Winter 2023 Pain BC Newsletter
Reflecting on 2023
As we look back on the past year, we want to thank you for being part of our community. This fall marked an incredible end to 2023 for our organization. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of individuals and organizations, our National Pain Awareness Week social media campaign had the furthest reach since its inception. More than 2.2 million people saw our campaign posts a collective total of 7.6 million times, raising awareness of the impact of chronic pain and helping to reduce stigma. We’re immensely grateful to all those who participated and engaged.

Through our Pain Canada action network, we also launched a new digital tool that monitors the progress towards the implementation of the 150+ recommendations laid out in Health Canada’s Action Plan for Pain in Canada. The tracker will continue to be updated quarterly throughout 2024 and beyond, to highlight how far Canada has come in its approach to addressing pain, and how much further it still has to go.
More than 850 people attended this year’s Putting the Pieces Together conference, our virtual conference by and for people living with pain, which was an incredible success thanks to the conference’s steering committee of people living with pain, our many partners through our Pain Canada action network, and to the tireless work of our staff and volunteers. Videos of the conference session are now available online.

None of this work would possible without the generosity of the funders and donors who support our work, which includes many people who live with pain themselves.

We look forward to continuing to work with each of you in 2024 towards our shared vision of a future where no one is alone with pain.
Pain BC programs, resources and updates
People stacking their hands together to show teamwork
Pain BC holiday closure
Support Services programs resume on January 2, 2024

The Pain Support Line and Pain Support and Wellness Groups are on break from December 22, 2023 until January 2, 2024. If you are in crisis, we recommend reaching out to any of the following crisis lines:

  • Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
  • 310 Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (No area code needed)
  • Wellness Together (Available 24/7): text WELLNESS to 741741
  • Call or text 9-8-8 for support if feeling suicidal
  • Hope for Wellness Line (Indigenous supports) 1-855-242-3310 

We look forward to connecting with you in 2024!
Our supports for people with pain
LivePlanBe+ logo
Knowledge is power. Learn to manage pain and improve well-being though our library of evidence-based articles on LivePlanBe or start a customized program on LivePlanBe+.
Connect with Pain Support Line staff to talk about your pain, find information on community resources, learn about pain and self-management, and much more.
Join an online group and build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies.
Receive one-on-one phone support and mentorship from a coach who will help you learn about self-management, regaining function and improving your well-being.
Gentle Movement @ Home: Guided movement and relaxation for pain

Gentle Movement @ Home free online videos provide guided movement and relaxation designed to help people with persistent pain learn to feel safe to move again. Topics include breath awareness and regulation, body tension regulation, and movement and relaxation techniques in both seated and standing positions.

The full collection of Gentle Movement @ Home videos are available to view for free via our YouTube channel.
Upcoming Pain BC and partner workshops, webinars and courses for health care providers
Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers
Pain Foundations for Allied Health Providers is an online course designed for allied health care providers to improve their understanding of chronic pain and how to address the challenges of pain assessment and treatment. This practical, compact course allows learners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management and develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for health care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for providers outside of BC.

Pain Foundations for Primary Care Providers
This practical, compact course allows physicians and nurse practitioners to develop clinically relevant approaches to chronic pain management, including non-pharmacological treatments and prescribing best practices. Learners will develop a strong grounding in pain science to support further exploration. The course is free for primary care providers in BC and offered at a modest cost for physicians and nurse practitioners outside of BC.

Moving Through Pain: A free course for health care providers
Based on Pain BC’s course Gentle Movement & Relaxation, Moving Through Pain is Pain Canada's new free, self-paced online program for health care providers who want to support people living with pain to move with more ease. Learners who complete Moving Through Pain will be equipped with the practical knowledge and teaching resources to support people living with pain to engage in gentle movement and relaxation as part of a supported self-management plan.

Pain BC relies on the generosity of our donors to deliver our programs and services. We gratefully acknowledge that many of our programs and services receive partial financial support from the Province of British Columbia, including Coaching for Health, the Pain Support Line, Pain Support and Wellness Groups, our chronic pain management workshops for health care providers, Gentle Movement and Relaxation course, LivePlanBe, Making Sense of Pain, Pain Foundations, and the Pain Waves podcast.
Other programs, opportunities and resources
Take a Pain Check logo
Scholarship opportunity for students living with a rheumatic condition
Two scholarships worth $2,500 are available for Canadian students

Take a Pain Check is offering two scholarships worth $2,500 for full-time Canadian students living with rheumatic conditions. Preference is given to STEM students, but all Canadian students diagnosed with a rheumatic condition who are passionate about making a difference in their communities are welcome to apply. Submit your application by January 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST to scholarships@takeapaincheck.com for a chance to win!
Power Over Pain Portal logo
A Key to Chronic Pain Management: Learn more about your nervous system
Free webinar on January 11, 2024 at 8:00AM PST

Power Over Pain Portal is offering a free webinar on January 11, 2024 at 8:00AM PST on the nervous system and pain, including how it changes and adapts to our experiences. Recordings of the webinar will be available for those who cannot attend the live session. To check out other upcoming webinars from Power Over Pain Portal, visit: portal.poweroverpain.ca/events
Free online pain management for people in the Pacific Northwest of BC
New Making Sense of Pain program starts in January 2024

Designed by Pain BC and offered by the the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, Making Sense of Pain is an opportunity for people who live with persistent pain to meet weekly to build a community of support while learning about pain, pain management and coping strategies. This 10-week program will be offered via Zoom once a week for two hours starting in January 2024.

To register or find out more information, please call: 1-250-917-8928
Research and engagement opportunities
Power Over Pain Portal logo
Study: Power Over Pain Portal for Youth

The Power Over Pain Portal for Youth is an online tool designed to help young people manage their pain. Researchers are seeking participants aged 12-18 who have been experiencing pain for three months or longer. Participation will involve answering online questionnaires, using the Power Over Pain Portal for eight weeks, and optionally completing a feedback interview. All participants will receive volunteer hours and a gift card.
CircaPain logo
Study: Pain throughout the day

If you live with pain, does it change throughout the day? The CircaPain research team is studying how time of day impacts pain and wants to hear about your experience. This study is open to all adults who have had persistent pain for more than three months. Learn more and take the survey on CircaPain's website: circapain.ca.
In the news
One in nine Canadian adults have experienced long-term COVID symptoms
A new report from StatsCan shared that more than 3.5 million Canadians have experienced long-term COVID symptoms, often referred to as long COVID.
Health care experiences of people living with Fibromyalgia
Researchers from the University of British Columbia documented the experiences of people living with Fibromyalgia seeking health care and presented their findings in an accessible audio-summary of their work.
Be kind to your body by slowing down your holidays
The author of this article, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, shares her strategies for a 'less-is-more' holiday approach to avoid a pain flare-up.
The power of radical acceptance in managing pain
It can be easy to spiral when experiencing a fibromyalgia flare. The author of this article shares her experience with practicing radical acceptance as a way to cope with chronic pain, a practice that can be applied to many conditions.
© 2023 Pain BC Society. All Rights Reserved.
 312 Main St
Vancouver, BC V6A 2T2

Charitable registration number: 83220 0422 RR0001
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