How to avoid a Clark Griswold meltdown and having a SWAT team invade our home
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has become a holiday season staple in many homes. The film, released in 1989, portrays the misadventures of the Griswold family as the main character Clark tries to create the perfect family Christmas. While the film is genuinely funny, there’s something more profound that appeals to us. Perhaps it’s the fact…
The grief from the loss of a companion animal is real
Grief over the death of a beloved pet needs to be more recognized and respected, according to new research. A study of women 55 and older living alone revealed intense feelings of sorrow after losing a companion animal, but they were careful about who they shared their feelings with, fearing a dismissive response, said Cary Brown,…
Integrity, compassion and courage are more enduring and powerful than greed
Renowned American writer Maya Angelou advised, “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” In other words, before we put anyone into a position of trust in our lives, we need to examine their track record. How do they treat the most vulnerable people in our society? How do they respond…
Fear of dying has stripped us of the courage to live
It’s been almost two years now since I had a social life of any kind. You remember social life, don’t you? Having friends over for dinner, going to a crowded restaurant on Friday after work and feeling the buzz of interaction, picking your way through the mob at the farmer’s market, having a couple over…
Researchers are using AI to create customized soundscapes that could help patients relax and sleep
A music professor and his interdisciplinary research team are aiming to reduce stress in intensive care patients with soothing soundscapes. Based on machine learning, the “smart” sound system would read physiological feedback such as heart rate, breathing and sweat gland response to customize calming sounds for individual patients, said principal investigator Michael Frishkopf, professor in…
Research explores the impact of obesity-related stigma on young people – and how to end it
“We should just keep weight out of everyday conversation with our kids.” That’s the conclusion Alexa Ferdinands came to after interviewing young people about their experiences with obesity-related stigma for her PhD in health promotion and socio-behavioural sciences in the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health. “When it comes to nutrition, there are so…
Time away from home contributes to low morale and difficulty maintaining healthy habits
The mental health of contract workers who fly in and out of Alberta’s oil sands compares poorly with that of the general population, according to a new report co-written by University of Alberta sociologist Sara Dorow. In one of the first studies in Canada to examine mental health and well-being in the fly-in, fly-out (FIFO)…
Clinical Services offers low-cost support and training to students who will be on the front lines of the recovery ahead
It was a scream and a hug in the lobby of a vehicle registry in Camrose, Alta., that showed Larissa Brosinsky the power of positive self-talk. It was 2015 and the psychology grad was working with adults living with developmental disabilities – including a woman in her mid-40s who had dreamed for years of learning…
Focus on being honest and ask for help, consider a sabbatical and trust yourself
I bumped into Julie’s father at the grocery store and asked how his daughter’s business was doing. He told me she was going through a rough patch, so I called Julie. The first thing I noticed was Julie’s voice: the excitement was gone, and her energy seemed depleted. She told me about everything that was…
Americans facing voting barriers due to race, age, income less likely to have health insurance; implications for Canadian system
Americans who face barriers to voting due to their racial background, age or socio-economic status are also less likely to have health insurance, according to recently published research in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas. “We saw a significant relationship between barriers to voting and being uninsured, particularly among African Americans, Asian Americans, those living in lower-income households…