The “Sober for October" initiative receives a new name, with the same commitment to wellness
A message from Monica McAlduff, FNHA Chief Executive Officer; and Dr. Kelsey Louie, FNHA Acting Chief Medical Officer
The FNHA's “Sober for October" Wellness Initiative, which has been going strong for eight years with great community participation, has been renamed “Reclaiming your Wellness Month." We believe this shift in language and updated approach better reflects the original purpose of the initiative, which promotes harm-reduction practices as well as abstinence-based practices for First Nations people in BC who drink alcohol – whether they drink very little or socially, moderately, or more than they would like.
We invite you to join us in this initiative!
Whether you choose to abstain completely or set intentions to reduce your intake, we support your decision. “Reclaiming Your Wellness Month" isn't necessarily about quitting alcohol; it's about reducing the harms of alcohol and being more mindful of our choices and how they impact our wholistic wellness.
The start of a new season can be a good time for a “reset" – a chance to pause and reflect on how we can prioritize our health and wellness. This fall, let's give some thought to our daily routines, including our relationship with alcohol, and make sure they align with our values and goals. As strong and resilient First Nations people, we continually work towards reclaiming our culture, teachings, traditions and overall health.
Alcohol Consumption Check-In
At FNHA, we recognize that each individual who consumes alcohol or other substances has their own unique relationship with substance use. Here are some questions to consider that may help support deeper reflection of yours:
- Do you have cravings for alcohol?
- Do you ever drink more than you intended?
- Do you continue to drink even though it causes issues in your personal or work life?
- Have you thought about why you drink?
- Is there anything you have been unable to participate in because of drinking?
- Do you notice any health impacts from drinking?
Remember, FNHA is your health and wellness partner, and we want to support you wherever you are on your journey with alcohol use. Throughout Reclaiming Your Wellness Month, we'll be sharing stories from wellness champions, as well as resources that aim to help you guide your own journey to wherever it is you'd like to go.
Stay tuned for some inspiring stories! We are always interested in hearing from and highlighting community wellness champions – if you would like us to help you share your story, contact FNHA's Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) at cmo.office@fnha.ca.
Resources
For information on treatment centres, visit the link here.
Explore All Paths Lead to Wellness, which provides a description of the range of substance-use supports available while also recognizing the diverse needs of individuals.
Check out the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation website for information on programs and services for substance use and addiction. Also, more information and support networks can be found at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction website.
Review the recent announcement of new alcohol-consumption guidelines; visit the link here.
You can also access culturally safe care through referral to the FNHA' s Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service, which provides BC First Nations people and their family members with access to specialists in addictions medicine and psychiatry.
