Heads Up! Community Mental Health Podcast

SUMMARY

People have become less connected to nature, particularly with increasing urbanization. However, many studies are now clearly demonstrating that nature connectedness is crucial to our physical and mental health, and to the future of our communities’ social, cultural, environmental, and economic well-being. Audrey Hystad, farm manager for the Clubhouse Farm in Kelowna, BC and Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore, assistant professor of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton, discuss the increasing need for people, and more specifically children, to be outdoors, learn about food and agriculture, and contribute to more resilient communities. They also talk about biophilia, our innate attraction to nature, and eco-anxiety, particularly as it relates to the ongoing degradation of our natural environment.

TAKEAWAYS

This podcast shows that:

• Educating children about food and agriculture contributes to resilient communities
• Outdoor play is essential for the health and well-being of children
• Studies demonstrate the importance of nature connectedness
• Connecting with nature is just as important as social connections
• We all have an innate attraction to nature
• The physical and mental health of people improve with daily connection to nature
• Eco-concern and eco-anxiety can lead to increased pro-environmental behaviour

SPONSOR

GUESTS 

Audrey Hystad, MSc

Audrey Hystad holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Enterprise from Stockholm University, in association with Stockholm Resilience Center and Stockholm Environment Institute. From the lens of Resilience and Complex Systems Theory, her focus is to take the latest in research and effectively put it to use in practical applications. Her work with land-based learning, policy and procedure development, wildlife safety practice, and identification and use of wild foods, has contributed to fill gaps between our modern societies and the ecosystems services that we rely on to survive.

Audrey has worked with toddler to teen programs for over a decade in Sweden and Canada. Her interdisciplinary science education and intent to contribute to a more resilient future for our communities, have led to her work with The Clubhouse Farm project. The Clubhouse Farm is a forest-and-farm-based outdoor classroom that brings children to play, relax, and explore in the natural world while learning about where food comes from. The basics of horticulture, hydrology, architecture, engineering, ethics, interpersonal skills development, and more are lessons that are stealthily disguised as inquiry-based play at a developmentally appropriate level for children of all abilities.

Since its 2012 grassroots start, it has successfully benefited thousands of children that have visited, while supporting local food production, acquisition of ecological knowledge, and support of habitat for biodiversity – offering great hope for future design of integrated community spaces that meet the needs of all its stakeholders.

Email: [email protected]

Holli-Anne Passmore, PhD

Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE). She is also Director of the multi-university Nature-Meaning in Life (NMIL) Research Lab, an editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing, Science Chair of the Spirituality and Meaning Division of the International Positive Psychology Association, and an invited academic with the Global Wellbeing Initiative (a partnership between the Gallup World Poll and the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation).

Holli-Anne collaborates with researchers around the globe on several well-being-based research endeavours, the primary focus of which is the development and validation of practical interventions to enhance well-being, through noticing and engaging with everyday nature close to home. Additionally, she studies the emerging issue of eco-anxiety.

Email: [email protected] Website: https://nature-mill.org

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with more than 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation

Phone: 250-300-8797

PLAY IT FORWARD

The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness.

FOLLOW US

For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

HELP US

As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation.

To come...

SUMMARY

Creating mentally healthy communities is becoming an issue of increasing importance. Dr. Marilyn Hamilton, an author and international thought leader, and Mark Holland, an author and award-winning community planner, discuss how we can use what we know about nature to plan, design, and build more livable, socially connected, and mentally healthy communities. They also talk about the proven link between healthy built environments and mentally healthy citizens, and how social connection, climate change, and neighbourhood design impact mental health.

TAKEAWAYS

This podcast showcases:

• The Integral City framework for community planning
• How biomimicry can help to inspire better community design
• The link between the human hive mind and community mental health
• The characteristics of a mentally healthy community
• The importance of social connection to community mental health
• The impacts of climate change on mental health
• The importance of neighbourhood design to healthy built environments
• The link between nature and mental health
• Progressive food systems and healthy communities
• How housing affects mental health
• How to improve mental health through active transportation
• Mentally healthy communities in the future
• How to inspire and mobilize community leaders

SPONSOR

RESOURCES

• Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit
• Integral City
• Biomimicry Institute
• Findhorn Foundation
• Center for the Living City
• Mental Health and Well-being: Considerations for the Built Environment

GUESTS 

Marilyn Hamilton, PhD

Dr. Marilyn Hamilton is an international thought leader and founder of Integral City Meshworks Inc., a global non-profit that fosters holistic and conscious communities. She is the author of Integral City: Evolutionary Intelligences for the Human Hive Mind. Based on the concept of the human hive mind, Marilyn uses Integral City frameworks and tools to help multi-stakeholder groups transform their cities and eco-regions, into habitats that are as resilient for humans, as beehives are for bees.

Marilyn’s Profile

Linkedin

Mark Holland

Mark Holland is a LEED accredited, award-winning planner who holds professional degrees in landscape architecture, and community and regional planning. He is also President of Holland Planning Innovations Inc., based on Vancouver Island, is an Adjunct Professor in the Master’s in Community Planning program at Vancouver Island University, and is the co-author of the widely referenced book Agricultural Urbanism.

Mark’s Profile

Phone: 250-713-9789

Email: [email protected]

Twitter

Linkedin

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with more than 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation

Phone: 250-300-8797

PLAY IT FORWARD

The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness.

FOLLOW US

For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

HELP US

As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation.

You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below:

RICK  0:10

Welcome to the Heads Up Community Mental Health podcast. Join our host Jo de Vries with the Fresh Outlook Foundation, as she combines science with storytelling to explore a variety of mental health issues with people from all walks of life. Stay tuned.

