The Citizen, 1990-12-21, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1990.
Stress, burnout big factor for 1990’s
Mental Health Assoc, says
r
“The ’90s may well be the
decade of stress and personal
burnout”, says Howard E.
Richardson Jr., Executive Director
of the Ontario Division of the
Canadian Mental Health Associa
tion (CMHA) “stress, burnout,
even depression appears epidemic
as the pace of our lives is escalat
ing.”
Mr. Richardson confirms “em
ployees emotional problems cost
Canadian business $1.3 billion a
year and studies show that 60 per
cent of Canadians felt negative
stress at work during the past year;
16 per cent felt it regularly and 80
per cent of all accidents in the
workplace are caused by stress
related problems.”
According to Statistics Canada,
in 1988 in Ontario there were 1,045
suicides. The Council on Suicide
Prevention in Toronto reported in
1989 the highest incidence of
suicides were between the ages of
30-39. A total of 64 suicides were
reported in this age group. Another
alarming revelation is the growing
incidence of suicides over the age
of 80. In 1989, Metro Toronto
reported 23 suicides in this age
group.
Antique Christmas
ornaments add style
While the first Christmas trees
were decorated with fruit and nuts,
and other edible ornaments, by the
middle of the 19th century, elabor
ately decorated objects began to
adorn the increasingly popular
evergreen.
Handblown glass balls, called
kugels, have added shimmering
beauty to pine boughs since they
were first made in Germany in the
early 1800s. Available in elongated
as well as round shapes, kugels
could be had in a variety of sizes
and colours, as well.
Molded glass ornaments origi
nated in the latter part of the 19th
century, also in Germany. The
earliest shapes - pine cones, fruit
and icicles - were joined by a wide
range of others, from Fairytale
characters to animals, Santas to
edifices, as manufacturers became
ever more inventive.
Paper ornaments were also pop
ular in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. These took two major
forms: “Scrap ornaments,” colour
fully printed, thanks to the newly
refined process of chromolitho
graphy; and Dresden ornaments,
whose cardboard base, both die-cut
and embossed, was painstakingly
decorated with gold, silver and
other colours of paint.
Among the most popular sub
jects for scrap ornaments were
angels and snowmen, and Santa
himself starred in many an eye
catching chromolithographed scrap
ornament.
While scrap ornaments were
always two-dimensional, Dresden
ornaments were often carefully
worked into three-dimensional
shapes, such as vehicles (including
early depictions of airplanes and
zepoelins) and animals. Superb
--------------—A—
THAT'S HOW MANY
CANADIANS ARE
FIGURE SKATERS
Christmas
M Howson & Howson
Limited
The simple pleasures of Christmas!
May you and your family share in all
its wondrous joys. It's been a pleasure
serving you throughout the year.
Stress normally results from
situations we are not always able to
control, however, in anticipating
stress signals we can become more
familiar with the development of
coping skills. The new attitude
toward mental health is preventa
tive, which may be our best weapon
in the war against stress and its
related side effects. The regular
practice of relaxation exercises
should become part of our fitness
regime. The focus must be on the
whole self rather than solely the
physical.
In the past 15 years, the typical
adult’s leisure time has shrunk by
40 per cent down from 26.6 to J6.6
hours a week (Psychology Today,
March 1989). As a result, the work
week is 15 per cent longer. School,
work and commuting is absorbing
all our time.
Society’s pre-occupation with
physical fitness when taken to
extremes can have serious health
implications. Excessive adherence
to fitness routines can lead to
dangerous eating disorders and
negative stress.^Leisure and recre
ation activities should alleviate
stress rather than heighten its
development.
detailing characterizes these orna
ments, which are among those
most treasured by collectors of
antique Christmas decorations.
Considerably less elegant, orna
ments of spun cotton were pouplar
for their low cost as well as for the
wide range of subjects they repre
sented.
Animals, fruits, clowns and an
gels joined innumerable Santas in
these three-dimensional ornaments
formed by combining cotton and
cellulose fibers, over a base of
cardobard or wire. Their hard outer
surface, on which decorations
would be added, was created by the
application of glue.
By the 1930s, virtually all of
these charming, early decorations
had become obsolete. However,
today they are heirlooms, prized by
collectors ' exhibited
museums.
4 p
Sparkling
Season
to All!
Thanks and
happy holiday,
Brussels
5C to $1.00
Store
H 887-9072
Stress can cause burnout which
can lead to alcoholism, eating
disorders, drug abuse and vio
lence. Judging time to meet per
sonal and work commitments has
become a major balancing act that
can lead to disorders such as
increased hypertension, stroke,
and ulcers.
Relationships are becoming
more complex as the role of the
family members continues to
change. Peer pressure among the
teen-aged population is the culprit
in many cases of teen suicide,
runaways and depression.
A device known as a stress card
is currently available with a dona
tion to the CMHA, Ontario Divi
sion. This card is a temperature
sensitive device that monitors your
personal stress level by turning
various colours. The “Do It Your
self Stress Control Handbook’’ that
accompanies the stress card out
lines relaxation techniques and
facts on this threat to our health.
The Ontario Division of the
Canadian Mental Health Associa
tion, through their 36 branches can
provide factual information to help
individuals learn how to both
prevent and deal with stress in our
day to day lives by offering services
such as Self-Help Groups, Employ
ment Services, Supportive Hous
ing, Social Rehabilitation, Environ
mental Research. Mental Health
Library Collections, Video Resour
ces, Retirement Planning Services,
Visiting Programs, Social Policy &
Research, Community Develop
ment, Case Management Services
and Prevention Programs.
The Metropolitan Toronto
Branch of the CMHA distributes
“coping with stress - a source
book” for a fee of $4. This
informative booklet outlines ser
vices available in the Metro Tor
onto area to assist individuals
coping with stress. To obtain
copies, contact (416) 789-7957.
If you want a stress break today,
try the “Eight Minute Stress
Break” which includes exercises
like the “360 Degree Stretch” and
the “Twister”.
&I
$
unspcs
In joyous appreciation
of your friendship and
S* good will, we offer
\ our deepest thanks,
j along with glad tidings
L of the season.
BLYTH
Harm Irnnp. v
&
Harm, Irene
& Diane
I Queen St. N. BLYTH
523-4910
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