Lauren MacLean is president of the Red River College Students’ Association. She is completing her second year of Business Administration with an accounting major. After receiving her RRC diploma she plans to continue her studies towards a Commerce degree. 

When Lauren MacLean, president of the Red River College Students’ Association (RRCSA) started feeling stressed out, she didn’t hesitate to do something about it. She called her friends and talked to them about what was going on in her life. When that didn’t translate into her feeling much better, she made an appointment with a counsellor.

“At one point, talking to my friends was actually making things worse for me because I was feeling guilty about going on and on about the same things, said Lauren. “It was a relief to talk to a counsellor because there were no expectations and I didn’t feel like I was burdening anyone.”

Reaching out for help

Lauren started seeing a counsellor in Counselling and Accessibility Services once a week. After working through her feelings and coming up with a plan for minimizing stress and other negative feelings, she didn’t need to visit as often. Now, she simply checks in when she feels she needs to — about once a month.

“I’m in a good place now. It’s not often that I have intense feelings of anger or frustration or lots of stress that I need to work through like I did when I first started going,” said Lauren. “What I get out of sessions now is mostly feedback about whether I’m on the right track with something or that my goals are realistic.”

Sometimes a fresh perspective from someone we aren’t close to is exactly what we need to move forward. It was, and still is, something Lauren finds helpful.

“When I talk to my counsellor, Chad, he asks questions and points things out that I wouldn’t have necessarily thought of on my own,” said Lauren. “This is great because in my role with the RRCSA, I need to examine issues and decisions from many angles and think about how they affect different people. This kind of thinking also comes in handy when I’m working with other students on group projects.”

A great resource for students

For Lauren, Counselling and Accessibility Services is a vital resource that more students should take advantage of.

“I don’t want any student to feel ashamed or weird about seeing a counsellor. The counsellors at RRC are free and honestly, they’re awesome. There is no one solution to coping with mental health issues — some people will find solace in drawing or spending time with their dog — but counsellors are one great resource that I highly recommend.”

Interested in scheduling an appointment?

If you’d like to make an appointment with a counsellor, complete the online intake form. Someone will be in contact with you to schedule an appointment.

Are you looking to burn away those winter blues?  No worries, the fourth annual Chili Cup is set for March 13th at the Notre Dame Campus at the former Prairie Lights location on the mall level.

The event starts at noon – but come early as the event runs until the chili is all gone.

It costs $3 to come as a taster with all proceeds from the event going to the Students’ Association Food Bank.

And your contestants are:

Contestant Name: Tammy Kowerko

Team Name: Tammy Kowerko

Team Name: Tammy’s Totally Awesome Tequilla Chili

Team Name: This is an award winning tantalizing chili that will have you craving for more! “It’s that I just can’t get enough feeling!” Tammy’s chili is made with a hint of heat and a unique combination of spices and secret ingredients that would surprise you!  Give this chili a try — you will be so happy that you did!

*

Contestant Name: Shane Ray

Team Name: Ring of Fire

Team Name: Hurt

Team Name: a little of this, a little of that, some stuff we found at the back of the fridge.

*

Contestant Name: Leslie Ternowetsky, Lindsay Mullholland & Sue Hayduk

Team Name: Señoras Picantes

Team Name: Vegé Molé Olé!

Team Name: Vegan chili in a Mexican mole style.

*

Contestant Name: Counselling and Accessibility Services

Team Name: Bowls of Steel

Team Name: Spicy Beef Chili

Team Name: Meat lovers, get your chili bowls ready, you are going to love our spicy beef concoction.  And we hope you like it HOT! Fiery is the best way to describe the heat – it will sure to melt the winter away for good! But, if hot isn’t your thing, don’t worry, we’ll have toppings to help tone it down so all will enjoy 🙂

*

Contestant Name: Norlan Page

Team Name: Internal lnferno

Team Name: Kim Chi Li

Team Name: Korean-inspired chili

*

Contestant Name: Red River College Students’ Association

Team Name: SA’ll Good

Team Name: SA’WEET N’ SA’PICY

Team Name: This hearty blend of fresh ingredients will stimulate your taste buds as it awakens your senses with sweet and spicy flavor.

*

Contestant Name: Cristina Gomes

Team Name: the Mamasitas

Team Name: Not Your Mama’s Chili

Team Name: If its in your fridge its in the chili.