JO  0:32

Hey, Jo here. Thanks for joining me along with Dr. Marilyn Hamilton and Mark Holland, for this fascinating discussion about how we can use what we know about nature to plan, design, and build more livable, socially connected, and mentally healthy communities.

Before we dig in, a big thank you to our sponsors for this episode, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, Emil Anderson Construction, and AECOM Engineering. I've known and admired both Marilyn and Mark for years, and I'm thrilled to reconnect to talk about the proven link between healthy built environments and mentally healthy citizens. Welcome to you both, thanks for being here.

MARILYN  1:18

Thanks so much Jo, and it's wonderful to be with Mark again since I moved to Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland in 2018. It's been a while since we've connected directly. I love the theme of your podcast today.

MARK  1:29

Thanks and yes Joanne and it's great to reconnect with you and thank you for putting the time and effort into this podcast. And Marilyn, it's great to reconnect as well. It's been a long time. Findhorn, lucky you it's good place to live.

JO  1:39

Marilyn's accomplishments are too numerous to mention here. But in short, she's an international thought leader, author and founder of Integral City, a global nonprofit that fosters holistic and conscious communities. Based on the concept of the human hive mind, Marilyn uses Integral City frameworks and tools to help multi-stakeholder groups transform their cities and eco-regions, into habitats that are as resilient for humans, as beehives are for bee. Marilyn, first of all, congratulations on your huge and influential body of work, truly remarkable. How long have you been doing this?

MARILYN  2:23

Well, I would say in some ways, I've been doing this all my life, because the discovery of Integral City Meshworks about 20 years ago, rests on my exploration of the development of individuals, and then families, and then organizations, and sectors, and communities, and eco-regions. And I learned that they're all fractal patterns and natural human systems that are included in the city.

JO  2:46

Your website states that out beyond the smart city, out beyond the resilient city, lives the integral city. There is a knowing field, we will meet you there. Can you help us understand your concept of the integral city as outlined in you

SUMMARY

The World Happiness Report (WHR) uses global survey data annually to report how people in more than 150 countries evaluate their own lives. The findings are also used to rank countries on a scale of well-being from most to least happy. This 10th anniversary edition reveals that while COVID brought considerable pain and suffering, it also prompted “pandemic benevolence.” Dr. John Helliwell ─ internationally acclaimed economist, well-being researcher, and WHR co-founder and editor ─ shares his story, explains report findings, and talks about well-being issues related to a country’s geo-political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic circumstances.

TAKEAWAYS

This podcast showcases:

• Survey methods and results from the 10th World Happiness Report
• Changes in WHR findings and audiences over a decade
• High- vs. low-ranking countries on the global well-being scale
• Canada’s past and present ranking on the well-being scale
• Role of upstream mental health care in the move toward happier communities
• Role of social connection and acts of kindness in building happiness
• Outcomes of the “wallet experiment”
• Links between economic prosperity and happiness (changing view of economics)
• Links between happiness and geopolitical circumstances and social, cultural, and environmental health
• Future of happiness research

SPONSOR

RESOURCES

• World Happiness Report

GUESTS 

John Helliwell, PhD

Dr. John Helliwell is a highly acclaimed and prolific economist and well-being researcher. A complete bio can be found here.  

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://blogs.ubc.ca/helliwell/

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with more than 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation

Phone: 250-300-8797

PLAY IT FORWARD

The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness.

FOLLOW US

For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

HELP US

As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation.

You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below:

JOHN  0:10

Welcome to the Heads Up Community Mental Health podcast. Join our host Jo de Vries with the Fresh Outlook Foundation as she combines science with storytelling to explore a variety of mental health issues with people from all walks of life. Stay tuned.

JO  0:32

Hey, Jo here. Thanks for joining me and Dr. John Helliwell, an internationally acclaimed economist and well-being researcher, who is a co-founder and editor of the World Happiness Report. The 10th anniversary edition of the report was just released. So it's timely for me to chat with John about the 2022 findings, changes in reported happiness over the decade, the report's impact on policies and programs, and where the research can take us over the next number of years.

Before we dig in, though, a big thank you to our sponsors for this episode, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, Emil Anderson Construction, WorkSafeBC, and AECOM Engineering.

John is truly a Canadian treasure. He is brilliant, and his list of accomplishments and publications is as long as my arm. To check those out, please visit the show notes for this episode at freshoutlookfoundation.org/podcasts. Welcome John, so thankful to have you here with us.

JOHN  1:42

Nice to be here.

JO  1:43

And congratulations on your 10th anniversary edition of the World Happiness Report.

JOHN  1:49

It doesn't seem like 10 years, but 10 years it's been.

JO  1:53

Published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the report uses global data collected by Gallup to identify and rank how people in more than 150 countries evaluate their lives. So before talking about the nuts and bolts of research for the project, I'd first like to dig into your history, John. Tell us the story of how as a researcher with broad-based interests, you began seeing and exploring the links between economic prosperity, social capital, subjective well-being, and happiness at all scales.

JOHN  2:33

Like most findings by researchers who see themselves as being open to follow new interest, I particularly am an empiricist, and I'm interested in what I can learn from finding out what's going on in the world. When I was in the Mackenzie King Chair of Canadian studies at Harvard for several years in the early 1990s, one of my colleagues there, Robert Putnam in the Political Science Department, was developing a version of social capital, which he used as a core concept coming out of his work on Italy. I started working with him both on measuring social capital and finding out what it does to various things in particular. I did a paper with him on economic growth and social capital in Italy, finding out what some of the consequences of social capital may be.

