RTNT Episode 31 LIVE on CJRU: Mental Health, Community, and Coping

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 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.