*

Contestant Name: Mike Krywy

Team Name: Dr. Inferno and the Cosmos

Team Name: Alien Beans

Team Name: This cosmically inspired culinary creation will take you to a previously unexplored galaxy of taste, on a trip that will blow your mind and then fuse if back together in ways that have yet to be invented here on Earth.

When I went to university I had a difficult time making the transition.  During my first year, I reached the half-way point and I still hadn’t found that feeling of being “in stride” with it. I understood the routine of getting up for classes and making sure I caught my bus at the same time every day.  I also felt the stress of the workload piling up on me and I barely had any free moments to relax and not think – to be young and having fun.

I thought my January resolutions would’ve held out … but who was I kidding. I knew it would be the same pattern as before, and just thinking that way had already set me up for failure. I knew that if I was to succeed with what I wanted out of life I had to really take a good look at myself, really see who I was and face some of the unwanted answers to the question “Who am I?”. I would have to make some tough decisions, and change the way I live by recognizing my personal patterns (both good and bad).

Here are some tips that helped me back then and continue to help make my life one that I design for myself and not something that others have programmed for me.

1)     Just Do It

One thing that stops most of us is our inability to just do something, anything. What should I do? How should I do it?  Just the momentum of movement will lead us to answers we seek as long as we remain detached to the outcomes and remain focused on ourselves. Energy creates energy. Fears will be there and barriers will come but by taking a simple step towards what you want you will bring yourself closer to that bliss we all chase.  This one step will also create emotions within ourselves which, when they are in line with our true path, will lift us up and carry us further down the path of our dreams. However if you deal with any type of anxiety this can seem like a huge deal. It’s easier said than done. Work on being gentle with yourself and working on non-judgment. If you can find yourself at a point where you can forgive yourself for doing nothing you are on the right track to getting into doing something. There is no race in life. You are on your own timeline which can give you that sense of freedom and relieve some of the pressures on ourselves.  Read More →

Thinking of sprucing up the house this spring? If so, this series might be for you. It relates home maintenance and personal care products to health. It focuses on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that come from these products, and affect air in our homes. The series outlines:

• What VOCs are & where they come from,
• How VOCs affect health,
• Ways to reduce our exposure to VOCs at home.

What are VOC’s?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which … have short – and long-term adverse health effects.

EAST TORONTO FROM BEARE HILL.
LEFT, ON A CLEAR WINDY DAY, TORONTO AIR APPEARS FRESH AND CLEAN.
RIGHT, ON A STILL SPRING DAY OUR
SMOG PROBLEM IS READILY APPARENT.3

Health Canada says:

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a large and diverse family of chemicals that contain carbon and hydrogen. They can be emitted into indoor air from a variety of sources including cigarette smoke, household products like air fresheners, furnishings and building materials such as paint, varnish and glues. They are also found in gasoline and other fuels and can enter the home through vehicle exhaust or vapours from stored fuel coming from attached garages or traffic outside.

 They affect air quality. Outdoors, VOCs contribute to the smog and greenhouse gas loads and that is why many countries first began to regulate them.

Sources of Indoor VOCs

There are thousands of VOCs; some natural; others are man-made. They do not always have a smell.  The Minnesota Department of Health lists common VOCs encountered in our homes:  Acetone, Benzene, Ethylene glycol, Formaldehyde, Methylene chloride, Perchloroethylene, Toluene, Xylene, 1,3-butadiene.The same excellent article shows us more specific kinds of VOC sources under headings like: building materials, home and personal care products. 

Sources of VOCs

Sources of VOCs

To focus on an example, we can look at methylene chloride, found in paint strippers. California recently focused an awareness campaign on it. Using graphic reports, it describes actual and tragic health/illness events where the compound was in use. The campaign also lists safer product options and the personal protective equipment specific to each type of paint stripper.

This post has outlined what VOCs are and where they come from.  It provides a link to allow the reader an expanded view of an example VOC. Our next post will return to VOCs in general and outline more of their concerning health effects.  Tune in yet again to see some easy, often inexpensive, healthier home and personal care options.

References

1. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
2. Health Canada.
3. Friends of the Rouge Watershed   
4. Minnesota Department of Health
5. Sources of VOCs

From Health Services

February is Heart Month!

Heart disease and stroke are two of the top three leading causes of death. Did you know?

