Even low intensity activities such as walking or yoga are beneficial
According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide have depression.1 When individuals recover from a major depressive episode, they have a high probability of relapse, and in some cases a tendency towards chronicity.2 Depression results in a considerable deterioration in quality of life for affected individuals and their families.3 Globally, more than 700 000 people die by suicide each year,1 and mortality from other physical illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer increases by 50% when those affected have depression.4 Individuals with depression can face difficulties finding employment, and among those who are employed, depression is associated with reduced productivity, higher rates of absenteeism, and an increased risk of job loss.5 All this emotional, quality of life, work related, and economic impact affects individuals and their families, as well as the efficienc
Article content
One city councillor says the closure of Calgary’s only centrally located YMCA should be a “wake-up call” about the need to invest in the struggling downtown.
YMCA Calgary announced Thursday that the Gray Family YMCA in Eau Claire will permanently close, citing “challenges in the downtown environment” that were a problem well before the COVID-19 pandemic forced recreation centres to shut their doors.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Closure of Eau Claire YMCA another blow to Calgary s inner city Back to video
Shannon Doram, YMCA Calgary president and CEO, said a decade ago the Eau Claire YMCA was a “bustling” facility, with as many as 10,500 members at its peak. She said about half of that membership was made of downtown workers who would come to exercise before or after work, but go to a different YMCA close to where they lived on weekends.