June 2022 Pain BC Newsletter |
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From our Executive Director, Maria Hudspith |
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As we celebrate Pride this month, I am reminded of the incredible community leaders, organizers, trailblazers, and countless others who have worked tirelessly to improve health care for LGBTQ2S people, and I remain profoundly aware of how much farther we have to go to realize health equity in Canada.
When I wrote the health care resource Caring for Lesbian Health in 1999, LGBTQ2S issues were little recognized in health policy. Twenty years on, I’m encouraged to see these issues being recognized far more frequently, including in Health Canada’s An Action Plan for Pain in Canada, which includes recommendations like training for health professionals on sexual and gender diversity and pain-specific considerations, and the use of gender and sexual identity affirming language in health communication.
Pain BC remains committed to do our part to address barriers to health care for LGBTQ2S people with pain, as well as those from other equity-seeking communities.
Last year, we adapted and piloted our Making Sense of Pain class series for gender diverse youth. This year, we’re partnering on a national project with Dr. Fiona Webster at Western University. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the project will build and support a network of trained people with pain from equity-seeking communities, including LGBTQ2S communities, to engage in and shape pain research, policy advocacy and practice change. The project aligns both with the recommendations in An Action Plan for Pain in Canada, and with the stated goals of the Government of Canada’s forthcoming LGBTQ2 Action Plan.
During Pride, and all year long, our organization remains committed to doing the work to ensure people with pain from all communities can access the care they need, free from stigma and discrimination. We are grateful to work alongside our partners and each of you as we work towards our shared vision: a world where no one is alone with pain.
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Pain BC programs, resources and updates |
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Manage your pain with LivePlanBe+
A free guided and interactive program
We’re excited to introduce LivePlanBe+, our new free online self-management program for people living with pain. LivePlanBe+ is designed to help you make small changes that add up to big improvements in well-being. The program guides you through a customized learning experience with animated videos, learning modules, resources to explore, stories from real people living with pain, interviews with health care providers, and practical tools.
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Help Pain BC empower people living with pain
We're participating in the Great Canadian Giving Challenge throughout June
This June, every dollar you donate to Pain BC will automatically count as an entry towards a $20,000 prize draw as part of the CanadaHelps Great Canadian Giving Challenge. Your gift will support people living with pain to learn self-management skills, build community, and advocate for more and better research on pain-related issues. Every dollar counts.
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Apply to become a Pain Support and Wellness Group facilitator
We are looking for volunteers to co-lead/facilitate groups in BC
Pain Support and Wellness Groups offer an opportunity for people living with persistent pain to meet on a regular basis to learn about self-management as well as receive and provide support, by sharing knowledge, experiences and coping strategies. Groups meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month with alternating afternoon and evening sessions.
Pain BC is looking for volunteer facilitators to co-lead/facilitate virtual Pain Support and Wellness Groups across the province. As a volunteer, you will receive thorough training and educational materials from Pain BC, as well as ongoing support from Pain BC staff to facilitate the group in your community.
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Our supports for people with pain |
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Knowledge is power. Learn to manage pain and improve well-being though our library of evidence-based articles on LivePlanBe or start a customized program on LivePlanBe+. |
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Connect with Pain Support Line staff to talk about your pain, find information on community resources, learn about pain and self-management, and much more. |
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Join an online group and build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. |
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Receive one-on-one phone support and mentorship from a coach who will help you learn about self-management, regaining function and improving your well-being. |
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Gentle Movement @ Home: Guided movement and relaxation for pain
Gentle Movement @ Home free online videos provide guided movement and relaxation designed to help people with persistent pain learn to feel safe to move again. Topics include breath awareness and regulation, body tension regulation, and movement and relaxation techniques in both seated and standing positions.
The full collection of Gentle Movement @ Home videos are available to view for free via our YouTube channel.
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Upcoming Pain BC and partner workshops, webinars and courses for health care providers |
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Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers
Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers is an online course designed for allied health care providers to improve their understanding of chronic pain and how to address the challenges of pain assessment and treatment. This practical, compact course allows learners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management and develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for health care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for providers outside of BC.
