Our 41st episode of RTNT a very special one, as we are coming together to recognize World Mental Health Day. The World Mental Health Day theme for 2022 is Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority. In addition, Clubhouse International has partnered with the World Federation for Mental Health. The 2022 Clubhouse Campaign is Wellness WORKS! This theme allows us to focus on the importance of integrating wellness programming into our mental health supports. And if we want to help make mental health and well-being for all a global priority, then why not focus on programming that is featured in Clubhouses all over the world?
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Our special World Mental Health Day episode features a round-table discussion between Independence Center, a Clubhouse in St. Louis, Missouri, and Progress Place Clubhouse. We’ll be hearing all about different wellness programs and why they’re so important to the Clubhouse Model.

Happy World Mental Health Day to all of our listeners. May we continue to make mental health and well-being a priority for all, and remember… Wellness Works!A special thank you to members and staff from Independence Center for appearing in the 41st episode of RTNT. And thank you to all members and staff at Progress Place who helped record, edit, and produce this episode.

*If you are looking for a community to be a part of your Mental Health recovery; please visit a Clubhouse near you.  Clubhouse International reaches over 100,000 people living with mental illness per year in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. Please visit clubhouseinternational.org to find a clubhouse in your community.* To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can: 

Visit progressplace.org
@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook
@Progress_Place on Twitter

Thanks again for listening to us and stay tuned for our new episode two months from now.

Welcome to the July show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Belke will be your host for this June 13th, 2022 episode.
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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.*

Today we are going to tune into a group discussion about Mental Health and New Hobbies!

Mental health can be impacted by many different things, from life-changing events to everyday tasks. And while there are many strategies we can actively engage in to improve our mental health, an often-overlooked factor is spending time on an activity that you enjoy – otherwise known as a hobby.
*Disclaimer: All recordings done for RTNT were using the Zoom platform to maintain social distancing through these times.

This episode features perspectives and information that are not directly from RTNT. We are NOT health professionals who specialize in Covid-19 or any other physical health matters. If you have any questions about Covid-19 please visit the website for either Toronto Public Health or Public Health Ontario or contact your doctor directly for any health questions or concerns.
If you are in crisis, please call 911 or the Gerstein Crisis Centre (if you’re in Toronto) at (416) 929-5200*

Enjoy the following group discussion on Mental Health and New Hobbies featuring members and staff of Progress Place.

Here are some great tips for how hobbies can improve your mental health according to a Utah State University article:

Reduced stress: participating in activities during leisure or spare time has been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art. Don’t consider yourself to be an artistic person? That’s okay! This study also showed that prior experience wasn’t needed to reduce stress.

Enhanced well-being: a study in New Zealand found that engaging in creative activities can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing that may have long lasting effects. Participants felt a higher positive affect or mood and a sense of flourishing after days where they engaged in a creative activity.

Improved social connection, decreases in depression and anxiety: while there are many mental health benefits related to hobbies on your own, group or ‘team’ hobbies have also been shown to provide important opportunities for social connection, friendship and support. Research also shows that adults who regularly participate in some kind of team sport are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.

Improved mental health: hobbies that include physical activity have been linked to many health benefits including reduced stress, reduced blood pressure, and a lower heart rate. But if you take physical activity outside, there are many additional positive benefits. Experts agree that spending as little as 10 minutes in nature can lead to improved mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.

*If you are looking for a community to be a part of your Mental Health recovery; please visit a Clubhouse near you.  Clubhouse International reaches over 100,000 people living with mental illness per year in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. Please visit clubhouseinternational.org to find a clubhouse in your community.*

A special thank you to our interviewers of RTNT. 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. Thank you to our listeners. Please, share this episode with your friends and family.

To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search RTNT on Google.

If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can:
Visit progressplace.org
@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook
@Progress_Place on Twitter

Thanks again for listening to us and stay tuned for our new episode two months from now!

