COVID, MENTAL HEALTH, AND AGING: OPPORTUNITY…AND RESPONSIBILITY?
A Free Webinar – June 29, 2021; 7-9 PM EDT via Zoom
We are in the midst of a COVID pandemic, but also ‘serious mental health crises’ because of the pandemic. One out of every 10 people now reports having an unmet mental health care need; 7 out of 10 Ontarians think there will be a ‘serious mental health crisis’ because of the pandemic. “We’re going to see this level of trauma for many years,” said the executive director of trauma healing at the American Bible Society (ABS). Many experts confirm that coronavirus isolation is taking a toll on mental health of seniors, as well as their caregivers. Almost 38% of Canadians reported that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they experienced feelings of loneliness or isolation. This free Webinar will introduce the mental health crisis which is, no doubt, all around and perhaps within, each of us. We will then focus on LONELINESS in this first webinar. Our aim is both to understand and to consider biblical responses. We are also preparing to hold a series of webinars, as appropriate, on other relevant mental health topics related to Covid and Aging, including Grief, Anxiety, and Depression.
Presenters include: Mike Krabbendam, who has been involved with health care provision for over 45 years, and currently holds the position of Administrator / DOC at Manoah Manor, Canadian Reformed Senior Citizens Home, Langley, BC. He is trained as both a general and psychiatric nurse; Rev Matthew VanLuik, pastor of the Grace Canadian Reformed Church in Brampton, Ontario; Chaplain Chris Herman, who founded http://lazarusmission.org/, which plants churches in Nursing Homes. Chris serves with the Reformed Episcopal Church in the Dayton, Ohio area; and Tom McCormick, who is directing the Word and Spirit Institute’s Certificate Program in Ministries for the Aging.
Register in advance for this meeting by emailing: wsinstitute@outlook.com
Deadline for registering – June 28th, 12 noon EDT.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a short survey along with ZOOM link.
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