I should mention what social capital is in that literature. It's usually measured by some combination of the extent to which people do things with other people, and the extent of trust they have in each other and in the systems in which they work. Just by listing those components, it's pretty clear they should be important for all of life, and not just what happens to the economic growth in that country.

One of his findings from US data was that in those parts of the US where social capital were higher, people were happier. And I said, "What do you mean people happier?" He said, "We've got these data showing how happy people are with their lives." And I said, "Well in economics we've been doing without those for two or three centuries, assuming there were no such data. That would allow us to stop assuming what made people happy and guessing that it was material things if we really did know what made them happy." So I immediately went around and searched for data from around the world, and it turns out there was a World Value Survey happening occasionally since the early 1980s. And it turns out that Statistics Canada, as an international leader in this field had actually been measuring life satisfaction in Canada since the 1980s.

So then, of course, the research project was to see, do these data actually tell intelligence stories about the quality of people's lives? Are those stories credible? Do they have good predictive power in various ways, and do they give us insights into how our lives are and how they may be made better? A

SUMMARY

HEADS UP producer Jo de Vries shares her personal story of healing from acute anxiety attacks that started when she was 12 years old. Now in her sixties, and after 20 years of taking two psychotrophic medications, she is in the process of healing with the help of two medical professionals. Family physician/psychotherapist Dr. Warren Bell guides her along a path of discovery to unearth her disorder’s root causes, while pharmacist Sahil Ahuja advises her on how to safely taper off medication. In this compelling episode, they dig into how Jo’s experiences can inform and inspire others, and explore arguments made by acclaimed journalist and author Johann Hari in Lost Connections, the book that kick-started Jo’s empowering encounter with herself and the outside world.

TAKEAWAYS

This podcast showcases:

• Personal stories of healing from anxiety and depression
• Progressive education for pharmacists
• The role of personalized care and holistic healing from mental health challenges
• Primary considerations for deciding whether to take medication for depression/anxiety
• Potential side effects of some medications for depression/anxiety
• Potential side effects of, and recommendations for, tapering off those medications
• Role of psychotherapy and other treatments for depression/anxiety
• Role of trauma and chronic stress in depression/anxiety
• Benefits of feeling, identifying, processing, and learning from both positive and negative emotions
• Impacts of COVID on people’s willingness to talk about mental health challenges
• Johann Hari’s personal story of depression and arguments for science-based alternatives he subsequently laid out in Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression & the Unexpected Solutions
  • Using science to debunk the myth that chemical imbalance is responsible for anxiety/depression, and that medication is the only solution
  • Disconnection (the nine causes of anxiety/depression)
  • Reconnection (a different kind of antidepressant)
• Role of culture in sharing about, and healing from, anxiety/depression
• Role of livable communities that support the social determinants of mental health in preventing anxiety/depression

SPONSOR

RESOURCES

• Antidepressants
• Going off Antidepressants
• Bounceback
• Patient Health Questionnaire
• Depression: Resource Guide for Patients

GUESTS 

Sahil Ahuja, PharmD

Sahil Ahuja is a licensed pharmacist practising at Two Nice Guys Pharmacy in Kelowna, BC. In this setting he provides patient-centered care that starts with listening to the person in front of him. In collaboration with that patient’s health care team, Sahil provides a range of services including patient education, medication recommendations, and prescriptions.

While completing his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at UBC, Sahil encountered mental health struggles of his own. Having made it through those difficult times, he believes the best way to reduce any remaining stigma around mental health is by openly sharing his own experiences.

Professionally, Sahil's current focus is on the Toxic Drug Crisis and ensuring patients experiencing substance-use disorders have reliable and non-judgemental access to medication. These efforts have helped Two Nice Guys' Pharmacy earn recognition as Unsung Heroes in the community. In his personal life, he is prioritizing trying new hobbies and experiences (e.g., skydiving) to continuously expand his comfort zone.

Dr. Warren Bell

Dr. Warren Bell has been a general practitioner for more than 40 years. For decades he has advocated for peace, social development, the environment, and the anti-nuclear movement, as well as the integration of healing modalities of all kinds.

He is past founding president of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, past president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada and the Association of Complementary and Integrative Physicians of BC, past president of medical staff at the Shuswap Lake General Hospital, and current president of Wetland Alliance: The Ecological Response (WA:TER). He has written several peer-reviewed clinical pieces and for online publications such as the Vancouver Observer and National Observer.

Warren received a College of Family Physicians of Canada Environmental Health Award and the Queen's Medal for Canada's 125th Anniversary in 1992. 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warren.bell.714

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with more than 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation

Phone: 250-300-8797

PLAY IT FORWARD

The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness.

FOLLOW US

For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

HELP US

As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation.

You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below:

RICK  0:10

Welcome to the Heads Up Community Mental Health podcast. Join our host Jo de Vries with the Fresh Outlook Foundation, as she combines science with storytelling to explore a variety of mental health issues with people from all walks of life. Stay tuned.

JO  0:32

Hey, Jo here. Thanks for joining me and my two special guests as we delve into my own story of healing from anxiety attacks that started when I was 12 years old. Now 67, and after multiple rounds of medication, the latest one lasting almost 20 years, I'm in the process of seeking freedom from fear and anxiety with help from two medical professionals. The first is Dr. Warren Bell, a GP who also practices psychotherapy

SUMMARY

Senior’s mental health is affected by social threats such as stigma, ageism, and racism, and impacted by individual circumstances such as isolation, loneliness, poverty, poor physical health, lack of independence, and abuse. In Part 2 of this podcast, Marjorie Horne (seniors’ advocate and founder of CareSmart Seniors Consulting), Naomi Mison (caregiver and founder of Discuss Dementia), and Dr. Anna Wisniewska (geriatric psychiatrist) shed light on these contributing factors and the complex choices seniors are often faced with ─ separation vs. connection, resignation vs. resilience, and invisibility vs. legacy. They also talk about the role of spirituality in seniors’ mental health, and the healthcare changes needed to make healthcare systems and cultures more integrated, personalized, and compassionate for seniors.

