The Government of Canada is providing $82.5 million in mental health and wellness supports to help Indigenous communities adapt and expand mental wellness services, improving access and addressing growing demand, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This funding will help partners and communities to adapt mental wellness services to the current COVID-19 context, including:

• Expanding access to culturally appropriate services such as on the land activities, community-based health supports and mental wellness teams
• Adapting mental health services, such as virtual counselling, to meet increased demand
• Supporting Indigenous partners in developing innovative strategies to address substance use and to improve access to treatment services
• Funding under this program will flow through distinction-based allocations to national Indigenous organizations.

2020-21 VIRTUAL Workshop Guide
The Alberta Healthy Living Program offers free workshops, to all communities in the North Zone, virtually (by Zoom) to help people better manage their chronic conditions.

The Alberta Healthy Living Program helps you discover changes – big or small – that will help you live healthier and learn to confidently manage your health. It could be small changes, such as watching what and how much you eat or by adding physical activity to your day. Or, it could be big changes that involve understanding your emotions and how they can affect your health.

Who it’s for
Workshops are for Albertans interested in learning how to manage long term health conditions. Family, friends, and caregivers are also welcome to attend.

Learn to live healthier
Workshops in this guide are designed to help you learn how to manage chronic conditions and live healthier. Workshops cover:

• Disease-specific education for conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and more
• General health topics such as nutrition, reducing stress, and sleeping well
• Supervised exercise programs

Workshops are led by healthcare professionals including health educators, registered dietitians, registered nurses and exercise specialists. Find out which workshops may be for you using our navigation tool on page 3. This tool will help you find other workshops in this guide based on your interests or chronic conditions.

• Learn the guidelines for the Early Years (0 to 4) 
• Learn the guidelines for Children and Youth (5 to 17) 
• Learn the guidelines for Adults (18 to 64) 
• Learn the guidelines for Seniors (65+) 
• Learn the guidelines for physical activity throughout Pregnancy 

As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

• Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease
• FAQ on COVID-19 for young children and students
• Healthy Together, your guide to family and home life during COVID-19

Help is still available even if you are infected or in isolation. If you or someone you know is at risk of family violence, help is available. Call Alberta’s 24-hour Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 to get anonymous help in over 170 languages. Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. Police and RCMP will respond even if you have COVID-19 or are in self-isolation or quarantine and experiencing symptoms.

Family violence is an abuse of power in a family or other trusting relationship where people rely on each other. When someone experiences family violence, their well-being, security and survival are threatened. Rates of family violence increase during and following natural disasters, public health crises and economic downturns. It is important to know where you can turn if you are experiencing family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Learn more about family violence and getting help 24/7
• Family Violence Info Line Chat
• Find local emergency shelters and temporary housing

Individuals and families can access emergency shelters and temporary housing when they face family violence or homelessness. Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. There are three types of accommodation you can access when leaving a violent or abusive situation:

• Women’s emergency shelters: a safe location where women and children can get help and connect with supports
• Women’s second stage housing: short-term, affordable housing with help for women and children to permanently leave and start a new life
• Seniors’ emergency shelters: a temporary place for older adults to stay and get supports

If you need a place for pets to stay when leaving an abusive situation, there are pet safekeeping programs that offer temporary pet care at no charge. Find the nearest program through the Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

• Help is just a click away: ShelterSafe.ca 
• Learn more about escaping family violence
• Find the nearest program for your pet

As older adults are more at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for them to practice physical (social) distancing and self-isolation. This may make them more vulnerable to abuse. The Family Violence Info Line (310-1818) can assist with information on elder abuse shelters and community resources.

• Learn how to recognize signs of elder abuse
• Find local emergency shelters and temporary housing

Call 911 if you or the person you are reporting is in immediate danger. Children are at a much higher risk for neglect and abuse during times of uncertainty and crisis. Help is still available even if you are infected or in isolation. Call the Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-387-5437 (KIDS) to get help if you, or children you know, are being neglected, abused or sexually exploited. If you believe a child is at risk, you must report it. Help is available in multiple languages 24/7.

What is child abuse, neglect and sexual exploitation