PCN Quarterly Newsletter
Issue 02, Self Love
February 2024
Connecting the Dots:
Better Health on the North Shore

 
Welcome to our Valentine's Day Issue: 
Cultivating Health and the Art of Self-Love 

Self-love and good health are important aspects of our lives that we should prioritize, not just on Valentine's Day but every day. By valuing and focusing on our well-being, we can improve our relationships with others and live our best lives.
 
The North Shore Primary Care Network is putting a new spin on Valentine's Day. We want to recognize and celebrate other forms of love. Familial love, platonic love, and of course, self-love. 
 
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This Valentine's Day: Check In
Article by Dr. Michelle Brousson, Family Practitioner
 
 

 
A Valentine’s Prescription for Self-Love and Calm from your North Shore PCN Mental Health Clinicians 
 
Article by Chelsea Campbell, PCN Mental Health Clinician
Mental health clinicians within the PCN prioritize empowering patients through grounding exercises that promote self-esteem, self-compassion, and acceptance. In light of February being the month of love, it provides an ideal opportunity to delve into the essence of self-love. During challenging mental health moments, negative self-talk and self-doubt can often surface.
 
The Primary Care Network is dedicated to providing comprehensive support through experienced mental health clinicians. Specializing in assisting clients with mental health and substance use concerns, the PCN offers up to 8 sessions of short-term free counseling.
Beyond mental health, clinicians can guide individuals through various aspects of system navigation, including financial support, housing assistance, advance care planning, and more. These services are available to patients whose family doctors are based on the North Shore and are accessible through phone, virtual sessions, and in-person meetings from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday. 

* To learn more, simply ask your family doctor for a referral to initiate an intake with our dedicated team.
 

 
Goodbye, Pap. Hello, Swab!
 
B.C. Cervix Screening Transition to HPV Self-Screening has begun as of January 2024
Article by Elisabeth Ash, RN
You may already be aware that women aged 25 to 69 need to be regularly screened for cervical cancer. Yet BC recently marked an exciting day as it launched its transition from a Pap test to HPV primary screening, which puts the power of cervix self-screening in your hands. A Cervix Self-Screening Kit allows anyone with a cervix to self-test in the privacy of their own home.
 
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a 
common virus that can spread through intimate contact. Most HPV infections are not cancerous and go unnoticed, as our bodies are usually able to clear the infection on their own. However, if not detected early on, some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer over several years. The new Cervix Self-Screening Kit is a new technology that detects cancer-causing types of HPV present in the vagina, hopefully, years before it can cause cancerous changes in the cervix.
 
 

 
Dr. Dean Brown Speaking on
Vaccination and Immunization
Watch the video below to learn about vaccination and immunization in our Preventive Care Series with Dr. Dean Brown, Family Physician 
 

 
Upcoming PCN Community Event
Stepping Safely: Insights into Fall Prevention
 
Join us on March 12, 2024, as we present a community discussion tailored for North Shore seniors focusing on falls and fall prevention.

Leading the conversation is Kirvy Quiambao, the Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Lead at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).

This session will provide you with valuable insights into fall-related injuries, including learning about the risk factors involved and what you can do to prevent falls. Don’t miss this informative session dedicated to safeguarding your well-being and independence!
 

 
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The North Shore Primary Care Network is a proud partner of the North Shore Division of Family Practice, the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, the Vancouver Health Authority, and the BC Ministry of Health.
 
We gratefully acknowledge that we live and work in the traditional unceded homelands
of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
 
© 2024 North Shore Primary Care Network
 

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