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Presenters
Dr. Gail Beck, Clinical Director, Youth Psychiatry Program, The Royal and
Yevhen Pityck, Ottawa Ukrainian Mental Health Support
Host
Ian Mendes
Senior writer, The Athletic
Overview
The seige on the Canadian Capital with the Freedom Convoy and recent news on Ukraine has evoked many emotions including anger, fear, anxiety, worry, and confusion. It has also created safety concerns when we are still reeling from the Pandemic. When there are events like these, we may feel the economic impact including seeing raising gas prices, higher prices for some imported goods, and changes in the stock market. Most children will learn about such social unrest and its consequences through their friends, the news or social media. Caregivers and children alike may be struggling to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing. Children of all ages will be turning to trusted adults for help and guidance. In this Conversations at the Royal episode, we aim to help parents and caregivers navigate a conversation with children and teens by acknowledging their feelings, and finding ways to cope together.
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Yevhen Pityck moved to Canada at the age of 14 and lived in Ottawa ever since. He has served with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (a reserve infantry unit) for 6 years, but unfortunately had to quit, since he was going to study Medicine in Poland. Yevhen is now completing his 3rd year of residency in Psychiatry with the University of Ottawa. Yevhen is part of a group providing mental health support to Ukrainians struggling with the war, who have lost friends or loved ones, who are experiencing survivor's guilt or are struggling with carrying on in their day-to-day life due to worries about people in Ukraine or about the future. This group was organized by a number of Ukrainian-Canadian organizations, student clubs from both University of Ottawa and Carleton, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and other Ukrainians who wanted to help. At this time, the mental health support team consists of a psychotherapist, a psychotherapy student (who will be graduating in a few months), a psychiatry resident, and we have a family physician on board as well. Currently, they are holding weekly support groups at the Ukrainian Credit Union that are free and open to Ukrainians affected by this war. Support groups are held in Ukrainian, English or Russian, depending on participant preferences.
Date and Time
Thursday, March 31, 2022
7 to 8 PM on zoom
Registration
This event is free however registration is required.
To register please click here.
Contact information
For information, please contact Robyn Sauret.