News

正念的力量: 助你走出情绪的困扰

为什么我们有时会感到不快乐、抑郁或焦虑?

·  什么是正念？它的作用有哪些？

·   如何通过正念的方法调节情绪？

·   如何制定正念练习计划？

在这次讲座中，我们有幸请到了阿尔伯塔省注册社工 — 李敏老师 。李老师曾在卡尔加里排忧解难热线、卡尔加里移民妇女协会、加拿大心理健康互助中心健康大使项目等多家非盈利机构或项目为多族裔移民提供情绪支持服务。

这次的讲座是排忧解难热线 (Chinese Emotional Support Hotline) 系列公益讲座的一部分。我们希望通过免费公开性质的讲座给大家科普身心健康方面的知识和提供社区服务资源和信息，从而提升华人群体的生活质量和精神健康。

Why do we sometimes feel unhappy, depressed or anxious?

· What is mindfulness? What are its benefits?

· How can we regulate our emotions through mindfulness?

· How can we create a mindfulness practice plan?

In this lecture, we are fortunate to have Ms. Li Min, a registered social worker in Alberta, as our speaker. Ms. Li has provided emotional support services to multi-ethnic immigrants in several non-profit organizations or projects, such as Calgary Distress Centre, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, and the Healthy Ambassador Project of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

This lecture is part of the Chinese Emotional Support Hotline’s public welfare lecture series. We hope to provide knowledge on mental and physical health and provide community service resources and information through free and open lectures, thereby improving the quality of life and mental health of the Chinese community.

 

Time:   Thursday, April 6th , 2023, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

 Zoom:

Registration:   shorturl.at/acADE

Direct meeting link: https://zoom.us/w/91529281114

Meeting ID = 976 9824 6327

Registration QR code

*Registration & webinars are free.

This webinar is part of the Mental Wellness Seminars: Career Exploration Series from the Chinese Emotional Support Hotline. We hope that through free and open lectures, we will give everyone knowledge about physical and mental health, so as to help the Chinese community better integrate into Canadian society.

Time:  Part I:  Monday, February 6th , 2023, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

           Part II:  Saturday, February 18th , 2023, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration:   shorturl.at/acADE

Direct meeting link: https://zoom.us/w/91529281114

Meeting ID = 962 5417 9826

Registration QR code

*Registration & webinars are free.

Brief  introduction:
In this session, we will share the experience of six medical students with different backgrounds applying for Canadian medical schools. At the same time, we will explain to you in Chinese the important procedures and precautions for applying for Canadian medical schools. From making up your mind to actually being admitted, applying for medical school is a long process. We will answer your questions and share your experience in the process of applying for the exam. The first part of this lecture will be recorded in the medical school application process (Chinese), and the second part of personal experience sharing will not be recorded (combined Chinese and English).

Questionnaire:
If you have specific questions, please submit them in the following questionnaire link in advance. We will answer the questions in the questionnaire in advance during the lecture.
Warm reminder: Because everyone’s background is different, we cannot provide advice based on personal circumstances.
https://forms.gle/UQ1bNLkwzhYdEyGT7

Key points:

• Is there such a thing as a pre-major? Undergraduate Requirements
• Identity needs
• GPA score
• MCAT North American Medical College Admissions Test
• Recommendation letter
• Interview process
• Length of medical school
• Tuition fee
• Our personal background
• Resources share
• FAQ

Our Guests:

Jing Han holds a Bachelor of Science Honors in Psychology from the University of Alberta. Before medical school, she researched cultural psychology and served as a program leader for a problem-solving hotline. She is passionate about mental health communication and hopes to provide more diversified mental health platforms targeting different cultural backgrounds.

Angelo Law holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary. He has worked as a teacher in Calgary, teaching grades 3-12 in a variety of subjects. His interests are ethics, population health, Aboriginal health and mental health. Having entered med school as a “mature student” and “non-traditional applicant,” he understands the challenges (and benefits) of working for years before finding the courage to apply to med school and return to campus, and is more than happy to help those who may be considering a career transition ( studying medicine).

Breanna Fang holds a Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics from the University of Alberta. She was a math teacher for 10 years. Outside of school, Breanna enjoys acting in theater, and weight training. She is passionate about helping students with their educational difficulties.

Before medical school, Felicia Deng was a third-year Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, where she studied the body’s immune response to infectious disease. She is a firm believer in the power of education and has worked with Amnesty International and World Vision Canada to advocate for educational equity around the world. As a music lover, Felicia teaches piano and plays as a volunteer in a nursing home.