Welcome to the March show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Belke is your host for this March 9th, 2022 episode number 39.

*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.*

Today we are going to speak on Black Mental Health Week. We’re going to connect with staff and members of Progress Place and the Community HUB to their discussion on the topic. We recorded the interview over Zoom.

From the Black Mental Health Week Website:

"TAIBU Community Health Centre, in partnership with the City of Toronto, hosted the inaugural Black Mental Health Day in March, 2020, citing the Toronto Black community’s demand to end 400 years of oppression and the ongoing mental health impact of persistent, systemic anti-Black racism in all settings.

Partly due to high-profile incidents of anti-Black racism in 2020, a groundswell of momentum is slowly improving awareness and strengthening the demand from communities across the globe, to improve understanding and to initiate action to end anti-Black racism and the negative mental health impact it causes where Black communities live, work and play."

"Rates of depressive symptoms among Black individuals are nearly six times the 12-month prevalence reported for the general population in Canada," Jude Mary Cenat, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, said in a press release.

A satellite program of Progress Place, Community Place Hub is a health access hub providing programs and services in Weston and Mount Dennis communities. To access them, please call 416-323-1429.

*Disclaimer: All recordings done for RTNT were using the Zoom platform to maintain social distancing through these times.

This episode features perspectives and information that are not directly from RTNT. We are NOT health professionals who specialize in Covid-19 or any other physical health matters. If you have any questions about Covid-19 please visit the website for either Toronto Public Health or Public Health Ontario or contact your doctor directly for any health questions or concerns.

This episode may contain conversations around suicide and suicide prevention. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or the Gerstein Crisis Centre (if you’re in Toronto) at (416) 929-5200*

*If you are looking for a community to be a part of your Mental Health recovery; please visit a Clubhouse near you.  Clubhouse International reaches over 100,000 people living with mental illness per year in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. Please visit clubhouseinternational.org to find a clubhouse in your community.*

To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.

If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can:

Visit progressplace.org

@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook

@Progress_Place on Twitter

Thanks again for listening to us and stay tuned for our new episode two months from now!

​Welcome to the December show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Mark was the host for this episode of RTNT December 8th, 2021 episode number 38.

*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.*

Today we are going to speak on Mental Health and Morning Routines. First off, we’re going to connect with staff and members of Progress Place to listen in on their Round Table discussion on the topic. We recorded the discussion over Zoom as the Clubhouse is not currently open to record in our studio.

Cleaning, breakfast, working out, hydrating, making the bed, cooking, coffee, sleeping, hygiene and showering, the possibilities are endless for routines.

According to TherapyGroup of NYC: “By establishing a daily routine, we can set aside time to take care of tasks and focus on our mental and physical health. Routines are essential at every stage of life—from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. They help us cope with change, create healthy habits, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce stress.”

*Disclaimer: All recordings done for RTNT were using the Zoom platform to maintain social distancing through these times.

This episode features perspectives and information that are not directly from RTNT. We are NOT health professionals who specialize in Covid-19 or any other physical health matters. If you have any questions about Covid-19 please visit the website for either Toronto Public Health or Public Health Ontario or contact your doctor directly for any health questions or concerns.

This episode may contain conversations around suicide and suicide prevention. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or the Gerstein Crisis Centre (if you’re in Toronto) at (416) 929-5200*

Enjoy the following Round Table discussion on Mental Health and Routines featuring staff and members of Progress Place.

*If you are looking for a community to be a part of your Mental Health recovery; please visit a Clubhouse near you.  Clubhouse International reaches over 100,000 people living with mental illness per year in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. Please visit clubhouseinternational.org to find a clubhouse in your community.*

We would like to thank all those involved with this episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto.

A special thank you to our interviewers of RTNT. 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.

Thank you to our listeners. Please, share this episode with your friends and family.

*To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.

If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can:

-visit progressplace.org.

