Search Results for: Fact sheet

What is Vascular Cognitive Impairment? Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a condition that involves problems with thinking abilities caused by the effects of blood vessel disease (also called vascular disease) on brain function. Thinking abilities, or cognition, include abilities such as attention, memory, communication, planning, problem-solving, and reasoning. Changes in thinking and behaviour caused by […]

Mental health is an increasing public health concern in Canada. One in five Canadians will experience mental illness in any given year. Mental health is a prevalent issue among employed Canadians. At least 500,000 Canadians miss work due to mental illness every week, with an estimated economic cost of $51 billion annually. Organizational psychologists have […]

How Does Nature Benefit our Mental Health? Exposure to nature enhances mental health, which is defined as a state of well-being in which individuals can cope with the normal stressors of life while maintaining a positive outlook. Nature-based experiences can improve cognitive, psychological, and physical health (Jimenez et al., 2021). Some examples from environmental psychology […]

What is Giftedness? People who have exceptionally high intellectual abilities are referred to as “gifted.” Many researchers have tried to explain what gifted means, but there is still no agreement on a single definition to date. In the past, giftedness and talents were used interchangeably, but nowadays, researchers agree they have distinct meanings (Gagné, 2009). […]

Understanding the Opioid Crisis When we think of opioids, such as codeine, morphine, and oxycodone, we often think of the drugs prescribed to help with pain. However, the feelings of joy and well-being brought on by pain relief are also what make opioids an addictive substance, sometimes leading to problematic use beyond their intended medical […]

Concepts, Definitions and Measures It is helpful to first think about what food security is. The United Nations defines food security as when “all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life”.[i] Household […]

Concepts, Definitions and Measures The common understanding of poverty is that it involves a critical lack of income that interferes with a person’s ability to meet their basic needs. The experience of poverty, however, is much more complex. The Oxford Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) includes the following factors, in addition to income, as constitutive of […]

Concepts, Definitions and Measures The condition of homelessness is a continuum that ranges from being unsheltered to emergency sheltered, to provisionally accommodated, to those at risk of homelessness. Unsheltered: People who reside in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, abandoned buildings, alleys, and streets. Emergency Sheltered: People residing in shelters, including […]

What is “retirement”? Retirement typically refers to an age-related reduction in, or withdrawal from employment. The word “retirement” conjures up many different things to people. To some, it is a long-awaited reward for a lifetime of work. To others it is a signal of the end of one’s usefulness and relevance in the world. Depending […]

What is spinal cord injury? Spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to damage to the spinal cord caused by trauma (for example, motor vehicle accident or fall) or disease (for example, cancer). Injury can be complete, resulting in loss of either feeling or movement below level of the injury, or incomplete, which indicates some preservation of […]

How do I know what type of pain my child is experiencing? When assessing your child’s pain, it is important to distinguish between acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain describes pain that happens when body tissues are damaged by injuries, infections or painful procedures such as surgery or vaccinations. Acute pain usually comes on […]

Chronic pain in children:  What it is and why it matters Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Canadian children and adolescents. That is, 1-3 million youth who have pain that lasts longer than three months and that is associated with negative sensory and emotional experiences. Unlike acute pain, which typically comes from damage to the […]

Caregiving can be a positive experience, but without proper support the stress associated with caregiving responsibilities can compromise the well-being of both the caregiver and the care recipient. What does it mean to be a caregiver? Carers (also called family caregivers or natural supporters) are those in the circle of care, including family members and […]

What is attachment? Attachment is a special emotional relationship between two people, with an expectation of protection. Usually when we talk about attachment, we’re talking about the relationship between a child and his or her parents or caregivers. Sometimes we talk about attachment in romantic relationships as well. The attachment between parents and children is […]

Інформаційний бюлетень «Психологія Працює»: подолання надзвичайних ситуацій, катастроф і насильницьких подій Як  будь-яка стресова подія у житті, надзвичайні ситуації у сфері охорони здоров’я (наприклад, пандемії), катастрофи (наприклад, цунамі, землетруси, торнадо) та насильницькі події (наприклад, масова стрілянина, терористичні акти, війни) потребують від нас можливість впоратися. Незалежно від того, дізнаємося ми про ці події по телебаченню чи […]

Temporarily removed, pending updates

When it is time to hire a new employee, almost all organizations use some form of job interview as part of the personnel selection process. How well the interview predicts job performance depends on how well it is designed and conducted. The typical unstructured job interview The job interview is the most commonly used selection […]

What is Burnout? Chances are you have said or thought to yourself “I’m burned out!” at some point. In everyday life, we often use the term burnout to mean that we are “exhausted” or “wiped out” or to refer to “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged stress […]

When does relationship conflict become relationship distress? Conflict is a normal part of being a couple. However, all of us need to feel loved, understood, and respected by the people we are close to, and conflict in these relationships can undermine our emotional security. What makes the difference is how the conflict is handled. Couples […]

