the Elgin St. Thomas Public Health and The Elgin Safety Team for Adults.