Latest news with #socialsupport
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Homelessness up more than 200 per cent in major N.B. cities: report
A new report from the Human Development Council shows a 210 per cent increase in homelessness across New Brunswick's three major cities since 2021. There are 1,529 people experiencing homelessness across Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John, said a news release. This is up from 493 in March 2021. The report showed: rent rose 34.7 per cent and residential property prices rose 84 per cent between 2019 and 2024 food bank visits rose 45 per cent between 2019 and 2024 in 2024, 45 per cent of employees earned less than the living wage of $24.62 an hour in 2023, New Brunswick has a 16.7 per cent low-income rate, the highest in Canada unmet healthcare needs almost doubled since 2019 housing shortages persist 'Homelessness has been persistent in New Brunswick for a long time due to systemic issues such as the financialization of the housing market, inadequate tenant protection and failures within social support systems,' said data analyst and research coordinator Liam Fisher. 'However, the last five years have presented unprecedented challenges in housing affordability and health, pushing vulnerable individuals and families over the edge.' Purpose of report Fisher says the idea behind the report was to help find what has led to the significant increase in homelessness in recent years. Limited affordable hosing options and the cost of basic goods rising are also to blame for the high numbers. 'When all of these things start affecting New Brunswickers all at the same time, the result is a perfect storm of social challenges,' Fisher says. Kat and Liam Kat LeBlanc, left, and Liam Fisher from the Human Development Council hold a report on homelessness in New Brunswick. (Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic) Kat LeBlanc, lead administer for the Human Development Council (HDC), says the HDC and other organizations and non-profits in the three major cities are working to help the homeless population get off the streets. She notes there is no 'one size fits all' approach when it comes to homelessness, which admittedly is part of the battle when addressing the issue. 'It is very necessary to celebrate the small wins, like attending medical appointments with a client because they're very nervous to go by themselves' LeBlanc says. 'All of those little kind of things that add up so trying to instead of focusing on the glaring 210 per cent [increase].' In order to improve the homelessness situation, LeBlanc says expanded services are necessary as the capacity isn't there to help the people living on the streets. For that to happen, there would likely need to be an increase in spending by the province. 'Little disheartening' Ivan McCullough is a co-founder of Street Team SJ, a volunteer group that helps provide essentials for homeless residents in Saint John. He admits the report findings are a 'little disheartening' and proves there are serious systemic breakdowns in the system. 'A lot of people just sometimes just want to give up,' he says. 'They have no place to turn, the system is overwhelmed, the social safety net that we're supposed to have is not compensating simply because it can't.' McCullough asks the public to be respectful of people experiencing homelessness, noting that some people living on the streets had a home just a month ago. 'If your primary concern is how do I stay alive today, how do I eat today, you are not really concerned with what does around my area look like,' McCullough says. 'Gradually that kind of living eats away at the mental health, that mental health leads to trying to escape from that psychological pain and the cycle starts over again.' McCullough admits he doesn't have the answer to how to fix the issues, but says the only way progress can be made is by treating people with respect and dignity. Next week Saint John will open its first designated 'green zone' for 12 Neighbors' first Neighbourly Homes community in the city. Each site will have 27 individual sleeping units, as well as shared bathrooms, showers, laundry and kitchen spaces. The living units contain a small desk, a single bed, an electronic tablet, and a locking door to allow residents to feel safe. The sites will also have 24/7 on-site staffing and wrap-around support services. 'We're happy for those folks that are getting out there,' says McCullough. 'Getting that little bit of stability that they need. It might take them three months, some people it might take them eight months, but as long as they can maintain that foothold, that little bit of stability and security, then everything else can start falling into place.' The tenants will move into their new homes on Aug. 1. Saint John encampment An encampment in Saint John, N.B., is pictured. (Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to launch pilot project to identify at-risk carers in ‘coming weeks'
Hong Kong will roll out the first stage of a pilot scheme in the next few weeks that will use data from more than 10,000 households caring for the elderly or those with disabilities to identify high-risk cases in need of extra support. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said on Saturday that the government would not stop bringing in foreign labour despite the catering industry recently recording a 5 per cent unemployment rate. Appearing on a radio programme, the minister said the pilot project for the government's scheme to use big data to identify at-risk families faster would be launched 'in the coming weeks'. The project will be launched in two phases, with the first stage using Hospital Authority data to flag if a carer has been hospitalised. The second stage will involve using Housing Authority data to identify elderly households living in public flats that have yet to sign up for support from the Social Welfare Department. The first stage would also focus on supporting about 10,000 low-income carers who were receiving living allowances under a scheme by the department, Sun said.
