Let's talk about mental health

September 29, 2021

Mental health and wellness is important to everyone’s overall health, but plays an even bigger role for young people living with IBD. It is essential to understand which factors may contribute to the worsening symptoms of IBD. Learn about the importance of building psychological resilience and flexibility as well as where to access care and support.

Panel Members:

Dr. Lesley Graff (PhD., Cpsych) is a professor and head of the Clinical Health Psychology Department with the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Graff’s clinical and academic work is integrated in the area of behavioral medicine with acute and chronic disease, focusing on gastrointestinal disorders.

Shannon Epstein has been volunteering with Crohn’s and Colitis Canada since 2013. Her involvement has included running fundraisers in the Montreal areas to raise both funds and awareness in the young adult demographic along with collaborating with CCC’s National Office on various projects. Outside of Shannon’s volunteering efforts, she is a full time CPA specializing in the financial services industry.

Moderator:

Peter Dobranowski was 15 when he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which was later rediagnosed as ulcerative colitis. A severe flare-up caused him to withdraw from his first year of university, and left him with hardships no one else shared - at least that he knew of. Luckily, Peter achieved remission, completed a BSc in Nutrition and MSc in Experimental Medicine, and he's currently completing a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, studying new treatments for IBD. Peter thinks Crohn's and Colitis Canada gave him a way to fight back against IBD, connecting him with researchers and volunteers with a united goal. He feels great pleasure helping facilitate the Young Adult Series because he went through the transition stage alone, and he doesn't want you to have to.

Quick FactFaits en bref

Canada has among the highest incidence rates of Crohn's and colitis in the world.
1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis.
Families new to Canada are developing these diseases for the first time.
Incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids under 10 has doubled since 1995.
People are most commonly diagnosed before age 30.

Young Adult Series