BREAKING Canada will cut its permanent immigration levels by at least 20 per cent
Canada will lower the number of permanent immigrants it allows into the country by at least 20 per cent from its previous target of 500,000, 愛污传媒 confirmed Wednesday.
With graphic imagery of the Israel-Hamas war readily available on social media, some experts say this constant exposure 鈥 and the inability to help 鈥 may be affecting our mental health.
The war in Israel erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada since 2002, launched a surprise attack from Gaza.
Officials say more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, have been killed, along with another 2,778 Palestinians in the ensuing airstrikes by Israel.
Steve Joordens, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, told CTVNews.ca in an interview on Friday that online posts about human suffering are awakening the primitive flight-or-fight responses in people, thus increasing their anxiety.
This instinctive reflex releases adrenaline in the body and blocks cortisol, a hormone used to combat stressful situations like a bear encounter, Joordens said.
"Anytime you go back (to your phone), you are opening yourself up to seeing the bear again," he said.
Wars readily broadcast on social media are not isolated to the Israel-Hamas war, as evidenced by Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.
But just like in Ukraine, social media has also been filled with misinformation about the Israel-Hamas war.
Over the last week, people around the world have also marched in solidarity with both Israel and the Palestinians.
Yet, as emotions run high, some may feel powerless to affect real change, something Joordens described as "learned helplessness."
"We may end up with people who are less pro-social and less willing to help their fellow human beings, because they've just reached this point of feeling that they can't," he added.
Walter Callaghan, a PhD candidate in medical anthropology at the University of Toronto, explained to CTVNews.ca in an interview on Friday that people can have a vicarious trauma response from viewing "grotesque videos and images" on social media.
"Even myself, as an expert, I've had to step back several times this week and have said, 'I can't do social media anymore,'" he said.
A good coping strategy, Callaghan suggested, is to turn off the phone and rely on a strong social support network to have "honest, heartfelt conversations."
"Having a good cry is (also) healthy," he added.
With files from The Associated Press
Canada will lower the number of permanent immigrants it allows into the country by at least 20 per cent from its previous target of 500,000, 愛污传媒 confirmed Wednesday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal party is 'strong and united,' despite efforts from within his caucus to oust him as leader.
The Bank of Canada made a sizable cut to its key lending rate Wednesday from 4.25 per cent to 3.75 per cent as the global economy continues to expand. The half percentage point cut is the fourth rate cut in a row by the central bank as inflation dropped from 2.7 per cent in June to 1.6 per cent in September.
The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.
A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.
A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
Turkiye鈥檚 air force struck Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday in apparent retaliation for an attack at a key state-run defence company that killed five people and wounded more than a dozen others.
Air Transat says it is laying off as many as 400 flight attendants, but plans to bring them back to work at some point.
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.
Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.
The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.