YWC Shining a Light: Student Debt

By Kate McDaid, Young Worker Committee (YWC)

The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities.

YWC Shining a Light: Coping with Burnout

By Kiera Booth, Young Worker Committee (YWC)

The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women 2021

The December 6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women marks the anniversary of the murders of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.

We recognize this day to remind us that there is still work to do to eliminate violence against women in Canada so that one day gender-based violence will end.

The SEIU-West Young Worker Committee (YWC) encourages you to do your part in raising awareness on violence against women and to demonstrate your solidarity for those who provide support to women in need.

SEIU-West YWC Shine A Light On...211 Saskatchewan

The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities. For this article, the YWC is focusing on 211 Saskatchewan and is based on an interview between YWC member, Brittney and Andrea Howe, Director of Labour Partnerships & Community Impact with the United Way. 

What is 2-1-1 Saskatchewan?

2-1-1 is a free, anonymous, confidential service that connects individuals to human services in the province. 2-1-1 maintains information on over 5,500 listings of social, community, non-clinical health, and government services in Saskatchewan and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

How can 2-1-1 be accessed?

2-1-1 can be reached by phone, through text, through our website, and by chatting through our on-line platform. Help is available in the way that is most comfortable and convenient for the person seeking services.
2-1-1 information is provided by certified information and referral specialists. Anyone can access 2-1-1.

Is 2-1-1 available in different languages?

Yes. 2-1-1 is available in over 175 languages, including 17 Indigenous languages.

Why 2-1-1?

2-1-1 is an important part of United Way’s work across Canada to build strong communities by connecting people to services.
A significant barrier for individuals and families to accessing the services they need is the complexity of finding the information they are looking for. Whether it is finding assistance with basic needs such as food, shelter and employment, looking for support for an aging parent, or trying to find childcare, navigating through all of the information out there can be overwhelming, confusing and ultimately a roadblock to finding support.
Besides serving major urban centers and smaller cities, 211 plays a critical role in providing support to individuals located in rural and remote regions where online services are often beyond reach.

How long has 2-1-1 been available in Saskatchewan?

United Way Saskatoon & Area and United Way Regina collaborated in partnership to bring 2-1-1 service to Saskatchewan to help people get connected to the information and support they need.
In 2014, the on-line database was launched (www.sk.211.ca). In June, 2018, the 2-1-1 service was expanded to include phone, text, and webchat.

What is the impact of 2-1-1?

211 helps first responders, social workers, police, and other service providers find accurate information to direct people to the right resources. Example:
• This December, the Saskatchewan RCMP announced a general duty business card re-print with RCMP contact information on the front (in English and French) and 2-1-1 Saskatchewan information on the back.
• "Front line officers with the RCMP will use the business cards to inform clients of 211 Saskatchewan and provide them with an avenue of outreach when a social issue is beyond our scope of ability to help with”. (Constable Joelle Nieman, Saskatchewan RCMP's Violence Relationship Coordinator)
2-1-1 helps to re-direct non-emergency calls from 9-1-1.
2-1-1 will be able to identify gaps in services and geographical areas based on unmet needs in our communities.
Beyond everyday needs and with further development the 2-1-1 service has the potential to be used for emergency response support as has been proven with the resources required in the Calgary floods or Fort McMurray wildfires, and currently COVID-19.

2-1-1 and COVID:

Existing 2-1-1 services across Canada saw a dramatic increase in the number of people reaching out for help during the first wave. For example, 2-1-1 Saskatchewan experienced a 90% increase in contacts from March to August of 2020 compared to the previous six months. As part of its COVID-19 response, the Government of Canada provided funding to United Way Centraide Canada to increase the capacity and expand access to 2-1-1 services for all Canadian residents. This will be even more valuable as we enter the second wave of the pandemic.
2-1-1 has been available in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and most of Quebec. With this Federal investment, 2-1-1 is now available in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In Quebec, services are available in some areas, with plans to roll out service across the province in December.

When should I call 2-1-1?

SURVEY: Young Worker Experiences During COVID-19

This International Youth Day (August 12), the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) has launched a survey in order to determine young worker experiences during COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. 
The survey should only take 10 minutes, and all young worker participants (35 and under) who are members of SEIU-West will be entered to win one of three Samsung Galaxy tablets! You may only fill out the survey once to be entered.  

DEADLINE (extended): September 8, 2020
DRAW: September 10, 2020 

Complete the survey here. 

The responses will be used in a return letter from the YWC to elected officials.

Shining A Light On...Black Lives Matter

Shining A Light On...Mental Health and Addiction

By Janell Kachuik, Co-chair – Young Worker Committee (YWC)

The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) is shining a light on issues that often get pushed into the shadows and aims to break down stigma associated with important issues in our communities.

Mental health and addiction are topics that people don’t like to talk about due to the stigma around them, but we need to stop fearing it and start embracing it. As Canadians, 1 in 5 experience a mental illness or addiction problem. Roughly 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance use. We have to stop believing that mental health and addictions are just going to get better without treatment.

Young people are more likely to experience mental health and substance use disorder than any other age group. The question is, how can we help? Don’t give up on them, make sure that they know they are loved – sometimes they have to hit rock bottom before they get help.

I’m one of those young people. My name is Janell – I’m the Co-Chair of the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) and I suffer from depression and anxiety. It started in high school and it was really bad. I started to cut – first it was on my legs so people couldn’t see but then I started to cut my wrist – to me it was a way to release what I was feeling because when I cut it took my pain away for a little bit. I had stopped but then I started working in a workplace where I was the only person under the age of 30 and was feeling isolated. The way I would cover it up is wearing long sleeve clothing and if someone would ask me about it, I would say I fell.

