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MAKIN’ MOVES
This week
DAR R E L L N E SBIT T / CR O SSR O ADS T H IS W E E K Yellowhead U18 Chiefs forward Isaac McArthur of Birtle looks to put the moves on an Eastman Selects defender during play in Shoal Lake on Saturday, Jan. 10. The two teams met on back-to-back days with the Chiefs losing both, falling 4-3 on Jan. 10 and 3-2 on Sunday, Jan. 11. The losses dealt a blow to the team’s playoff hopes, as they now sit eight points back of Parkland, who also has four games in hand.
P ra irie M ounta in H ea lth ta ckles Blue M onda y P M H ta kin g op p ortun ity to a ddress the im p a cts of the w in ter blues a n d sea son a l a ffective disorder
RAC HEAL FLIN TO FT Cro ssro a d s This W e e k
Not Just Another Monday… often labeled the most depressing day of the year, Jan. 19 is Blue Monday. While the date is frequently overlooked, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is treating the day
as a serious opportunity to address the very real impact of the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) across the region. According to health officials, the mid-winter stretch can lead to symptoms that include lower energy, changes in appetite or weight, and significant sleep diffi-
culties. Many people also report trouble concentrating or making decisions, feeling very sad or tearful, and a general desire to withdraw from others. To combat these effects, PMH is encouraging residents and local workplaces to shift the focus toward connection and “life promotion” throughout the upcoming week.
Building on the HOPE mandate, the timing of Blue Monday aligns with a larger provincial push for mental health support that has been gaining momentum over the last two years. In 2024, the Manitoba officially adopted the “Roots of Hope” framework, a community-led model for suicide prevention developed by the Men-
tal Health Commission of Canada. Since that mandate was established, PMH has made significant progress in embedding the model within the region, including the appointment of Hope Community Coordinator Kelly Lewis last year to lead the work.
SEE BL U E M O N DAY ACT IVIT IE S , PAGE 2