• Every seven minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke.[1]
• Heart disease and stroke costs the Canadian economy more than $20.9 billion every year in physician services, hospital costs, lost wages and decreased productivity.[2]
• 9.7% of Canadians are in ideal cardiovascular health, 53.8% are in intermediate health, and 36.5% are in poor health. [3]

Even though these are some scary statistics, there are some risk factors that you cannot control such as age, gender, family history or ethnicity. However, there are a number of risk factors that you can do something about:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Being overweight
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Physical activity
• Smoking
• Stress

What can you do to control your risk to heart disease and stroke?

There are 8 steps to prevent heart disease according to the Mayo Clinic by using a heart-healthy diet.[4]

1. Control your portion size
2. Eat more vegetables and fruits
3. Select whole grains
4. Limit unhealthy fats and cholesterol
5. Choose low-fat protein sources
6. Reduce the sodium in your food
7. Plan ahead: create daily meals
8. Allow yourself an occasional treat

How do you know if you are currently at risk?

The Heart & Stroke Foundation has created a Risk Assessment that you can complete online. The Risk Assessment helps you find out what is putting you at risk for heart disease and stroke. You can create an account or complete the assessment anonymously. The questions regarding your health and lifestyle are simple and take less than 10 minutes to complete.

To complete the assessment, visit: Heart & Stroke Risk Assessment

Did You Know?

You may have a soft spot in your heart for a family pet. Through STRATA Select, you are eligible for discounts on Pet Health Insurance through Petplan Pet Insurance®? You have a choice of annual coverage limits and may be eligible for a discount on monthly premiums. Check it out!

Are you looking to burn away those winter blues?  No worries, the fourth annual Chili Cup is set for March 13th at the Notre Dame Campus.

If you want the chance to have your name engraved on the Chili Cup you can register using the form at the bottom of the post.  Chefs will cook up a super-sized crock pot of Chili and serve up sample size portions to those in attendance.

Dr.. Inferno offers up some vegetarian chili, filled with “Peas, Love, and Understanding”.

If you don’t want to compete, you can come and sample all the chilis and vote for your favourite. It costs $3 to come as a taster with all proceeds from the event going to the Students’ Association Food Bank – just in time for the holidays!

If you don’t work at the Notre Dame Campus, you’re still eligible to take part – or to host another cook-off at your own campus. Talk to your manager or leave a reply to this post if you’re in that boat.

The competition features two types of prizes: the People’s Choice voted on by all who attend and the President’s Choice that is selected by three adjudicators.  The Chili is usually gobbled up quickly, so plan to be there for the kick off. In the past the event has attracted about 150 staff and students and the Chili is usually gone within a half hour.  Further details will be provided through this blog and the Staff News.

Nursing Instructors Tom Harrigan and Jackie Santiago being awarded the Chili Cup by RRC President Stephanie Forsyth

Last years’ winner were Nursing instructors Tom Harrigan and Jackie Santiago (Team Caliente) who wowed the critics with their blend of a “traditional hearty chili with the heat of India and Mexico infused”. Check out the RRC Flickr account for photos of Chili Cup 2011.

Rules and additional info will be forwarded to entrants after registration closes. For more information, contact Mike Krywy at mkrywy@rrc.ca.

Since we are still in the middle of another Winnipeg winter, I made the decision to spend some more time in the kitchen, with an eye towards cooking some healthier meals and keeping the “winter weight” off. I don’t own many cook books, so I used that thing called “the Internet”, and started to search for some easy to prepare, yet healthy meals.

The first blog I visited was created and is run by a good friend of mine, Cam Makarchuk. Cam is a personal trainer and owns a Fitness studio in the city, Boom Bodyshapping on Jubilee. He started a blog, where he shares fitness tips, blogs and recipes with his clients and anyone who is interested in health and fitness. He recommended a few recipes to me, and I would like to pass them along to you. The first recipe is for a Beef & Spaghetti Squash Ragu. The second recipe that I have yet to try, but will soon is for a Paleo Pad Thai.

The second website I visited was suggested by my mom. She is an avid cook and cookbook collector; she passed along a cookbook to me written by a pair of sisters, Janet and Greta Podleski, aka the LooneySpoon sisters. They’ve sold a ton a cookbooks, and they’re easy to follow healthy recipes were great for me to cook from. They have a great fried chicken recipe  and an even better Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chilli.

