A message from Richard Jock, FNHA Chief Executive Officer; and Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Chief Medical Officer
A huge congratulations to everyone who participated in our 7th annual Sober for October Wellness Challenge! We hope you are feeling healthier and happier after 31 days of reduced- or no-alcohol consumption, and that you are so pleased with your results you're considering continuing this journey beyond October.
We understand how challenging maintaining wholistic wellness (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) can be. It is certainly not easy to prioritize health and wellness when we have so many other things to juggle.
One community member who took part in the challenge told the FNHA's Wellness Team that she plans to continue being more mindful of her alcohol consumption because she feels so much better after a month of reduced drinking. She typically had a few glasses of wine socially on weekends, but now limits herself to one.
Whether you chose to reduce or quit drinking this month, kudos to you for prioritizing your health and wellness. We encourage you to take time to reflect on the benefits you have experienced, and to share them with others. For example, did you experience improved well-being, mood, sleep and overall health and wellness? Did you have more energy or motivation? Just 31 days of reducing or removing alcohol helps reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cancers, weakened immune systems, and mental health challenges including depression and anxiety. Imagine maintaining what you have done during this past month could do for your wholistic wellness!
Even though the official Sober for October Wellness Challenge is now over, we strongly encourage you to continue striving toward the wellness goals and healthy habits you set out for yourself this month, whether that be limiting or quitting alcohol. As for us, we are both abstainers, and can attest to the fact that being alcohol-free has improved our health and wellness. You can read our stories here: Richard Jock, Dr. Nel Wieman.
The FNHA Wellness Team would love to continue to feature stories of wholistic wellness, strength and resilience like Naneek Naytowhow's and Phyllis Fleury's from this year's Sober for October Wellness Initiative. If you would be willing to share your story, you can email the Wellness Team at wellness@fnha.ca, and they will support you in writing and sharing your story on our website and our social media platforms.
Important: Please remember that if you abstained all month and will be resuming drinking alcohol, your tolerance level to alcohol consumption may be lower than before. Be sure to drink slowly and consider drinking non-alcoholic drinks, such as sparkling water, in between alcoholic drinks. Learn more tips here about ways you can rethink your drink!
See the following resources to continue to support you on your journey:
To learn more about alcohol harm-reduction services and information, visit our Overdose-Prevention and Harm-Reduction page.
For information on getting treatment or recovery at a centre or outpatient clinic, including receiving couples counselling and services for pregnant people, visit our Treatment Centres page.
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.
You can also access culturally safe care through the FNHA's Virtual Substance Use and Psychiatry Service, which provides BC First Nations people and their family members (even if they are not First Nations) with access to specialists in addictions medicine and psychiatry.
If you have suggestions to enhance this challenge, or suggestions for future challenges, please email the Wellness Initiatives Team at Wellness@fnha.ca.
