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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. 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!
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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.
Episode 31 was hosted on July 8th, 2020. This month we sat down with Norma and Linda from the St. James Town Seniors Program at the Community Corner. The second part of the show features VOXPOPs that we had produced over Zoom! We asked several questions surrounding how members and staff have been coping with changes during the COVID19 pandemic. The episode was recorded using an online platform and all the participants were in their own homes to comply with the social distancing recommendation. St. James Town is the largest highrise community in Canada and is also the most densely populated area in Canada. It is a multi cultural, multi ethnic and multi linguistic neighbourhood. In May 2011, the St. James Town Community Corner at 200 Wellesley opened doors. The Corner is a fully accessible set of offices, meeting spaces, program rooms and community kitchen dedicated to local initiatives and services to benefit the neighbourhood. The Corner is part of The St. James Town Service Providers’ Network (SJTSPN) It consists of service providers and community members who work collaboratively to support the St. James Town Community. One of the subcommittees of the SPN is the Older Adult Consortium of St. James Town that comprises of representatives from service providers, local senior group leaders and residents that work together, to identify and support older adults living in the community. The Senior Mental Health Day Program is run in collaboration with Dixon Hall, Hospice Toronto, Toronto Public Health and The Corner that provides us the space for the program. Progress Place is the lead of the program. The program is located at 200 Wellesley Street E, in a safe, cheerful and friendly environment. The program operates right in the heart of the community where members/participants live. The program currently runs three days of the week from Tuesdays to Thursdays, is attended by seniors 55+ that are exceptionally vulnerable, isolated and without much social connections. 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.  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 30 was hosted on June 10th, 2020. This month we sat down with Steven Hughes. The episode was recorded using an online platform and all the participants were in their own homes to comply with the social distancing recommendation. On this episode we have an interview with Steven Hughes, a Laughter Yoga teacher and Education Specialist from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. He has been a certified Yoga teacher since 1985 and today he is going to explain what Laughter Yoga is and what are its benefits to our physical and mental health. We think that this topic is important at this time because it can provide us with better ways to cope with stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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 29 was hosted by RTNT’s Donhaila on May 13th, 2020. This month we’re continuing discussing Mental health and supports during self-isolation. The episode was recorded using an online platform and all the participants were in their own homes to comply with the social distancing recommendation. We have a double feature this show: an interview with the Warm Line and a teaser of an interview we did with Steven Hughes, a Laughter Yoga Leader and Education Specialist at the Center for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH). We recorded an interview with the Warm Line so that they may give us an overview of the services they offer. Due to confidentiality we will be leaving them nameless. Thank you to the Warm Line for their involvement with the show this month. 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 The interview with Steven Hughes was so fun that we decided we wanted to show our listeners a teaser so that everyone can tune in next month (June 10th) for the full interview! 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. Also, the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto. https://open.spotify.com/show/35FOGmRKNzMB11vXee3elL https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-totally-normal-toronto/id1464398185?uo=4 https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iNmVkOGE4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz  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 28 was hosted by RTNT’s Susan on April 8, 2020. This month we’re focusing on Mental health and self-isolation. The episode was recorded using an online platform and all the participants were in their own homes to comply with the social distancing recommendation. We focused the conversation on how we can protect our mental health during this COVID19 pandemic outbreak and the strategies that we can use to stay connected even when we can't leave our homes. The participants of this conversation, members and staff of Progress Place, share their ways to cope with self-isolation and how they stay informed trying to avoid "fake news" and misinformation. In the era of Social Media, a lot of unverified information can cause confusion and can reduce the effectiveness of public health advice The World Health Organization created the term “infodemic” to refer to this misinformation that can have real health effects on many people, especially in a population that already struggles with mental health issues. Also, during this episode we share some resources that anyone can access for mental health support. 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 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. Also, the show is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast if you search up Radio Totally Normal Toronto Check them out here: https://anchor.fm/radio-totally-normal-toronto https://open.spotify.com/show/35FOGmRKNzMB11vXee3elL https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-totally-normal-toronto/id1464398185?uo=4 https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iNmVkOGE4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz  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.  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. |