Hopefully these recipes will produce some delicious food for you! Pair that with some time in the North Gymnasium and Loft or in the fitness facility on the EDC campus, and your winter will be far more healthy and productive!

Cole Skinner

Athletics & Recreation Coordinator

Post written by Lauren MacLean

Back in high school, I was very interested in fashion and design, so of course I bought tons of magazines, tried lots of different styles and played with makeup. I had some majorly weird outfits that I’m happy I never took photos of! (This was before the selfie made it big). Think pink eye shadow, furry lace-up boots with miniskirts, mixing patterns and trying on my mom’s clothes from the 70’s. Yeah.

Teen Vogue was one of the magazines I bought religiously. Every month, waiting for the newest issue was almost painful. Once I got it, I’d read it cover to cover, advertisements and everything. If you’ve never read this magazine, it contains lots of picture stories (editorials), articles on the latest health trend (or scare), a spotlight on a trendy starlit and lot and lots of ads. All the clothes and accessories featured are horrendously expensive, and most of the fashion editorials are really out there.

Looking back, It’s hard believe I wanted to be like the thin models with their bones sticking out of their clothes because now, I think having muscles is so much more attractive. But it’s true, I was no exception to those who fell for the media’s messages about beauty. I remember thinking about how being able to fit into small, expensive clothes like the models was a measure of success.

As I read these magazines, I soaked up all the latest fashion tips and tricks like a dry sponge. I also found myself vulnerable to believing everything in the articles. There were articles about everything from prescription drug abuse to date rape to one on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) that particularly stuck out to me. BDD is a condition where the person becomes excessively worried about one body part. I remember finishing the article and thinking, “If so many people have this, I wonder if I have it too”.

Over the next few weeks, I became convinced that I had BDD. I eventually went to my mom and confided in her. She was dumbfounded that I would self-diagnose myself using Teen Vogue. She forbade me from ever buying another Teen Vogue.

It seemed harsh at the time, but as the weeks went by, not looking at those images or reading those articles was a relief. I even started to notice how phony the media can be sometimes. It took a little while but I was able to stop comparing myself and my ailments to others and just focus on doing my own thing. I continued experimenting with my hair, makeup, and accessories, of course, but I didn’t need anyone or any magazine telling me what to do or believe. I started concentrating on what matters — just being me.

About Lauren

Lauren MacLean is president of the Red River College Students’ Association. She is completing her second year of Business Administration with an accounting major. After receiving her RRC diploma she plans to continue her studies towards a Commerce degree. 

Upcoming Submission Deadline!

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you to submit your 2013 claims to your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) by March 31, 2014.

2013 claims must be received by Great-West Life prior to March 31^st, 2014 to be claimed against your 2013 HCSA dollars. Any unused 2013 benefit dollars remaining after this period will be forfeited.

The HCSA can be used to cover a range of benefits not normally covered under other types of group benefits plans or by provincial medical plans.

What are covered expenses?

You are covered for 100% of eligible expenses that you incur while you and your dependents are covered, up to the total amount of dollars in your HCSA.

The Income Tax Act governs the types of expenses that can be reimbursed under the HCSA. This includes medical or dental services provided by a:

• Licensed medical practitioner;
• Dentist; or
• Public or licensed private hospital.

Please visit www.cra-arc.gc.ca and search on medical expenses for a complete list.

On January 1^st, 2014, your HCSA refreshed based on the Flex Option you have chosen and part-time/full-time status where applicable. Please visit www.greatwestlife.com to review your claims history and obtain your HCSA statement including balance.

Under the HCSA, you can carry forward claims up to 12 months from the date of service. This means if you had more 2013 expenses than you had 2013 HCSA dollars, you can carry forward those claims for reimbursement against your 2014 HCSA balance.

For example, under Flex Option 5:

Updated Claim Submission Requirements

Great-West Life has updated their claims submission requirements for compression hose and orthopedic shoes. There has been no change to the coverage provided under the Red River College plan. The change in requirements is common among insurance carriers to ensure coverage is provided for valid expenses.

What are the claim requirements for compression hose?

Benefits will be adjudicated according to the compression factor of the hose. When submitting a claim, you are required to provide the following information:

•  Medical Diagnosis – a prescription from your doctor that includes the specific medical diagnosis. A description of symptoms is not sufficient documentation.
• Make/Model of Hose – ensure there is a make and model number of  the compression hose you have been supplied with on your receipt

 Please refer to your Benefits Booklet to determine your eligibility and benefit limits.

