The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Manitoba government has released Health and the Human Spirit, its new spiritual health-care strategic plan. Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau said the new four-year plan will enhance awareness and give direction for spiritual care in the province. 'It will promote opportunities for Manitobans to experience spiritual health through better awareness, understanding and healing,' he said. The plan was informed by a spiritual health-care strategic planning session involving a range of community and professional stakeholders, spiritual care providers, volunteers, counsellors, physicians, psychiatrists, policy analysts and individuals who have experienced spiritual care in a health-care context. Research has shown that higher levels of spiritual well-being, along with a sense of inner meaning and inner peace, are associated with better health outcomes, lower levels of depression and anxiety, and a better quality of life. A four-year work plan is currently under development and will enable implementation of the spiritual health-care plan. The plan will build on previous accomplishments in spiritual health care, including a provincewide spiritual health-care volunteer education course, core competencies for spiritual health-care practitioners and the incorporation of traditional Aboriginal healing space at a number of health facilities across the province. _ Compiled from a Government of Manitoba news release
