USask unites: Psychiatry professor teams up with church to offer support for health-care workers
Since the first cases of COVID-19 were announced in the province, members of the USask community have come together to support one another in these uncertain times.
By UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONSExtraordinary circumstances have brought out extraordinary responses from members of our USask community. From frontline health-care workers to researchers looking for a solution to this global health threat, there are so many stories about people are working to make our home communities safer and healthy. Here are a few of the inspiring stories of our students, staff, faculty and alumni.
Thanks in part to the efforts of a clinical professor of psychiatry at USask, a local church is offering another layer of support for front-line health-care workers.
In a recent feature with Global Saskatoon, a new outreach service was started after a conversation between Dr. Gene Marcoux (MD), and a young health-care worker who feared he would contract the disease and bring it home with him.
“We talked about his personal sort of strength issues. And, just that the whole issue of being able to manage … just the fear of the team,” Marcoux said in an interview with Global.
The conversation prompted Marcoux to take action. Following another conversation, this time with his pastor at Elim Church, the “Healthcare Heroes Prayerline” was born, allowing medical professionals to reach out to local pastors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service is available to anyone in the industry.
“I think it’s very important not just to limit this to physicians and nurses, the staff that run the food services, the cleaners is essential central part of the team. And so this is for anybody who works in the system,” Marcoux said.
Read more at Global Saskatoon.
Share your stories with us: We are collecting the stories of resilience and good spirit from our USask community. Please send story ideas and photos to news@usask.ca.
As a community it is critical that we support each other and remain respectful during what is a difficult time for all of us. Please follow all guidelines and take all precautions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in our community.
How you can help our students during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://alumni.usask.ca/news/2020/covid-19-how-you-can-help-our-students.php
For the latest developments and information about the University of Saskatchewan's response to COVID-19, please go to www.usask.ca/updates.
The University of Saskatchewan is undertaking critical research and contributing to global efforts to combat COVID-19. The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO-InterVac) is a world leader in developing vaccines and technologies to combat infectious diseases. Your support of the COVID-19 Research Fund supports the increased efforts of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Donate now.
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