The Sechelt Hospital Foundation is starting a new series called MedTalks, based on the popular TedTalks, but focused on issues related to health.
“It’ll be similar to TedTalks and yet not as glitzy. It’s going to be high energy and what I’m calling ‘edutainment’– educational, informational and fun,” said hospital foundation executive director Jane Macdonald.
“We really wanted to provide some practical, helpful health information for the community in a way that’s accessible, useful and maybe even helps prevent some illness by sharing some proactive measures that we can all be taking in our lives.”
The first MedTalks session will focus on mental health and is being called “Mind Matters.”
The talk is on Sunday, May 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Rockwood Centre Pavilion in Sechelt and will feature speakers Victoria Maxwell (an author who calls herself The Bipolar Princess), Vanessa White of School District No. 46 and Susann Richter of Mental Health and Addictions.
Maxwell will give a presentation about living with bipolar disorder, White will give an introduction to her two-day course about mental health first aid, and Richter will go over what health and addictions resources are available on the Coast.
The event is by donation but Macdonald stressed that anyone who’s interested should come, whether they can afford a donation or not.
“We really want everyone to come, which is why we didn’t put a price tag on this,” Macdonald said. “I think it’s really important that we share information with our community and make it super accessible.”
Attendees are asked to RSVP ahead of time to [email protected] so the foundation has an idea how many people to expect for its first MedTalks event.
Macdonald said participants who come to the first session will be asked for their feedback and ideas about what upcoming MedTalks should focus on.
A second MedTalks is already in the works for the end of August and at this point it looks like its focus will be on aging well.
Macdonald hopes the talks will engage the community and help spread information about what health supports are available on the Coast.
Find out more at www.sechelthopsitalfoundation.org