Richard Peng holds a Bachelor of Immunology and Neuroscience at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science Honors. He has worked in various areas of academia, with clinical and basic science research experience in gastroenterology, immunology and pediatric neuroscience. Richard is also involved in academic guidance and teaching, serving as a student advisor and helping several young students extend their academic experience.

Janelle Wai holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with First Class Honors from the University of Calgary. She is completing a Masters of Science Physical Therapy before attending medical school. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing and baking!

This webinar is part of the Mental Wellness Seminars: Career Exploration Series from the Chinese Emotional Support Hotline. We hope that through free and open lectures, we will give everyone knowledge about physical and mental health, so as to help the Chinese community better integrate into Canadian society.

Time: Saturday, Dec 17th , 2022, from 12:00pm – 3:00 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Application form:

For agency:         https://forms.gle/23bLDv1KfVihRVtM9 

For individual:    https://forms.gle/deP6kLSpWu7A8oWQ7

Time: Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LF6HUeHgQDKw_poL6vLlOA

Direct meeting link: https://zoom.us/w/91529281114

Meeting ID = 915 2928 1114

Registration QR code

*Registration & webinars are free.

The holiday season is coming, so are the exams… Have you got an overwhelmed student at home or are you answering calls on our hotline from stressed students? Are you wondering how to support but not really sure about where to start and what the best way is? Please join our workshop and Linnea has all the answers! 

Outline of workshop:

• Tuning into the need for help
• The foundations of helping: listening & attending:
• Helping as a process
• Crisis response
• Crisis referrals.

We are pleased to have Linnea Vendittelli as our guest speaker on this topic. As the Mental Health Education Coordinator, Counselling Services, Division of Student Success at Red Deer Polytechnic, Linnea is an ambassador and advocate for mental health and wellness. She strives to educate and inspire others to create a supportive and collaborative environment. Linnea is a strong facilitator in mental health literacy programs, such as the MHCC’s Mental Health First Aid and The Inquiring Mind, LivingWorks SafeTALK, and Alberta Health Services’ Community Helpers Program. Linnea has a Bachelor of Health Science, Biomedical major and Psychology minor, and experience working and volunteering with mental health groups in Canada. Linnea seeks opportunities to combine her passion and knowledge to have a positive impact on individuals. When Linnea is not at work, she can be found creating greeting cards in her side-gig Card Construction or with her adorable puppy, Moxie!

This webinar is part of our Chinese Emotional Support Hotline presentation series, with the purpose of improving the Chinese community’s wellbeing and mental health through providing free educational seminars raising awareness on the resources available to support you.

Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KyrTcqjWSgqItq5liy9aEw

Direct meeting link: https://zoom.us/w/99124092600

Meeting ID = 991 2409 2600

Registration QR code

*Registration & webinars are free.

Summary:

Dr. Siu Keung (Kent) Tsang is going to talk something about how immigration has given impact on our mental health taking into references of recent relevant studies. Common psychological issues related to mental health issues will be discussed with some practical skills to improve mental health for new immigrants.

We are pleased to have Dr. Siu Keung (Kent) Tsang as our guest speaker on this topic. Dr. Siu Keung (Kent) Tsang, PsyD (Clinical) is a registered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.  As a new immigrant, he has experienced first-hand the anxiety-ridden process of moving and adapting a new home and is helping new immigrants to overcome various mental difficulties that arise from settling into a new culture and environment in Canada. Other than that, he is working in various medical clinics and counselling centers in Calgary seeing clients who are struggling with mood and anxiety problems, substance misuse problems, to other more complicated mental health problems such as, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia. He also supports clients who are impacted by car accidents or workers compensation cases for various traumatic and psychological injury services.  

This webinar is part of our Chinese Emotional Support Hotline presentation series, with the purpose of improving the Chinese community’s wellbeing and mental health through providing free educational seminars raising awareness on the resources available to support you. 

Time: Monday August 29, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x662Zm0hSD–73KTyuuRBg

Direct meeting link: https://zoom.us/w/95110498743 

Meeting ID = 951 1049 8743

*Registration & webinars are free.

 Topic list:

• Federal benefits: Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security(OAS), and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• Alberta benefits: Seniors Financial Assistance Programs
• Calgary benefits: Fair Entry

Many seniors come to Canada to join their children and grandchildren. However, while taking care of their families, the elderly often face problems such as language barriers, limited communication, etc. To make things worse, their lack of understanding of their children’s work and surrounding environment can often triggers anxiety about the family’s economic status. At the same time, due to language barriers, most elderly people rely on their children to help apply for seniors benefit. The preparation of application materials often brings a lot of stress to the whole family which makes it even harder for the elderly to ask for help. In this case, learning about seniors benefit and obtaining application assistance can be very helpful for both seniors and families.