Forbes
20-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Interpersonal Glue: The Unexpected Element Missing From Your Work Life
Julie Kantor, PhD - Business Psychologist, Author, Executive Coach, Strategic Partner and Facilitator. It is not a new trend that work relationships matter. But lately, many of my clients are so busy with work that they "don't have time to chat." And they certainly don't have time for other "social stuff" at work. I know everyone is busy. But chatting with, connecting with and supporting each other are essential parts of your job. It's also not new for me to focus on the human aspect of work. Decades ago, my master's thesis ("Social Support On and Off the Job") explored what impacted well-being and compared social support at work versus social support at home. By far, the best predictor of well-being was social support at work. A good boss and/or a supportive team made all the difference. After all, consider how much time you spend at the office. Or how you've felt when you've been in a bad workplace versus the feelings you get when you have a great manager. My motto at the time: Be nice to your co-workers. Many years (and one book) later, I've broadened my view. More than support, interpersonal glue is what makes the difference. This is the kind of bond that forms when you go beyond tasks and connect as people. It's that magical, sometimes awkward, social adhesive that bonds us together as actual humans, rather than just "Jordan in accounting" or "Drew who sends emails at 5 p.m. on Fridays." Sending an email asking "How's the project going?" just isn't enough, especially if the project is challenging. For starters, without any interpersonal glue, you may not even get a response to that email. And if you do, you'll likely get a superficial update. You certainly won't learn why things aren't moving along or about any snags. When we only interact about the work at hand, these transactional connections can easily break under pressure. It's our personal bonds that keep us connected to plow through challenges, together. This invisible adhesive binds us on a human level, creating resilience that withstands challenges. If I like you, I'll work with you through thick and thin. Interpersonal glue consists of several key elements: • Shared experiences that transcend work discussions create memory bonds that strengthen over time. • Personal story exchanges that build understanding and empathy between colleagues who might otherwise remain distant. • Informal moments, whether celebrating birthdays or chatting about weekend plans, lay a foundation of genuine human connection. I'm not suggesting you need to share your deep, dark secrets, especially not in the middle of quarterly planning. But there's a delightful middle ground between "strictly business" and "knows my medical history." Here are a few real-life examples I've heard recently: • "We were talking about hobbies, and I found someone else who was into ice sailing." (Personally, I didn't even know it was a thing.) • "My video froze on my most unflattering facial expression during a disastrous client meeting. It's now an inside joke between my team and me." • "When I got back from my vacation, my boss asked to see pictures rather than blasting me about the work I missed. And boy, did I miss a lot." Want to build better bonds with your colleagues? Try these slightly uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding approaches: Not every conversation has to be about project status. Take five minutes to ask your colleague about their weekend or what they're looking forward to. And really listen. Any good restaurants? Movies? Let conversations wander. Connection is a two-way street. Share a story, a challenge or even a quirky hobby. When you offer something personal, you create space for others to do the same. Maybe the barista got your weird coffee order correct. Or maybe you spilled your coffee as you were running late. Don't wait for birthdays or big wins. Celebrate small milestones, personal achievements or simply getting through a tough week. A quick "well done" or "you handled that with grace" can go a long way. Everyone has a birthday. Everyone has work anniversaries. Almost everyone likes cake. Plan simple but unique ways to acknowledge them that bring everyone together. A daily hello and goodbye go a long way toward creating glue. That grumpy team member might be dealing with a flooded basement or a teenager who just got their driver's license (arguably worse than the flood). A simple "How are you—really?" can work wonders. In a world of multitasking, being fully present is rare and powerful. Put down your phone. Make eye contact. Listen without immediately solving. These small behaviors tell others, "You matter." Interpersonal glue doesn't appear overnight. It's built through intentional effort, day by day. But once it's there, it becomes the unshakeable bond that makes good teams great and great teams unstoppable. And so, here's my ask of you: This week, have one conversation that isn't about deliverables, deadlines or the report that was due yesterday. Instead, ask about a photo on someone's desk. Ask about an upcoming vacation. Share your catastrophic attempt to make bread. Or admit that you binge-watched an entire season of a reality show over the weekend. All mini steps to build interpersonal glue. Go forth and get sticky. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
Free Malaysia Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Older Malaysians in need of integrated eldercare, says Unicef M'sia
The statistics department had previously said Malaysia was expected to reach aged nation status sooner than expected, with over 17% of the population expected to be aged 60 or older in 2040. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : A Unicef Malaysia representative said Malaysia's 'fragmented' health and social care systems make it difficult for older Malaysians to receive integrated support. Speaking at a panel session during EPF's International Social Well-being Conference 2025, Unicef Malaysia social policy specialist Lee Min Hui called for more community-based and integrated care infrastructure. 'This would support the growing preference for ageing-in-place among Malaysians,' she said, using the term for continued independent living in the community in old age. 'Right now, the disjointed system makes it hard for individuals to access comprehensive services.' Lee said policies must be inclusive and address a person's needs across their life cycle, pointing out that women were especially vulnerable due to caregiving responsibilities and economic insecurity. She emphasised the need for a 'cradle-to-grave' care economy that recognised unpaid care work and integrated social care into the national social protection framework. Proposing several measures to strengthen the eldercare ecosystem, fellow panellist Dr Jemilah Mahmood said a national contributory healthcare plan and health insurance scheme were crucial to ensuring financial sustainability in elderly care. The executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health suggested exploring innovative models such as 'time banking', in which one providing care services to the elderly earns credits that can be used to receive care in the future, fostering intergenerational support. Jemilah said civil society organisations should be empowered to design eldercare solutions tailored to local community needs, as they understood community needs well. The statistics department had previously said Malaysia was expected to reach aged nation status sooner than expected, with over 17% of the population expected to be aged 60 or older in 2040. As of last year, this group made up 11.6%, or 3.9 million, of the total population of 34.1 million. By 2057, Malaysia will reach the super-aged society category, with 20.5% projected to be over the age of 60.