TAKEAWAYS

This Part 2 podcast will help you understand:

• Prevalence and impacts of macrosocial (or society-wide) influences such as stigma, ageism, and racism
• Prevalence and impacts of personal circumstances such as isolation, loneliness, poverty, elder neglect and abuse, poor physical health and/or chronic pain, and lack of independence
• People who embrace aging vs. those who resent aging and resist change
• Impact of seniors’ attitudes and behaviours on mental health
• Life-affirming choices seniors can make (separation vs. connection, resignation vs. resilience, invisibility vs. legacy)
• The role of spirituality in seniors’ mental health
• Mental Health Commission of Canada’s 2019 Guidelines for Comprehensive Mental Health Services for Older Adults in Canada
• Vital values for adequate care (recovery based, accessible, comprehensive, evidence-based)
• Mental health promotion and illness prevention
• Cultures of compassion within the healthcare system

SPONSOR

RESOURCES

• World Health Organization
• Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health
• Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Active Aging Canada
• Alzheimer Society
• CanAge
• Canadian Association for Retired Persons (CARP)
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• Canadian Frailty Network
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Canadian Suicide Prevention Network
• Deprescribing Network
• Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
• National Institute for Care of the Elderly (NICE)
• Seniors First British Columbia
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Caregivers Alberta
• Carers Canada
• Caregivers Nova Scotia
• Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
• Families for Addiction Recovery: FAR Canada
• Family Caregivers of British Columbia
• Canadian Research Centres on Aging

GUESTS 

Marjorie Horne, Dipl. T. Nursing

Marjorie Horne was 16 when she knew that the way we see and treat elders had to change. Her journey involved training as a registered nurse, becoming the Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Hospice Society, working in management in seniors housing and, finally, starting her own business, CareSmart Seniors Consulting Inc. She is also a Conscious Aging Facilitator and a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging.

As an entrepreneur, Marjorie’s goal was to bring a holistic, ‘Circle of Care’ approach to supporting seniors and their families through the many transitions encountered in the third chapter of life. Her community endeavors of creating and hosting her own radio show, Engaging in Aging, every Sunday morning on AM1150, writing a bi-weekly column, facilitating workshops on Conscious Aging, and speaking at local events, are all driven by the desire to be part of a new paradigm where we reimagine later life with courage, resilience, passion, and purpose.

Phone: 250-863-9577

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.caresmart.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caresmartseniorsconsulting

Twitter: https://twitter.com/caresmartsenior

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-horne-46bb8937/

Naomi Mison, BA

Naomi Mison is a public speaker, vocal advocate, and a champion of change. She has spent the last four years bravely sharing her journey as she cares for her mother who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, when Naomi was just 22 years old. She has spoken publicly through the Alzheimer Society of Canada National Anti-Stigma Campaign, CBC’s Out in the Open podcast, Globe and Mail, Embrace Aging Okanagan, Pecha Kucha, and many more.

Naomi volunteers with the Alzheimer Society of BC’s Leadership Group of Caregivers, is on the planning committee for IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, and for the Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre. Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, and a Diploma in Public Relations. 

Phone: 780-885-3956

Email: mailto:[email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nam956

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomiMison

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomimison/

Dr. Anna Wisniewska, MD, FRCPC

Anna Wisniewska completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of British Columbia and her postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Calgary. Her clinical career has always focused on the care of the elderly and their families.

Dr. Wisniewska is currently a consulting geriatric psychiatrist at the Kelowna General Hospital and the Kelowna Mental Health Centre. She also works in her private practice in Kelowna and is a sub-investigator with Medical Arts Research.  Her passion for her work and compassion for her patients were inspired early on by her very close relationship with her grandparents, and maintained by the many wonderful patients, families, and colleagues met along the professional path.

Email: [email protected]

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the

SUMMARY

In Part 2 of this podcast on Schizophrenia, we’re joined again by Katrina Tinman (peer support worker with lived experience of schizophrenia), Chris Summerville (CEO of the Canadian Schizophrenia Society), and Dr. Phil Tibbo (clinical/research psychiatrist who specializes in psychosis-related illnesses). They dig deep into emerging holistic recovery approaches that integrate biological, psychological, social, vocational, and spiritual supports. They also explore stigma, impacts of COVID-19, needed changes to public policy and the mental healthcare system, and the world of schizophrenia 20-30 years from now.