We are pleased to have Laura (Jing) Wang as our guest speaker on this topic. Laura will give us a comprehensive explanation of various senior benefits in Canada, especially for seniors over the age of 60 and their children. Laura has been working for over ten years as the Settlement Practitioner for Seniors at Centre for Newcomers, Calgary since June 2007. In the past years of consulting work, Laura has helped many seniors and families apply for various government benefits, explained government welfare policies, and helped with PR card renewal and citizenship application. She has also been providing consulting work on government-subsidized housing, public transportation benefits, and healthy family relationships. Laura also organized various workshops/webinars, visits, hobby groups and fitness and entertainment activities.

This webinar is part of our Chinese Emotional Support Hotline presentation series, with the purpose of improving the Chinese community’s wellbeing and mental health through providing free educational seminars raising awareness on the resources available to support you.

Hotline Webinar #15/ Virtual Coffee Club #23 – How to plan for retirement (如何做好退休规划)

Time: Tuesday June 26, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration: https://edwardjones.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EBHkU0FUR_aO8oQOE_h4HA

*Registration & webinars are free.

 Topic list:

• The four stages of life after retirement and estimated costs.
• Introduction to Canada Retirement Benefits
• Canadian Retirement Tax Planning
• Detailed explanation of RRSP
• Pension withdrawal strategy and benefit maximization
• Reasons for bankruptcy and how to avoid bankruptcy after retirement

We are pleased to have Jeremy Xu as our guest speaker on this topic. When pursuing his MBA in Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Jeremy realized the significance of personal and family finance on Canadians and set his mission of becoming a financial advisor with the goal of serving Canadians who would like protect their financial wellness and accumulate wealth with the assistance from the professionals. Whether you are a young professional who is just starting your career, a business owner or a soon-to-be retiree who ready to enjoy a new life, Jeremy’s customized advice and personalized service will be there to guide you where you are headed. This webinar on retirement plan is a topic that Jeremy is very familiar with and we hope that you can enjoy the webinar and get some useful information.

This webinar is part of our Chinese Emotional Support Hotline presentation series as well as part of the Virtual Coffee Club series offered by Jeremy, with the purpose of improving the Chinese community’s wellbeing and mental health through providing free educational seminars raising awareness on the resources available to support you.

Time: Wednesday June 22, 2022, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Alberta time – MST)

Zoom:

Registration:  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_t6sEtJcJTZa8It2prWhTOg

Direct meeting link:   https://zoom.us/w/97557081770

Meeting ID = 975 5708 1770

Registration QR code

Topic list:

• North America’s Complicated History
• Origins of COVID-19 
• Microaggressions
• Macroaggressions
• The Media’s Contributions
• Resources 

The advent and continuation of COVID-19 and its variants have significantly changed all our lives. This has led to worldwide experiences of microaggressions, among many of the Asian demographics, defined as small acts of negative behavior, including insults and discrimination. Other macroaggressions have included larger incidents of violence such physical assaults, presumably based on appearance. These actions have also directly impacted other ethnic group members who were incorrectly perceived to be Asian. This presentation will offer information about Canada’s complicated history with Chinese immigrants, the contribution of the media to this problem, and the existence and continuation of mistreatment among cultural groups. Lastly, we will discuss how we, as a community can do to help all visible minorities feel safer in their daily lives.

We are pleased to have May Yeung as our guest speaker on this topic. 

May holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Education, a Certificate of Teaching English as a Second Language, and a Master of Education degree. She has taught in the public, private, and alternative K-12 systems in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well abroad. Currently, she is an English language instructor in a local post-secondary institution. May is interested in furthering research about the development of the myth of model minorities, the creation of hybrid identities, increasing intercultural competencies, and the application of culturally responsive teaching pedagogy among international students in English for Academic/Specific Purposes (EAP/ESP) programs.

This session will be presented in English, however the host panel will be there to help everyone understand the content. Live scripts will be used and immigrant key words will be presented in Chinese on the PowerPoint slides. 

This webinar is part of our Chinese Emotional Support Hotline presentation series, with the purpose of improving the Chinese community’s wellbeing and mental health through providing free educational seminars raising awareness on the resources available to support you.