 Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
Episode 27 was hosted by RTNT’s Matthew on March 11, 2020 . This month we’re focusing on music and mental health. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness in their life, and billions are estimated to be lost by employers annually as a result, it is always a pertinent topic. Milena, who is a worker at Progress Place, leads members in a discussion about how music can affect our mental health. It is amazing how music has impacted all of the individuals in the discussion in such a positive manner. In a article found on livescience.com Suzanne Hanser, from Berklee College of Music in Boston said: "Music-making is linked to a number of health benefits for older adults," "Research shows that making music can lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and lessen anxiety and depression. There is also increasing evidence that making music enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses," Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to the members and staff for their participation on this episode of RTNT. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health wellness. To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.
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 Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
This month we’re talking about Mental Health and Music. In an article: “How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits”, by Kendra Cherry, the positive effects of music are investigated. The article can be found in verywellmind.com, (updated Dec 10,2019 and medically reviewed By Dr Daniel D Block. We have used this article as a startpoint for discussion by members and staff of Progress Place. The article looks at and suggests ways that may be helpful for things like: Cognitive performance, stress reduction, diet, memory and pain management. We’re going to mention a couple of cool tips of how music can affect our mental health: Music can improve your mood In an examination of the reasons why people listen to music, researchers discovered that music played an important role in relating arousal and mood. They rated that music helps achieve better moods and become more self-aware are the most important functions of music. Music can improve your cognitive performance One study found that playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed while both upbeat and downbeat music led to benefits in memory. Music can reduce stress In one 2013 study the results suggested that listening to music had an impact on the human stress response. Those who listened to music tended to recover more quickly following a stressor. Music might help you sleep better In a study that involved college students. The study found that participants who had listened to music had significantly better sleep quality than those who had listened to the audiobook or received no intervention. Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/surprising-psychological-benefits-of-music-4126866 To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
This month we’re talking about Mental Health during Winter. A season when everyone tends to spend more time indoors. For those easily withdrawn and isolated; it’s especially important to keep active in winter. Even though the weather may not be perfect for outdoor and community activities there are ways to beat the cold, stay active, and even celebrate the colder months. In our first segment, two Progress Place members, Mark and Johnny, are going to go over some research they did about winter jackets and help you decide which coat to choose. You can find inexpensive winter coats at thrift stores such as Value Village, Double Take, Johns Thrift Store, or Vintage Depot. Our second segment will be from a show we had done before on Youth and Homelessness. We interviewed Jesse Sudirgo who worked at Yonge Street Mission. The Yonge Street Mission is an organization in the downtown sector that aims to help support Toronto's most susceptible population. They aid families, children, youth, and even communities existing in daily poverty. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to the members and staff for their participation on this episode of RTNT. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health and wellness. If you are in need of a shelter you can call 211 Central Access. 211 service provides Information and Referral for callers to community and social services 24/7 for Central Region (Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Durham Region), and overnight and on weekends for the rest of Ontario: Dial 2-1-1 To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
Episode 24 was hosted by RTNT’s Toby on November 13, 2019. This month we’re focusing on winter activities to stay happy and healthy. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness in their life, and billions are estimated to be lost by employers annually as a result, it is always a pertinent topic. Mark, a Progress Place regular will ask members a host of questions related to how they spend their free time during the cold winter months. We will learn how different Progress Place members are affected by the reduction of sunlight, how they get around and how they dress best for the weather. A host of community resources are discussed as well. Toby then shares he knowledge of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) a depressive condition caused by decreased exposure to sunlight that is usually experienced during winter in northern regions. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to the members and staff for their participation on this episode of RTNT. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health wellness. To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Out of the Cold: www.outofthecold.org RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org  Welcome to the October show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Camelia was the host for the show on October 9th, 2019. This will be Episode 23!
Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental health recovery centre in downtown Toronto. This year’s focus for World Mental Health Day is Mental Health ll parts of the world and, in the past few decades, has reached alarming statistical levels. The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss. Our contribution to Suicide Prevention is a collection of voxpops from inside the clubhouse that is meant to offer insight to maintaining positive mental health. We will also be sharing the content that we created to send to the clubhouse in Calgary called Potential Place which features similar content. It’s important to take care of yourself and get the most from life. We’ve looked up 10 practical ways to look after your mental health. Making simple changes to how you live doesn’t need to cost a fortune or take up loads of time. Anyone can follow this advice. The following comes from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health If you or someone you know are in crisis contact 911 for immediate help. If you are thinking about suicide please call 416-408-HELP. You may contact Crisis Services Canada toll free at 1-866-456-4566. You may also text them at 45645 from 4pm - 12am. Their website offers online chat support. For friends or family who suspect someone who is in need of suicide prevention please visit www.ontariosuicidepreventionnetwork.ca or call 211.  You are listening to Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca in Toronto. Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
We are now on episode 22! This month we’re focusing on mental health and the arts. As information and awareness spreads we are seeing an increasingly holistic approach to mental health; that is looking at physical, mental, emotional and social factors as important parts of someone’s overall health. This episode we spoke with Kelly Straughan from Workman Arts about their work and evolution of the workspace. As we will see in this episode, the arts can play an important role in overall mental wellness, providing not only an important outlet for expression but a chance to develop skills and confidence as well. Some facts about Mental Health and the arts are: Drawing, painting, or molding objects from clay has been shown to help people deal with different kinds of trauma. In The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health, Heather L. Stuckey and Jeremy Nobel say that "art helps people express experiences that are too difficult to put into words, such as a diagnosis of cancer." "Artistic self-expression," they continue, "might contribute to maintenance or reconstruction of a positive identity." Additionally, a review published in 2014 suggests that individuals with musical training — such as those who learned how to play an instrument — have improved connectivity between the two hemispheres of their brains. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to Kelly Straughan of Workman Arts for coming down to Progress Place to record the interview. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health and wellness. To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Workman Arts: workmanarts.com RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org Progress Place: www.progressplace.org  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
Episode 21 was hosted by RTNT's Mathiaus on August 14th, 2019. This month we’re focusing on mental health in the workplace. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness in their life, and billions are estimated to be lost by employers annually as a result, it is always a pertinent topic. We'll be hearing from Oliver from the Waterfront BIA. It's great to hear that there are employers that embrace and understand the needs of the mental health community. We also will hear the audio presentation of Progress Place's transitional employment program. We hear RTNT's Paul introduce Freta, Ali, Sara and Mariza. If you are interested in Progress Place. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to Oliver from the Waterfront BIA for being involved in episode 21 of RTNT. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health wellness. To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Waterfront BIA: www.waterfrontbia.com RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.
Our topic for this month is Mental Health and LGBTQ+. The acronym stands for: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, plus. This posted version of the show includes the full version of both interviews. Today we’ll be hearing from two wonderful organizations that were kind enough to donate their time during Pride Month to share information about their agencies. First we’ll be hearing from Ronnie of Sherbourne Health and then we’ll be hearing from Chris of the Umbrella Mental Health Network. The reason we’ve chosen to cover the connection between LGBTQ+ and mental health is not only because of Pride Month, but to address and raise awareness of LGBTQ+ services available in our community. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, LGBTQ+ people may face: Higher rates of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and phobic disorders, suicidality, self-harm, and substance use among LGBTQ+ people Double the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than heterosexual people. Although the community may be considered vulnerable, its important to note that the community has overcome a lot of adversity and displayed resilience to create a space for themselves. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to Ronnie of Sherbourne Health and Chris Shellington of Umbrella Mental Health Network for being involved in episode 20 of RTNT. Thank you to our listeners, and please share this episode with your friends and family. Together we can transition from mental health stigmas to a continued focus on mental health wellness. To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Sherbourne Health: sherbourne.on.ca Umbrella Mental Health Network: www.umhn.ca RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a clubhouse and mental health recovery centre in downtown Toronto. Today’s episode is all about mental health and education. We will be focusing on an amazing program at George Brown College.
Children and youth spend a great deal of their lives at school; struggling with a mental health issue can affect their school life. They may behave in different ways with teachers and classmates, have difficulty making friends, or avoid going to class. Having difficulties can affect their grades. All of these issues can make things worse for them. (Source: smh-assist.ca) It is encouraging to see our community strive to improve awareness to reduce stigma and increase the amount of supports that are available in and outside schools. Emily of RTNT was our interviewer for our 18th episode. We were fortunate to have interviewed Teresa Doell, Job Coordinator of the Augmented Education program at George Brown College. Teresa presents lots of insight on the program and the type of support they offer in both the classroom and for the workplace. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Special thank you to Teresa Doell for being involved in episode 18 of RTNT. We are pleased to announce that the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto! This episode originally aired on June 12th, 2019 on CJRU 1280 AM and www.cjru.ca. Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff of Progress Place Clubhouse. George Brown College - Augmented Education: www.georgebrown.ca/augmentededucation RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org  Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a clubhouse and mental health recovery centre in downtown Toronto. Today’s episode is all about mental health and comedy and how the two interact.
First up is Bart Campbell from the organization Laughing Like Crazy. Laughing Like Crazy aims to empower participants and audiences alike, breakdown isolation and anxiety, build self-esteem, and challenge stigma. Looking at difficult issues through the lens of humour provides an empowering perspective on mental health issues, builds confidence, and improves communication. RTNT listeners may recognize the first interview with Bart Campbell as it is from our third episode we did back in 2017. In the second half of the episode we will be hearing from Jordan Foisy, a stand-up comedian from Toronto. You may know him from his first album “Standing on the edge of unspeakable anxiety” as well as his written work for Vice Magazine and “This hour has 22 minutes.” Most recently he is entertaining crowds with his show “The I’m back on my Antidepressants” tour. He is an inspiration for people who suffer from Mental Health challenges. A special thanks to all of the staff and members who helped to make this episode possible. Huge thanks to comedian Jordan Foisy and Bart Campbell from Laughing Like Crazy for taking time out of his schedule to sit down with us here at RTNT. If you are interested in finding out more about Laughing Like Crazy visit: mooddisorders.ca/program/laughing-like-crazy This episode originally aired on May 8th, 2019 on CJRU 1280 AM and www.cjru.ca. Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff of Progress Place Clubhouse. RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/radiototallynormaltoronto For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org |