TAKEAWAYS

This Part 2 podcast will help you understand:

• Emerging diagnostic practices and medications
• Integrated healing that incorporates biological, psychological, social, vocational, and spiritual recovery supports
• Benefits of meditation/mindfulness and positive lifestyle choices
• Benefits of creative therapies that use art, music, drama, and writing
• Advances in personalized/precision medicine
• Advances in technology and the Internet to support recovery
• Effects of COVID-19
• Stigma’s impact on recovery
• Challenges for families of people with schizophrenia
• What medical professionals need to know about schizophrenia
• What public policy changes would support recovery
• Why changes should be made to the mental healthcare system
• What the world of schizophrenia could look like in the future

SPONSORS

RESOURCES

RECOVERY:

• Research Into Recovery
• Recovery Model of Mental Illness: A Complementary Approach to Psychiatric Care
• A National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health
• Recovery-oriented Practice − An Implementation Toolkit

PEER SUPPORT:

• Peer Support 
• The Future is Peer Support
• Using Peer Support in Developing Empowering Mental Health Services

MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA:

• Fighting Stigma and Discrimination Is Fighting for Mental Health
• Stigma and Discrimination
• Addressing Stigma
• Five Ways to End Mental Health Stigma

SCHIZOPHRENIA:

• Hope and Recovery
• Schizophrenia Treatment and Self-help

GUESTS 

Katrina Tinman

Katrina Tinman is a peer support worker for Peer Connections Manitoba, formerly the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, and is located at the Mental Health Crisis Response Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Katrina is currently working toward formal peer support worker certification with Peer Support Canada, though she already has peer support certification through the Ontario Peer Development Initiative.

Katrina received a university education in journalism and political science in 1998, from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. Since then, she’s had a wide range of life experiences from working in the professional arena, extensive travel, motorcycle riding, alpine skiing, and SCUBA diving, to homelessness and mental illness. Regardless of some negative life experiences, Katrina’s greatest achievement was a sense of fearlessness that carried her through along with hope for the future. Now she’s able, through her peer support work, to use her life’s insights to help others in their recovery from crisis and mental illness.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.peerconnectionsmb.ca 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katrina.tinman.5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinman_katrina

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katrinatinman

Chris Summerville, BA, MDiv, M.Miss, D.Min, LLD (Honorary)

Chris Summerville is from a family with mental health challenges (father and brother with bi-polar disorder, a brother with schizophrenia, siblings living with depression, and two suicides). He has also received mental health care himself, which has informed and inspired his work as CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada since 2007.

Chris has been involved with the schizophrenia-recovery movement for nearly 30 years, having served on the boards of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Mood Disorders Society of Canada, National Network for Mental Health, and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada.

Chris earned a doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary, is a certified psychosocial rehabilitation recovery practitioner (CPRRP), and received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Brandon University in 2014. He is a regional, provincial, and national leader and advocate for a transformed, person-centered, recovery-oriented mental healthcare system, and believes mental health concerns should be addressed using integrated bio-psycho-social-spiritual-vocational approaches. 

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.schizophrenia.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchizophreniaSocietyCanada

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchizophreniaCa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schizophrenia-society-of-canada

Phil Tibbo, MD, FRCPC

Phil Tibbo was named the first Dr. Paul Janssen Chair in Psychotic Disorders, an endowed research chair, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry with a cross-appointment in psychology at Dalhousie University, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta. He is also director of the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP) and co-director of the Nova Scotia Psychosis Research Unit (NSPRU).

Dr. Tibbo is funded by local and national peer reviewed funding agencies and well published in leading journals. His publications are primarily around schizophrenia, and his current foci of study include individuals at the early phase of, and individuals at risk for, a psychotic illness. Dr. Tibbo’s areas of research include application of in vivo brain neuroimaging techniques, to study psychosis as well as research interests in co-morbidities in schizophrenia, psychosis genetics, addictions and psychosis, stigma and burden, pathways to care, education, and non-pharmacological treatment options.

Dr. Tibbo is president of the Canadian Consortium for Early Intervention in Psychosis (CCEIP), helping to advance early intervention care at the national level. He is a recipient (2015) of the Michael Smith Award from the Schizophrenia Society of Canada for research and leadership in schizophrenia, recipient of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health’s Champion of Mental Health Research/Clinician award in 2017 and, most recently, recipient of the 2018 Regional Prix d’excellence – Specialist of the Year – Region 5 by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-tibbo-62170b18/

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years

Video Version

Audio Version

SUMMARY

Resilience is one of the most misunderstood concepts in mental health today. Simply, it is the outcome of optimizing life experience by being mindful about what you can control, can’t control, and have little control over. Join industrial psychologist and human capital specialist Peter Comrie as he explains the differences and how you can adapt and, therefore, become more resilient in any situation. He also shares how you are not a slave to your emotions, thoughts, and actions. Instead, you can learn from your challenges, even celebrate them, as you choose to feel, think, and behave in more authentic and resilient ways every day.

TAKEAWAYS

This vodcast will help you understand:

• First-hand experience of grief turned to celebration
• Theories and levels of control
• Links between mindfulness, choice, adaptation, and resilience
• Links between personal truth, personal responsibility, and resilience
• Resistance to change as a barrier to resilience
• Resilience at individual, family, workplace, and community scales

SPONSORS

RESOURCES

Promoting mental health and resilience

Growing up Resilient

The Working Mind: COVID-19 Self-Help & Resilience Guide

Building Resilience in Seniors’ Mental Health in Canada

Wellness Works Canada

Mental Health & Resilience During COVID-19

In Brief: Resilience Series (Youth)

GUEST

Peter Comrie

Peter Comrie is a scholar, entrepreneur, lecturer, philanthropist, and student of human dynamics who dives headlong into everything he believes in. The resulting social, corporate, and community work reflects his signature brand of excellence, passion, and enthusiasm.

Peter is currently the Executive V.P. and Human Capital Specialist at Full Spectrum Leadership Inc. He is committed to the philosophy of lifelong learning as a foundational mainstay and is an unwavering believer in human potential. From this position he coaches individuals, executives, and companies safely down the development pathway to where sustainable “shift happens.”

Broadly schooled in studies such as psychology, physics, legend, and mythology, Peter has turned his scholarly interests toward such diverse studies as the development of sustainable personal growth, resilience development, motivational attitude, and medieval history.