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Pain Foundations for Primary Care Providers
This practical, compact course allows physicians and nurse practitioners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management, including non-pharmacological treatments and prescribing best practices. Learners will develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for primary care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for physicians and nurse practitioners outside of BC.
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Gentle Movement and Relaxation course
This free, online course will equip physiotherapists and other therapeutic movement professionals with practical knowledge and teaching resources to lead their own movement and relaxation programs for people living with chronic pain.
The Gentle Movement and Relaxation course is currently available to BC health care providers only.
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Pain BC relies on the generosity of our donors to deliver our programs and services. We gratefully acknowledge that many of our programs and services receive partial financial support from the Province of British Columbia, including Coaching for Health, the Pain Support Line, Pain Support and Wellness Groups, our chronic pain management workshops for health care providers, Gentle Movement and Relaxation course, LivePlanBe, Making Sense of Pain, Pain Foundations, and the Pain Waves podcast. |
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Other programs, opportunities and resources |
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Peer support volunteer opportunities
People in Pain Network starting support network for parents of children with chronic pain
The People in Pain Network (PIPN) wants to hear from parents and caregivers of children living with pain to join a brainstorming session to help shape their new support network for parents of kids with pain. They're also looking for peer volunteers to commit 3-5 hours a month to support peer leaders and lead or co-lead meetings. If you are interested or have questions about either of these opportunities, please reach out to Virginia McIntyre at [email protected].
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Employment strategy for youth with disabilities in BC
Survey deadline: July 15, 2022
CanAssist is developing an employment strategy for youth with disabilities in BC. This strategy will help youth with disabilities, including those living with mental health conditions and using substances, access the support they need to find and keep jobs. If you are aged 15-30 and self-identify as having a disability, you are invited to provide input about gaps, barriers, and your best employment support experiences. The survey is open until July 15, 2022.
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New pain podcast for veterans
Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence launching a new podcast
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans has launched a new podcast, The Most Painful Podcast. It is hosted by Tom Hoppe, chair of the Centre of Excellence Advisory Council for Veterans. Their first episode dives into research on the rates of chronic pain among military veterans in Canada.
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Research and engagement opportunities |
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Survey: 2SLGBTQQIA+ community health
Community-Based Research Centre, Egale Canada, the Enchanté Network, and 2 Spirits in Motion Society have launched a multilingual national community health survey. They want to hear from 2SLGBTQQIA+ people with chronic health conditions to learn about your lived experiences, how you are navigating the health care system and the impacts of COVID-19. Participants will receive a small honorarium for completing the survey. In addition to the survey, participants also have the option of receiving a new COVID-19 antibodies test by mail to help determine how common COVID-19 is among 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada. Learn more and take part here.
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Survey: Chronic pain and romantic relationships
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Study: Pain throughout the day
If you live with pain, does it change throughout the day? The CircaPain research team is studying how time of day impacts pain and wants to hear about your experience. This study is open to all adults who have had persistent pain for more than three months. Learn more and take the survey on CircaPain's website: circapain.ca.
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I have chronic pain. Why is relief so hard to
find?
Cartoonist and freelance writer Gabrielle Drolet writes in Chatelaine about the state of chronic pain care in Canada.
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18 things we wish got more time in medical school
The Mighty asked their community what they wish was taught in medical school about their conditions, including chronic pain, and compiled their responses.
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Working full-time with chronic illness leaves me 'chronically choosing'
The author, who lives with lupus and psoriatic arthritis, shares her struggle with having a reduced capacity for daily activities.
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BC announces new accessibility plan to remove barriers
The Government of BC’s new AccessibleBC plan outlines how provincial ministries will embed accessibility and inclusion in their work and services over the next three years.
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© 2022 Pain BC Society. All Rights Reserved.
312 Main St
Vancouver, BC V6A 2T2
Charitable registration number: 83220 0422 RR0001
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