In 2015 it got really bad. A year when I should have been happy and enjoying life. But in October my life changed and I started cutting. I wasn’t able to sleep. I wasn’t talking or being myself. I finally decided to end things, but with the help of my family and friends I’m still here. They started to see the signs, and told me to get help – my family had to tell me that they didn’t want a headstone, they wanted me.

The first step was to get a doctor to listen, and this doctor took me off work and then made it so I couldn’t be alone. The doctor started me on medications, and with the help of my mother I was able to get into counselling. I started going twice a week then I went to three times a week – one session was one-on-one and the other was in a group setting.

There are things you can do to get on the road to recovery. With the right support, self-help and treatment, you can overcome a re-occurring disorder, reclaim your sense of self and get your life back on track. What’s important is that we’re creating a supportive environment where people know they can ask for help.

If you need support, call 211 or go to https://sk.211.ca/ to find mental health and addictions support services across Saskatchewan.

Young Workers Committee Vacancy: Apply Now!

A vacancy has arisen on the SEIU-West Young Workers Committee so we are inviting interested members to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form to fill this vacancy.

The successful applicants will have the opportunity to expand their union involvement and activism in this position, and play an active role in engaging young workers into our union.

If you are interested in applying, please complete this online form or this pdf EOI form and submit it to Barb Cape’s attention by Monday, January 13, 2019 via email: [email protected] or fax: 306 652 1392.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women: The SEIU-West Young Workers Committee (YWC) wants you to take action to stop violence against women

December 6th – the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women – is meant to mark the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal who were killed because they were women. December 6 acts as a day to recognize and stop the ongoing gender-based violence women experience in Canada, and to ensure awareness and progress towards concrete solutions in eliminating violence against women.

In recognition of the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, the SEIU-West YWC encourages you to do your part in raising awareness on violence against women and to demonstrate your solidarity for those who provide support to women in need. You can do that by participating in their contest – plus you could win one of three pairs of earrings from Hillberg & Berk; proceeds of which go to survivors of domestic violence in Saskatchewan. There are two chances to be entered to win:

1. Send picture of yourself or a group of SEIU-West members wearing red on December 6th by email to [email protected] 
2. Donate to your local woman’s shelter – you can take a picture of your donated items and email [email protected] or bring donated items to your local SEIU-West office in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, or Swift Current! 

The deadline to enter is December 14, 2019!

For a list of requested items for women's shelters, visit the Moose Jaw Transition House donations list, the Saskatoon Interval House donations list, and the South West Crisis Services website. 

 

Shining A Light On...Pharmacare

By Brittney Servetnyk, Young Worker Committee Member 

My name is Brittney Servetnyk I work in Saskatoon as a Continuing Care Assistant in a long-term care facility. I am also on the Young Workers Committee (YWC) with SEIU-West. The Federal Election is coming up quickly on October 21st 2019. I am voting because I want a government that ensures us with Pharmacare, fair wages and fair housing costs. Its important to vote because its our right as Canadians to vote from the young age of 18 years and up. I find it especially important to vote as a female as the right for a female to vote was fought so hard by women in the early 1900's.The decisions the government make affect absolutely everyone. We all have a voice in who our government is, and can hold them accountable for their actions while in office. Your vote matters! Check out this interview about pharmacare I did in support of our YWC Shining A Light On initiative and the upcoming election: 

Pharmacare: A drug insurance plan that belongs to all Canadians – one that is sustainable and equitable – where Canadians have access to prescription medications based on their need and not their ability to pay.

When we go to the Doctor we hand them our provincial health card and expenses are covered.

Getting to the pharmacy is when the anxiety really hits, as many begin to crunch numbers in our head and think, "Do I really need this medicine? Can it wait a little longer? Do I skip groceries bills or rent?”

Some people are fortunate enough to be able to hand the pharmacist a drug insurance card whether it be through work (often thanks to their union) or a secondary insurance company. But even then some medications still come with cost, or sometimes a medication isn’t recognized under your plan.

A lack of universal prescription drug coverage – Pharmacare – is causing many people skip doses, split pills, or skip their medications entirely just to get by. This not only leads to a decline in a person’s mental and physical health, but fills our emergency departments as well.

Now imagine a future where your provincial health card is used at the pharmacy and prescription costs are covered just like a visit to your Doctor’s office… this is possible with Pharmacare.

Canadians pay one of the highest prescription costs and we are currently the only developed country with universal health care that does not include prescription drug coverage.

As workers we need to contact our MPs and elected leaders in order to stress the importance of a strong, healthier future with Pharmacare. Be sure to ask your federal candidate where they stand on Pharmacare!

Interview between Brittney (YWC Co-Chair) and Matt Winacott (Primary Care Paramedic)

Q: What does a future with Pharmacare look like?

A: A future with Pharmacare includes healthier citizens with more money in their pockets, who don’t have to worry about being able to afford their medications. Canadians would use their provincial health card at the pharmacy as they would at the hospital with no cost. When people don’t skip their medications due to financial burden both their physical and mental health improve.

Q: Who would be eligible to receive Pharmacare?

A: All Canadians would be eligible.

Q: How many residents are going without medications or skipping doses?

A: 1 in 5 Canadians are unable to fill their prescriptions due to cost.

Q: As a young worker in health care yourself, why is Pharmacare so important?

A: From my own experience in health care, I have seen people make tough decisions to go without their medications to pay for food or rent. Pharmacare is important because when you're working hard to make ends meet or bettering your life going to school or trying to afford child care, you shouldn’t have to worry about medical expenses.