Healthy Living
Vancouver Coastal Health has many programs and services that can help Aboriginal community members to meet their overall health needs. The Aboriginal worldview sees health holistically, which includes four aspects of a person’s being;
Physical, - Mental,
- Emotional, and
- Spiritual.
That is why we feel it is important to provide examples of sensible ideas and activities that you can incorporate into your day to day life to start improving your health today.
We encourage all community members to remember that health issues that are increasing in Aboriginal communities, such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS are all PREVENTABLE. Make sure to find out how to prevent these diseases from affecting the rest of your life. To find out more please use some of the links below.
Physical Well Being
- Take a daily 15 – 60 minute walk. If you walk with someone, it feels less like exercise, and more like fun!
- Drink lots of water throughout the day .
- Eat traditional foods that are low in fat and sugars.
- Make sure to get a yearly physical examination to help prevent or identify health issues early.
- Participate in a Aboriginal cultural activity that you feel safe doing, such as canoeing, dancing, or fishing.
- Join a gym, youth or Elders group, or visit your local community centre for lots of free or cheap activities.
Emotional Well Being
- Make sure to talk to someone you trust when you are feeling stressed or depressed. It is equally important to maintain ongoing healthy communication with your friends and family so that you are less likely to become stressed or depressed.
- If you need to, find a counsellor, therapist, or psychologist that you trust.
- Participate in Aboriginal cultural activities that you feel safe in doing, such as a talking circle, traditional song and dance, or smudge ceremony.
- Try to focus on the positive. While everything does not always go the way we planned, we are able to react to situations in a positive way that focuses on solutions.
Mental Well Being
- Many people refer to this part of a person as their mental health.
- Mental and emotional well being are often closely related, so try to focus on the positive. While everything does not always go the way we planned, we are able to react to situations in a positive way that focuses on solutions.
- Participate in Aboriginal cultural activities that you feel safe in doing, such as a sweat lodge, canoeing, or traditional ceremonies.
- Make sure to talk to someone you trust when you are feeling stressed or depressed. It is also just as important to maintain ongoing healthy communication with your friends and family so that you are less likely to become stressed or depressed.
Spiritual Well Being
- For those who believe in a ‘higher being’, prayer is one way to help them feel connected to their Creator. There is no ‘right way’ to pray, and the great thing is that you do not need to be in a sweat lodge, longhouse, or church to do it.
- Nature is always a great place to feel connected to your spiritual world, so go for a hike, sit on the beach, or watch a sunset.
- If you are interested, find a cultural teacher that you feel safe with to help you learn more about and experience your Aboriginal spiritual beliefs.
Read More
VCH Health Living Links
Please follow the links below to find out more about healthy living. The healthy living sites and BC Health Guide will provide lots of information on many various health issues.
Other Resources
Healthy Eating
Exercise
Healthy Living
