For My Health

For My Health! An exciting new program integrating physical and mental health screening and education.

If you want to do something for your health – beyond New Year’s resolutions – a new program may soon be able to help. In December 2009, a new health screening and education event integrating physical and mental health was tested for the first time. The For My Health! program, especially well suited for workplaces, was developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association’s BC Division and the Healthy Heart Society of BC in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

For My Health! is a fun and interactive health event that is free to participants, with risk factor screening, health education and goal-setting – all based on sound evidence. Participants learn about their health and how to improve it by cycling through several health screening stations covering issues from blood pressure, mood, waist girth, stress and resilience, to cholesterol, anxiety, and glucose. After the screening stations, participants meet one-on-one with a coach to review results and set a health improvement goal.

Fifty employees piloted the event at the BC Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver on December 9th, 2009, and evaluations have been very positive. In fact, a number of participants have reported taking concrete steps to improve their health as a direct result of the event. CMHA, Healthy Heart Society and PHSA are proud of the potential of the event to both inform and empower participants, and look forward to the next steps in For My Health!'s evolution, in workplaces and beyond.