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Electroshock redux raises alarm

January 27th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Electroshock redux raises alarm)

Anti-psychiatry activists respond to reports that use of ECT therapy is increasing

U.S. regulators are meeting this week, considering whether to “downgrade the risk classification of electroshock devices, reinforcing what many psychiatrists consider a deepening acceptance of electroshock in modern therapy.”  Anti-shock advocates and survivors are speaking at the hearings of the FDA, providing their personal stories and experiences.

The Canadian Psychiatric Association last year issued its first position paper on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) since 1992, saying that ECT “should remain readily available as a treatment option.” (more…)

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Not your everyday books

January 27th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Not your everyday books)

Multicultural Society holds ‘living library’ of spirituality and faith to battle prejudice, promote understanding

Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society is set to host a series of events it calls a Living Library at libraries in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Designed to battle prejudice, a Living Library encourages people to probe beneath the surface and learn about living, breathing people. The activity promotes understanding of diversity and challenges prejudices and stereotypes through dialogue. The focus is on faith communities—and the ‘living books’ involved come from a variety of backgrounds. (more…)

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Now, more than ever

January 20th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Now, more than ever)

Treatment as prevention is a new—but underutilized— approach to preventing HIV/AIDS in B.C.

Leading international HIV/AIDS expert and researcher Dr. Julio Montaner will be in Nanaimo next week to speak about the “Treatment as Prevention” approach to HIV. Remarkable advances in HIV treatment have been achieved in B.C. over the past two decades, but uptake of those treatments remains suboptimal—particularly among hard to reach individuals with challenges related to drug dependency, mental illness, limited education and unstable housing. (more…)

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Homeless shelter gets a rethink

January 20th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Homeless shelter gets a rethink)

Nanaimo’s Unitarian Fellowship considers opening its extreme weather shelter every night to end of winter

The extreme weather shelter for homeless people in Nanaimo may be open every night for the rest of the winter, after city council approved a grant to pay for operating costs. The shelter had been opening intermittently, depending upon weather conditions such as the temperature or the amount of rainfall predicted for the city—while advocates had been lobbying for an every-night opening. The Unitarian Fellowship, which operates the shelter on Townsite Road, will consult its neighbours and assess whether an every night of the week opening will be possible. (more…)

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On best intentions, quitting quitting, and how-tos for quitting smoking

December 16th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on On best intentions, quitting quitting, and how-tos for quitting smoking)

picture 269Quitting smoking is among the top ten in most lists of new year’s resolutions, but nicotine, the drug in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, is one of the most addictive substances known. It is considered to be as addictive as cocaine or heroin.

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Dealing with holiday Grinches like stress, loneliness, and other challenges

December 16th, 2010 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Dealing with holiday Grinches like stress, loneliness, and other challenges)

“‘Tis the season that provokes difficult emotions. This can be the maddest, saddest, most stressful time of the year. On the streets and in the malls, you can tell the holidays are approaching not only by the music and the decorations, but by the frustration and anxiety in the air.” [Source: Dr. Davidicus Wong, in BurnabyNow]

We speak with Frances Ferguson, a registered clinical counsellor. (more…)