What are the claim requirements for orthopedic shoes?

When submitting a claim, you are required to provide the following information:

• Prescription Requirement – the prescription must set out the medical diagnosis necessitating the orthopedic shoes. Prescriptions outlining symptoms rather than a medical diagnosis will not be sufficient.
• Casting Technique – details of technique utilized, description of the process and the materials used to fabricate the shoes when claim is for custom-made orthopedic shoes.
• Brand/Model – details of brand name, model of shoes, description of each modifcation made to shoes (if applicable) and a breakdown of the costs of the shoes and each modification when the claim is for custom-fitted or pre-fabricated (off-the-shelf) orthopedic shoes.

Please refer to your Benefits Booklet to determine your eligibility and benefit limits.

Did You Know?

Through STRATA Select, you are eligible for discounts on new security systems or monitoring of existing systems through ProTELEC Alarms? ProTELEC has three incentives depending on customer needs. Check it out!

Chad Smith is a counsellor at Red River College in Counselling & Accessibility Services. He holds his Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from the University of Manitoba.

So you’ve heard Red River College (RRC) offers free counselling to students and you think you might want to give it a try, but what should you expect at your first visit? And what types of things can a counsellor really help you with anyway?

Well, we spoke to Chad Smith, one of the counsellors at RRC’s Exchange District Campus, and it turns there’s a lot they can help you with!

Here’s the lowdown on everything from what you can talk to them about (anything), how often you can visit (as often as you need), who will know you’re going there (nobody) and much more.

mind it!: What types of things can counsellors help students with?

Chad: We can help students work through a wide variety of issues. We offer personal counselling, career counselling and academic counselling — there really isn’t any topic that’s off limits. From homelessness to addiction to childhood traumas such as sexual abuse, we can talk about anything the student feels we need to address.

mind it!: What can students expect the first time they come to your office?

Chad: The first time we meet with a student we will do what’s called an ‘intake’ where we ask them lots of questions to determine what they’re looking to achieve through counselling. It’s really just an opportunity for us to meet the student and for the student to meet us. It takes approximately an hour.

mind it!: What are the most common issues that come up during sessions?

Chad: The most common reasons students seek counselling is for depression and anxiety, stress and relationships troubles.

mind it!: How do you help them work through these issues?

Chad: Let’s take a student experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety for example. First, we’ll explore what it means to them when they say that they’re feeling stressed and anxious. This is because there’s normal stress and anxiety that students can expect while in school, but then there’s stress and anxiety levels that are unmanageable.

After we’ve established the level of stress and anxiety, we’ll take a look at different ways that they have coped in the past and try to determine what has been helpful. We’ll also talk about environment, because it’s often not about the student but their surroundings. For instance, if you live in poverty and you’re constantly worried about safe housing, that stress is going to impact your success in school.

Lastly, I’ll connect the student to other resources, if necessary. If I’m working with a student living in poverty for example, we may talk about student loans, grant programs, or bursaries and awards they may be eligible for.

mind it!: How long will a student usually see you for? Once? Many times throughout the year?

Chad: It really depends on what the student is going through. We see some students once and others regularly throughout the year. On average, I’d say we probably see students for about eight sessions, but if it makes sense to see them more often then we’ll do that. If a student needs longer-term counselling or more specialized counselling we may refer them to a community resource or agency. But we can still be that students’ on-campus support person.

mind it!: Will my instructors and peers know that I’m seeing a counsellor?

Chad: Counselling is completely confidential. We will never disclose information about a student without their consent. So in other words, no one will know you are seeing a counsellor if you don’t want them to.

mind it!: What if I’m in crisis, can I see someone right away?

Chad: There’s always one counsellor available to meet with students who are in crisis. Sometimes the student won’t get in to see someone right that minute, but we always do our best to get them in and they will definitely see someone that same day.

mind it!: What if I’m in crisis when your office is closed?

Chad: There are some great resources in the community including drop-in counselling at Klinic, the mobile crisis unit and a few different 24 hour crisis help lines. Students can call these resources anytime to talk with someone at no cost.


If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call:

Klinic Community Health Centre
(204) 786-8686 or toll free 1-888-322-3019 or TTY (Deaf Access) 204-784-4097