-Follow us on social media

@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook

@Progress_Place on Twitter*

For this month we’ll be listening to a familiar Canadian artist by the name of Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors. Tom was a Canadian country and folk  singer-songwriter. Focusing his career exclusively on his native Canada, he is credited with writing more than 300 songs and has released four dozen albums, with total sales of nearly four million copies. We picked out a Christmas song called Merry Christmas Everybody and it has an amazing energy to it. Happy Holidays, stay tuned and stay connected.

Welcome to the August show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. The show aired on August 11, 2021. It’s our 37th episode! 

Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, provides a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place; a psycho-social clubhouse approach to mental health recovery; situated in downtown Toronto. 

This month's episode is about Mental Health and Building resilience. You will get an opportunity to listen to a discussion over Zoom between members and staff of Progress Place about the importance of resilience when it comes to our mental health. 

As Harold Kushner, the author of "When bad things happen to good people", said "Sometimes bad things have to happen before good things can", resilience can be defined as one's capacity to withstand hardship and be able to recover quickly from life's challenges." The participants shared their own definitions of resilience and their personal experiences going through challenges and recovering from them.  

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By no means should any of the information or opinions presented be considered as advice. What we do advise is that the info be taken with a grain of salt and for our listeners to form their own opinions.  

Thank you to all the members and staff that were part of this interesting conversation about Mental health and Building resilience, and that were part of the production of the 37th episode of RTNT. 

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. 

Are you or someone you know looking for a community resource to support Mental Health Wellness? If so, a Clubhouse near you offers tours. Every year, Clubhouse International reaches 100,000+ people in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. To find a clubhouse in your community, go to clubhouseinternational.org.  

To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. Also, we’re happy to announce that you can now stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. 

If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can: 

- visit progressplace.org.   

- Follow us on social media. _@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook 

_ @Progress_Place on Twitter  

​Welcome to the 36th episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca.

This month's episode is about Mental Health and Creativity. You will get an opportunity to listen to a discussion over Zoom between members and staff of Progress Place about how having a creative outlet can impact our mood and mental health. Several scientific studies have shown that having a creative outlet can help increase positive emotions and reduce depressive symptoms and anxiety. By no means should any of the information or opinions presented be considered as advice. What we do advise is that the info be taken with a grain of salt and for our listeners to form their own opinions. We would like to thank all those involved with this episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto and a special thanks to Catherine, a facilitator from the Toronto Writers Collective, a non-profit organization that provides free creative writing workshops to vulnerable communities in the GTA and other Canadian cities.

Thank you to our listeners and all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. *To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can: -Visit progressplace.org. -Follow us on social media @progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook @Progress_Place on Twitter*

Welcome to the April show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Julie of RTNT was the host for this April 14, 2021 episode number 35.
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Today we are going to speak on Mental Health and Pets. First off, we’re going to connect with staff and members of Progress Place to listen in on their Round Table discussion on the topic. We recorded the discussion over Zoom as the Clubhouse is not currently open to record in our studio.
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This episode features perspectives and information that are not directly from RTNT. We are NOT health professionals who specialize in Covid-19 or any other physical health matters. If you have any questions about Covid-19 please visit the website for either Toronto Public Health or Public Health Ontario or contact your doctor directly for any health questions or concerns.

This episode may contain conversations around suicide and suicide prevention. If you are in crisis, please call 911 or the Gerstein Crisis Centre (if you’re in Toronto) at (416) 929-5200.

Afterwards, we are spoke with Liane Weber of The LifeLine Canada Foundation. They have an amazing program, among others, called Companion Paws Canada.

Taken from the Companion Paws website: “Medical studies have confirmed what we all know from experience, spending time with an affectionate pet makes us feel better. In fact, contact with a compassionate animal can significantly improve mental and physical health, as well as reduce stress, depression and anxiety. A pet can make a huge difference in your life.”

Our round table discussion involves a group of animal loving staff and members. We are really fortunate to be able to draw from their knowledge and experience around pets. It’s difficult to know the true benefits of owning a pet until it's something you experience for yourself. This discussion was so fun to do that they lost track of time!