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
2 Ways Real Friendships Help You Survive Tough Times, By A Psychologist
What if leaning on others made you stronger, not weaker? Here is what research says about the ... More importance of social support in your life. As a society today, we are increasingly shifting toward an individualistic culture where personal achievement and independence are often prioritized over community and collective connection. A 2017 global study analyzing 51 years of data across 78 countries found that individualism is on the rise worldwide and is largely influenced by socioeconomic development. The rapid advancement of the digital world and social media is, unsurprisingly, a major contributing factor. For instance, many young people today consider sending memes or quick messages as an ideal way of communicating and staying connected. While these digital connections can feel comforting, they often fall short of fulfilling deeper social needs, leading to increased feelings of isolation. This shift can be seen in the alarming rise of loneliness. A recent survey by Gallup reveals that 52 million people in the U.S. struggle with loneliness, with around 20% of U.S. adults reporting that they feel lonely daily. As found in the survey, adults who experience daily loneliness are nearly five times more likely to rate their current life poorly compared to those who aren't lonely. Despite evidently feeling the impact of this shift, the power of connection and social support is still undervalued. Leaning on others can feel like a weakness to many. Whether it's emotional encouragement or simply knowing someone is by your side, having real friends who care for you can quite literally change how you experience challenges both mentally and physically. Here are two ways, based on research, friendships can support you through difficult times. For many people, when something feels overwhelming or too difficult, it's possible that they would try to avoid it or experience higher stress while trying to cope with it. On the other hand, when the same challenge appears less threatening, people are more likely to stay engaged and perform better. Friendships, in this case, act as a powerful tool in shaping how you feel and also in influencing how you perceive the challenge itself. Research published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology explored the impact of social support on how people perceive physical challenges. They focused on a simple question: Does having support make a steep hill look less steep? This was done through two experiments. Researchers highlight that the quality of the relationship mattered in this experiment. It wasn't just about having anyone around. It was about feeling close, supported and emotionally connected. People who had known their friend for a longer time or felt closer to them saw the hill as significantly less steep. So, closeness was the key factor influencing perception. The study supports the larger idea that the social resources you have, such as strong and supportive relationships, change the way you perceive the world. People with strong support systems see their world as less threatening, less overwhelming and more manageable. Those without them may see the world as more demanding and stressful. In tough times, when the instinct might be to withdraw or isolate yourself, remember that reaching out to those who truly care for you can shift everything. You don't have to face it all alone, and you're not meant to. While the desire to be independent and grow on your own is valid, it's just as important to nurture your community and prioritize meaningful friendships, not out of self-interest, but because mutual support has a real ability to lighten life's load for everyone involved. A 2021 study published in Physiology and Behavior looked at how even imagining social support affects physical performance and how hard a task feels. This was tested by making the participants perform a handgrip exercise while looking at photos of either someone supportive (like a close friend) or a stranger. The findings revealed that when participants saw the supportive person's photo, they were able to squeeze harder, especially when the task was more difficult. Even though they exerted more effort, the participants reported feeling that the task was easier compared to when they saw a stranger's photo. This suggests that friendships that support you can act like an energy resource and a motivating factor, ultimately enhancing your performance. They can help you perform better physically while also making the effort feel less taxing. So, feeling supported can have a significant impact on how well you handle the situation and your performance in the face of a challenging event. This explains why working out with a friend, for instance, might often feel easier and more energizing than doing it alone. It's the psychological lift their presence provides. Friendships, in this way, can fuel your stamina and make hard things feel more doable. The next time you're pushing through something tough, remember that you don't have to go through it alone. Sometimes, just having someone by your side can change how far you're able to go. It is imperative that we realize the power of a supportive circle. That said, another important reminder is that a supportive circle is built through consistent effort and showing up for each other in both the everyday, ordinary moments as well as in hard or challenging times. Real connection calls for intention. Try not to focus on quantity but rather on the quality of connections you build and finding the few real ones who will stick by you through thick and thin. If you are lucky enough to have people who have been with you for a long time, learn how to embrace those connections and not take them for granted, because even the strongest bonds need nurturing. Let that understanding remind you to keep investing time and care into these relationships so you continue to grow together. If you haven't yet found your people, that's okay, too. There's no deadline for finding a real connection and you are not 'too old' to make new friends. What matters is that you keep showing up and trying to build connections in the best way you can. Whether you want to deepen the bonds you already have or cultivate new friendships, these few simple habits can help you nurture your social support system in everyday life. While independence is valuable, it's connection that sustains you. It's not just resilience that gets you through challenges, but also the relationships that remind you that you're not alone. How connected have you been feeling lately to those around you? Take this science-backed test to find out: Social Connectedness Scale
