Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Day |September 9

Each year on the 9th day of the 9th month, people across the world recognize International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day. This date highlights the importance of everyone supporting a health pregnancy over the 9 months, including it being alcohol free. #EveryonePlaysAPart

FASD is a diagnostic term for a range of lifelong physical, emotional, and developmental effects caused by alcohol exposure before birth. This can occur before the pregnancy is known. Approximately 4% of Canadians are affected by FASD.

FASD Support in Manitoba

Manitoba FASD Network

All diagnostic assessments for children and youth (under age 18) in Manitoba are coordinated through the Manitoba FASD Centre and the Manitoba FASD Network.

If a child or youth was exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and has developmental or behavioral concerns, anyone can make a referral.

Contact Prairie Mountain Health FASD Diagnostic Coordinators:

• Dauphin: 204-622-6223
• Brandon: 204-578-2487

Life’s Journey Inc.

Life’s Journey is a not-for-profit agency supporting individuals with neurodevelopment and co-occurring disorders. Life’s Journey helps people with diverse abilities living in Manitoba. Life’s Journey includes traditional Indigenous healing as a significant component of their clinical services.

This agency strives to provide clinically informed, culturally relevant, wellness oriented, relationship and strengths-based services.

Westman Services is located in Brandon and provides services to individuals eligible for funding through Community Living Disability Services. Individualized services include:

• outreach support and mentorship
• family support
• supported independent living
• cluster housing
• homeshare (foster)
• shift-staffed residences
• day program

Westman Services offers various clinical services, including psychology, occupational therapy, addiction support, and access to a Nurse Practitioner. All services are voluntary.

The Rural Connections program provides individualized services for transitional youth and adults impacted by FASD and ineligible for other government support programs. Individuals must be ineligible for funding through Community Living Disability Services, Provincial Alternative Support Services and Community Mental Health. The program is available within the Brandon and Steinbach regions. Rural Connections offers outreach support and mentorship.

For more information on Life’s Journey, Westman Services or the Rural Connections Program call 204-772-1591.

FASD Coalitions

Brandon and Area FASD Coalitions – If you are interested in joining the  Brandon and Area FASD Coalition, please call 204-578-2487.

Manitoba FASD Coalitions – For more information visit the Manitoba FASD Coalition

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual event in August.  It serves to highlight the importance of immunizations throughout the lifespan.

The theme for 2025 is Don’t let history repeat itself.  Protect your future.  Get immunized!

Prairie Mountain Health continues to offer childhood and adult immunizations regularly through scheduled appointments, walk in and outreach events.  Contact your local Public Health office to schedule an appointment today or to inquire about what vaccines you are eligible for. 

If you have immunization records from another province or outside of Canada, please submit a copy to Manitoba Health by accessing Immunization Update Request Form

For more information on National Immunization Awareness Month please visit National Immunization Awareness Month | immunizecanada

National Indigenous Peoples Day | June 21

With the arrival of June 21 comes the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

Annually, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (NIPD).

Indigenous people acknowledge the teachings of the four seasons by their representation on the medicine wheel. Summer is a time of growth and warmth. NIPD provides the experience to grow in awareness and understanding and build relationships as people come together to celebrate the culture of Indigenous people.

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) acknowledges the history, heritage, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples within our health region.

Prairie Mountain Health provides health services on the original lands of Treaty 1, 2 & 4, territories of the Dakota, Ojibway and Cree people and the Red River Métis. We acknowledge the traditional territories and treaties that confirm recognition and respect for the Indigenous populations – past and present.

PMH encourages all who deliver health services on the original lands of First Nations people and on the homeland of Métis citizens to recognize the ongoing obligation to provide culturally safe health care. As an organization, we will continue to embrace the distinct cultural knowledge, practices and traditions of Indigenous Peoples and continue efforts to strengthen relationships with the Indigenous communities and peoples who we serve.

