Good News Tuesday: Creative Canadians vs. COVID-19

Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.

Dr. Seuss Tweet

The Lung Health Foundation is dedicated to ending gaps in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of lung disease. But when we shared our first Good News Tuesday post last week, we had no idea what an impact we’d have on ending another mounting gap: the need for hope.

This week, our theme is you.

We’re celebrating Canadians who are using their professional and personal skills to bring creative solutions and outside-the-box thinking to the fight against COVID-19. We are highlighting the people who are working to preserve hope in the face of a serious infectious respiratory illness, in any way they can.

Lung health matters. And thanks to you, lung health starts now.

Creative Canadians helping the helpers stay strong

ONTARIO: Hundreds of licensed mental health workers offer free therapy to frontline healthcare staff

Just like our physical health, our mental health may need special care in times of stress. Canada’s frontline healthcare are under unprecedented strain during the pandemic, so they need our support more than ever.

Luckily, mental health professionals are using their unique skills to support these heroes. In just one week, more than 450 licensed psychologists, social workers, and psychotherapists have signed up to provide free call-in therapy sessions.

If you are licensed to provide psychotherapy and want to give back, you can join the Ontario COVID-19 Mental Health Network. If you are a frontline healthcare worker in need of mental health support, you can register here.

Distilleries for disinfectants

CANADA-WIDE: Distilleries switch from making alcoholic drinks to making COVID-busting hand sanitizer

Following the World Health Organization’s recipe, distilleries from British Columbia to Nova Scotia have found a unique way to make a difference using their existing facilities and high proof alcohol: they’re switching to hand sanitizer production.

While proper handwashing with soap and water is the best way to clean germs from your hands, hand sanitizer plays an important role when running water isn’t available.

Cheers to the brewmasters and distillers who are thinking outside the box — and outside the bottle — to address a gap.

Writing our history, together

WINNIPEG, MB: Canadian Museum for Human Rights collects COVID-19 stories

Museums are important institutions that help us preserve culturally significant artifacts and ideas for future generations. And like virtually all public spaces in Canada, they have shut their doors in the hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Now, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is building a new exhibit in real time, and you can take part. All Canadians are invited to use the museum’s online portal to record their stories, answering questions like, “What acts of kindness have lifted your spirits during the COVID-19 pandemic?” and more.

“At this difficult time, we hope to encourage a focus on compassion and community, which are fundamental to human rights,” says John Young, the museum’s president and CEO.

If you are over 18 and want to lend your voice to this historic campaign, click here.

Help is a phone call (or web chat) away

Through thick or thin, our Lung Health Line is here for you

The Lung Health Foundation is doing our part to keep chronic lung disease patients from experiencing flare-ups that could send them into the crowded hospital system.

If you need advice about managing your asthma, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, IPF, or any other chronic lung condition, our Certified Respiratory Educators can help. You can reach us at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), by email at info@lunghealth.ca., or you can chat live using the “Chat now” button on the bottom right of your screen.