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megram - dwsummer - Index

Cultural backgrounds
linked to mental health
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto suggests that one’s culture
may be a factor in mental health issues. The risk of mental illness varies depending on
what culture you come from, often due to how a particular culture handles various
stresses in life. For example, depression is lower in countries where families are more
isolated from one another. In countries whose religious practices frown on taking your
own life, suicide rates are low. In countries that have a welcoming culture towards outsiders,
depression and anxiety is 50 per cent lower than in other countries.
Avoid food-borne illness
with quick safety precautions
Food-borne illnesses can strike at any time but especially during the summer season
when foods are being barbecued or set out for picnics or family gatherings for long
lengths of time. Up to seven million Canadians get sick each year from E. coli, campylobacter
and listeria. Health Canada cautions the public to pay attention to your food
choices this summer by taking a few simple precautions. Check for undercooked burgers
by simply cutting the burger in half and ensuring juices run clear and there is no
pink colour inside. It’s crucial to know where bacteria hide in food and prevent them
from causing food-borne illnesses that are often very easy to avoid.
Compiled by Doris Ohlmann.
Due West/Due East Magazine • Summer 2008 Ottawa Page 25