Watch social media for announcements and information on this year’s coming events in our region.

For NIPD events near your area, contact your local First Nation or Métis community. 

If you are holding events in the PMH region, please share information by emailing the details to [email protected]

For more information on NIPD, check out the Government of Canada’s link About National Indigenous Peoples Day (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15

Date & Time: June 11, 2025, 12:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)

Description: This annual event will bring together a panel of experts and advocates to inform, inspire and mobilize large audiences about elder abuse and neglect, ageism and healthy ageing.

Registration: Register HERE

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Day! The purpose of this day is to promote a better understanding of elder abuse and neglect and what we can do to prevent it in the future. There are many different types of elder abuse, ranging from physical, emotional, spiritual and financial, to name a few.

What can YOU do to make a difference on this day?

• Start a conversation with friends and family about elder abuse and any of the above-listed resources.
• Visit a senior- they can be your neighbour, someone in assisted living or personal care home!
• Engage in meaningful conversations on social media regarding the impact of Elder Abuse on you or a loved one. Use any of the following #hashtags #BeBoldAgeWithAttitude #WEAAD2025
• Wear purple in solidarity.
• Attend a local event! Visit https://eapon.ca/weaad to find an event near you! Or, if you are in the Brandon area, visit the Shopper Mall on Friday, June 13 and check out Brandon Health Checks Elder Abuse information booth for further information! They will be set near the Food court!
• Attend the National virtual event above entitled Be Bold: Aging with Attitude!

If you or someone you know may be experiencing any form of elder abuse, there are many supports available in Manitoba to help:

Seniors’ Abuse Support Line

Call the Seniors Abuse Support Line and speak to a trained and caring counsellor. To learn more about seniors abuse and about staying safe, remember that help is just a phone call away. You can call the Seniors Abuse Support Line even when you are not sure that what you are experiencing is abuse. All calls are free & confidential.

Toll-free:  1-888-896-7183

A & O: Support Services for Older Adults

Confidential consultation, assessment and counselling services are provided to seniors who are victims of abuse.

Toll Free:  1-888-333-3121

Website:  www.aosupportservices.ca

Protection for Persons in Care Office

This Office is responsible for receiving and investigating reports of alleged abuse or neglect while receiving care in personal care homes, hospitals or any other designated health facility. If a person’s life or well-being is in immediate danger, take steps to ensure the person’s safety first, then call the PPCP’s confidential, toll-free line.

Toll-Free:  1-866-440-6366 (outside Winnipeg)

TTY Toll Free:  1-776-855-0511

E-mail:  [email protected]

Website:  www.gov.mb.ca/health/protection

Together, we can increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with Elder Abuse!

June is Pride Month

June is Pride Month, all employees within PMH celebrate everyone in our 2SLGBTQSI+ community! Here are some events within Manitoba, Happy Pride!

Celebrations in Manitoba

• Pride at the Leg Thursday, May 29, 2025 Learn more
• Winnipeg Trans March Saturday, May 31, 2025 Learn more
• Pride Winnipeg Parade on Sunday June 1, 2025 Learn more
• Pembina Valley Pride Carman, Saturday, June 7, 2025. Learn more
• Winnipegosis Pride Sunday June 8, 2025 Learn more
• Paint with Pride Neepawa Sunday June 8, 2025 Learn more
• Dauphin Walk with Pride Friday June 13, 2025 Learn more
• Brandon Pride March on Saturday June 14, 2025. Learn more
• Pride Portage la Prairie, Saturday, July 5, 2025
• Neepawa’s got Pride Sunday September 14 2025

If you are hosting an event in your community, please share those details by emailing [email protected], and we would be happy to share that information on our website and on our social media channels.

Support Services

Visit our Gender Affirming Care Clinic page for information on services available to you within Prairie Mountain Health.

Read stories from members of 2SLGBTQQIA+ and allies within Manitoba’s health care community.