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.fullspectrumleadership.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/petercomrie

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-spectrum-leadership/

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids’ Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF’s newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation

Phone: 250-300-8797

PLAY IT FORWARD

The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness.

FOLLOW US

For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.

HELP US

As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation.

You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below:

JO  0:17

Hey, Jo here. Thanks for joining me and Peter Comrie from Full Spectrum Leadership. We're exploring the role of resilience in the mental health of individuals, families, workplaces, and communities. Peter is an industrial psychologist and leadership coach who calls himself a human capital specialist. We'll dig into that a little later. He is also a trusted friend and valued mentor, who's taught me much about resilience in my personal and professional lives. Welcome, Peter, and thanks so much for being here.

PETER  0:53

Joanne, I cannot tell you how a pleasure it is for me to hang out with you today. So thank you.

JO  1:00

I know resilience means different things, to different people, at different times in their lives. But let's start by you giving us an overview of the concept.

PETER  1:10

Well Jo, it's one of the most misunderstood things in our mental health arena. While it's a really nice catchphrase to be resilient or develop resilience. But very few people actually take the time to dig into what the understanding of it around is, where it comes from, what it means in our world, what it means to us individually.

Just put it in this frame, if I may, for this conversation, and we can always stretch it out a little bit later as well. Resilience is the result of being mindful. Why do we need it in our society today? Because there are so many things, Joanne, that are completely out of our control. And one of the references I use in my practice is Jessop's Theory of Control. And that is this, there are three things in Jessop's theory. Number one, things that we have complete and total, no control over at all. Number two, things that we have a little control over. And number three, things that we have complete and total control over.

Now where would you think about 95% of the population spend more than 80% of their time? In the top one and two, and totally neglect the things that we are in complete control over. And if we want to get a handle on the importance of resilience, it's understanding and developing an awareness and a mindfulness, to spend our time, our incredible valuable life in the areas that we have complete control over.

To reference this, go back to Charles Darwin for a moment. And really no one argues with Charles, it's like trying to argue with Albert, kind of silly if you do. Darwin said this, "It's not the fittest of the species that survives, it's the one that can adapt the best." And if we use the awareness and the mindfulness around say Jessop's Theory of Control, then say well, okay, if I choose to focus my attention on

SUMMARY

Schizophrenia affects about 80 million people from all countries, cultures, ages, abilities, and genders. This two-part podcast explores their widespread challenges, and the hope and healing opportunities available to them and their families via integrated bio-psycho-social-spiritual-vocational therapies. In Part 1, Katrina Tinman (peer support worker with lived experience), Chris Summerville (CEO of the Canadian Schizophrenia Society), and Dr. Phil Tibbo (clinical/research psychiatrist specializing in psychosis-related illnesses) share personal stories, recount history, summarize signs and stages, bust myths, introduce recovery philosophy, and argue for recovery-focused healthcare.

TAKEAWAYS

This Part 1 podcast will help you understand:

• First-hand experience of schizophrenia and ongoing recovery
• Sibling experience with schizophrenia in pre-recovery era
• Current global and Canadian Schizophrenia statistics
• Definitions and differences between psychosis and schizophrenia
• Signs, stages, and the “schizophrenia spectrum”
• Psychological and physical conditions that can co-occur with schizophrenia
• History of diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia
• Relationships with loved ones, friends, peers, and patients with schizophrenia
• Recovery philosophy and language and its evolution over time
• Recovery movement supported by government policies, programs, and funding

SPONSOR

The Social Planning & Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) is a leader in applied social research, social policy analysis, and community development approaches to social justice. The SPARC team supports the council’s 16,000 members, and works with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. THANK YOU for supporting the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

RESOURCES

RECOVERY:

• Research Into Recovery
• Recovery Model of Mental Illness: A Complementary Approach to Psychiatric Care
• A National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health
• Recovery-oriented Practice − An Implementation Toolkit

PEER SUPPORT:

• Peer Support 
• The Future is Peer Support
• Using Peer Support in Developing Empowering Mental Health Services

MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA:

• Fighting Stigma and Discrimination Is Fighting for Mental Health
• Stigma and Discrimination
• Addressing Stigma
• Five Ways to End Mental Health Stigma

SCHIZOPHRENIA:

• Hope and Recovery
• Schizophrenia Treatment and Self-help

GUESTS 

Katrina Tinman

Katrina Tinman is a peer support worker for Peer Connections Manitoba, formerly the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, and is located at the Mental Health Crisis Response Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Katrina is currently working toward formal peer support worker certification with Peer Support Canada, though she already has peer support certification through the Ontario Peer Development Initiative.

Katrina received a university education in journalism and political science in 1998, from North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. Since then, she’s had a wide range of life experiences from working in the professional arena, extensive travel, motorcycle riding, alpine skiing, and SCUBA diving, to homelessness and mental illness. Regardless of some negative life experiences, Katrina’s greatest achievement was a sense of fearlessness that carried her through along with hope for the future. Now she’s able, through her peer support work, to use her life’s insights to help others in their recovery from crisis and mental illness.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.peerconnectionsmb.ca 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/katrina.tinman.5

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinman_katrina

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katrinatinman

Chris Summerville, BA, MDiv, M.Miss, D.Min, LLD (Honorary)

Chris Summerville is from a family with mental health challenges (father and brother with bi-polar disorder, a brother with schizophrenia, siblings living with depression, and two suicides). He has also received mental health care himself, which has informed and inspired his work as CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada since 2007.

Chris has been involved with the schizophrenia-recovery movement for nearly 30 years, having served on the boards of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Mood Disorders Society of Canada, National Network for Mental Health, and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada.

