Your help is vital to saving lives. Be a hero today. Donations of money or time can make a big difference to a small local charity like SRWC Wellness Centre. For over 25 years, SRWC has helped people from all walks of life find their personal recovery path. SRWC supports recovery and harm reduction for substance abuse, addictions, and other mental health issues. You can donate over the phone by calling Cindy at 204-956-6650 ext. 101 or mail a check or a money order to: St. Raphael Wellness Centre Inc. 2nd floor, 225 Vaughan Street Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1T7. Donations can also be completed online.
Community News
Victoria Lifeline
If you are like most seniors, you want to maintain your independence and remain active. You don’t want an accidental fall or medical emergency to jeopardize your ability to live independently at home. You are always connected to our 24/7 Response Centre. With a push of your medical alert button – you can get help you need. Call 204-571-2053 to get more information from Brandon Seniors for Seniors.
Gardening Increases Mental Wellness
It is finally warming up outside, and many of us are itching to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Being surrounded by greens, digging in the soil, and connecting with your world in a very tangible way can be incredibly rewarding. Eating homegrown vegetables or creating a bouquet from the flowers you have grown brings with it a sense of accomplishment. Studies have also found evidence that being in green, or even being able to look out on a green landscape, is linked with better recovery from surgery, less anxiety and depression, better stress management, and many other positive effects.
April Events
April 5 and 6th we will be hosting an in-person spring session registration from 9:00-1:00 PM. We have a variety of exercise classes and art class available to our members. Of course, our pickleball, billiards and card games are available every Monday and Thursday.
April 8th at 1:00-2:30 PM will have coffee and conversation with Southdale MLA, Audrey Gordon, Minister of Health for the province of Manitoba. Members can come out for coffee and a dainty and catch up with the minister.
April 26 at 1 PM, Dorothy Dobbie will be giving a talk around gardening as part of an on-going series of talks, site visits and programs around gardening.
April 27th at 11:00 AM, we have our Annual General Meeting, where we will be electing several board members and providing our annual state of the union, with a luncheon to follow.
Mental Health & Plants
Plants reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Plants have shown an increase in creativity, both in school and the workplace. They found plants brought a 37% reduction in tension and anxiety, a 58% reduction in depression and a 44% reduction in anger and hostility. Studies showed an improvement in preschooler’s memory, and cognitive function when participants walked in nature. Children with ADHD had better concentration after a walk in the park than after an urban neighborhood walk. Taking breaks to view or be in nature helps restore everyone’s attention.
Physical Health & Plants
The physical work of gardening, preparing soil, planting seeds, watering and weeding produces good chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. Garden work can also help reduce blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels. Low cortisol levels keep inflammation down and manages carbohydrates and blood sugars. Being physically active through gardening provides lasting wellness benefits. Physical exercise – digging, hoeing and watering uses balance, muscles, and strength. While all physical activity is beneficial, your emotions benefit too!
Emotional Health & Plants
Living in or near green spaces, spending time in both natural settings, and cultivated green space can improve mood and reduce the negative effects of stress. Other positive outcomes include reduction in aggressive feelings and enhancement of overall well-being. Studies have found that exposure to indoor plants improved feelings of well-being in participants. Plants are the lungs of the planet, drawing in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere. One of the best things about caring for indoor plants is the beautiful exchange that happens because plants depend on our care, and in turn, they take care of us by improving the indoor air quality we breathe.
Who is SRWC?
SRWC is a unique, welcoming, recovery-oriented community, accompanying individuals, families and friends affected by substance abuse in their journey towards recovery. We offer, group individual, couples counselling, and family counselling and education programs during the day and evening, co-ed and gender specific programs and support for individuals and their families. The Access, program for those awaiting a program of their choice, Exploring Options participating in a recovery plan, gender specific Continuing Recovery Program, or our co-ed evening Work Sober Program focusing on recovery maintenance. We support your recovery by helping you find the services you need.
Meet Your Practitioner: Cheryl LeMay
Cheryl LeMay is a Social Worker/Therapist who has 21 years of experience helping clients with anxiety, depression, stress, addiction, and relationship issues. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba in 2006 and is a Registered Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Work. Cheryl uses a number of therapy approaches when working with clients, including cognitive behavioural therapy, strengths-based therapy, solution-focused therapy, client-centered therapy, and relaxation strategies. She helps clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behaviour and learn new coping skills for managing a variety of stress-related issues and mental health concerns.
Stop and Take a Break
The transition to remote and hybrid work and back to the worksite has been difficult for many reasons, and one consistent issue the idea of taking breaks. Taking breaks benefits both health and performance markers, such as energy levels, morale, and vigor, while decreasing job burnout, fatigue, and work stress. A bulk of research shows the best way to boost productivity is to take microbreaks every 60 minutes away from screen time. Try standing up, moving around, stretching, or practicing mindfulness and deep breathing exercises to keep you motivated during your work blocks.
Acupuncture for Infertility
Roughly 16% of couples in Canada experience infertility. This number has doubled since the 1980s, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help to reverse these numbers. Some studies have found that acupuncture may help with things like sperm quality, motility and counts in men, and increased blood flow to the uterus, with an impact in their quality of their eggs and regulation of hormones in women. Acupuncture has been used as a protocol all over the world when couples going through IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment, as it may increase the number of follicles produced and studies showed that the patients who received acupuncture before and after IVF transfer increased significantly their outcomes.
