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News of replacement for First Hospital brings hope

Nearly a year ago, families and vulnerable individuals in our area had the rug cruelly pulled out from under their lives. On a bright summer day the Commonwealth Health System informed this community that First Hospital in Kingston would be closing in just under three months time. The impending closure of inpatient mental health facilities naturally dominated the conversation, but after the initial shock set in the larger scope of this devastating news became clear: Along with the hospital we would be losing a range of related services. “They include Community Counseling services, outpatient assessments, evaluation and treatment for individuals…
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Judge holds Washington state in contempt for not providing services to mentally ill people in jails

A federal judge has found Washington state in contempt and ordered it to pay more than $100 million in fines for failing to provide timely psychiatric services to mentally ill people who are forced to wait in jails for weeks or months. [–In her order released late Friday, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said the Washington Department of Social and Health Services has been violating the constitutional rights of these people since 2015 due to a “lack of foresight, creativity, planning and timely response to a crisis of its own making.” [–The ruling stems from a federal lawsuit…
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Newmarket, Markham restaurants charged with public health infractions

During inspections from June 26 to July 2, Ranch Fresh in Newmarket and H2 KTV in Markham were charged by York Region inspectors Restaurants in Newmarket and Markham were charged with public health violations by York Region inspectors last week. Ranch Fresh at 695 Stonehaven Ave., building C, in Newmarket was charged June 30 for maintaining a food premise in a manner adversely affecting sanitary operations, according to a report for inspections made June 26 to July 2 by York Region Community and Health Services, health protection division. Items noted as not in compliance included: not holding potentially hazardous food…
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Kids Help Phone seeking help from AI

Kids Help Phone says it’s turning to artificial intelligence to help respond to the “enormous need” as more and more young people reach out for mental health help and support. “Young people are changing fast and technology is changing faster,” said Michael Cole, senior vice-president and chief information officer for Kids Help Phone. The helpline is partnering with the Toronto-based Vector Institute, which bills itself as a consultant for organizations, businesses and governments to develop and adopt “responsible” AI programs. The planned AI will be able to recognize key words and speech patterns from young people who reach out to…
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Quinoa Beet Salad – JennifersKitchen

Let me be very clear. I do not like beets. I’ve spent over fifty years disliking beets. I’ve tried them boiled (gag-inducing), roasted (almost tolerable, but no), raw (the additional chewing required just prolongs the misery), and picked (where’s the bathroom?). To me, beets taste like garden dirt laced with a little bit of sugar. Interestingly, there is validity to that perception. Beets contain a naturally-occurring compound called geosmin, and geosmin gives beets their dirt-like . . . er. . . earthy flavour. Some people like this earthy flavor. I’m not one of them. Just as interesting – at least…
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Langley, Coquitlam medical clinics closing, leaving patients worried about finding new doctors – BC

The Lower Mainland is losing two medical clinics this year, leaving thousands of patients without a family doctor in a province grappling with a shortage of them. According to the Gain Medical Centre’s website, all five doctors at the Coquitlam clinic are slated to leave. One is moving to a clinic in Port Coquitlam, while the remainder are retiring on Aug. 31. The Brookswood Family Practice in Langley, which had three family physicians, is also slated to shut down on Dec. 1. A letter to a patient obtained by Global News provided no reason for the end of the signing…
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Benefits of Eating Meat | Diabetic Mediterranean Diet

July 1, 2023 · 2:15 PM Mucho protein, amigo I found a review article at Animal Frontiers that makes the argument in favor of meat consumption. The authors admit little focus on the downsides of eating meat. I’ve been cutting back on my meat consumption out of sympathy for the animals. Here are some of the key points verbatim: Aspects of human anatomy, digestion, and metabolism diverged from other primates, indicating evolutionary reliability on, and compatibility with, substantial meat intake. Implications of a disconnect from evolutionary dietary patterns may contribute to today’s burden of disease, increasing the risk for both…
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Montreal’s REM: Company in charge of project hit with health and safety violations

The company responsible for building Montreal’s REM light rail has violated multiple health and safety regulations during the construction of the railway that put workers at risk, according to reports issued by Quebec’s occupational health and safety commission (CNESST). The FTQ union representing construction workers says there have been concerns since the beginning of the project, which was contracted to construction and engineering firm NouvLR in 2018. “It’s been so many years that we’ve been fighting with those issues with the CNESST and they’ve been on job sites, but many times the employer just didn’t listen,” FTQ general manager Eric…