Chris earned a doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary, is a certified psychosocial rehabilitation recovery practitioner (CPRRP), and received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Brandon University in 2014. He is a regional, provincial, and national leader and advocate for a transformed, person-centered, recovery-oriented mental healthcare system, and believes mental health concerns should be addressed using integrated bio-psycho-social-spiritual-vocational approaches. 

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.schizophrenia.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SchizophreniaSocietyCanada

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SchizophreniaCa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schizophrenia-society-of-canada

Phil Tibbo, MD, FRCPC

Phil Tibbo was named the first Dr. Paul Janssen Chair in Psychotic Disorders, an endowed research chair, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry with a cross-appointment in psychology at Dalhousie University, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alberta. He is also director of the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program (NSEPP) and co-director of the Nova Scotia Psychosis Research Unit (NSPRU).

Dr. Tibbo is funded by local and national peer reviewed funding agencies and well published in leading journals. His publications are primarily around schizophrenia, and his current foci of study include individuals at the early phase of, and individuals at risk for, a psychotic illness. Dr. Tibbo’s areas of research include application of in vivo brain neuroimaging techniques, to study psychosis as well as research interests in co-morbidities in schizophrenia, psychosis genetics, addictions and psychosis, stigma and burden, pathways to care, education, and non-pharmacological treatment options.

Dr. Tibbo is president of the Canadian Consortium for Early Intervention in Psychosis (CCEIP), helping to advance early intervention care at the national level. He is a recipient (2015) of the Michael Smith Award from the Schizophrenia Society of Canada for research and leadership in schizophrenia, recipient of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health’s Champion of Mental Health Research/Clinician award in 2017 and, most recently, recipient of the 2018 Regional Prix d’excellence – Specialist of the Year – Region 5 by the Roya

SUMMARY

The over-65 age group is the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, with rates of mental illness for seniors over 70 projected to be the highest of any age group by 2041. Add to that the impacts of COVID-19, and you have a complex and costly national challenge that requires urgent attention from all sectors, in the move toward upstream seniors’ mental health care. Join Marjorie Horne (seniors’ advocate and founder of CareSmart Seniors Consulting), Naomi Mison (caregiver and founder of Discuss Dementia), and Dr. Anna Wisniewska (geriatric psychiatrist) in Part 1, as they share their personal stories and professional insights about the mental health challenges seniors face, and the opportunities that abound for improved care and enhanced quality of life.

TAKEAWAYS

This Part 1 podcast will help you understand:

• Current and projected statistics related to seniors’ mental health and care
• Personal stories of caring for family members
• Reflections on COVID from caregivers and a geriatric psychiatrist
• Lessons learned from COVID to improve the mental healthcare system
• Common myths associated with seniors’ mental health
• Common mental health challenges (e.g., depression/anxiety) and opportunities for care available to seniors and their families
• Risks of marginalized groups, experiences of men vs. women, and roles of ethnicity, genetics, ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), epigenetics
• Common mental health challenges for seniors in residential care and their families
• Challenges and opportunities associated with caregiving and advocacy
• Transitional challenges experienced by seniors of all ages
• Need for intergenerational knowledge and connection
• Terms such as “eldering well”, “eldercare”, “death cafes”, “end-of-life doulas”

SPONSOR

The Social Planning & Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) is a leader in applied social research, social policy analysis, and community development approaches to social justice. The SPARC team supports the council’s 16,000 members, and works with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. THANK YOU for supporting the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.

RESOURCES

• World Health Organization
• Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health
• Mental Health Commission of Canada
• Active Aging Canada
• Alzheimer Society
• CanAge
• Canadian Association for Retired Persons (CARP)
• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• Canadian Frailty Network
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• Canadian Suicide Prevention Network
• Deprescribing Network
• Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
• National Institute for Care of the Elderly (NICE)
• Seniors First British Columbia
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Caregivers Alberta
• Carers Canada
• Caregivers Nova Scotia
• Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
• Families for Addiction Recovery: FAR Canada
• Family Caregivers of British Columbia
• Canadian Research Centres on Aging

GUESTS 

Marjorie Horne, Dipl. T. Nursing

Marjorie Horne was 16 when she knew that the way we see and treat elders had to change. Her journey involved training as a registered nurse, becoming the Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Hospice Society, working in management in seniors housing and, finally, starting her own business, CareSmart Seniors Consulting Inc. She is also a Conscious Aging Facilitator and a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging.

As an entrepreneur, Marjorie’s goal was to bring a holistic, ‘Circle of Care’ approach to supporting seniors and their families through the many transitions encountered in the third chapter of life. Her community endeavors of creating and hosting her own radio show, Engaging in Aging, every Sunday morning on AM1150, writing a bi-weekly column, facilitating workshops on Conscious Aging, and speaking at local events, are all driven by the desire to be part of a new paradigm where we reimagine later life with courage, resilience, passion, and purpose.

Phone: 250-863-9577

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.caresmart.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caresmartseniorsconsulting

Twitter: https://twitter.com/caresmartsenior

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-horne-46bb8937/

Naomi Mison, BA

Naomi Mison is a public speaker, vocal advocate, and a champion of change. She has spent the last four years bravely sharing her journey as she cares for her mother who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, when Naomi was just 22 years old. She has spoken publicly through the Alzheimer Society of Canada National Anti-Stigma Campaign, CBC’s Out in the Open podcast, Globe and Mail, Embrace Aging Okanagan, Pecha Kucha, and many more.

Naomi volunteers with the Alzheimer Society of BC’s Leadership Group of Caregivers, is on the planning committee for IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, and for the Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre. Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, and a Diploma in Public Relations. 

