We want to thank all the First Nations people in BC who participated in the FNHA's “Reclaiming Your Wellness Month," formerly “Sober for October." For those who drink alcohol, taking the time to reflect on your personal relationship with it is an important step toward improving your overall health and wellness.
Whether your choice this month was to be more mindful of your drinking, to drink less or more safely, or to stop drinking altogether, choosing to reflect on something that affects your health is always a good thing.
We hope that your participation in Reclaiming Your Wellness Month helped increase your awareness of your alcohol use and its effects, and made you feel more comfortable discussing alcohol with others. We also hope you took the time to notice any changes in your well-being, mood, and overall health and wellness.
Check out our “Walking Side by Side Toolkit"
To support your ongoing health and wellness journey, the FNHA's Wellness Team has developed the “Walking Side by Side Toolkit." This resource is available year-round and includes simple, questions to help you assess and manage your alcohol consumption. These include:
- 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?
You can also use The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) to help you understand where you are at, and what your next steps should be.
The FNHA is your health and wellness partner
Remember, the FNHA is your health and wellness partner, and we're here to support you wherever you are on your journey with alcohol use. Throughout Reclaiming Your Wellness Month, we shared stories from community wellness champions and provided shared resources to guide your personal path to wellness.
We are always interested in hearing from and highlighting community wellness champions year-round, not just in October. If you would like us to help you share your story and help inspire others, contact the 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.
