Women@Heart Graduates…. a community of advocates for women and heart disease
In previous articles we have provided information on stats related to women’s heart health and the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre( CWHHC)
One of the many programs that was developed and implemented by the CWHHC is the Women@Heart Peer Support Program.
This program is lead by women with heart Disease for women with heart disease.
The Women@Heart Peer Support Program is a great way for women with heart disease to receive support, information and knowledge about heart disease from other women who have gone thought a similar experience with heart disease.
The Women@Heart Progam incorporates 3 principles of peer support throughout the program length which addresses the Emotional, Informational and Appraisal Support for women after a cardiac event.
This free program was launched in 2015 and is being offered in many facilities across Ottawa, Gatineau and Cornwall in English and French.
Since the program was launched there are 41 Women@Heart Leaders, over 647 women enrolled in the program and close to 70 Peer Support groups launched.
As participants graduate from the program, results have shown significant improvement in the women’s ability to cope with heart disease; to take action to maintain their health; to better deal with the emotions of stress and depression; and to communicate with their health care provider.
Starting this year, the Women@ Heart graduates with receive red shawls which have been sponsored by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Patient Alumni Association .(Enclosed photo is one of this year’s gradates of the Women@ Heart Peer support program)
Program graduates are encouraged to proudly wear their red shawl in support of women’s heart health to ensure that every women, in every community, becomes more aware of how heart disease and its risks can impact a woman
Thank you for helping us Start the Conversation…
For more information on the program, please visit the CWHHC website at yourheart.ca