Phone: 780-885-3956

Email: mailto:[email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nam956

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomiMison

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomimison/

Dr. Anna Wisniewska, MD, FRCPC

Anna Wisniewska completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of British Columbia and her postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Calgary. Her clinical career has always focused on the care of the elderly and their families.

Dr. Wisniewska is currently a consulting geriatric psychiatrist at the Kelowna General Hospital and the Kelowna Mental Health Centre. She also works in her private practice in Kelowna and is a sub-investigator with Medical Arts Research.  Her passion for her work and compassion for her patients were inspired early on by her very close relationship with her grandparents, and maintained by the many wonderful patients, families, and colleagues met along the professional path.

Email: [email protected]

HOST

Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF’s highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest,

SUMMARY

While Part 1 of this podcast targets trailblazing research and regulatory approaches to workplace mental health, Part 2 chronicles the evolution of organizational policies, practices, and programs at two very different and unique organizations. Join Quentin Steen (CLAC Labour Relations Representative) and Trever Amendt (AECOM Site Safety Lead, Energy Operations & Maintenance in Lacombe, Alberta) as they share their personal mental health stories and their groups’ commitments to building cultures of compassion with strong leadership, workplace-wide peer support, regular training, and ongoing employee communication and engagement. They also touch on the impacts of stigma and the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19.

TAKEAWAYS

This podcast will help you understand:

• The evolution of workplace mental health policies, practices, and programs in both union (CLAC) and engineering (AECOM) environments
• Union approach focused on cooperation rather than confrontation
• Corporate culture that cultivates employees’ social and emotional well-being
• The importance of authentic peer support throughout organizations
• Types of training needed to optimize workplace mental health
• Impacts of COVID on workplace mental health
• What’s been learned from COVID that will guide future polices, practices, and programs
• Return-on-investment for businesses that do workplace health and safety right
• Types of stigma existing in various workplaces

SPONSORS

WorkSafeBC is a provincial agency in British Columbia, Canada that promotes safe and healthy workplaces for more than 2.3 million workers. Serving more than 230,000 employers, WorkSafeBC’s services include education, prevention, compensation and support for injured workers, and no-fault insurance to protect employers and workers. WorkSafeBC is committed to creating a province free from workplace injury or illness. By partnering with workers and employers, WorkSafeBC helps British Columbians come home from work safe every day.

CLAC is the largest independent, multisector, national union in Canada, representing more 60,000 workers in almost every sector of the economy including construction, education, emergency services, healthcare, retail, service, transportation, manufacturing, and more. CLAC has 14 member centres in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC, along with 25 active, independent, affiliated locals. Based on values of respect, dignity, and fairness, CLAC is committed to building better lives, better workplaces, and better communities. 

AECOM is a global engineering firm whose infrastructure services for public- and private-sector clients include transportation, water, energy, and environmental projects. Employing about 87,000 people, AECOM was ranked #1 in Engineering News-Record’s ‘2020 Top 200 Environmental Firms,’ and named one of Fortune magazine’s ‘World’s Most Admired Companies’ for the sixth consecutive year. Transforming the ways it works through technology and digital platforms, AECOM leads the engineering world in environmental, social, and governance solutions… leading to the Ethisphere Institute naming it one of ‘2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies.’

RESOURCES

• National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and the resulting Case Studies Research Report

• Addressing the mental health effects of COVID-19 in the workplace: A guide for workers

• Managing the mental health effects of COVID-19 in the workplace: A guide for employers   

• Guarding Minds@Work  

• Antidepressant Skills@Work   

• Psychological Health and Safety: An Action Guide for Employers   

• Mental Health Commission of Canada   

• Canada’s Workplace Mental Health   

• Canadian Mental Health Association   

• Government of Canada/Mental health in the workplace     

• Wellness Works Canada       

• Wellness Together Canada: Mental Health and Substance Use Support provides free online resources, tools, apps, and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals.     

• Workplace Mental Health Playbook for Business Leaders (CAMH)    

• Workplace Mental Health Research    

• Deloitte research reveals significant return on investment for workplace mental health programs.

GUESTS 

Quentin Steen

Quentin Steen is a Labour Relations Representative with the CLAC labour union, who works out of the Kelowna Member Centre and specializes in the transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. He is also the CLAC Provincial Member Education Coordinator for BC and facilitates numerous workshops for various signatory companies and shop stewards working in BC.

Being a certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Quentin is passionate about delivering the MHFA course because of his experience with mental health issues, personally and professionally.

Quentin’s personal life’s mission is to educate others about mental health issues and provide them with the tools/skills they need to recognize changes (possible signs) to the mental well-being in self and others, to help those who may be in a mental heath crisis by offering comfort and support, and to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health in our workplaces and society. 

Phone: 250-868-9111

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.clac.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clacunion

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clacunion

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-steen-23249326/

Trever Amendt

Trever Amendt has been the Site Safety Lead for AECOM at the NOVA Joffre Plant in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada for five years. AECOM is the capital projects group on site and completes all project-based work, including pipefitting, electrical, iron work, insulation and scaffolding. AECOM made mental health its number one priority in 2020, and it became an even greater priority when COVID-19 hit in March of last year.

To that end, Trever has an open door on site and is always ready to listen to what someone is going through to support them and build trust. The Mental Health First Aid course he took from CLAC in 2019, opened Trever’s eyes and gave him a new desire to support and be there to help people when it comes to their mental health.

Trever has a real passion for organizations that support people with addictions: the Dream Center in Calgary and Teen Challenge in Allan, Saskatchewan. Red Deer, Alberta is just raising money