Happy New Year- Maybe?
Ringing in a new calendar year is often full of emotion. For some it could feel exciting with the anticipation of a new start. For some, it is a painful reminder that another year has passed and nothing or everything has changed. For others January brings firm resolutions, to eat better, to exercise more, to somehow better yourself. For us at Connect, we are going to try and welcome 2023 with joy, and the hope that the only resolution you make this year is to be your authentic you.
Cervical Cancer Awareness
Cervical Cancer Awareness – Whole month of January 2023
Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact. Although most infections with HPV resolve spontaneously and cause no symptoms, persistent infection can cause cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Canada has committed to taking action to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by ensuring equitable access to HPV immunization, improved access to screening and follow-up. We applaud these efforts as long as the programs to improve outcomes are culturally appropriate and trauma informed.
To learn more about Canada’s plan click here
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/chronic-diseases/cancer/cervical-cancer.html
National Mentoring Month
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the need for more mentors in our communities as well as encouraging more people to actively become mentors. Successful mentoring relationships are mutually beneficial, because it helps with the transfer of knowledge, often between generations and also because it offers guidance and confidence-building to both the mentor and the mentee. Our Women’s Centres encourage and rely on mentoring for our clients and also through our boards. Research has shown that women who are mentored are often more successful in their workplaces, and are more satisfied professionally and personal. There are a number of Canadian organizations working together to build capacity to empower others through mentoring, check out this link to learn more. https://www.mentoringcanada.ca/en
Stalking Awareness Month
January 2023 marks the nineteenth annual National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), an annual call to action to recognize and respond to the serious crime of stalking.
https://nationaltoday.com/national-stalking-awareness-month/
https://www.stalkingawareness.org/stalking-awareness-month-2020/#
Alzheimers Month
Women in their 60s are more than TWICE AS LIKELY to develop Alzheimer’s disease over the rest of their lives as they are to develop breast cancer. Over one-third of dementia caregivers are daughters. Since 2016, January has been proclaimed Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Nova Scotia. Here are resources if you have concerns related to Alzheimers
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/women-and-alzheimer-s
Pictou County Women’s Resource & Sexual Assault Centre is celebrating their anniversary. They work towards a society that offers women a sense of empowerment, choice, and greater control over their lives. We have a long history of community development, working alongside many community and government partners to initiate necessary services and programs. They also offer support and advocacy for individual women, and are a member of the Pictou County Sexual Assault Response Team.
Here is a link to their website http://womenscentre.ca
Bell Let’s Talk Day
Dedicated to moving mental health forward in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk promotes awareness and action with a strategy built on 4 key pillars: Fighting the stigma, improving access to care, supporting world-class research and leading by example in workplace mental health. January 25th – https://letstalk.bell.ca/