Men’s Health Week

As Father’s Day approaches, we celebrate Men’s Health Week (June 9-15 )! Men’s health week aims to improve men’s health by providing education, health services, and encouraging men to take responsibility for their health. 

• Men’s Mental Health matters, males also experience loneliness and depression and have a higher incidence of suicide than women.
• Men’s physical health matters. Canadian Men’s Health Week – Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca)), revealed that about 29% are obese; 82% do not meet physical activity guidelines; 76% do not eat healthy food and 35 % do not get enough sleep.

Here are some easy ways to get involved:

1. Schedule a Health Check-up: Encourage the men in your life to schedule regular check-ups with their healthcare providers. Routine screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and prostate exams, can help detect potential health concerns early on, enabling timely intervention and treatment.
2. Make a Small Change! Visit Don’t Change Much – Easy Health Tips For Guys (dontchangemuch.ca)

You Matter and Your Health Matters!

May 7^th is International Harm Reduction Day!  

Harm Reduction can be defined as “as policies, programs and practices that seek to reduce the adverse health, social and economic consequences of the use of legal and illegal psychoactive substances. Harm reduction is pragmatic and focuses on keeping people safe and minimizing death, disease and injury associated with higher risk behavior, while recognizing that the behavior may continue despite the risks.” Government of Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long Term Care”

Some everyday examples of harm reduction include wearing sunscreen; resources on safer smoking, injecting, snorting, tobacco, alcohol consumption & vaping; wearing a seat belt; access to barrier free safer substance use supplies (smoking and injection supplies); and safer sex supplies, wearing a helmet while riding a bike and carrying naloxone. 

Working from a harm reduction approach doesn’t just mean access to safer drug use supplies and Sexual Transmitted Blood Borne Infection (STBBI) testing.  Harm Reduction is more than that – it’s a way of working with people in client centered, trauma-informed, anti – oppression lens.  Testing clients and identifying those who are positive for a STBBI then helps providers empower those clients to take measures to minimize the risk of harm to others.

Below are PMH’s Principles of Harm Reduction:

Acceptance and Understanding – Accepts, that licit and illicit drug use is part of our world and chooses to work to minimize its effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them.

Humanism – recognizes that people do things for a reason; harmful health behaviors provide some benefit to the individual and those benefits must be assessed and acknowledged to understand the balance between harms and benefits.

Social Determinants – recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity to effectively dealing with drug – related harm.  Understands drug use as a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses a continuum of behaviors from severe use to total abstinence, and acknowledges that some ways of using drugs are safer than others. 

Peer informed – ensures that people who use drugs and those with a history of drug use routinely have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them.

Client Centered & Non- Judgmental – calls for the non-judgmental, non – coercive provision of services and resources to people who use drugs and the communities in which they live in order to assist them in reducing harm.

Promotes Autonomy and Dignity – Affirms that people who use drugs themselves as the primary agents of reducing the harms of their drug use an seeks to empower people who use drugs to share information and support each other in strategies which meet their actual conditions of use. 

In recognition of National Harm Reduction Day, the following events will be taking place: 

• Brandon, May 7th
  • 1pm – 2pm, Princess Park – Community Spring Clean Up
  • Morning supply distribution outreach with MHRN & Healthy Sexuality and Harm Reduction
  • May 21^st Spring Testing and Resource Event – Princess Park from 12pm-3pm. 

• Dauphin, May 7th from 1-3, CN Park – Community Spring Clean Up  

• Swan River, May 7^th, STBBI Testing – Location and time to be determined

• Carberry, May 7^th Carberry United Church – outreach van will be doing STBBI testing, supply distribution from 9-11am 
  • Carberry Motor Inn – outreach van will be doing STBBI testing, naloxone training and distribution and supply distribution from 12:30-2:30. 

Unmasking Mental Health | Mental Health Week May 5-11

Living with a mental health or substance use challenge is hard enough; masking those struggles can make it even harder. Struggling with poor mental health or an addiction often forces people to hide behind a “mask” to protect themselves from judgement and discrimination. But the heavier the stigma, the heavier the mask becomes, and the more isolated we feel. We often feel like we have to hide our struggles—at work, online, even with loved ones. We’re afraid to open up and be honest with our struggles, because we don’t want to appear weak, or we fear the judgment and misunderstandings that might result. But constant masking can be draining and isolating, which in turn can often make things worse. It can also be a barrier to reaching out for support. Almost 1 in 5 Canadians who need mental health support don’t reach out because they were uncomfortable talking about their struggles.

This May 5-11, Canadians are called to look beyond the surface and see the whole person. We all experience ups and downs in our mental health, and each person’s mental health is affected by unique situations and experiences.  There is no “normal”. By embracing honesty and vulnerability, we open the door to deeper connections and the mental health benefits that come with it. In doing so, we can create a ripple effect of courage and understanding across the country.

This year, a number of special events have been planned in the region to highlight mental health and the ways we can work to unmask it and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health challenges. Check out the list below to see what’s happening this Mental Health Week (May 5-11) in your area:

• Dauphin:
  • A free workshop on Reducing Stigma around Mental Illness will be presented at the Parkview Lodge lounge (29 2^nd Ave. NE), in the back room, on Thursday, May 8 at 3:00 pm. Free coffee and donuts available.

• Roblin:
  • The Roblin HERO Club will be leading a community awareness walk on Wednesday, May 7, with refreshments. The walk will start from the HERO Club (146 Main St.) at 1:00 pm.
  • The Roblin HERO Club will be holding a Hamburger sale at noon at the Co-op Store on Friday, May 9.

• Swan River:
  • The Canadian Mental Health Association will have a display set up Wednesday, May 7 at the community booth in the Swan Valley Co-op food store. Drop by to pick up information on mental health and chat with a CMHA representative.
  • A free workshop on Reducing Stigma around Mental Illness will be presented at the Swan River Library on Thursday, May 8 at 3:00 pm. Free coffee and donuts available.

Speech-Language Pathology Month – May

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) work with preschool children and adults.

In Preschool Services, services are provided in a client’s home, in a clinic or in a child care centre or preschool setting. In Adult Services, SLPs work with clients in hospitals or in long term care homes. In 2024, a role for SLP was developed in Cancer Care assisting clients in their recovery of swallowing or communication difficulties follow head, neck and throat cancers.

Jordan Hagemeister has been a SLP for 11 years and works in Cancer Care and Adult Services out of the Brandon Regional Health Centre. To become a SLP, he completed his undergraduate degree in the University of Alberta and then completed his Masters of Science Degree at Minot State University in the United States. He agreed to share about his experience of working as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Prairie Mountain Health.

What drew you to working in Cancer Care?

“There is an expanding population of Manitobans that deal with complex issues associated with cancer and the side effects of treatment. There are often significant impacts on a client’s speech, voice, and swallow function. I chose this area because it is challenging work that requires adaptability, creative thinking, and compassion to help improve the quality of life for our clients.”

What is the most enjoyable part of your work?

“Building connection with the clients and helping them solve their problems, educating them, and empowering them to take control of their care and promote self-advocacy.”

Why did you choose Speech-Language Pathology as a career?

“For me working with the adult population is a blend of my passions including neurology, physiology, and psychology. It is a career that challenges the mind while providing valuable services to clients with complex and challenging needs. It is very rewarding to practice a profession where you help make a difference in people’s lives.”

SLPs working in adult services often work with clients living with swallowing difficulties (called dysphagia). SLPs in PMH have worked hard over the last 1.5 years to obtain this advanced competency in order to visualize a client’s anatomy at the back of their throat in order to accurately diagnose, treat and intervene when a client has swallowing difficulties.

If you are or know of a young person who might be considering Speech-Language Pathology as a career, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions you may have.