Introduction Students living with epilepsy can display poor social processing (e.g., reading facial cues, understanding language nuances, taking perspective), lower level of functional independence, and lower educational status which can make it difficult for them in the social realm. They may also remove themselves from social situations to avoid having an unpredictable or embarrassing seizure […]

Introduction In an Ontario study of 144 parents, 111 expressed concerns about their child with epilepsy’s behaviour (ESWO, 2018). Inattention, irritability, agitation, negativity and angry outbursts are frequent among children living with epilepsy. These issues may be primary or they may represent or mask anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression do not necessarily present as […]

Cognitive issues present in the majority of children with epilepsy Cognition refers to a variety of skills such as attention, processing speed, learning and remembering, intellectual reasoning abilities, expressing and understanding language as well as planning and problem solving. Cognitive issues are often present early on in the course of epilepsy or may even predate […]

Introduction Epilepsy is defined as a “disease of the brain characterized by a predisposition to generate epileptic seizures, and by the cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition” (Fisher et al., 2005). Understanding epilepsy and the cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of the condition is the first step in supporting students living with epilepsy. […]

What is Asthma? Asthma is a medical condition that involves inflammation of the airway in the lungs. Asthma currently has no cure and is therefore considered a chronic condition. While some children can outgrow asthmatic symptoms, asthma often requires long-term management. The primary symptom of asthma is recurrent cough, and it can also include symptoms […]

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) recommends that adults aged 18 or older, who do not have a suspected or diagnosed medical condition, do at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise, with each session lasting at least 10 minutes. All adults should also do muscle and bone-strengthening exercises at least twice/week. Older adults […]

Temporarily removed, pending updates

What is chronic pain? Chronic Pain is pain that does not go away. When pain lasts longer than 3 or 6 months, or beyond the usual time of recovery, it is said to be chronic. Different types of chronic pain exist, many of which are not clearly understood. Chronic pain may be associated with an […]

What is bullying? Bullying among children and youth is defined as repeated, unwanted aggressive behaviour(s) by a youth or group of youths. It involves an observed or perceived power imbalance. It can result in physical, social, or educational harm or distress for the targeted youth.[1] The power imbalance may be based on differences in size, […]

According to the most recent Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, about 4.2 million people in Canada over the age of 15 smoke tobacco. This is the lowest national smoking rate ever recorded, but is still about 15% of the adult population, with provincial rates ranging from 11% in B.C. to 20% in New Brunswick. […]

What is insomnia? Many people, about 20-25% of the population, are dissatisfied with their sleep. Among these, some have a specific sleep disorder called insomnia. Insomnia is defined as persistent trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep that affects daytime functioning or causes distress. When the sleep difficulty occurs at least three nights per week […]

What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, that impair a person’s functioning. Some individuals have problems with all three types of symptoms, whereas others have problems primarily with inattention, or primarily with hyperactivity/impulsivity. Related to problems with inattention, people with ADHD often have difficulty following […]

What is chronic pain? Pain that does not go away and lasts for a few months or more is called chronic pain. Often chronic pain is the result of a known disease or injury and may last longer than the usual healing time associated with the disease or injury. Sometimes medical tests cannot determine the […]

What is depression? Almost everyone feels sad or “depressed” at certain times. Clinical depression (also called Major Depressive Disorder or MDD) is a more serious condition that is confirmed by the presence of at least five symptoms for at least a two week period. The possible symptoms of Clinical depression include sadness, loss of interest […]

(Anxiety during pregnancy and baby’s first year) What is perinatal anxiety? Having a baby is typically a wonderful time in our lives. It is also a time of great change and uncertainty.  No wonder nearly all of us have an increase in worry and anxiety. Anxiety is a natural response we experience when we feel […]

Cannabis is the most commonly used drug in Canada (Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addiction). and was legalized in 2018. 27% of people reported using cannabis in the past 12 months in 2020 compared to 25% in the previous cycle. In 2020 the % of those who felt daily cannabis use can increase the […]

What is an intellectual disability? According to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, an intellectual disability: begins before age 18 presents itself within different settings (e.g., at school, at home) through observable limitations in both adaptive behaviour (e.g., personal hygiene, social skills), and level of intellectual functioning (i.e., a child’s thinking ability). These […]

What are Neurocognitive Disorders (NCD)? Neurocognitive Disorders are characterised by a cognitive decline which affect one or more cognitive domains such as memory and learning, executive functions, perceptivomotor activities, attention, language and social cognition. The decline must be significant in comparison with the person’s prior functioning, can be reported by the person or a family […]

Sexual activity is an important part of quality of life and is often a great concern for both patients and their partners after a cardiac event. Fears and concerns may temporarily interfere with sexual spontaneity and response. A few factors may interfere with your sexual health after your discharge from the hospital. You might temporarily […]

What is heart disease? Heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is a general term for a variety of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It is a chronic disease that can lead to serious events including heart attack and death. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Canada […]