OakMed Family Health Team

07/03/2025

Save the Date!

We will be hosting the Alzheimer's Society of Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Hamilton & Halton for a dynamic presentation on Brain Health! Learn about the differences between memory loss that's a normal part of aging. Review the differences between: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), and Dementia. In addition, we will be reviewing how simple lifestyle choices can enhance brain health and support long-term cognitive wellness.

Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Trafalgar Medical Clinic (1235 Trafalgar Rd Suite 200)

Spaces are limited!! If you are interested in attending, please contact Bina our Registered Social Worker directly at: 1-905-844-3281 Ext. 232 or 1-905-901-5111 Ext. 113 to register.

06/30/2025

65+ Struggling with Sleep? 💤😴Save the Date!
Date: Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Trafalgar Medical Clinic (1235 Trafalgar Rd Suite 200)

This Workshop content was written to target Sleep & Aging (65+) using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-i) components: (Sleep Restriction, Stimulus Control, Cognitive Restructuring & Relaxation Exercises). This Workshop is popular 🔥 Spaces are Limited!

If you are interested in attending, please contact Bina our Registered Social Worker directly at: 1-905-844-3281 Ext. 232 or 1-905-901-5111 Ext. 113 To Register.

06/16/2025

Youth, Smartphones & Social Media Use research in Ontario is becoming more available to access and review! 📱 Check out the following up-to-date recommendations:

https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu/knowledge-translation/youth-smartphones-and-social-media-use

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/C/24/chscy-data-electronic-device-use.pdf?rev=9643ebe39c294d76bad5ae128fb16201&sc_lang=en

06/02/2025

This June, we’re proud to stand with Ontario’s Two-Spirit, le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, q***r or questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) communities.

-2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada are twice as likely to experience mental health challenges.
-77 per cent of trans individuals in a recent survey reported feeling depressed in the past year.
-Compared with their cisgender heterosexual peers, youth who are 2SLGBTQIA+ are at elevated risk for mental health difficulties and suicidality, with 56 per cent of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth meeting criteria for things like anxiety, depression, mania and substance use, compared with 29 per cent of cisgender heterosexual youth.
The social experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, including the impact of minority stress, access to social support and experiences of negative social interactions, may contribute to this disparity.
-Rates of substance use are significantly higher in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities—frequently as a response to trauma and stigma.

Learn about 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences, especially those at the intersection of other marginalized identities. Here are some great resources:
https://egale.ca/
https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/free-to-be-me.html
https://www.youthline.ca/
https://pflagcanada.ca/

Check in on your friends, family, coworkers and neighbours. Open conversations save lives.

Support q***r-led organizations and donate if you’re able. Volunteer your time if you can’t.

Speak out against discrimination even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Consider becoming involved during Pride Month 2025 by actively supporting the community. Check local listings for panels, opportunities for learning about 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, parades and festivals. Join marches and be a part of pride.

For more on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and mental health, visit the Rainbow Health Ontario website. https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/

🌈

05/12/2025

It is National Nursing Week from May 12-18, 2025, and this year’s theme is: The Power of Nurses to Transform Health.

This theme highlights the incredible impact nurses have in shaping health care, driving innovation, and advocating for patient-centred care. National Nursing Week serves as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of nurses across Canada and around the world.

We love our Nurses at OakMed Family Health Team! Thank you for your continuous dedication and support to patient care.

05/08/2025

Today, Ontario is introducing the Primary Care Act.
This legislation, if passed, will protect primary care by making Ontario the first Canadian province to establish a framework for its publicly funded primary care system so that people in Ontario know what they can expect when accessing primary care.
As part of the upcoming Budget, Ontario is also investing up to $300 million to build up to 17 new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics, allowing approximately 300,000 additional Ontarians to be connected to primary care.

Ontario Taking Next Steps to Protect Primary Care | Ontario Newsroom

04/28/2025

Spending time in nature significantly benefits mental health by reducing stress, improving mood, restoring attention, and promoting social well-being. It can also help with self-regulation, decreasing anxiety and feelings of irritability, and fostering a sense of calm.

Specific Benefits:
Stress Reduction:
Exposure to nature has been shown to lower stress hormones, reduce blood pressure, and improve heart rate variability, leading to feelings of relaxation.

Mood Enhancement:
Nature can improve mood, increase feelings of happiness, and even help alleviate symptoms of depression.

Attention Restoration:
Spending time in nature can help restore attention and improve focus, particularly for those struggling with attention deficits or ADHD.

Self-Regulation:
Nature can promote a sense of calm and reduce irritability, making it easier to control impulses and manage emotions.

Social Connection:
Nature can foster a sense of social connection and encourage generosity and cooperation.

Reduced Risk of Mental Health Conditions:
Studies suggest that regular exposure to nature can be linked to lower risks of depression and anxiety.

Improved Cognitive Function:
Time spent in nature may improve cognitive function, including attention, memory, and creativity.

Spring Challenge- Try 1 of the following:
Forest Bathing:
The Japanese tradition of immersing oneself in a forest environment can reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Walking in Parks:
Simple walks in local parks or green spaces can improve mood and reduce feelings of anxiety.

Spending Time in Gardens:
Gardening or simply being around plants can provide a sense of connection to nature and promote well-being.

Hiking or Camping:
Outdoor activities like hiking or camping can offer a break from daily stressors and provide a chance to reconnect with nature.

04/20/2025

Canadian Fertility Awareness Week (CFAW) is a nationwide movement dedicated to breaking the silence, raising awareness, and advocating for better fertility care across Canada.

Each year, we come together to share real stories, amplify patient voices, and drive change for the 1 in 6 Canadians struggling with fertility. CFAW is about community, education, and action.

Fertility Matters Canada (FMC) is another national organization that empowers Canadians to help reach their reproductive health goals by providing support, awareness, information and education; and promoting equal access to fertility treatments.

https://fertilitymatters.ca/
https://www.fertilityawarenessweek.ca/

Dedicated to providing exceptional fertility support and education to the 1 in 6 Canadians needing access to fertility care.

03/13/2025

Check out CMHA Halton Region Branch upcoming Family Matters Program - A 5 Week Workshop for Caregivers of Adults with Mental Health Conditions. To Register, email: familymatters@cmhahrb.ca

03/08/2025

International Women's Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women's advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about women's equality. Celebrate women's achievement. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to forge gender parity. All IWD activity is valid, that's what makes IWD so inclusive.

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for we can all .

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme

02/13/2025

Local Love 💙 Our Clinic has been nominated in the Best Physicians and Surgeons category. Congratulations to all the early nominees. See the full list here: https://oakville.communityvotes.com/2025/01/healthcare/physicians-and-surgeons?fbclid=IwY2xjawIbGPdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSmu7HgbM0rxW8V1M3Y-zLtMTlhBYGT0OxCm5b7uokcyvJOtzsVZX71Ztw_aem_sqLASz1ee3pAH6e-c-QIPg

01/30/2025

Did you know the Halton Region Branch offers several weekly drop-in groups, free, and for any individual 16+. To learn more about these programs please register at: www.halton.cmha.ca/peerregistration for a 15- minute phone call to complete your registration.