Safeguarding our mental health is important and must not be overlooked.

Virtual platforms if used conscientiously, can support a sense of “connectedness” in the midst of restrictions and recommended measures to “Flatten the Curve”.

In the midst of this pandemic, please make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family, virtual support can also be offered to friends and neighbors as the opportunity presents.

We are inundated with social media updates, reports and announcements all of which have the capacity to impact how we manage the information received and our response potential.

For some, the use of social media can induce more harm than good subsequently posing risk to the stability of our mental health state.

Please take approximately 4 minutes to watch 2 AHS Mental Wellness Moment video clips, in which Dr. Mitchell; AHS Provincial Medical Director of Addiction and Mental Health talks about maintaining a daily schedule and being intentional about social media management as protective strategies for our mental health.

Importance of Scheduling and Planning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKOeL8KJkJM&feature=emb_rel_end

Social Media Management:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqH4wNEvtkA

Hospital Capacity

AHS is taking measures to increase inpatient capacity at hospitals across the province.

There is projection of individuals whose symptom trajectory will warrant inpatient hospitalization for treatment and management.

There are approximately 8,500 acute care beds, it is estimated 2,250 more beds may be needed to manage anticipated cases.

Operating rooms and surgical recovery rooms will be transformed into Intensive Care Units (ICU’s), to further increase capacity, alcoves, patient lounges, hallways and other convertible spaces will be used to provide patient care.

The health care system will be “pressed”, please consider adding ‘AHS health care system employees’ to your prayers as extraordinary actions will pose significant challenge to the multitude of disciplines who are preparing to serve as their scope of practice designates.

Hospital Visitation Restrictions

Should there be need to attend to or visit someone in the hospital, please note the following: