Aligned Health Blog

Every six days in Canada a woman is killed by her intimate partner, over 6,000 women and children sleep in shelters because it is not safe for them at home. In Ontario, 52 women or one every week, were victims of femicide. In Waterloo Region, Waterloo Regional Police Services received 6,158 intimate partner violence calls in 2022 and 4,045 intimate partner violence charges in 2022. Addressing the epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) requires a comprehensive and coordin

It’s okay to admit it … Christmas can be stressful. Managing expectations, both those we put on ourselves and those others have for us, mixed with everyday demands, and added layers of anxiety, loneliness, perhaps even grief, can leave you feeling overwhelmed. We could all use a little extra support, especially at this time. With this in mind, the mental health experts at Aligned Health are sharing some practical tips to help manage holiday stressors. Tips for managing holi

In case you missed it, our very own Gillian Wells, (MSW, Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist) spoke with CBC's Craig Norris about how coaches, trainers and parents can support and listen to young athletes who are bullied or who become bullies. About the episode (as per CBC Radio - The Morning Edition - K-W): "Sports - by their nature- are competitive. But what happens when the desire to be the best leads to athletes becoming bullies or victims of bullying. Gillian We

While infertility can feel like a lonely & isolating experience, couples don’t have to figure out the course of action alone. There is help!

While “Blue Monday” is more of a marketing ploy (created by the travel industry - ha remember travel 🤣), the winter blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) are very real thanks to the colder and darker days during the winter months. Add to that the isolation and fatigue from COVID-19, and this winter certainly can feel blue. So what are some lifestyle changes we can make to help overcome our winter blues? ⁃ Bundle up & get outside when you can ⁃ Use a SAD lamp at your de

The holidays are not always merry and bright. For some, the holiday season is difficult, alienating and trying.

Originally posted March 13, 2020 With recent pandemic warnings, the novel Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19), school board strikes, the plunging stock market, rail blockades, job losses and an uncertain political environment, 2020 has been tumultuous, leaving Canadians from coast to coast feeling jittery. These uncertain times are especially challenging for anyone with a mental illness. People with anxiety challenges are unable to self-regulate. Fear mongering and the fear of the un

“It’s been five months since I’ve seen him…been held. Two more to go.” “Seven months since it ended. Yet, I thrive on my own.” “It’s been three years since I’ve heard her stories.” “Sixteen years. Half my life, since he was here to celebrate the little things. To make weird words as signs of affection.” Do any of those statements or thoughts sound familiar? These might be some of the things we say or hear when someone has experienced loss and might be grieving. What is the e

The National Household Survey shows that there were 7,217,300 people classified as first generation immigrants in 2011 in Canada. Leaving your homeland and immigrating to another country is not easy. You might have come as an immigrant, refugee, student, or with a job on a work visa. Depending on your level of language proficiency, you may have had to learn English or French. Finding your first job was also quite challenging. Some of you might have even had to go back to scho