We would like to thank all those involved with this episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Please check out the Lifeline Canada Foundation website and on the app store. Thank you Liane Weber.

A special thank you to our interviewers of RTNT. 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.

Thank you to our listeners. Please, share this episode with your friends and family.

*To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.
If you’d like to learn more about Progress Place you can:
-Visit progressplace.org.
-Follow us on social media
@progressplaceclubhouse on Instagram & Facebook
@Progress_Place on Twitter*

Thanks again for listening to us and stay tuned for a new episode in two months!

Happy World Mental Health Day from all of the members, staff and directors of Progress Place!

This year's theme for WMHD is all about investing in mental health and access to care. So we decided to produce a very special episode of our podcast, Radio Totally Normal Toronto, that takes a deep and engaging look at the Clubhouse Model, which is, of course, the model that we follow at Progress Place.
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Join RTNTers Mark, Mairon, Richard and Andrew as they are joined in conversation with Steven, a longtime member of Progress Place, and Criss, Progress Place's Executive Director as they discuss the Clubhouse Model, it's amazing impact on the lives of people living with mental illness and why it's so important to invest in programs like it - especially in times like these.
Enjoy, stay safe and happy World Mental Health Day!

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 32 was hosted by Janice on CJRU 1280AM, Wednesday, August 12, 2020. This month we're talking about Mental Health and Sports. We had an opportunity to interview Michael Landsberg after an event hosted by Progress Place Clubhouse and the Rotary Club Toronto. The first part of the show features this interview and afterwards we will listen to a recorded table discussion about mental health and sports with members and staff from Progress Place.

Michael Landsberg is a well known Sports Journalist and the current host of TSN s: “First Up with Landsberg and Colaiacovo”.  In 2012, the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Health named Landsberg one of its Champions of Mental Health.  Landsbergs' documentary, “Darkness and Hope: Depression, Sports and Me”, earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination in 2013.  For his longstanding dedication to promoting mental health awareness, Landsberg was honoured with the Humanitarian Award at the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards.

In 2017, he was awarded a Meritous Service Medal, (Civil Division), for his mental health advocacy, presented by the Governor General of Canada, at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall.  Michael created the hashtag #sicknotweak and has transformed that into the website sicknotweak.com  The website provides a forum for people to share their struggles with mental illness. On the website you can read stories written by people who suffer from the many forms of mental illness.  Also you can watch the daily “Landsblog”, in which Michael shares his thoughts and stories.

Michael's objectives on the website are: To help people understand that mental illness is a sickness, not a weakness.  To create a community of people who come to gain strength and stay to give strength.  To help both sufferers and the people who care about them.  Get as many people as possible, in a loud, firm, confident voice to share the words “I am SickNotWeak”  To see the Toronto Maple Leafs win a Stanley Cup in my lifetime  Michael also states: “ I am unconventional. I am not limited like other initiatives by corporate correctness or medical agendas. I believe that the traditional way - whispered, clinical, formal and the sanitized, adds to the shame and reinforces the belief that people are weak, not sick.”  SickNotWeak can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. There is also a SickNotWeak channel on Youtube. On his channel, check out the clip “What is SickNotWeak”, it is hilarious and informative.

Progress Place Warm Line have extended their hours to offer support to anyone feeling isolated or needing a friendly chat during these times.

Between 12pm - 8pm, Call 416-323-3721
Between 8pm - Midnight, Call 416-960-WARM (9276)

Text 647-557-5882

You can also chat online on warmline.ca

Thank you to everyone that worked so hard to keep the RTNT production going through these times.  Thank you to our listeners, and we want to let you know that you are not alone. During these uncertain times, stay connected with a community that supports you can help us go through the worry and overwhelming news.  We are here for you.  To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out our website radiototallynormaltoronto.org.  Also, the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast and many more if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto.