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Today we talk THE GREATEST DAY IN MANITOBA HISTORY....', KELLY SAUNDERS, POLITICAL ANALSYT, BRANDON UNIVERSITY and KIRSTEN FOX (TERRY'S NIECE
In this episode, we are privileged to have on National Championship Coach Grant Wilson who is the head coach of the men's volleyball program at Brandon University who just won their first ever USports National Championship! In this episode, we dive into the entire season and a complete breakdown of what it took to win a national championship. We talk about: Seasonal Planning Practice Structure Understanding how to look at stats and film Match Prep Block-Defense Serving Strategy Culture Visualization And a few more concepts Click here to join Digital Volleyball Academy or visit www.digitalvolleyballacademy.com Click here to join my free workshop or visit www.volleyballworkshop.com Reach out via Instagram @BrianSingh_CoachB
WAKE UP! THE ELECTION IS NIGH! Is it weird that it's on a Monday? (1:40); It's a small world and ya never know who's listening... times you were talking about someone, and someone they knew was within earshot (7:45); Canada election 2025: Carney asks voters for 'strong' mandate to challenge Trump (16:30); YOUTH CRIME: Series of sickening events over the weekend (23:40); ELECTION CALL: The writ hath been dropped — Kelly Saunders, Professor Political Studies, Brandon University (35:15); Weekend sports recap with Bob Irving! (43:05); What's the latest from D.C.? - Global's Reggie Cecchini (54:45); Winning entry on when one was busted for talking about someone else (1:02:15); ONE GREAT LOTTERY FINAL DEADLINE MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT! (1:05:35).
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Earl Roberts. He played high school basketball at Humberside Collegiate and Runnymede Collegiate in Toronto. He then went on to play at Brandon University. There, he was a 5-year starter and helped Brandon go to the National Tournament 3 times, securing two bronze medals and a silver in 1984He is a two-time GPAC All-Star and is a Brandon University Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame member. He's a Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame member, Class of 2005 Beyond his playing days, he has dedicated over 30 years to officiating basketball at various levels, including local, provincial, and U SPORTS national competitions, 3 times, and has been an official of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.Most recently, he has been a member of the Pathway to Excellence committee, whose mission is to develop up-and-coming officials to become U SPORTS and International officials.
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Ilarion Bonhomme, the current head coach of the Brandon Bobcats women's program.He played high school basketball at Cardozo High School in Washington, DC.He played at Brandon University for three years and was named Canada West Rookie of the Year. He transferred to play his last two years with the University of Manitoba Bisons and helped the program return to excellence, earning their first trip to nationals in 30 years after securing a silver medal in the Canada West playoffs in 2018He then played internationally in Norway, Australia, Sweden, Ukraine, Spain, and the United Kingdom for six seasons.In 2024, he retired from playing and was named the Head Coach of the Brandon University Women's Basketball Team.
Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders on the Liberal's rise in the polls, Derek Taylor on Super Bowl LIX, Kenny Boyce on John Travolta coming to town for a new film, and Hal's weekly visit with Dr. Syras!
Today, on the Basketball Manitoba Podcast, we have Sara Gillis. Sara has been a cornerstone of basketball in Manitoba for over 40 years, contributing as a player, coach, official, and advocate for the game. Her basketball journey began in Brandon, where she played for Earl Oxford Junior High and Crocus Plains High School. She also played for the Manitoba Provincial Team for three years and earned a silver medal at the 1985 Canada Games. She then went on to play at Brandon University with the Bobcats for five seasons. During her time there, she was named Brandon University's Female Athlete of the Year in 1984-85. After playing, she transitioned to coaching at first at Garden Valley in Winkler and then going on to and build a powerhouse program at R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, leading the Varsity Girls to four consecutive AAA provincial finals, including back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016. Her impact in northern Manitoba extended beyond the court as she organized clinics, camps, and leagues to grow the game at the grassroots level. She has also served as an assistant coach for Manitoba's under-17 female team, worked with Basketball Manitoba's Targeted Athlete Program, and continues to advocate for rural basketball initiatives and increasing women in coaching through her role as the President of Basketball Manitoba. She has received the Mike Spack Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the Brandon University Dick and Verda McDonald Sports Wall of Fame.
The Vancouver Police Department spent the last year exploring the use of body-worn cameras. In November, the VPD asked Council to approve expanding the program to all frontline members. Meanwhile, the RCMP is spending millions of dollars to bring in the use of body-worn cameras across the country. Chris Schneider says body-worn cameras are unlikely to increase public trust and police accountability. Schneider is a professor of sociology at Brandon University and the author of Policing and Social Media: Social Control in an Era of Digital Media.
Chris Schneider from Brandon University, why is there a critical RCMP staffing shortage? Mayor of Thompson Colleen Smook joins us to talk rural crime, and the Jets defeated the Avalanche in OT last night, we'll hear from Jamie Thomas.
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)
Larry Ostola talks to Gregory Kennedy about his book, Lost in the Crowd: Acadian Soldiers of Canada's First World War. In December 1915, Acadian leaders in New Brunswick expressed concerns about their soldiers being "lost in the crowd" within the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. They successfully lobbied for the creation of a French-speaking, Catholic, and Acadian-led national unit. Over a thousand Acadians from the Maritimes, Quebec, and the U.S. Northeast joined this effort. In Lost in the Crowd, Gregory Kennedy uses military archives, census records, newspapers, and soldiers' letters to explore the experiences of Acadian soldiers and their families before, during, and after the war. He highlights their enlistment rates, compares their experiences with English-speaking soldiers, and examines underreported issues like underage recruits, desertion, and army discipline. Kennedy also uses the 1921 Census to analyze the long-term impacts of the war on soldiers, families, and communities. The book offers a fresh approach to military history by focusing on the Acadians, a francophone minority in the Maritimes, reshaping our understanding of French Canadians in World War I. Gregory M.W. Kennedy is professor of history and dean of the Faculty of Arts at Brandon University and the author of Something of a Peasant Paradise? Comparing Rural Societies in Acadie and the Loudunais, 1604-1755. Image Credit: McGill-Queen's University Press If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society's mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada's past.
A few weeks ago we got the news that Congress was considering directing the military to investigate the potential for adding creatine to MREs. This spurred a lot of discussion on creatine's effectiveness and dosing strategies, and to really get to the bottom of that we needed an expert. Our guest this week is so much of an expert that he is often referred to as "Dr. Creatine." Scott Forbes is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada, and an adjunct professor in the faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina in Canada. Dr. Forbes is a certified sports nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) and a clinical exercise physiologist and high-performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts and five book chapters. His research examines various nutritional (e.g., creatine and protein) and exercise interventions to enhance muscle, bone, and brain function in multiple populations, including athletes and aging adults. Bachelors (Kinesiology): University of SaskatchewanMasters (Kinesiology): University of SaskatchewanPh.D. (Physical Education and Recreation): University of AlbertaPost-Doctoral Fellowship (Faculty of Medicine): University of CalgaryInternational Olympic Committee diploma in Sport Nutrition A large portion of the content for this episode was based on his publication "Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?"
Time to Thrive: Finding success and purpose in your business career
Lindsay's journey from the world of opera to becoming a powerful advocate for women's empowerment and alcohol-free living is nothing short of remarkable. This event is tailored specifically for professional women who are looking to redefine their relationship with alcohol and thrive in both their personal and professional lives.In this session, Lindsay will share her story of transformation, insights into her innovative approaches to personal development, and how she's helping tens of thousands of women not just quit drinking but excel without alcohol. We'll discuss the importance of community, coaching, and connection in overcoming over drinking and the power of early intervention.Whether you're a professional woman curious about redefining your relationship with alcohol, seeking inspiration to make a change, or interested in learning strategies for thriving in a high-performance environment without alcohol, this session is for you.Guest ChangeMaker Expert BiographyLindsay Sutherland Boal is a dynamic and accomplished professional dedicated to empowering women and fostering positive change, particularly in the realm of those women who have experienced alcohol use disorder (AUD). She is the founder of She Walks Canada (SWC), an innovative initiative launched in 2022 to inspire and support women in transforming their relationship with alcohol and she developed the first women's empowerment app through the lend of alcohol-free living, The Uncovery App. Lindsay's multifaceted career spans personal development coaching, executive leadership, the performing arts, and public advocacy. Key Achievements and Contributions:She Walks Canada (SWC):Group Coaching Sessions: SWC has conducted over 500 group coaching sessions, benefiting more than 1,200 participants from 10 provinces, territories, and five countries. These sessions are led by certified life and recovery coaches who possess a deep, personal understanding of overcoming AUD.Virtual Walks: SWC organized two major virtual walks—“The Virtual Cross Canada Walk” in 2022, which collectively covered 22,267 kilometers, and “The Virtual Walk Around The Globe” in 2023, totaling 40,070 kilometers. These events drew participation from over 500 individuals. In 2024, we pivoted to live in-person walks. Our community came together to share their experiences, challenges, and successes. Together, there were 895 registrants for 251 walks with 38 Walk Leaders in 38 city locations across North America.Media Recognition: The initiative has gained substantial recognition through national and regional televised news features, extensive coverage in print media, magazine articles, and appearances on podcasts in the United States and Canada.Support and Fundraising: SWC has assisted more than 15,000 women in their journeys to overcome overdrinking and has raised over $43,000 to fund ongoing development of programming and resources.Educational Podcast: Introduction of the Author's Series significantly increased viewership, allowing participants to engage with internationally acclaimed authors and influential figures in the sober community.Advocacy and Public Speaking:Identifying Support Gaps: Lindsay identified significant gaps in support for individuals, particularly women with mild to moderate problematic drinking habits. Through SWC's messaging and support programs, the number of women receiving help and support has doubled.Inclusivity Campaign: Lindsay launched an inclusivity campaign to engage women classified as “mild to moderate” problem drinkers, resulting in a 79% increase in engagement and expanding the community significantlyMedia and Healthcare Collaboration: Lindsay's advocacy work has been featured in national syndication, because of her messaging focused on early onset AUD in women.Professional Background:Personal Empowerment Coach: Lindsay specializes in helping individuals break free from stagnation and achieve their full potential through her “Uncovery Method,” which involves phases of community, connection, and coaching.Opera Singer and Actor: Lindsay had a successful career as a professional opera singer and actor before transitioning into her current roles. Her artistic background adds a unique dimension to her coaching and public speakingExecutive Leadership: Lindsay held an executive position at Urban Outline Building Group in relationship development, showcasing her versatility in different professional environments while building sustainable, profitable mutually beneficial relationships.Educational Background:Extensive Studies: Lindsay's education includes studies at institutions such as Brandon University, the Vancouver Academy of Music, Toronto Film School, Kwantlen Polytechnic University and others. This diverse academic background has equipped her with a wide range of skills and knowledge.Innovative Solutions: The Uncovery AppOvercoming Over-Drinking App: Currently, Lindsay has developed The Uncovery App, a unique women's only app dedicated to empowering women who have overcome over-drinking through three core pillars: community, coaching, and connection. The app will provide educational content, masterclasses, and a robust community engagement platform aiding in the journey through sober curiosity, sobriety and alcohol free living.Lindsay Sutherland Boal's journey is a testament to the power of transformation, resilience, innovation, and community. Through her work with She Walks Canada, the Uncovery Method and subsequent app, and various advocacy initiatives, she continues to make a significant impact on the lives of many, particularly women seeking to change their relationship with alcohol. Lindsay's dedication to inclusivity and support for mild to moderate problem drinkers underscores her commitment to addressing critical gaps in the treatment and support frameworks for AUD.Lindsay's contributions have not only helped numerous individuals but have also brought about a shift in how society views and supports women dealing with alcohol use disorder. Her innovative approaches and dedication to empowerment make her a pivotal figure in this field.To learn more visit https://theuncoveryapp.com/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/empowerhourforchangemakers/exclusive-content
Episode 269 of the InGoal Radio Podcast, presented by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports, features a fascinating interview with Max Paddock, who went from Memorial Cup All Star at age 17, to playing college volleyball, and is now back in the CHL as a goaltending coach.In the feature interview presented by NHL Sense Arena, Paddock takes us through his unique path back to recently being named the Regina Pats goalie coach more than six years after starting for them at the Memorial Cup, including his break to play volleyball in university while working towards a kinesiology degree he will now finish while coaching. It's a fascinating journey filled with valuable lessons for other goalies and coaches from an athlete whose family is deeply rooted in both sports -- his father, Russ, on the volleyball side at Brandon University and his uncle John having spent 30 years coaching and managing in the WHL, AHL and NHL.In our Parents Segment, presented by the Stop It Goaltending U app, we list all the important elements that will go into having your best season ever as a goalie parent. That segment is a look back at a more in-depth article at InGoal which is unlocked for all to enjoy without an InGoal subscription.And in our weekly gear segment, we go to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports for a look at the True Catalyst 7X3 line, which offers several pro-level features at half the price.
What can we learn from the wildfire devastation in Jasper in order to better prepare for future wildfires that could threaten Alberta communities? We invited Jack Lindsay, Professor in Disaster and Emergency Studies at Brandon University, to join us to discuss Canada's emergency preparedness strategy. Continuing the conversation about wildfires, we talked with Cliff White, who is the former Environmental Science Manager for Banff National Park. He says “Banff is primed to burn” and is at serious risk from wildfire. And finally, small business week is coming up – but ahead of that, NOW is the time to nominate a small business in your community, to help get them the recognition they deserve! To talk about the importance of our small business community and the upcoming awards ceremony, we checked in with Melanie McDonald, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Partnerships and Engagement at the Calgary Chamber.
How Canada prepares for and manages emergencies is stuck in the cold war era. What needs to be done to better respond to disasters? We discuss with Jack Lindsay - Associate Professor and Chair of Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies Department at Brandon University.
In this episode of Run with Fitpage, we have Dr. Scott Forbes - a decorated researcher in the field of creatine and it's supplements for muscle endurance. Dr. Forbes talks about creatine consumption for gaining muscles and how it can help runners, with our host Vikas Singh. Dr. Scott Forbes is an associate professor in the department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University in Canada. Dr. Forbes is a certified sport nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and a clinical exercise physiologist and high-performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes has published over 115 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 5 book chapters. His research examines various nutritional (e.g., creatine and protein) and exercise interventions to enhance muscle, bone, and brain function in a variety of populations, including athletes and aging adults.Find Dr. Forbes on Instagram - @scott_forbes_phdAbout Vikas Singh:Vikas Singh, an MBA from Chicago Booth, worked at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, APGlobale, and Reliance before coming up with the idea of democratizing fitness knowledge and helping beginners get on a fitness journey. Vikas is an avid long-distance runner, building fitpage to help people learn, train, and move better.For more information on Vikas, or to leave any feedback and requests, you can reach out to him via the channels below:Instagram: @vikas_singhhLinkedIn: Vikas SinghTwitter: @vikashsingh101Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Weekly Nuggets of Knowledge!
In this episode of “Knowledge Counts”, host Wendy Hobbs speaks with Wyatt Clairmont (Altus Group) and Niki Elliott (ARCAN Construction Ltd) about their experience working on construction projects North of the 60th parallel. • Host: Wendy Hobbs, PQS(F) • Producer: Ryan Schriml • Guests: Wyatt Clairmont and Niki Elliott About Our Guests: Niki Elliott, Project Manager, ARCAN Construction Ltd. Niki Elliott is a Civil Engineering Technologist working as Project Manager for ARCAN Construction Ltd. with 17 years of construction experience in various industries. She began working on projects in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories when she came on board with ARCAN in 2015. Niki consistently strives towards efficiency and precision in her management of the project team. She actively works to always deliver a great product. This year marked a new role opportunity for Niki as General Manager of Metcan Building Solutions. MBS is a collaborative venture between ARCAN and the Hay River Metis, constructing Ready to Move Structures in a new, purpose built, facility based out of Hay River, NT. Niki believes this form of project delivery is a key solution for the future of providing housing to Northern Communities, and hopes that with her new role, MBS create new housing, employment and on the job training opportunities. Prior to joining the ARCAN team Niki held positions of leadership and responsibility in the private and public sectors including Party Chief with Morgan Construction and Lead Surveyor with Caliber Systems. Her knowledge of various construction methods and project deliveries makes her a great asset to any project team. Wyatt Clairmont, Project Manager, Altus Group Wyatt holds a Business Administration degree from Brandon University, a Civil Engineering Technology diploma from SAIT and a Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) designation from the CIQS. Wyatt is an accomplished Professional Quantity Surveyor that has worked on projects of various sizes and various locations, including on affordable housing projects, schools and government office building in Nunavut and NWT. His project management experience has provided him with a broad range of knowledge and impressive adaptability. His experience working on projects in Northern Canada has given him a unique perspective with a heightened level of risk awareness and a desire to forecast project milestones on a monthly as well as yearly basis, with seasonal restrictions being top of mind. For complete show notes, go to ciqs.org/podcast.
Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)
In this podcast episode, Nicole O'Byrne talks to James Naylor, Rhonda L. Hinther, and Jim Mochoruk about their book, For a Better World: The Winnipeg General Strike and the Workers' Revolt, published by UMP in September 2022. Canada's largest and most famous example of class conflict, the Winnipeg General Strike, redefined local, national, and international conversations around class, politics, region, ethnicity, and gender. The Strike's centenary occasioned a re-examination of this critical moment in working-class history, when 300 social justice activists, organizers, scholars, trade unionists, artists, and labour rights advocates gathered in Winnipeg in 2019. Editors Naylor, Hinther, and Mochoruk depict key events of 1919, detailing the dynamic and complex historiography of the Strike and the larger Workers' Revolt that reverberated around the world and shaped the century following the war. For a Better World interrogates types of commemoration and remembrance, current legacies of the Strike, and its ongoing influence. Together, the essays in this collection demonstrate that the Winnipeg General Strike continues to mobilize—revealing our radical past and helping us to think imaginatively about collective action in the future. James Naylor is the author of The Fate of Labour Socialism: The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future (2016). He is a professor of history at Brandon University. Rhonda L. Hinther is a professor in the Department of History at Brandon University, and an active public historian. Prior to joining BU, she served as Director of Research and Curation at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and, before that, as Curator of Western Canadian History at the Canadian Museum of History. She is the co-editor of Civilian Internment in Canada: Histories and Legacies. Jim Mochoruk has taught at the University of North Dakota since 1993. His books include Formidable Heritage: Manitoba's North and the Cost of Development, 1870 to 1930. Image Credit: UMP If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society's mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada's past.
Want to become more heart-centered? There's a new playbook in town! Deb is releasing her first book The Heart-Centered Leadership Playbook: How to Master the Art of Heart in Life & Leadership in September! Details at www.debcrowe.comMichael B. Decter is President and Chief Executive Officer of the investment management firm LDIC, which he founded in 1998. Independently owned and based in Toronto, Ontario, LDIC provides financial services to high-net-worth individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, foundations, pensions and insurance companies. Michael has authored three books on investing, titled; Michael Decter's Million Dollar Strategy (1998), The DRIP Strategy: Building Your Wealth One Share at a Time with Dividend Reinvestment Plans (2001), and Ten Good Reasons to Invest in Canada (2008). He regularly appears in national print media, and is a frequent guest on BNN Bloomberg and other broadcast mediaMichael is a Harvard-trained economist with three decades of experience as a senior manager. He is a leading Canadian expert on health systems, with extensive international experience. As a senior manager in the public sector, Michael served as Deputy Minister of Health for Ontario with responsibility for the management of the Ontario health system serving all residents of the province. He also served as Cabinet Secretary in the Government of Manitoba. Consulting positions have included Partner at KPMG, and Managing Director –Canada for APM/CSC.As a Senior Research Scholar at the Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto, Michael authored additional books, including; Healing Medicare: Managing Health System Change – The Canadian Way (1994); Four Strong Winds – Understanding the Growing Challenges to Health Care, (2000); Navigating Canada's Health Care, co-authored by Francesca Grosso, (2006) and his first political book, Tales from the Backroom - Memories of a Political Insider (2010). His first novel Shadow Life (2022) was selected as one of the best novels of 2022 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).Michael was the Founding Chair of the Health Council of Canada and for a decade the former Chair of Saint Elizabeth Health Care. He served as the Chair of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Ontario Cancer Quality Council, the Wait Times Data Certification Council of Ontario, Board member of Border Crossings, Chair of the Walrus Foundation, and Chair of Medavie Blue Cross. He currently serves as a Trustee of Auto Sector Health Care Trust and Chair of its Finance, Audit, and Investment Committee. Michael has also received many recognitions such as:* Awarded The Order of Canada in 2004.* Awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.* Named Chancellor of Brandon University in 2013.* Appointed to the Premiers Council on Improving Medicare and Ending Hallway Medicine in 2018.Connect with Michael at:* https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-b-decter-89144b254/* https://www.ldic.ca/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debcrowe.substack.com
With just days to go before the Manitoba election comes to a close, the polls suggest it could be Wab Kinew and the NDP's to lose. But can Heather Stefanson's Progressive Conservatives hold on to win a third consecutive victory?To discuss these final stages of the Manitoba campaign, I'm joined by Curtis Brown, principal at Probe Research, Ian Froese, the CBC's provincial affairs reporter in Manitoba, and Kelly Saunders, associate professor in the department of political science at Brandon University.Join me for a livestream of the Manitoba election results on Tuesday, starting at 8 PM CT / 9 PM ET. You'll be able to find the livestream here.And don't miss the latest episode of The Numbers podcast, out every Thursday for Patrons and every Friday for everyone via Apple Podcast, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts.In addition to listening to this episode of The Writ Podcast in your inbox, at TheWrit.ca or on podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, you can also watch this episode on YouTube. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe
Manitoba's election campaign is underway and is setting up to be a close contest between Heather Stefanson's Progressive Conservatives and Wab Kinew's New Democrats — so close, in fact, that Dougald Lamont's Liberals could end up with the balance of power.To discuss this first stage of the Manitoba campaign, I'm joined by Curtis Brown, principal at Probe Research, Ian Froese, the CBC's provincial affairs reporter in Manitoba, and Kelly Saunders, associate professor in the department of political science at Brandon University.As always, in addition to listening to the episode in your inbox, at TheWrit.ca or on podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, you can also watch this episode on YouTube.Are you a paid subscriber to The Writ? Then keep an eye on the chat, where I often solicit questions for the podcast. You can find The Writ's subscribers-only chat here.Don't miss the latest episode of The Numbers podcast, out every Thursday for Patrons and every Friday for everyone else via Apple Podcast, Spotify and wherever else you get your podcasts. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thewrit.ca/subscribe
In conversation with Rachel Herron, Canada Research Chair in Rural and Remote Mental Health, and a professor at Brandon University.
For this issue of Knowledge Counts, we are speaking with three CIQS members who share the path they took to join CIQS and earn their designations. • Host: Wendy Hobbs, PQS(F) • Producer: Ryan Schriml • Guests: Ross Huartt, Erin Brownlow, and Wyatt Clairmont About Our Guest: Ross Huartt Ross is a highly qualified and accredited Professional Quantity Surveyor registered with the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and is a recipient of the prestigious Gold Seal Certification in Estimation issued by the Canadian Construction Association. His diverse experience includes major projects in civil infrastructure, medical, educational, and commercial developments... Erin Brownlow Erin Brownlow is the Manager, Halifax Office & Senior Quantity Surveyor for Hanscomb. A graduate of the NSCC Architectural Engineering Technician program, and a Professional Quantity Surveyor - Fellow (PQS(F)), MRICS, GSC and C. Tech with over 20 years experience working in the construction industry… Wyatt Clairmont Wyatt holds a Business Administration degree from Brandon University, a Civil Engineering Technology diploma from SAIT and a Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) designation from the CIQS. Wyatt is an accomplished Professional Quantity Surveyor that has worked on projects of various sizes and various locations, including on affordable housing projects, schools and government office building in Nunavut and NWT… For complete show notes, go to ciqs.org/podcast.
Work Smart Hypnosis | Hypnosis Training and Outstanding Business Success
Kori Gordon is an accredited life coach, BodyTalk practitioner, Reiki practitioner, and hypnotherapist. She is the owner of the Natural Elements Wellness Centre in Brandon City, Manitoba. Before opening the Natural Elements Wellness Centre in 2019, Kori operated a small business, Finding You, while working as a credit manager for the Heritage Co-Op and a mortgage specialist for the Sunrise Credit Union. Kori graduated from Brandon University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Business. Kori joins me today to share how she became a life coach and hypnotherapist after a career in finance and working as a credit manager. She describes how she began her journey in energy therapy with Reiki and other healing modalities. She explains what float therapy and halo therapy are and outlines their physical, emotional, and mental benefits. Kori also highlights how she's adopting hypnosis in her practice and underscores what it takes to take the leap of faith and trust in yourself. Want more like this? Discover how to help more people and run a thriving hypnosis business at https://HypnoticBusinessSystems.com/ “Keep putting one foot in front of the other, being open to learning, exploring, and changing. That's where the trust comes in—and the more you do it, the more growth and change you'll see.” - Kori Gordon ● How Kori began her journey in Reiki● What made Kori change her opinions about Reiki and other healing modalities● How she began working as a life coach alongside a full-time job● Float therapy and its physical benefits● Halo therapy and how it cleanses the respiratory system● Kori's transition from her career in finance to life coaching● How hypnosis complemented the other healing modalities Kori was already using in her practice● How Kori adopted hypnosis in her wellness practice● Kori's focus on using hypnosis to help clients with anxiety and weight loss Connect with Kori Gordon: ● Natural Elements Wellness Centre● Kori Gordon on LinkedIn● Email: info@floataway.ca Join our next online certification course… wherever you are in the world!● https://WorkSmartHypnosisLIVE.com/ Get an all-access pass to Jason's digital library to help you grow your hypnosis business: ● https://www.hypnoticbusinesssystems.com/ Get instant access to Jason Linett's entire hypnotherapeutic training library:● https://www.hypnoticworkers.com/ If you enjoyed today's episode, please send us your valuable feedback! ● https://www.worksmarthypnosis.com/itunes ● https://www.facebook.com/worksmarthypnosis/ Join the new WORK SMART HYPNOSIS COMMUNITY on Facebook!● https://www.facebook.com/groups/worksmarthypnosis/ Want to work with Jason? Check out:● https://www.virginiahypnosis.com/call/
On our final episode for season 4 we welcome Claire Johnston to the podcast. Claire is a citizen of the Red River Métis Nation, who lives on the land of their ancestors in Treaty 1 Territory, also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They are a Métis beadwork artist and are currently mentoring under Métis artist and Knowledge Keeper Jennine Krauchi. Claire is a proud autistic person who finds immense joy in working with their hands. They believe their ability to work intricately and precisely with their hands is a gift from their ancestors, meant to be shared with the world. Claire is a founding member of a grassroots Métis collective called Red River Echoes, which works towards reclaiming sovereignty, land, culture, and kinship across the Métis Homeland. Claire is also a member of the Two-Spirit Michif local and is a team member of the Re*Storying Autism project out of Brandon University, which works toward a liberated future for neurodivergent people through art, and challenges western, capitalist, biomedical, and colonial understandings of people who think differently. This episode was such a joy to record. We chat about the intersection of indigenous and neurodivergent identity, the impact of colonisation on identity formation for neurodivergent indigenous peoples, and how we can join the work of decolonising indigenous neurodivergent identity. We chat about claiming your identity through connection to culture and ancestral knowledge, and the vital importance of recognizing your gifts. Claire shares their experience as both a research participant and a collaborator with the Re*Storying Autism project and speaks to the importance of having their experiences and the experiences of other indigenous autistic folk be ‘witnessed'. Claire shares their experience of neurodivergence, including the social justice drive, their work as a beadwork artist, and the strengths and challenges of their neurotype. Things we mentioned: Check out Claire's short video for the Re*Storying Autism project here. Find out more about the Re*Storying Autism project here (information about the the Critical Autism Summit 2024 will be oosted here, and the neurodiversity module for teachers will also be published here). Re*Storying Autism Instragram Get in contact with Claire by email clairenancyjohnston5@gmail.com or Instagram! Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here. We currently have listener favourite episodes from seasons 1-3 available for download, with more being added! We are on Patreon! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There's no better person to discuss creatine, one of the most researched supplements in the fitness and health industry, than Dr. Scott Forbes, also known as Dr. Creatine, who joins me today to share everything you need to know if you're considering this substance to support your fitness and health goals. A current associate professor at Brandon University in Canada, Scott Forbes has dedicated his career to improving athlete performance and has extensive research experience within the field of creatine supplementation. Links and resources: Follow Dr. Scott Forbes on IG @scott_forbes_phd https://www.instagram.com/scott_forbes_phd/?hl=en Contact him at ForbesS@brandonu.ca “Meta-Analysis Examining the Importance of Creatine Ingestion Strategies on Lean Tissue Mass and Strength in Older Adults” by Forbes et al., 2021: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34199420/ “Creatine Supplementation in Women's Health: A Lifespan Perspective” by Smith-Ryan et al., 2021: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/877 “The Effects of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Regional Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis” by Burke et al. 2023: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/9/2116 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fit-to-transform/message
Dr. Scott Forbes is an associate professor in the Department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University and an adjunct professor in the faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina in Canada. Dr. Forbes is a certified sports nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) and a clinical exercise physiologist and high-performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 5 book chapters. His research examines various nutritional (e.g., creatine and protein) and exercise interventions to enhance muscle, bone, and brain function in various populations, including athletes and aging adults.Dr. Forbes on Instagram-https://www.instagram.com/scott_forbes_phd/International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exerciseResearch Essentials for Ultrarunning: https://www.jasonkoop.com/research-essentials-for-ultrarunningBuy Training Essentials for Ultrarunning on Amazon or Audible.Information on coaching-https://trainright.com/Koop's Social MediaTwitter/Instagram- @jasonkoop
Timeline0:41 About Drs. Candow and Forbes2:00 Tony gets tested on Canadian geography – where the heck is Manitoba anyhow?4:15 Why are the 4 of us bald? Too much creatine? Holy shit!9:12 What are the best markers of kidney function vis a vis creatine consumption?12:18 Do we need a higher dose to affect brain function? Hmmm19:18 Multiple small doses throughout the day may decrease net water retention21:37 Responders vs Non-Responders? Tell us the truth!25:23 The Japanese eat the most fish; hence, they consume the most creatine in all likelihood29:34 Why do so many health professionals have an anti-creatine in spite of the evidence?32:45 Data on kids showing that creatine can help with recovery; parents are so hesitant to provide creatine to kids. Seems odd!34:40 Are there sex differences vis a vis creatine's effects? Are there any differences in young vs older adults?42:20 Total body water goes up in the luteal phase; how does one answer questions related to bloating in women.47:09 What about using creatine during training?49:17 Creatine – is it good for endurance athletes? 55:04 Supplements Drs Forbes and Candow recommend!57:25 What non-science books do the good doctors like to read? Is Scott a total geek or what? Darren has some good recs! Our Special GuestsDarren Candow PhD CSEP-CEP is Professor and Director of the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. The overall objectives of Dr. Candow's internationally renowned research program are to develop effective lifestyle interventions involving nutrition (primarily creatine monohydrate) and physical activity (resistance training) which have practical and clinical relevance for improving musculoskeletal aging and reducing the risk of falls and fractures. Dr. Candow has published over 100 peer-refereed journal manuscripts, supervised over 20 MSc and PhD students and received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, and the Nutricia Research Foundation. In addition, Dr. Candow serves on the editorial review boards for the Journal of Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Nutrients, and Frontiers. Website: Twitter: @darrencandow Instagram: dr.darrencandow Scott Forbes PhD CISSN CEP is an associate professor in the department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University in Manitoba Canada and an adjunct professor in the faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina in Canada. Dr. Forbes is a certified sport nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and a clinical exercise physiologist and high-performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 5 book chapters. His research examines various nutritional (e.g., creatine and protein) and exercise interventions to enhance muscle, bone, and brain function in a variety of populations, including athletes and aging adults.
In this episode, I sat down with expert on all things creatine, Dr. Scott Forbes. Dr. Forbes is an associate professor in the department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University and an adjunct professor in the faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina in Canada. Dr. Forbes is a certified sport nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and a clinical exercise physiologist and high-performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes has published over 110 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 5 book chapters. His research examines various nutritional (e.g., creatine and protein) and exercise interventions to enhance muscle, bone, and brain function in a variety of populations, including athletes and aging adults. You can find him on Instagram @scott_forbes_phd, or find his published research on PubMed. Join the Black Friday waitlist for your exclusive offers here! Learn more about working with me to level up your running by visiting www.stephaniehnatiuk.com And don't forget to grab your copy of my free Fueling and Strength Training Guides for Runners by clicking here!
Part 5 of our 6- part series on Teaching in the Anthropocene. Hosted by Neil Wilson. This new critical volume presents various perspectives on teaching and teacher education in the face of the global climate crisis, environmental degradation, and social injustice. Teaching in the Anthropocene calls for a reorientation of the aims of teaching so that we might imagine multiple futures in which children, youths, and families can thrive amid a myriad of challenges related to the earth's decreasing habitability. Dr. Michelle Lam is the Director of the Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies (CARES), an applied research institute in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University. Prior to entering academia, she was an English as an Additional Language teacher in Canada and abroad. She is interested in newcomer settlement, education for anti-racism, and rural equity.
Part 4 of our 6-Part series; Teaching in the Anthropocene. Hosted by Neil Wilson. This new critical volume presents various perspectives on teaching and teacher education in the face of the global climate crisis, environmental degradation, and social injustice. Teaching in the Anthropocene calls for a reorientation of the aims of teaching so that we might imagine multiple futures in which children, youths, and families can thrive amid a myriad of challenges related to the earth's decreasing habitability. Dr. Candy Jones is currently an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at Brandon University. Her research interests include rural education and capacity building, teacher professional development (particularly in rural contexts), mathematics education, and teacher identity. A career-long teacher and scholar in the field of rural education, Dr. Jones spent 20 years as secondary educator in three different rural Manitoba communities before moving to Brandon University in 2015. She is both passionate about the strength and beauty of rural spaces, and a staunch advocate for those who live and work within them.
Part 2 of our 6-Part series on Teaching in the Anthropocene. Hosted by Neil Wilson. This new critical volume presents various perspectives on teaching and teacher education in the face of the global climate crisis, environmental degradation, and social injustice. Teaching in the Anthropocene calls for a reorientation of the aims of teaching so that we might imagine multiple futures in which children, youths, and families can thrive amid a myriad of challenges related to the earth's decreasing habitability. Dr. Alysha Farrell is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University. She is passionate about fostering a caring ecology in the study of education. Her research focuses on teaching, leading, and learning in the face of the climate crisis. Using arts-based methods like playwriting, forum theatre, narrative photography, and poetic inquiry, she collaborates with others to tell stories that will stick to your bones. Her recent research-art exhibition at the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba was called Before I Go to Bed Tonight. The exhibition featured the work of 17 young artists who delved into the personal and collective impacts of climate change. Alysha is the author of two books, Exploring the Affective Dimensions of Educational Leadership (2020) and Ecosophy and Educational Research for the Anthropocene (2022). She co-edited a third book called, Teaching in the Anthropocene: Education in the Face of Environmental Crisis that was released in July 2022. She has presented at several national and international conferences on topics such as using arts-based approaches to better understand the emotional dimensions of climate change education and eco-orientations to pedagogy.
Great discussions with my former Montana State basketball All American and Hall of Fame players Kevin Owens & Steve Helm. The Montana State University-Northern basketball family assembled in Arizona to celebrate with coach Loren Baker on his birthday. What a great time it was catching up with some of the great players like Donnie Parisian, Kevin Owens and Steve Helm. The stories are plenty when this group gets together and the secret why I dropped 33 points on #2 ranked Brandon University at their house while talking trash to the team is exposed.Check out some of the video footage at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ6htWo_bRim0tbQl-A5ckwPlease subscribe to receive more contents!
Everyone's talking about creatine and rightfully so. As the most proven sports nutrition supplement on the market, it holds a lot of clout and can be an asset to both your performance and health span. There's a lot of new research around creatine, and I wanted to make sure you were up to date, so I invited expert Dr. Scott Forbes onto the podcast to answer some important questions. Dr. Forbes is an associate professor in the department of Physical Education Studies at Brandon University and an adjunct professor in the faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina. He's a certified sport nutritionist (ISSN) and a clinical exercise physiologist and high performance specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Forbes and I dig into a lot of interesting areas today, including creatine biology and physiology 101, so you can gain a solid understanding of what it is, how we make it, how our bodies use it and how it provides energy. We peel the layers back on the following topics and do some myth busting. Dosing strategies (3!) Creatine for vegans and vegetarians Creatine in your plant based burger? How long creatine stays in your muscles Creatine and bone health NEW! Can creatine help ultra endurance athletes preserve explosiveness? Can creatine improve carbohydrate storage? Creatine and dehydration - myth busting If you have any questions comment on your favorite social media platform and tag me and Dr. Forbes. I'm on Twitter and IG and on LinkedIn. You'll find Dr. Scott Forbes (Dr. Creatine!) on IG at Scott_Forbes_PhD and you can also read more if his research here on Research Gate. If you're keen to learn more about your health from the inside out, check out my podcast sponsor Inside Tracker! This is more than your annual blood test. Inside Tracker analyzes your blood, DNA and fitness tracking data to help you recognize where you're doing amazing and where you need improving. They use a personalized system designed to help you live your most vibrant life, slow down the aging process and as a result, extend your health span. The system is created by leading scientists in aging, genetics and biometrics. How do they help? After analyzing your blood they provide you with a daily action plan with personalized guidance on the right exercise, nutrition and supplementation where needed. They were super accommodating because I have a 5 year old who needs to get to camp and I have work to start and they came at 7:20am to help make it happen. Add Inner Age 2.0 to any plan to calculate your true biological age, and see how you're aging from the inside out. For a limited time, get 20% off the entire Inside Tracker store. Just go to insidetracker.com/GuzmanNutrition. Don't miss it! Thank you for listening and being a part of this community. To be updated on episodes head over to Imperfect Progress at Apple or Spotify and SUBSCRIBE today. Along with supporting my sponsor this is the best way you can support me and this podcast. I appreciate you!
Dr. Tim Skuce, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Brandon University
On today's show, when kids head back to the classroom in September, can they expect bigger class sizes? We chat with Medeana Moussa the executive director of Support Our Students Alberta about their concerns for the 2022-23 school year. Plus, does hockey culture need a reckoning? We chat with Dr. Tim Skuce, an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at Brandon University about what still needs to be done. Also, what's going on with gas prices in Canada? Dan McTeague, the president of Canadians for Affordable Energy says it's straight-up profiteering. And we check in with Nevin deMilliano, with Prairie Storm Chasers as he prepares for summer storm season.
Why does Canada have the second largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world? We talk to historian Dr. Rhonda Hinther from Brandon University to find out why so many people from Ukraine made Canada their home. Books by Dr. Rhonda Hinther include Perogies and Politics: Canada's Ukrainian Left, 1891-1991 (https://utorontopress.com/9781487500498/perogies-and-politics/), and Re-Imagining Ukrainian-Canadians: History, Politics, and Identity (https://utorontopress.com/9781442610620/re-imagining-ukrainian-canadians/). Visit us at www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada
On this episode we talk with Dr. Scott Forbes about all things creatine and performance. We understand that this can sometimes be a grey area: Do I take it? Does it make me gain water weight? Will it make me stronger? Give this episode a listen to hear all the answers! Dr. Scott Forbes is an assistant professor in the department of Physical Education at Brandon University, Canada. His primary interest is in sport science with a primary focus on nutritional (creatine and protein) and training interventions to enhance athlete performance. In addition, he has expertise examining nutritional and exercise interventions for optimal muscle and brain health in older adults.
Dr. Christopher Schneider joins Harper Talks and guest host Jeff Julian for a discussion about his profound impact upon academia, sociology, and his published work that discusses the connection between information technology and police work. Dr. Schneider graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and his master's in sociology from Northern Illinois University after his time at Harper College. He is now a full professor of sociology at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada after earning a doctorate in justice studies from Arizona State University in 2008. Dr. Schneider received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021 and is involved in several community initiatives in Manitoba.
We focus on Biden's call to escalate the fighting in Ukraine with Biden officials saying they are fine with Ukraine invading Russia. Topics: Deutsche Bank Whistleblower Val Broeksmit Found Dead; Biden asks Congress for 33 billion dollars more in military assistance for Ukraine; United Nations Secretary General António Guterres says all war is a crime; NATO's Article 5; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he's OK with Ukraine invading Russia; Lockheed Martin's stock soars like a missile; Guests With Time Stamps: (1:20) David Does the News (1:02:26) "USA of Distraction" written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (1:07:24) Donald Trump (Robert Smigel) (1:08:55) "Stand Together" written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (1:14:16) Animal Facts! With Professor Pamela tells us about the mating life of frogs. Pamela is a Professor in the Department of Biology, at Brandon University in Manitoba, Canada. She primarily studies lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and turtles - and focuses on animal behaviour and conservation biology. Today she's here to share some interesting animal facts with us! (1:34:31) Professor Ben Burgis (his new book is "Canceling Comedians While The World Burns") Professor's recent Jacobin pieces "I Went on Joe Rogan's Show, and I Don't Regret It" and "Elon Musk Won't Protect Free Speech Online" (2:03:34) The Herschenfelds: Dr. Philip Herschenfeld (Freudian psychoanalyst), and Ethan Herschenfeld (his new comedy special "Thug, Thug Jew" is streaming on YouTube) Why is the Left so feeble and hapless? (2:45:59) Emil Guillermo (host of the PETA Podcast, and columnist for The Asian American Legal Defense And Education Fund) Lapu Lapu/ Bong Bong-phobia Monkey danger in America (3:10:50) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and Dr. Joanne Lynn (MediCaring) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn ran Americans United for Separation of Church and State for nearly a quarter of a century. He is a lawyer, a barrister, a counselor, and attorney, as well as a member of the Supreme Court Bar. He's also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Dr. Joanne Lynn is a geriatrician, hospice physician, health services researcher, quality improvement advisor, and policy advocate who has focused upon shaping American health care so that every person can count on living comfortably and meaningfully through the period of serious illness and disability in the last years of life, at a sustainable cost to the community. (4:13:17) The Professors And Mary Anne: Professors Mary Anne Cummings, Ann Li, Jonathan Bick, Adnan Husain Read Professor Ann Li: Website: www.dailykos.com/user/annieli PLUS: ASMR for your eyeballs - Kitchen ASMR with Joe in Norway (5:09:19) Professor Harvey J. Kaye ("FDR on Democracy") and Alan Minsky (executive director of Progressive Democrats of America) Nina Turner! We livestream here on YouTube every Monday and Thursday starting at 5:00 PM Eastern and go until 11:00 PM. Please join us!
Instagram: @scott_forbes_phd https://people.brandonu.ca/forbess/ Dr Scott Forbes is an associate professor at Brandon University where he conducts research primarily on creatine supplementation. Listen in as we discuss the benefits of creatine supplementation and common myths. Join the Tactical Nutrition and Performance Database: https://www.tacticaldietitian.com/tnpdmembership Creatine Christmas Ornaments --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/tacticaldietitian/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tacticaldietitian/support
在喜马拉雅已支持实时字幕关注公众号“高效英语磨耳朵”获取文稿和音频词汇提示1.branch campuses 分校原文Canadian UniversitiesThere are about fifty standing-alone,4-year-degree-granting universities in CanadaUnlike the higher education systems in the united states,most universities in Canada are publicly funded institutions although there are a few private institutionsThese public universities are funded and regulated by the province to which they belong.In British Columbia,there are four publicly funded universities:University of British Columbia,Simon Fraser University,University of Victoria,and University of Northern British Columbia;and one private university:Trinity Western University.In Alberta,the three publicly funded universities are University of Alberta,University of Calgary,and University of Lethbridge.In Saskatchenwan,the two publicly funded universities are University of Saskatchenwan and University of Regina.Moving into Manitoba,there are three publicly funded universities in the province.They are University of Manitoba,University of Winnipeg,and Brandon University.Ontario is not only the populated province in Canada but also has the largest number of universities.It has 17 publicly funded universities.They are(from west to east and south to north):University of Winsor,University of Western Ontario,University of Guelph,University of Waterloo,Wilfred Laurier University,McMaster University,Brock University,York University,University of Toronto,Ryerson University,Trent University,Queen's University,University of Ottawa,Carleton University,Laurentian University,Nipissing University,and Lakehead University.The Province of Quebec has seven publicly funded universities with many of them having several branch campuses throughout the province.They are University of Montreal,University of Quebec,Laval University,Concordia University,McGill University,University of Sherbrooke,and Bishop's University.While French is the official language of instruction at most of these institutions,English is the official one at both Concordia University and McGill University.Canada's Atlantic provinces have the rest of the fifty universities in Canada.They are University of New Brunswick and University of Moncton in the Province of New Brunswick;Acadia University,Dalhousie University,Mount Allison University,Mount Saint Vincent University,Saint Mary's University,and Nova Scotia Agricultural college in the Province of Nova Scotia;University of Prince Edward Island in the Province of Prince Edward Island and University of Newfoundland in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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: k.tinman@peerconnectionsmb.ca 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: Chris@schizophrenia.ca 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: phil.tibbo@nshealth.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-tibbo-62170b18/ 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. Katrina Tinman, Chris Summerville, Phil Tibbo Interview Transcript 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 again with my three incredible guests as we continue our conversation about schizophrenia, this time focusing on integrated recovery support, emerging science, and advancing technology. We'll also touch on the stigma faced by people with the illness, and gaps in the current mental health care system. But before we dig back in, a big shout out to our amazing sponsors, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, Emil Anderson Construction, WorkSafe BC, and AECOM Engineering Canada. We celebrate them as their continued support is fueling our passion for improving mental health literacy. Again, my three guests are Katrina Tinman, a peer support worker with Peer Connections Manitoba, Chris Summerville, Executive Director of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and Dr. Phil Tibbo, a Canadian psychiatrist who studies, treats, and advocates for people with psychosis and schizophrenia. In Part 1 of this podcast, we heard personal stories and learned about signs of the illness, myths, and recovery movements. Dr. Phil Tibbo also talked about past diagnostic practices. To start this episode, we'll connect with Phil again about diagnostic practices today, and what research is telling us about them. PHIL 2:06 It's a big area of research. And I think I mentioned earlier, we're still not at a point where we can do a blood test similar to other medical illnesses, and from that result in a diagnosis. So there's still a lot of work going on here, and especially at early phases of illness as well. And so a lot of the research is looking at multimodal or multifaceted approaches to diagnosis, that can include not only from interview and behavioral, looking at symptoms, but as well as what we call the biological markers, biological indices, which can be some of the neuroimaging research. Some very exciting work going on even EEG type of research within brainwaves, but as well as in genetics too. The one difficulty with schizophrenia, and again, different from some other medical illnesses where it's a single gene, and something wrong with that gene causes a medical illness. We know that's not the case for psychosis and schizophrenia. And often what it's called is an illness with multiple genes of small effect. Research is active in here, but really that focus is to really help us to identify early. But it'll probably be, like I say, multifaceted or a multimodal sort of approach to diagnosis. I wish I can kind of drop in in 20 30 years time and see what the approach is going to be. I think we're going to see a difference from how we're approaching things now to what it will be in the future, which is of course, the way that it should be. I mean, we're doing things differently than what we were doing 20 30 years ago as well. JO 3:38 Let's now hone in on current treatment strategies that focus on integrating biological, psychological, social, and vocational support, as well as psychosocial rehabilitation. And we're gonna break that down, so don't worry about all those big terms. Starting with biological support, Phil from what I understand, biological or brain-related effects are still best treated with anti-psychotic medications, which ideally, are only one part of an overall treatment plan. Is that what you're seeing? PHIL 4:17 Yes, you still have to consider that schizophrenia is a brain illness which needs to be treated, and medication can be a cornerstone of that treatment. But as a result of the illness, there are other things that may be needed when we were looking at other non-biological therapies. Definitely have psychotic medications are a cornerstone. Now that said, the amount of medication or the length that somebody is on a medication really depends on the individual and really what their needs are as well. Because I have individuals that I see that may need medications for actually a fairly short period of time, and they've been doing well with no medications at this point. It really is kind of individual, but yet yes from biological standpoint, the anti-psychotic medications are a cornerstone treatment. JO 5:04 Kat and Chris, in your personal experience and as shared by your peers, what are the pros and cons of anti-psychotic medication? And are people's responses changing over time as the medications change? KATRINA 5:21 It gets to symptoms versus side effects. As I went through the process of finding what medication would work, it was a journey that lasted about 10 years. And I'd ran the gamut of, well, three I can remember Lexapro, Risperdal, and Zyprexa. But nothing really fit. Remember the description of the spectrum, and trying to find where things fit. And for me, it wasn't until 2013 when I ended up fortunate enough to have a doctor to work with me at length, to find the right medication that would actually be the best fit for me, in communication with me. And it turned out it was one of those that hadn't even been invented until right around that timeframe. Abilify turned out to be the right one for me. CHRIS 6:15 Well, certainly, antipsychotics and antidepressants can address the symptoms of psychosis and mood disorders and minimize them. But as one of our former chiefs of psychiatry here in Manitoba said, "If only the medications did everything that we hoped that they would do." Unfortunately, as Katrina stated, there can be significant side effects. And there are many side effects that we don't have time to go into. But the two that I would mention most pronounced are cardiovascular illnesses and metabolic illnesses. And that's one reason why many people don't want to take the medications or discontinue after a while, because of that fear. JO 6:57 Phil, what advances are being made to make these medications more accessible and effective with fewer side effects? PHIL 7:05 There's a lot of research and development going into newer medications. And I think we always have to be careful in our discussion around this. Because while there may be cardiovascular, may be metabolic side effects, it's not a given. Significant number of individuals that I see that do not have any side effects with their medications. That's with our open and honest discussions. But we have to be mindful of when that can occur, and just be able to catch it early. I know we'll talk about stigma, but there is a stigma about medication that has resulted and it's probably from the older medication. The research and development these days, the focus is on developing an effective medication with little to no side effects. With a better understanding of the illness, with better understanding of brain receptors, there's more targeted, more focused research on the development of these types of medications. I have to agree that there was a period of time where there's a lot of sort of what I call 'me to' medications being developed, very similar to ones that are already out there. But what we're seeing now is just that more focused, more targeted development. JO 8:14 Phil, what about options for people who might forget to take their medications, or choose not to take them for whatever reason? PHIL 8:21 We've had, I'll use the term LAI's, long-acting injectable medication. We've had them for a while. But for similar reasons Katrina and Chris mentioned, you know, they've kind of fell out of favor because of their side effect profile. But recent developments have allowed us to have newer medications in that particular format with much fewer side effects. People can just be on a once-a-month injection medication, or once every three months. And there's product and development for other medications for once every two months. I have this conversation with individuals that I see. It allows them to focus on their recovery, because they don't have to remember to take their medication. And I think that's an important piece. What some of young adults tell me is that they have to take a pill every day that just reminds them that they have an illness. But if they just need to come into the clinic once a month, or every three months for an injection, that helps them focus on their recovery as well. JO 9:18 And Phil, while doing research for this episode, I came across information about using cannabis to treat psychosis. Is that legitimate? PHIL 9:27 No. First of all, a couple of points around that. When we talk about cannabis, keep in mind if we're talking about just overall cannabis plant, there's over 100 active compounds within that. The two most common compounds people hear about, of course, are THC and CBD. And we know that THC is actually more of the risk factor with respect to psychosis development, and poor outcomes after the development of psychosis. There have been some studies trying to look at CBD, cannabidiol, and its potential role within a psychosis, but honestly, there's not a lot. And we just recently published a position statement for the Canadian Psychiatric Association as well as a systematic review and meta-analysis, examining this literature and looking at randomized, controlled trials of different cannabis or cannabinoid products. There's actually only six studies in schizophrenia where they've looked at cannabinoid products, really not much effect. I'm not being negative about it. But just highlighting that we do need a lot more research into this area. And we have to be very clear on what sort of cannabinoid product that we're talking about. JO 10:39 Let's talk about another piece of the recovery puzzle, which is psychological support. Psychological or mental and emotional effects associated with schizophrenia can include depression, anxiety, substance-use, suicidal ideation, and others. These often respond well to treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy, and other emerging approaches such as reality therapy and cognitive remediation. Phil, how do these work? And how can they be integrated with biological solutions? PHIL 11:16 Well first of all, our approach is integrated. We look at, say, medication plus as well as the psychotherapy and psychosocial treatments as well. Having more tools in our toolkit to be able to address the illness. We will have some people who will definitely benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis. And that really allows an individual to learn how to adapt, and respond, and develop strategies to work with their symptoms, for example, so that an individual is not as stressed by their symptoms or able to manage them so that they can do what they want to do, basically, in their day-to-day lives. There's a number of different strategies and therapies along these lines. Some are more similar to each other than not. We have a sort of service and commitment therapy as well, ACT, plus as you mentioned, CBT. But they're really there to help augment that individual's experience with their symptoms, or for example, with comorbid symptoms as well, such as depression and anxiety. JO 12:17 So Chris and Kat, are your peers ever hesitant to add these therapies to their recovery plans? KATRINA 12:25 I know I wasn't. In talking with peers, we usually do touch on some of these possibilities. And there's usually enthusiasm at the idea. Oh yeah, I heard of that, or along those lines where they are willing to engage. CHRIS 12:43 I don't think there would be a hesitancy in general, if people were aware of what their various therapies are. There are many what I call, talk therapies that we can utilize today. Some have been mentioned, cognitive remediation, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy, and family therapy. People in general, I think, have a fear of going into therapy because someone's going to try to fix me, and I have to expose them to, and I have to reveal all of my problematic thinking or what have you. So, I think the goal of these therapies have to be clearer for the patient or the client, and that is helping one to manage difficulty in the area of cognition and their thinking, helping them in their executive skills, helping them to improve their communication skills and relationships. So, the therapy has to be explained to people that it will be more than a supplement to the medication, where the medication is not able to address certain issues. Talk therapies have been demonstrated to promote the recovery process. JO 13:47 What are the biggest barriers to people not receiving the psychological support they need? CHRIS 13:53 Well number one, here in Canada, psychological support services are not covered by our health care system unless you're a patient in the hospital. But once you're out in the community, you have to shell it out of your own pocket, and most people can't afford psychological support therapies. And also, the lack of awareness about the role that trauma can play in psychosis and recovery. A lot of people don't know about that. And many service providers may not actually be trained in trauma informed care, due to the lack of trauma informed services. So all those things that I've just mentioned, can be great barriers to people receiving the appropriate psychological supports that they need. PHIL 14:32 I'll have to step in and agree with that. Access and availability is a big thing. The other thing to consider as a barrier. Families talk to me about this kind of at the beginning, when is psychotherapy going to start? And sometimes the barrier, of course, is the illness itself and that person to be able to engage and work within some of these therapies, they have to get to a certain cognitive level to be able to do that. And that's where sometimes we have to wait a little bit of time until we get some better control on some of those symptoms, so that people are then able to engage in some of the psychosocial and talk therapies that would be helpful. JO 15:08 What about creative therapies that use art, music, drama, and writing? KATRINA 15:14 Those, speaking from a person of lived experience and pure perspective, can be very, very useful for meditations and journaling, because really it helps somebody walk through and process thoughts, feelings, and experiences. And I personally think that can be very valuable, as it's really helped me in many ways. PHIL 15:40 I'd have to agree. We've been researching areas of this as well, and we published on this too in a number of different formats and looking at mindfulness-based support groups for families looking at self compassion, and mindfulness, in relation to depression and anxiety. And interestingly too, we've even published on claymation art therapy in our youth and young adult population and the benefits of that. One person may do well with claymation art therapy, and another person not interested at all. So, it helps to be able to investigate and to know that these types of therapies and creative therapies can be helpful. JO 16:14 In your stories and insights, I'm hearing that social support is also vital for people recovering from schizophrenia, this being available through peer support, self-help programs, and family education and support. Chris, what are the biggest barriers to people receiving the social support they need? CHRIS 16:35 Society in general and the media as well, they tend to think that it's just all about medication. You wouldn't believe how many times I've been asked this question through the over 1500 media interviews that I've done, in which I will be asked, "well, how do we make sure these people stay on their medication?" As if medication was the cure all? Again, education is needed that, quote, the treatment of mental illness, and particularly schizophrenia that we're talking about today, is very holistic, so a holistic approach. And that means, what do we do to help people when they're in the community, back at home, back in the community? What kinds of social supports do they need? Whether it's peer support, support groups, whether it's accommodations in pursuing education, accommodation and getting a job, adequate housing, decent income, all those factors. As a society, I think we get it with most other illnesses. These kinds of questions didn't come up when my wife was experiencing breast cancer. There was pure support, there was family engagement, there was family education. There was not just attempts but helping her to connect with various community agencies. One of the things that perhaps gets in the way, which we'll talk about later, is that this profound stigma and prejudice towards people who have a mental illness that live in our community, that affects our policies, that affects our funding. It's a great misconception out there that to address mental illnesses is just a matter of the medical. But as we've listened to Dr. Tibbo and Katrina, they've articulated well that psychological, social, the communal aspects involved in recovery are equally important. JO 18:35 Kat, can you share a story of how important social support is? KATRINA 18:40 The way I'll share it is actually to state that sometimes we hear feedback as peer support workers from our peers, as we're going through the process and discussing with them where they're at and where they're going, and what they're working on, and what they're trying to accomplish. And one of my peers sent back the message, for instance, that I made them feel comfortable, and that I connected with her, that I was nurturing, and calming, and helped that peer make their own decisions that were right for them. And that's, I think, an important piece, that connection to the recovery process and that non-aloneness. And I think that is something that peer support is demonstrating. What we're doing right now at the Mental Health Crisis Response Center is a pilot program. The feedback that we're getting is huge, phenomenal to positive that, yes, this is worth it. JO 19:41 I know you're researching the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical treatment options like therapy and peer support. What have you learned so far? PHIL 19:52 Well, I think the high-level approach to this question is really important. And that we need to continue with our research in looking at non-pharmaceutical options, and the different types of therapy and peer support. Specifically finding out what we can use, what has the best effect, will be important for the population that we work with as well. We have researched peer support and we have found, yes definitely, it is needed and people, as Katrina mentioned, do benefit from it in many varieties of ways. JO 20:21 Chris as a recovery practitioner, you're very familiar with psychosocial rehabilitation, which I've learned among other things, includes case management, advocacy, structured living residences, and rehab centers, for example. Tell us more about that. And what are the biggest barriers to people receiving the rehabilitation they do need? CHRIS 20:46 We have here in Canada, what's called Psychosocial Rehabilitation Canada, an organization that promotes psychosocial rehabilitation of all mental health service providers. So it's not just limited, let's say, to social workers or mental health workers. So let me just define it. First of all, psychosocial rehabilitation, also sometimes called psychiatric rehabilitation, it promotes personal recovery, successful community integration, the satisfactory quality of life for persons who have a mental health problem or mental illness. Psychosocial rehabilitation services and supports, they're what we call collaborative, person directed, individualized, and we believe they're essential element of human service prospective. And so the goal of psychiatric rehabilitation, or psychosocial rehabilitation is focused on helping individuals develop skills, and access the resources needed to increase their capacity to be successful and satisfied, in what we would call living, working, learning, and social environments of their choice. And so you need a wide continuum of services and supports. The approaches, they are evidence based. And they are promising practices in key life domains of, let's say, employment, education, leisure, wellness, and basic living skills. And family involvement, family peer support, individual peer support are very important aspects of psychosocial rehabilitation. JO 22:18 Chris, what needs to be in place for this to happen? CHRIS 22:22 Truly integrated comprehensive mental health services in which the various sectors are endorsing and creating relationships with each other. So whether that's psychiatrists, social worker, a mental health worker, spiritual health care director. The team of support around the patient, they're not in competition with each other. They are to be working as a team when they have their meetings, and hopefully, with the patient there, listening to the patient. Again, that's that question. What do you feel would help you? What do you feel you need at this point? And as well as offering, what I want to say as wisdom through listening, offering a wisdom back to the patient in helping them to find the various supports and services in and outside of the hospital, that can promote the recovery experience. JO 23:15 Let's expand upon that and look at vocational rehabilitation, and or training that prepares people with schizophrenia for work that best meets their individual wants and needs. Chris, can you tell us more about that? CHRIS 23:31 So let me just tell you a story to illustrate this point about vocational training. This individual's true-life story who had schizophrenia and he had gone through four mental health workers. Well, what happened with the fourth mental health worker? Began to listen to the individual because he was always very persistent with his mental health workers, that he wanted to be an astronaut. They would just dismiss that, "There's no way you can do that, because you have schizophrenia." Well, the fourth mental health worker began to listen to him and ask him, let's just assume that his name is Joe, and said, "Joe, why would you like to be an astronaut?" And he had seen the first moon landing and other things, and he was very enchanted that he wanted to be an astronaut. So, she asked him then in the course of not just in one conversation, but as they developed their relationship. "Well Joe, what do you think would help you to be able to reach that goal?" And they talked about that, and perhaps hygiene could be a problem. Of course, they began to focus on education. "And so what school do you think there might be, and where would you like to go to school to learn more about this?" And so she encouraged him. "Well, why don't you try for one course?" And he took the course and guess what happened? He failed. But that's not the end of the story. She continued to encourage him about other options, and again, a true-life story. He eventually found work and began to work in a space aeronautics museum, welcoming guests and introducing them to the museum. So did he fulfill his goal and his dream? Yes, but it had to be adjusted. But she didn't give up hope on him in terms of his vocational desire. JO 25:06 What a great story. In my research, I continually came upon the term personalized medicine. Phil, what is personalized medicine? And how could it revolutionize diagnosis and treatment strategies for schizophrenia? PHIL 25:24 Personalized medicine, and sometimes people refer to it as precision medicine as well. So sometimes you hear those terms interchangeably. And really what it is, is the tailoring of the medical treatment to the individual, to the individual characteristics of each patient. It does rely on research, it does rely on an understanding of a person's own unique, molecular, and genetic profile as well, and how that can influence treatment. If you think about a personalized medicine, it is really what's going to be appropriate, what's going to work for you specifically based on who you are, both biologically and otherwise. And really, this sort of came out of the advent of trying to figure out from a genetic perspective, how can we use an individual's unique genetic makeup to guide treatment decision? We're not quite there yet, in that respect, but it allowed us to be able to step back, though, and still think about, okay, what is appropriate for this person that's sitting in front of me. And I think that's a little bit more of a holistic approach to our treatment, and that is truly personalized. Now, if we get to that stage where we can do a cheek swab, get a genetic makeup, and then say, okay, this particular treatment, either medication or otherwise, this is specific to you and will work the best. Obviously, that's a great outcome. Are we there yet? No. But research is going in that direction. JO 26:46 One topic I didn't come across in my research is the role of lifestyle choices in recovery. Healthy habits, like getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. Kat, how important have lifestyle choices been in your recovery? And do you teach life skills as part of your work with peers? KATRINA 27:09 Lifestyle choices are very important in my recovery. It's something I pay very close attention to. As far as teaching life skills, we do workshops that do some form of teaching, but teaching as an agenda. It's more of an exploration type discussion. JO 27:30 Phil, what do you see in your research and hear from your patients about the importance of lifestyle choices? PHIL 27:36 Research obviously has shown that it's very important, these lifestyle choices. What are lifestyle choices? These could be anything from smoking, cannabis use, to sedentary lifestyle, activity, diet, a number of different choices. We know that individually each of those, and accumulatively each of those can have an effect on outcomes. And the research is pretty solid with respect to that. And so a lot of our focus, so once we get to some of the early sort of phases is, okay really, how can we improve lifestyle, what kind of healthy choices we can help people with lived experience make. We do things, we have a project where we got some funding currently from our Mental Health Foundation, where we're trying to target our rural population. So we got Fitbits. So that allows us to measure and monitor some things along the lines of sleep and steps and exercise. But to be able to send that to their clinicians and to be able to have those discussions, that's sort of great talking points about lifestyle. CHRIS 28:36 Let me combine that question about lifestyle choices and the previous one about personal medicine. Personal medicine, in terms of consumer movement or people who live with mental illnesses, it was really first introduced in early 2003 as a result of qualitative research conducted by Dr. Patricia Deegan. Now, Patricia Deegan is a psychologist, PhD, has lived experience of schizophrenia and experience of recovery. And so personal medicine along with what Dr. Tibbo said, is also about what we do that's medicinal for us in managing, let's say, my depression. What are those lifestyle choices that I know helped me in terms of managing all the stress associated with living with a mental illness? And stress can lead to relapse, we know. So it's not necessarily something prescribed by a doctor or nurse. It comes from within, and it's finding that right balance of what to do and what we take in our pathway to recovery. So that can be mindfulness, can be spirituality, it can be running and exercise. Those things that you know help you to manage your illness in terms of stress management, increasing your resiliency, and your mental health as well, because people with a mental illness can have positive mental health. We know that. And so that word as Patricia Deegan has written about it, personalized medicine has to do with those things that we know that are uniquely medicinal for us, and helping us move forward in our recovery. JO 30:16 Thanks Chris, great comments. Phil, is there any science to support the role of practices such as meditation in recovery? PHIL 30:26 Yes, there is research on this. It's not necessarily for everyone. But for people who can do mindfulness-based practices and meditation, it definitely has been shown to be quite helpful in a number of different ways. I don't say for individuals with lived experience, but we published actually on mindfulness-based techniques for family members, and definitely see the benefits within that group as well. JO 30:50 Advancing technology is another thing I'm hearing a lot about for diagnostic and treatment purposes. Phil, from your perspective and in your practice, can you bring us up to speed on that? PHIL 31:02 Our advances of technology, we're trying to utilize those as best as we can, as quickly as we can as well. And also moving from research to clinical applications, of course, is really quite important. Kind of alluded to this a little bit earlier. We have had advances in the various brain imaging techniques to help us with diagnosis. And there's a lot of different types of brain imaging techniques that are focused either on brain structure, but as well as brain function, and of course, the different parts of the brain, white matter and gray matter. And then other types of diagnostic technologies are there, treatments as well, such as rTMS. There's a lot of this that's happening. And I don't want to minimize that there's a lot of research that have gone into the development and use of smartphone apps as well, and their utility within helping people move forward with their lives and on their treatment to recovery goals. JO 31:56 Chris, what about that technology for social support services? CHRIS 32:01 Well, there are two things that COVID has surfaced for us. Number one has placed mental health definitely on the radar. Ninety-eight percent of Canadians are more concerned about the impact of mental health. Secondly, the use of virtual technology, and that will not go away after the pandemic. In fact, about a year and a half ago, I had my first FaceTime experience with my GP. I never thought that would happen. So use of Zoom and other technology to offer peer support individually, to offer support groups. Many of the schizophrenia societies across Canada are doing education with family members through virtual technology. So that's not going to go away after the pandemic. It is all in a state of development. I think Dr. Tibbo, when he and I've had discussions on this, we have to look at safety, confidentiality issues, privacy, and having good standards. And then, are the various apps that have been developed and ought to be developed, are they evidence based and effective? So I'm excited about where virtual technology can lead us, especially for people who live outside of urban areas. But the great challenge is that many people with mental illnesses, especially if they're on income security, they don't have access to internet, they can't afford a laptop or an iPhone. JO 33:24 Kat, how willing are your peers to take advantage of advancing technologies? KATRINA 33:30 It's hard to conjecture, because every peer is different. As Chris pointed out, even the ability of some might be limited. But from what I'm hearing as we compare notes, peers and I, now hey I have that app, this app that works really good for me. It comes up. So I think, for the most part, it's very favorable in that direction. JO 33:53 Chris mentioned COVID-19, and just a very quick question. Phil, how has COVID affected your patients with schizophrenia? PHIL 34:03 Keep in mind that for my particular patients that I see, it's mainly youth and young adults, and actually the resilience there is really quite high. And the adaptation to virtual technologies, such as Zoom and having meetings along those lines, they're actually fairly quick to adapt to. However, what is also interesting is that a lot of the youth and young adults that I see actually didn't want to have their meetings via Zoom. They'd rather be in person. So we've tried our best to work with that. We obviously want to make sure that nobody is going to have relapse or have any ill effects because of COVID. I think we did a pretty good job of pivoting and shifting service delivery and care to accommodate that. COVID-19 overall in the general population, there's a lot of research that has gone into that and we have seen an increase in, for example, substance use in this population. We've also studied acute care admissions to the inpatient units, and I've seen a shift during the height of COVID in states of emergency declarations, where the substances have played a role, a more significant role in admissions than they did before, as well as in a little bit older age group than what we would normally see in a non-COVID year. JO 35:15 Chris, what are you seeing with your peers and their families as a result of COVID? CHRIS 35:22 Each of my workdays, two to three hours now, have been devoted to taking phone calls and answering emails since the pandemic began, by individuals and family members who are looking for additional help. There is evidence that people with schizophrenia are more likely to develop the illness resulting from COVID-19, as opposed to the general population. I think fundamentally, what some recent reports have indicated is that it's become somewhat harder for people with pre-existing mental illnesses to consistently get not only psychiatric care, but also primary health care. JO 36:02 Kat has the pandemic been difficult for you? KATRINA 36:07 It's been challenging in ways for myself and for my peers. For instance, some describe that it slammed them when they were in healthy spaces. It actually slammed them right back into illness because it looked the same. Now, we were isolating, so they were isolated, again, or still. And that just took them back into it. Just as one example alone. For me, I have to admit riding buses to commute to and from work is a challenge because of what I see. And it causes me a little stress. The people that pull their masks down on the bus when they're supposed to have it up, and stuff like that. But for the most part, I think it's, we're just all hanging in there. JO 36:57 Before moving on to talk about stigma, I'd like to thank our major sponsors again, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, Emil Anderson Construction, WorkSafeBC, and AECOM Engineering Canada. As a registered charity, we rely on support from sponsorships, grants, and donations. If you'd like to support our HEADS UP programming, please visit freshoutlookfoundation.org/donations. As I say on every podcast, you can't have a conversation about mental health, without talking about stigma. Phil, how does stigma affect people you've researched and treated biologically and psychologically? PHIL 37:40 Stigma can be a huge part of the illness. There are a number of elements to stigma as well. And I'm sure Chris and Katrina will elaborate on these as well, and some we've already alluded to as well within our discussion. Because stigma can affect people's entry into care. And that because of the stigma around the illness, or stigma actually even towards mental health, either themselves or even within their family members as well, can actually affect their pathways to care. And we've done some research on that and have been able to show that. And then when somebody is in care too, and we do have to work with what we sometimes call self stigma, people's perceptions and ideas of what a diagnosis of schizophrenia means and what it can mean. And so there's those elements as well. And of course, we're trying to be the best advocates that we can for patients and our families. And that's where we try to work with the stigma in other areas around society towards the illness, towards mental health, of course, in general. Being those advocates and supports towards vocational or educational pursuits as well. We've definitely gotten a lot better with respect to that over the last number of years, but there still exists some of that stigma out there. JO 38:54 Kat, how would you describe stigma from the perspective of a person with schizophrenia? KATRINA 38:59 I would describe it as a belittlement. And a discreditation is a way of writing somebody off to make them not count. It's even, now how many times do you see it on TV used in a court of law, theoretically, to discredit somebody so much that that witness doesn't even count. It's a write off, and that's not fair. JO 39:21 Chris, what about the impacts of social and vocational stigma on the people you're advocating for? CHRIS 39:28 Well, first of all, we need to understand that all stigmas are built on the same formula. And that is misconceptions and myths, plus lack of education multiplied by fear, results in prejudice, and none of us are immune from prejudice. We all as a human experience. And what we need to do is to be able to look at our attitudes, confront them, and be willing to grow up, to change. Because there is societal stigma, and then when an individual with a mental illness internalizes society's stigma, we call that self stigma. So they think, well, I must have a broken brain and I'm not deserving. And then there's structural stigma in terms of laws, and policies, and practices that result in unfair treatment of people with a mental illness. Now, what does it all result in? It's not just about hurt feelings. Stigma results in a reluctance to seek out treatment. It delays treatment, it increases morbidity and mortality, it results in social rejection, avoidance, and isolation. It results in worse psychological well-being for individuals living with a mental illness. There's poor understanding amongst friends and families. Stigma can lead to harassment, violence, and bullying, poor quality of life, increased socio-economic burden. That's above and beyond the shame and the self doubt that the individual may face. That is perhaps our greatest enemy in promoting comprehensive mental health services and recovery oriented mental health services. That's why we have to advocate as Martin Luther King did, as other leaders and various other movements did, to claim our voice and to identify injustices where they are, and what impedes our being able to see people with mental illnesses as our brothers and sisters, our neighbor, and the fact that we should love one another as we love ourselves. JO 41:33 Kat, you and Chris have both experienced the mental health care system. Just wondering what you've seen, as far as stigma goes within that system. CHRIS 41:43 Well, the Mental Health Commission did a study a number of years ago amongst mental health service providers, and it found that stigma is alive and well within our mental health system, and those who provide psychiatric supports and services. So that might be surprising to people. None of us are immune to stigma, it has to be addressed. And whether you're a doctor, a psychiatrist, a police officer, a correctional guard in one of our prisons, people have to receive supportive education, which helps them to identify their attitudes, which leads to actions of discrimination, or improper behavior, or working with clients, patients, prisoners, etc. So this is a huge issue. JO 42:36 So we're on the homestretch. Now, given what you've learned over the years, what would you say to give hope to people who are early in their recovery journeys? CHRIS 42:48 What I would say is, I want you to meet Katrina. Katrina has lived experience of psychosis. But she also has found ways to move forward and live beyond the limitations of mental illness. She's a peer support worker. And so Katrina, through her lived experience, she will listen. And she will give you realistic hope. Because the hope for recovery is possible. I know this is a difficult time for you right now. And the next couple of years, it may seem like you're not coming out of this deep, dark hole. So what I'm saying here is that I think introducing patients to a peer support worker as soon as possible, can help with the depression and the forlornness that a person may be experiencing by receiving a diagnosis of psychosis or schizophrenia. We need to be realistic, but also, we need to communicate hope that things can get better. And the person who can communicate that the best is a peer support worker who's been down that road and knows what helps and hinders recovery. JO 43:53 Kat, what have you learned about hope? KATRINA 43:56 I've learned that it is the most wondrous and beautiful thing in existence to have hope, and that life without hope, isn't life at all. JO 44:06 Chris, what would you say to family members who are confused, fearful, and frustrated? CHRIS 44:13 I would say that it's normal. It's very normal to be confused, and frustrated, and fearful, and to feel shame. It's normal. And that is not your fault. But that help is available. We know more than we've ever known before about schizophrenia, psychosis, treatment modalities, what helps in the recovery process. And so I would encourage the family who's new at all of this, that there are individuals known as family navigators, or family peer support workers, and that there's family education. There are support groups because the family is in recovery too. The individual with schizophrenia or psychosis, they're not the only one in recovery. But the family is also on a recovery journey, in terms of dealing with their stigma. Dealing with their fears and their frustration, learning communication skills with their loved one who has a mental illness, and that there's hope for the entire family. And things can get better, but not minimizing the barriers and the frustrations that are there. JO 45:17 Phil, what would you say to medical and mental health professionals to help them better understand schizophrenia, and to respond more compassionately? PHIL 45:26 A lot of it is that storytelling, and a lot of what we're doing here tonight too, as well, and just appreciate that a diagnosis of schizophrenia is not necessarily a negative diagnosis, and that people can have great outcomes. And its outcomes based on the individual and what they perceive that their own personal sense of well-being and psychological well-being. And so appreciating and having them appreciate the various outcomes that can exist within schizophrenia and psychosis. So it really comes down to still a lot of that education, that's important. It's not necessarily education, for example, from me from the medical community. It's also education for family members. It's education from people with lived experience, as well. And these are very important stories for the medical community to hear. JO 46:08 How would you pitch the need for wholesale change in mental health care to the people making those policy and funding decisions, Chris? CHRIS 46:18 Well, in terms of policymakers and politicians, I think that we not only point out to them, and most the time they know this already, that our current mental health system is not adequate. And it fails many people. And that most people struggling with a mental health problem or mental illness, are not getting the kinds of supports and services that we've talked about on this podcast today. But then I would move forward, promoting transformation of the mental health system through the recovery philosophy. Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, England, has moved towards recovery oriented mental health services. In fact, the fastest growing occupation in the mental health system in England is that of peer support workers, embedding peer support workers in the mental health system, which can help transform the mental health system. We have to educate those who make policy, in politicians. And we have to get to administrators and hospitals and other domains, and not just write recovery into policies, but develop toolkits to help practitioners to move towards a recovery environment. We have to be patient, but we have to be persistent. And we have to be consistent in our advocacy. And we have to speak with one voice. The best advocacy is collaborative advocacy. Unfortunately, there is still much debate within the mental health community about the medical model versus the recovery philosophy. But we have to persist, we have to be determined we can overcome. PHIL 47:57 So it's a great question. And I guess I kind of go back to some of a little bit what I mentioned earlier, it shouldn't be me doing this pitch for wholesale change. And sometimes I really think it needs to come from those individuals who are living it, both the individuals with lived experience, and their family members. And oftentimes, our major changes in either service delivery, or funding, or policy have come because of the advocacy of family and individuals with lived experience as well. We can be there in the medical community to help support, and give that research, and give the data, and look at cost analysis. But the pitch needs to be unified with all the important stakeholders. JO 48:38 And what would you say to those of us who may not know enough about schizophrenia, but who are willing to explore our ignorance and our conscious and or unconscious biases? CHRIS 48:50 Well, it's all about contact-based education. So what I would say to a person is get to know someone, get to know that relative who has schizophrenia, and get to know that neighbour who is experiencing psychosis the same way I had to do when I was a racist in the deep south. In the first part of my life, as a child, as a teenager and young adult, I had to confront my racism. And the way I did that was by moving out of my supposed circle of safety. And that was getting to know people different from me, people of colour. Eating with them, praying with them, interacting, listening to their hopes and dreams. And then you see a person. So we have to do the same thing in terms of going beyond our comfort zones, to learning the truth about the reality of people who live with psychosis or any mental illness. JO 49:44 Kat, any comments? KATRINA 49:46 To those who are willing to explore, you'll find a whole new world because you'll rediscover people that were there the whole time. JO 49:56 What I've discovered is a whole new world of potential. So, not only for people with schizophrenia, but for collaborative change. CHRIS 50:06 Exactly. You mentioned a wonderful word, their potential. In fact, that is the mission of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada. Build a Canada, where people living with psychosis and schizophrenia achieve their potential. And that's what recovery is all about. JO 50:26 So in closing, I have just one more question for each of you. Given what you've learned, personally and professionally, and what we're collectively learning through research and advancing technology, how do you envision the world of schizophrenia changing over the next 20 or 30 years? Kat, let's start with you. KATRINA 50:48 That there won't be the fear of the illness to stop people from finding out if they need help, how to do it. That there won't be this belittlement that can lead to the self stigma, which feels horrible. That there will be treatments that encompass the wholeness of who you are, working together in greater capacity than where we're at now. We have made some progress, but we're not there yet. JO 51:23 Chris, your vision? CHRIS 51:24 We will live in a society in which no one is left behind. Not because they have schizophrenia or psychosis. That stigma will basically be a thing of the past, and it will not be our big albatross. That in fact, that treatments will go beyond anti-psychotics and won't even have to use antipsychotics. And that the recovery philosophy will be fully ingrained within our mental health system. That's what I hope for. PHIL 51:56 I think we'll have a better understanding of the illness and understanding, for example, from the biological underpinnings of the illness. That will in itself help us to understand the best treatments for schizophrenia. So I think we'll see some advancement there within the biological treatments, but as well as the psychosocial or psychotherapy type of treatments, as well. And I think really what we're seeing as well, is just that better understanding and appreciation. I think in 20 or 30 years, we'll see some of the stigma being reduced as well. I think what will continue to happen is that understanding of illness, and it's really getting back to that early intervention piece. And people understanding that if things aren't really quite right, they should get it checked out. And I do make that analogy when I do some public speaking about skin cancer, and that we've had enough education at this point to realize, okay, if we have a funny looking mole, we should get it checked out. May not be anything, but it may be something that needs a little bit more attention. Hopefully, we will be in 20 or 30 years with mental health and wellness as well, is that enough education there to say, okay, if things aren't really quite right, then we should get it checked out. Again, maybe nothing, but it may be something that needs attention. The earlier that attention is there and the treatment than the better the outcomes. JO 53:10 Thanks so much to all of you for your profound insights, ideas, and passions for making the world a much better place for people with schizophrenia, their families and friends, their employers, and society at large. Phil, I so admire and applaud your attention to the ever-changing details of diagnosis, and both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment options. Your boundless curiosity will certainly make schizophrenia less mysterious, and perhaps one day even curable or preventable. PHIL 53:46 Thank you so much for that. And importantly, as these venues, these educational opportunities, these podcasts, are really going to help us to those eventual goals as well. Thank you very much for this opportunity. JO 53:58 Kat and Chris, your willingness to be vulnerable so that others might be helped, is truly inspiring. And I'm sure will help to inform and transform the evolving conversation around social support and advocacy. KATRINA 54:14 It's a pleasure to help. I know, if I would have had peer support years ago, things would have been different. And that's why I'm working so hard to be a peer support worker is to make that difference. JO 54:31 Chris? CHRIS 54:31 I hope that the listeners of this podcast will be inspired and motivated to take a different approach to seeing people who have a mental illness. And here's the statement, ask not what illness a person has, ask what person the illness has. See a person, not an illness. JO 54:53 Thank you both. This is one of the most robust and powerful discussions I've had. The three of you, what you bring to the conversation individually is astounding, but how well you blended your experiences and insights is really truly remarkable. This has been a wonderful, wonderful experience for me. That's a wrap on Part 2 of our podcast on schizophrenia. Be sure to catch Part 1, which focuses on stories, signs, myths, and recovery philosophy. Huge thanks again to our guests for sharing their amazing minds and spirits. To connect with Kat, Chris, or Phil, check out the episode show notes at freshoutlookfoundation.org/podcasts where you'll find contact info, complete bios, and a transcript. I'd appreciate you leaving a review as well. I'm also grateful for all you listeners and hope this information inspires and mobilizes you along the rapidly changing road to recovery. If you haven't already signed up for monthly HEADS UP e-blasts about new episodes, please visit freshoutlookfoundation.org. And for ongoing information, follow us on Facebook at FreshOutlookFoundation and Twitter at FreshOutlook. In closing, be healthy and let's connect again soon. Episode Reviews
Dr. Christopher Schneider, Professor of Sociology, Brandon University
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: k.tinman@peerconnectionsmb.ca 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: Chris@schizophrenia.ca 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: phil.tibbo@nshealth.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-tibbo-62170b18/ 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. Katrina Tinman, Chris Summerville, Phil Tibbo Interview Transcript 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 three guests as we learn about schizophrenia, perhaps the most misunderstood and stigmatized of all mental illnesses. In this two-part podcast brought to you by the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, we'll explore the challenges experienced by people with schizophrenia, and the proven opportunities for healing available to them. We'll hear from three remarkable people who are devoting their lives to the cause. First, a woman with decades of lived experience, who is now helping others along their own recovery journeys. Then, the executive director of the Canadian Schizophrenia Society, will share his personal and professional observations about recovery, and needed systemic change. And finally, a clinical and research psychiatrist will share past, present, and emerging diagnostic and treatment strategies, along with his thoughts about recovery philosophy. But before that, let's connect with Rick our researcher to learn the basics. RICK 1:37 First off schizophrenia is not a single distinct illness, but instead a psychiatric diagnosis with various symptoms found on the schizophrenia spectrum. There is no single lab test or brain scan for schizophrenia. Doctors will explore symptoms on the spectrum if there are no medical conditions, mental illness, or substance-use issues that could be causing signs of the illness. JO 2:04 What symptoms are doctors looking for to confirm a diagnosis of schizophrenia? RICK 2:10 Symptoms are classed as positive, negative, or cognitive. Positive, or psychotic symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. These occur when a person loses touch with reality and must be present for a diagnosis. Negative symptoms indicate lost capacity, such as social or occupational dysfunction, or a lack of hygiene, expressiveness, or motivation. Cognitive symptoms affect thinking processes, and can impair concentration, memory, judgment, and decision-making skills. JO 2:49 Who's most affected by schizophrenia? RICK 2:51 Symptoms are typically first recognized in the late teens and early 20's. While boys are 40 percent more likely than girls to be diagnosed, girls are more likely to be diagnosed at an older age. JO 3:06 Do we know what causes schizophrenia? RICK 3:08 While potential causes are still unknown, experts agree that several vulnerabilities can set the stage including genetics, prenatal infection or birth complications, abnormal brain structure, chemistry, trauma, cognitive impairment, and environmental stressors. JO 3:29 Last question Rick, how widespread is the illness? RICK 3:33 People from all geographies, races, cultures, abilities, genders, and socio-economic groups have the illness. About one percent of the world's population is affected. That's about 80 million people worldwide, or about 380,000 in Canada. JO 3:52 Thanks Rick, it's certainly a big problem with serious implications for individuals, families, workplaces, communities, and certainly our mental health care systems. For more information, you can visit the Canadian Schizophrenia Society at schizophrenia.ca. I can't wait to dig in deeper with our guests, the first of whom is Katrina Tinman, a peer support worker at the Mental Health Crisis Response Center with Peer Connections Manitoba. Welcome Kat, and thanks so much for joining us. KATRINA 4:29 Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to be here. JO 4:32 Later, we'll explore the stigma and discrimination faced by people with schizophrenia. But for now, I'd like to share my own story of stereotyping. Until I met Kat and her colleague Tracy Kosowan, I'd never spoken to anyone with the illness. My only experience was seeing people in my community who I knew were affected. Some walked fast, their faces expressionless with eyes focused straight ahead. Others talk to themselves. One fellow always carried a stack of books, while another always wore headphones and the same dirty clothes. That was the extent of my understanding about the illness. Then I learned about Kat's life and read a speech Tracy wrote. My first thought was just how difficult their journeys have been, and how amazingly resilient they both are. I don't know that I would have been so able or determined to recover if I'd been in their shoes. Mostly though, I was struck by the fact that they're just like me, women with mental health challenges who've learned to manage their conditions, their work, their lives, and their dreams in meaningful and productive ways. So Kat, let's open with your incredible story. Where's the best place to start? KATRINA 5:49 You know, it took a few twists and turns. It started though, as just an average kid, growing up middle class, Can-American in my case because I'm a dual citizen. That was the one unique thing about me. I'm a dual citizen of Canada in the United States. And as I progressed through schooling, I did very well, even was one of who's who in American high school students, as I was studying high school in the United States. Attended University of Fargo, North Dakota and graduated in 1998 with a degree in journalism and political science. That took me to about the age of 25. And that's when things started to change. Now not really right away, because I met, married, and fell in love with somebody, not necessarily in that order, and became a sales and marketing director for a pool set company actually making pools accessible for elderly and disabled. I traveled, skied, rode motorcycles, camped, played Texas hold'em poker, and even scuba dove. I was living the life, as my cousin once said, and never expected what was coming my way. But there were a few things that didn't pan out. And a few things that were kind of negative. By 2003, I started to experience symptoms that others noticed. I'd say it this way, because I never recognized or realized myself that I was getting sick in any regard. I just knew people were telling me, "oh there's something wrong" and, "might be a mood disorder." Though they were never certain back then what was going on in my head. In ways, neither was I. It's a very sneaky thing at first. I just didn't see it. And I should have realized the potential. But that's hindsight because my mother actually had illness before I did. What got me though, was mental illness, it's not a genetic absolute, and that I always knew. So I didn't get how I had it, and didn't see the absolute and I wasn't seeing it myself. I went through my many experiences from 2003 'til present, and actually define I had two different journeys of recovery. The first one concluding coming to a climax point in 2009, where I had reached a point of going from being examined and not really recognizing, realizing it, and starting to get it, I guess, that in 2009, the doctors actually said, "well, you can go off medications, your insight is strong enough, you're aware." A lot of things changed for me in 2009. I divorced my now ex-husband, and I no longer was employed. And that presented a lot of stress. And I ended up not recognizing or realizing it again, because I still was at the point of not acknowledging illness. I actually thought it was just because my marriage turned out to be a bad one. Discreditation of me, I thought it was just trying to write me off, make me not count, make my voice not heard, and things of that nature. In 2009, those stressors really served to trigger me. And it was retrospectively, I can say it now, at the time I couldn't, I didn't think it was me. But in 2009 in July, I was starting to really get sick and go on that journey. And because, at the time, I was so immersed in my divorce and some of the other things of trying to find a job in an economy that actually was taking a massive hit in 2008 and 2009, I still didn't see it. And I actually moved myself from Fargo, North Dakota where I was residing to Tucson, Arizona in search of a job. Even that decision might have been a sign of my illness at play in a way and I just continued straight downward in a long, slow spiral. By 2010, my economic assistance, unemployment, had run out and I was no longer able to maintain housing. It just collapsed more and more and the illness did reveal. But it's retrospect that shows me that at the time, I didn't really realize. That's one of the things about the illness. It's like this betrayal from the inside out. You can't believe what's inside. By 2010, I basically went back to Fargo, North Dakota with assistance from somebody. But things were still getting worse and worse and worse. My decision making was horrible. It really was. Even my choices in partners were based in unreal things in ways. And I still, up until that point, didn't see it. By 2011, I actually left Fargo and came back to Winnipeg, where I was born, and just tried to survive, still not getting it. By 2013, though, I was actually already at the point of homeless because that was from 2011, through on again off again in very assorted ways, and in hospital. Somebody actually cared enough to look at me and say, "No, there's something here." And it started to sink in. But not until about 2012, 2013. I went that long a time. Not getting, not seeing, not wanting to either. There was one particular instance, a former roommate saw me on the street. I converse with him briefly and he right away said, "Are you okay? Are you sure you're okay?" There was an instance where I'm trying to take a moment to feel human in the midst of homelessness. I went into a dress shop to try on a dress. And it did hit in the back of my brain as I looked in the mirror at myself and saw what I had become, which really was not good. I had shrunk from being a size 14 and 2009ish to being a size six by end of 2009, down to by 2012 when I was homeless, I was shrinking down to zero. It was like I was shrinking away to nothingness. Now, that's a lot to take in. But there was still hope. And that's what actually got me. There were a few instances over time of help that came my way. And I think I started to recognize that. And, it's not easy saying it but I ended up in hospital involuntarily. But it was because somebody cared enough to call. And there was enough evidence of it. It wasn't because of the want to harm self or others that wasn't present. But the detriment to self was really there. For all of it. I never had suicidal ideation. But there was definitely enough evidence of illness present. I was having hallucinations. I was having delusions. My cognitive impairment was definitely present. It was all of it. And once again, it took a lot out of me because when I was a kid, I was nothing like that. I made it all the way through university, attaining exceptionality in grades, and doing well and juggling multiple jobs to get her done. In conjunction with financial aid, I was able to work for a decade actually being a sales and marketing director. But in that journey of recovery there was some semblance of support system, while I was married. Now the hard part was that marriage end and that transition. My parents, they had actually reached a point where they were no longer together, and they were both at retirement age. And they didn't have a way to support me and give me that help. And I was residing in an area that didn't have much social structure for agencies to help. And I moved to another area that really didn't have anything that I could find easily. But in the midst of it all, I wasn't looking because I wasn't seeing that I was sick. And it wasn't until 2013, that really, it came about in a hospital. I was actually walked through some of the questions, now what are the berms? And it was something that I realized, oh no, you're asking me that when the berms were something, and that moment I realized were something unreal. And to this day, I wish I could thank those doctors. Just saying in those moments, you can say they saved me. There's so much more that I could encapsulate between 2003 to 2013. Because one of my stories includes hitchhiking across two countries, lost. Still kind of survived, but I was truly lost. The education was wasted. Those four and a half years I spent obtaining a degree with two areas of focus, that was out of the window. When I was released from hospital in 2013, I did finally have network, I had a social worker, a mental health worker. And at discharge, it was first a question where to get housing. I took what was available, which was actually the Winnipeg Hotel, which was a dive hotel. Only had one incident there that was unpleasant, and ended up there for a year, and then was able to get into housing. And that was beginning of 2014. That same timeframe, the social worker, after engaging me for a while and trying to pick my life back up from being at that bottom point, he actually had this broad sheet of information about some of the agencies that Winnipeg had. And it was at that point, I kind of reached a juncture of where do I go. Because at that point, I finally had a diagnosis. What originally started in 2003 as just well, mood disorder, we don't really know what's going on, mood disorder, we'll just call it that. Because it's a mood disorder, we know that it had evolved. And by 2013, it was schizoaffective disorder, which is the traits of schizophrenia and the traits of a mood disorder, in my case bipolar. That still kind of left this trick of where to go, because the agencies that I found were very illness specific. But I found the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, and Chris Summerville actually. I actually first met, though, a woman named Karen who worked for the organization. And she kind of introduced me to what it stood for and what it was about and what help might be. I started using that opportunity. Something had shifted in myself in 2013 and 2012 end point, where after going through all of it, which included the self stigma even, I turned around on myself and re-embraced myself and said, "Well, I'm still human, I'm still me. And okay, so there's this illness point, but it can be dealt with just like mom dealt with diabetes." And I was able to turn things around and started going to the Schizophrenia Society, and then falling for it in a way of deciding, well, this might be a good place to volunteer, and pay back all that I had acquired through social structure and help in other regard. And I progressed and stayed a volunteer until the beginning of 2015 and was at that moment able to become an employee. Now 2014 is when I was able to move into housing, that was actual housing. It took a year, though, for things to really flush out where I could look for a job again. And yes, in 2015, the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society offered me that opportunity. JO 19:21 Thank you for sharing Kat. Your incredibly compelling story is the reason that we do this podcast. I'm so blown away by your resilience. Can you tell me where you think that comes from? KATRINA 19:35 I really think it comes from my parents and how they raised me. I don't know beyond that, something else inside me, my faith and hope that I found the beauty that still surrounded me that I could still see. A psychologist in my early recovery journey, once spoke with me and the psychiatrist both, about how the truth is still in people. And there's still all those parts of reality there. It's just kind of piecing it back together again. JO 20:09 So how do you support yourself, or what do you tell yourself, during your most challenging moments? KATRINA 20:16 I remind myself that I've already done so much. I take a look at all that I have done and realized, not many could. Because I look around and there's so many who are there, and are not doing it, and are not getting out of it, and are still in their places and spaces that are more difficult for new people venturing into those spaces. I actually am now at this point where I'm turned around so much toward it, to facing it, that it's a deep core value. And that's the peer support part of me that I am now doing, and that work to reach back out and help others, and that feeds me. JO 21:08 How did your schizoaffective disorder impact the relationships you had, and now have with your family, friends, and colleagues? KATRINA 21:18 It's an interesting situation in many regards, because it depends on so many factors for each one. In the instance of family, it was intense conversation and misunderstandings. At one juncture in my journey, I was in Tucson, Arizona with my dad's sister and her husband, my aunt and uncle. And I was really raging leo. I kept turning off the swamp cooler for their air-conditioned Tucson, Arizona home. And that is actually the worst thing you can do for a swamp cooler. And they couldn't understand that it was actually part of my delusion. And I couldn't understand their point of view, because I was in the midst of my delusion. And so, we had various different, difficult situations and conversations to the juncture that they said at that point, I couldn't stay with them, I had to go to my Dad. Now this was actually at a point in time when I was homeless. And on that hitchhike, I was in the States at that point in time as was my Dad was moving to Denver. The short story is I didn't connect with him. I ended up back in Winnipeg in a longer term. But there's other relationship issues, the interactions between significant others and myself. Those are always charged with it, with a fear that can impact me now, how is this person going to react to me, and respect me, and treat me. I've had situations where there wasn't the proper treatment, where I was actually healthy and accused of being mentally ill for being in an argument with a person, when they were themselves being out-of-line and inappropriate. A big day before a big event of my life, where one would have thought they would have been more supportive. And yeah, we are arguing and that came out of them instead. That uncomfortable, "Why are you mentally ill?" I've had situations of being assaulted, and the illness being used as an excuse. I've had situations of, my current partner might be a keeper. Because I have had situations because my medication doesn't cover all my symptoms perfectly. And I've had medications, well we're worse. This one is actually really good. But it doesn't cover everything. And once in a while something pokes through. And this partner, he's actually been on his own journey and understands in a different way, how things can happen, and illness can happen. And he embraces me in a different way. So now, I'm possibly in a positive situation. JO 24:21 How much of your story do you share with peers or the people you work with? And why do you think sharing your lived experience is helpful in their recovery? KATRINA 24:31 I try to share what is most applicable to their story and situation. Because ultimately, the sharing is supposed to be relevant for that peer as they're going through their process and conversation. Oversharing is not what it's about. It's part of my training actually, to look for that fact and to be aware of that potential. Because the peer is the ultimate focus of the interaction. It's appropriate for sharing in creating connectivity between myself and the peer and being able to share with them that feeling that they're not alone. And that reinforcement that they can do it, and that validation that they might be lacking. So, it really depends on the situation. Sometimes there is very little sharing. Sometimes there's more. JO 25:24 As mentioned earlier, the Schizophrenia Society of Canada is a great source for information, inspiration, and mobilization. I now have the pleasure of introducing Chris Summerville, the society's Executive Director since 2007, who has amazing insights that reflect personal and professional experiences with schizophrenia over 50 years. Chris earned a doctorate from the Dallas Theological Society, is a certified Psychosocial Rehabilitation recovery practitioner, and an adjunct professor at Brandon University in Manitoba. So glad to have you here, Chris. CHRIS 26:06 Thank you so much, and what a pleasure to be joined with Katrina and Dr. Tibbo in making this podcast. JO 26:13 We're so happy to have you here Chris. We'll dig into your perspectives as a recovery practitioner and society leader slash advocate a little later. But first, please tell us about your family's experiences with mental health challenges in general, and schizophrenia in particular. And when did your focus on schizophrenia change from being personal to professional? CHRIS 26:40 Well, as you've heard Katrina's story, it's definitely not just an individual experience, but it is indeed a family experience. I mean, the family is involved in all the trauma, and the burden, and the suffering, and dealing with the complexity of having a mental illness. For the Summerville family, my mother, seven of her seven children had significant mental health problems. We lived in a very, what used to be called a dysfunctional home, a very unhealthy home, and that certainly did not help us in dealing with the mental health problems and the mental illnesses. My father struggled with what we would call today, bipolar disorder, along with alcoholism, addiction issues, as did a brother Dennis, who struggled with the same thing. And both of them took their lives by suicide. It was just difficult for them to continue on and had lost all hope that things could get better. Then my other brother Terry was in Vietnam, and he developed cannabis-induced psychosis, and also struggled with addictions. And both of those two brothers spent time in prison. And I myself as a teenager, I struggled with what's called today, depersonalization derealization, along with depression. And basically, it's sort of like an out-of-body experience, and you're not sure you're in reality. And it's very scary, and you feel very lost as if you're a rimless bubble on the sea of nothingness. That's a sort of an existential thought, even for a teenager as I was to be trying to figure all of this out, which I indeed was trying to figure it out. But in those days, we didn't talk about mental health, we didn't have words for it. We literally didn't have words for it. And so, it was the shame of the family that bound us, there was really no hope. Even as an adult, periodically, I would struggle with depression, along with suicidal ideation, and never, quote, attempted to take my life. But having noticed suicidal ideation and the fear of hopelessness and living the secret because you didn't talk about it, you don't talk, you don't feel, and you don't trust. And that in itself was a great bondage, so to speak. Then I pastored for 25 years, I started when I was 17, and I struggled with it. But I remember when we moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario in 1985, my wife and I, at that particular church there, I was addressing mental health issues. I was kind of an unusual pastor in terms of the fact that I would speak occasionally about my experience, and was very conscious about individuals that were part of the church that I pastored that they were struggling, not just with spiritual issues, but also with mental health issues. Unfortunately, the faith communities not really address mental health issues as they ought to. I mean, they're certainly getting better at it. But during those days, in the 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s, it was rare for a pastor, number one to be vulnerable, and number two, to address it in a forthright manner. As I progress with my story 22 months ago, when I'm 68 years old, I had a hospitalization. It was actually my first hospitalization. I had been struggling with depression and anxiety, and my psychiatrists had put me on a new antidepressant. And I had serious side effects, very, very serious side effects, as if I were having muscular seizures, inability to concentrate, the anxiety getting much worse. And so, I was admitted to a hospital voluntarily, but under the Mental Health Act. That was all very scary, because unfortunately, to be a patient in a psychiatric center is not pleasant. Unfortunately, many service providers treat you as a diagnosis as opposed as a person. To answer the question about moving from it from a personal or professional aspect, like I said, I did address it as a pastor. The response was very hesitant. People weren't comfortable about disclosing. And that was very sad to me. And many people would deny not because they lacked insight, but because they were ashamed. And it was embarrassing to be so vulnerable and open about it. In 1995, I made the transition from the pastoral world to the mental health world, because I wanted to work more closely, and to be a strong advocate, and to be a voice for those who are voiceless, and to see transformational change in the mental health system here in Canada. So I began with the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society in 1995, was there for 25 years. Also, during that 25 years, in 2007, I became the CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada. It has been a pure joy. It has afforded me to be a leader of leaders. I often think about Martin Luther King, not that I'm in the same arena as he is, but I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. I know what racism looks like, because I was a racist, and learned myself out of it. And also, my spirituality helped me to move towards seeing people and not labels, in color necessarily. To be able to take my lived experience, and not only bring hope and encouragement to individuals and families, but also to be able to engage, along with Katrina and Dr. Tibbo, being at the tables where decisions are made by different levels of government, and to represent the voices of those with lived experience, and in the family lived experience, and to create a better mental health system in Canada. JO 32:37 Another amazing story Chris, thank you so much. Can you tell us more about the evolution of your brother's experience with schizophrenia? CHRIS 32:47 Well remember, it was 1964 when Terry developed cannabis-induced psychosis. And the reality is if he were living today, his outcome would be better today. There was no understanding about early intervention. So, he went for years without any assistance or help. There was no access to psychiatric or psychosocial rehabilitation. So once you began to get quote, help, that help was very limited. It was basically take these medications to reduce symptoms and go home. You won't have any friends; you probably won't get married. It was a sort of a kiss of death diagnosis, so to speak. And recovery, good grief, very few people and very few service providers were even trained, let alone talked about the possibility of recovery, which we can define later. And as far as addictions, no one addressed the addictions. And we now know that they both should be seen as primary disorders in terms of a mental illness, and a substance-use problem. And then both have to be simultaneously treated because one influences the other. There was no family education. Insight into having any understanding about mental health and mental illness was zero for ourselves. And so, I'm absolutely convinced that if my brother were developing schizophrenia today, that his outcomes would be a lot better in the process. He lost his physical health, developed cirrhosis of the liver, he lost his family, he never saw his grandchildren. He was sort of ostracized by everyone. Those losses were profound. And it wasn't just because he had schizophrenia, the wall, there was a giant wall like he was on the other side of the wall, and we were on the other side. And that wall was not just the schizophrenia, it was stigma. It was self stigma. It was loss of identity. It was the lack of early intervention, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery, mental health services, the lack of addressing the addiction, the lack of hope that created this huge wall barrier. And we basically had no way of understanding as family, how to tear that wall down, and he on the other side of that wall. I mean, Katrina is much, much, much more informed, as you've heard her story. It doesn't have to be that way today. What my brother experienced, that doesn't have to happen today. But unfortunately, it still does in areas of Canada. JO 35:31 How is your brother now? CHRIS 35:32 He is actually still living in a veteran's home, sort of a ghetto. It's a slum, which breaks my heart again. His health is reasonably good. He doesn't struggle with psychosis. He's on medication. But my aggravation and my grief is that that's all he's gotten really is medication, as opposed to all the kinds of supports, and just even a decent place to stay. And I have gone down to the state to try to help, but they know I live in Canada. And so, my advocacy efforts have always been very limited. JO 36:08 Can you tell us more about the relationship you have with your brother, and the personal insights you've gained over his five decades with this illness? CHRIS 36:18 We have a good relationship. We both have a strong sense of humor, which we got from my mother. And we utilize that in terms of maintaining our relationship. He knows that I care from my heart. And I think listening to him and being able to empathize with the emotions that he feels. You shouldn't agree with the content of the delusions or hallucinations when one has them, but one thing you can do is come alongside of the person, and affirm, and confirm, and validate the emotions that they may be feeling as a result of those delusions or hallucinations. And that's therapeutic. And in fact, it lessens the angst and the anxiety that the person is experiencing when you are able to do that. The fact to, I don't argue, I've never argued with the illness. Well no, that's not true. I had to learn not to argue with the illness, which many families do, to see him a person and affirm him in terms of his expressed desires. Another thing I learned was not to always focus on the mental illness, but to ask him questions like you would have any other person about his hopes and dreams. I think the fact that I did not abandon him, I did not isolate from him, but have attempted to maintain a relationship with him over all these years. I know he's appreciative of that. JO 37:38 Such profound insights Chris. We'll bring you in again after we hear from our next guest, Dr. Phil Tibbo, a Canadian psychiatrist who studies, treats, and advocates for people with psychosis and schizophrenia. Dr. Tibbo is also a professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and director of both the Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program, and Early Psychosis Intervention Nova Scotia. Welcome Phil, such a treat to have you here. PHIL 38:12 Well thank you, and it's great to be here. And thank you so much for having this as a focus for a talk and a podcast. It's very important and needed as well. And, of course, I have to echo Chris' comments too earlier, when he was introduced, that it is for me truly honoring to be sharing this mic with both Chris and Katrina here today. JO 38:33 So let's start with the story of how you landed on the study, diagnosis, and treatment of schizophrenia as your psychiatric specialty. PHIL 38:43 Great question. I think I have to sort of back up a little bit with respect to that in my journey. I obviously entered into medical school, and interestingly, psychiatry was the furthest from my mind when I was in medical school. I entered medical school because I wanted to be a sports medicine physician, and all my electives were in sports medicine. But then as I did my psychiatry rotation, it sort of tweaked on me that I actually truly liked talking with the patients, seeing some improvement, seeing the resiliency that's there, as well as the struggles and challenges and what I could do to help with that. I subsequently did my rotating internship and then actually still wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do. So, I worked for one year as a family physician at the Nova Scotia Hospital, which is our provincial psychiatric hospital. And there I was responsible for the medical care of an entire unit, but as well as looking after the psychiatric needs of half of a unit as well. And interestingly my title, because I had those dual roles, the official title was whole person physician, which today still makes me smile because I realize and reflect on it, that's still my approach to the work that I do as a whole person physician. That sort of cemented for me my desire to do psychiatry. And then it was during my psychiatry residency, my specialty training, and my rotations through interactions with individuals who were living with psychosis or schizophrenia spectrum disorder, that I realized that it was something that definitely interests me, again for the same reasons, sort of appreciating what the brain can do in this development of these delusions and hallucinations. But as well as working with the individuals to, and understanding them and how these delusions, hallucinations affect them, and how it affects the family and seeing, ok what is the possibilities here? How can we work this through and get somebody back on their feet? And in some ways, the term you sometimes hear is a good fit. And that I really saw this as an area, for me, it's something that definitely interested me. I was fortunate in my last year of my specialty training to spend a fair bit of it down in Iowa, working with then the leading researcher in schizophrenia research, Dr. Nancy Andresen. And then that also cemented for me that I should be doing research in this area as well, because at that point, and still, you know, there's a lot of research that still needs to be done in many facets of schizophrenia, from understanding the illness, to treatments, and many other areas as well. And then that's what led me to my career. So, I've always been what we call a clinical researcher. So I'm a clinician, I do see patients, but I'm a researcher as well, within this area. JO 41:30 Great story and thank you for all the great work you're doing. So, when you listen to both Kat and Chris' stories, what about those stories tweaked your medical mind and touched your human heart? PHIL 41:46 Well, I like to say it touched my heart first versus my medical mind. But these are extraordinary journeys. And people that I talked to have these extraordinary journeys. And I think some of what I heard in both Chris and Kat, and that sort of leads me to the area that I work in with respect to early intervention services, is really the work that we need to do to understand this illness, so that we can identify illness early, and that we can treat early as well. Our main goal really is to optimize an individual's outcomes. If we only are able in those situations to truly identify early, treat early, and have some of the resources that we have now would have been nice to have in the 80s, and in the early 90s as well too. But yes, amazing journeys that we're able to talk about today. JO 42:36 Like to get down to a few nuts and bolts with regard to the illness. First, can you give us the Coles Notes history of schizophrenia's diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis? So really, then versus now. PHIL 42:51 I'll try not to go into a full lecture on this. And also, I like the term Coles Notes. Some of, perhaps our younger listeners, may not know what Coles Notes are, but I'm fully aware of what the Coles Notes are going to university. I think, you know, with most things with physical health, mental health, we know these illnesses have been around for quite some time. I guess most people point to the evolution of, or the start of, more modern psychiatry, the modern sort of idea of schizophrenia and psychosis really started at the beginning of the 20th century. The name that you will hear a fair bit is around at that time is Emil Kraepelin, who was a German psychiatrist. And he is really credited with truly writing about, and studying, and trying to understand what we know today as schizophrenia, and truly from a clinical perspective. And he was an individual who was able to understand or appreciate the difference between what we call today a primary psychotic disorder, and a mood disorder. And being able to write about that it's one particular symptom that is a diagnostic, but oftentimes, it's a pattern of symptoms that we have to look at. So, he coined the term dementia praecox, actually, as what we know today is schizophrenia. But then, over the years, that diagnosis has changed. Another name you'll hear is a Eugen Bleuler, who a little bit later on, sort of broadened the concept of schizophrenia. But I mentioned his name because he was actually the individual that coined the term schizophrenia, that kind of splitting of the psychic processes like emotional and intellectual. So he coined that term, but from a diagnostic standpoint, it really wasn't until perhaps the 50s when the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the DSM, came into being, and that really allowed the field of psychiatry to have a unified way of diagnosing schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like illnesses. And really that encapsulates criteria where if an individual presents in Canada, and an individual presents and another part of the world, if they use the DSM, then they would come up with a very similar diagnosis. And this was important, of course, within mental health because then and even today, we don't have one particular blood test that could make a diagnosis that you would get with some of our other medical illnesses as well. So, we are having to rely on a number of other different symptoms and factors to look at to diagnose. So that's how the diagnosis has moved on. And the DSM has gone through a number of different revisions. We're currently on the DSM-5 as well. But the ideas and the concepts are there to have that unified approach for diagnosis of the various illnesses. That's around diagnosis. Of course, treatment has changed over the years as well. And I always say, how surgery was done in 1910, 1920 is different from how it is done today. And we have seen that evolution in time. But just to point out that from the medication standpoint, which really was a game changer for schizophrenia and psychosis, that chlorpromazine was the first medication, and that really wasn't developed and available until the 1950s. But that was a medication that wasn't developed primarily for schizophrenia, or psychosis. It was actually developed as an adjunct medication for surgery. But the various properties and how patients were talking about how the meds sort of affected them, they decided to use it within and trial it within psychiatric and particularly psychosis population. And actually, if you read up a bit about chlorpromazine, you see sometimes the comparisons are made to antibiotics and infections and that. When chlorpromazine is used it wasn't more of sedative, but actually helped with delusions, and hallucinations. That's where we started seeing people actually being able to leave hospital. And of course, since then, that was a proposal first medication, we better understand how it works now, and as a result, sort of more targeted approach to medication development. That's the medication side of it. But of course, and something that Chris alluded to, as well, it's more than just medication too. And you see that development over the years of other types of therapies, for example, of psychotherapies. We have to have a few tools in our tool chest with respect to that interesting development. JO 47:05 We'll dig deeper into those treatment strategies in Part 2 of this podcast. But first, can you tell us about the similarities and differences between psychosis and schizophrenia? PHIL 47:17 When I do some public speaking on this, sometimes I start with a bit of an apology, because I tend to use those terms interchangeably sometimes. And I think that's more of a reflection of the work that I do within early intervention services. And oftentimes a diagnosis is not clear. And as a result, that we tend to use the word psychosis a fair bit. A psychosis itself is not a diagnosis, it's more of a set of symptoms. And schizophrenia, for example, is a diagnosis, schizoaffective disorders is the diagnosis, delusional disorder is a diagnosis. While schizophrenia is considered a psychosis, psychosis is more of a kind of a broader term and concept. JO 47:56 What happens to people during psychosis? PHIL 47:59 Well, it's very individual. There's not one particular sort of set of symptoms that can happen. But from a psychosis point of view, we often talk about grouping of symptoms. So, people can have what we call positive symptoms, which are not necessarily good symptoms. It's just that they're there, and they shouldn't be there. Those are the things like delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder. Then there's the negative symptoms as well, and those are experience or cognitions that should be there but are not. And that could be things along the lines of what we call alogia, sort of difficulty thinking, amotivation, difficulties in even just energy levels as well. A psychosis is also comprised of cognitive symptoms as well as mood symptoms too. But it's very variable for how people experience their symptoms. JO 48:45 We may not know what causes schizophrenia, but we know it has distinct stages. Can you tell us more about that? PHIL 48:53 Now that's a great question. I would say yes, we know, we defined schizophrenia now as having stages and we should be careful using the word distinct, because sometimes it's very difficult to know start and ends of particular stages within this. The different stages that you'll tend to hear first is really around, we talk about prodromal stages. Prodromal basically means by definition, one of the symptoms that are there prior to what we call frank psychotic disorders, before somebody could actually meet criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. And that prodromal phase, again, can last a very short time for some people and very long for other people as well. And oftentimes there are unfortunately kind of what we call nonspecific symptoms, but as well can be psychotic-like symptoms but don't meet the criteria for delusions or hallucinations. Again, early intervention services are focused on trying to identify really what those prodromal symptoms could be, but they're recognized as something that's different from what that individual use would be. And then we do move into the next phase, which is called early phase psychosis or first episode psychosis. And really, that's the first three to five years of illness in a very critical and important time, in order for us to address the illness and again maximize outcomes. After we go through the early phase of psychosis, and there's different terminologies after that. Sometimes what you hear is either residual, or chronic. I don't particularly like the word chronic, because it has a negative connotation to it, but all really, truly what it implies is that it is somebody living with illness at that point in time. You can get into some of the more finer details of each of those, but those are more the high-level view of the various stages. JO 50:29 What conditions can occur alongside schizophrenia? PHIL 50:33 Having schizophrenia is not exclusionary for any other kind of illness. For example, for mental illness, people can have schizophrenia, but as well can also have a mood disorder, anxiety. Chris mentioned substance use as well, addictions. So, these are definitely possible and think that we from a treatment team has to be able to identify and treat if needed, as well. Oftentimes, we also have to make sure that some of those symptoms are not as a result of schizophrenia as well. Because sometimes we have to be careful making sure that we treat the schizophrenia as best we can to ensure that those other symptoms aren't there. JO 51:11 So do you have to treat each condition separately then? PHIL 51:15 You tend to yes. We want to make sure that our treatment of schizophrenia is optimized. I guess a good example of that would be if someone is having paranoid ideation, like feeling like somebody's out to get them, out to harm them in some way. Well, you expect them to be anxious. But that doesn't mean you have an anxiety disorder that's separate. So, you need to make sure that that is treated, those symptoms, and just see where the anxiety lies after that. But once the psychosis is treated, I mean, if you do have those residuals, anxiety symptoms or mood symptoms, then yes, they do need to be treated separately as well. JO 51:48 What are other potential health complications associated with schizophrenia, and how do they affect longevity? PHIL 51:56 Great question. Again, there are a number of other different health and we here we're talking about more medical health complications or comorbidities, that can happen with schizophrenia. And there's a number of factors that are associated with that too. And here, we kind of think more along the lines of cardiovascular health, for example, your cholesterol and lipids, about obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, glucose intolerance as a result of that as well. And monitoring thyroid conditions too. And it's multifactorial, sometimes that could be a result of medications, particularly for the older medications in existence. But other times it could be as a result of the illness itself. And perhaps some of the behaviors around the illness. And unfortunately, some of the situations too, and Katrina alluded to that as well, which having an illness sometimes leads people to find themselves in, such as in homeless conditions or situations where they're not able to, for example, have the healthy meals, activity, and exercise that they need to maintain cardiovascular health. These are the things that are monitored within the treatment teams. JO 53:00 Thanks Phil, such important information. Taking a moment here to acknowledge our major HEADS UP sponsor, the Social Planning and Research Council of BC. SPARC is a trailblazer in Applied Social Research, social policy analysis, and community approaches to social justice. Thank you so much for your generous support. Let's bring Kat and Chris back into the conversation. And we'll start by having you all bust the most common myths associated with schizophrenia. Myth number one, people with schizophrenia have multiple personalities. PHIL 53:45 Well, that is indeed a myth. And I think it derives from the term schizophrenia as well, which people have misinterpreted as split or multiple personalities. But no, definitely, schizophrenia is not associated with multiple personalities. JO 54:00 Myth number two, people with schizophrenia always hear voices. Kat, what's your experience with that? KATRINA 54:08 That that's not true. It's actually a situation where not everybody who has mental illness hears voices and not everyone who hears voices has mental illness, there is a difference. PHIL 54:20 I would agree with that Kat as well. So from an individual perspective, some people can have those auditory hallucinations, those hearing the voices. And then they go away. They can be episodic, but definitely not, an always kind of condition or state. KATRINA 54:36 Yeah, I never actually heard voices. Lately, I hear music once in a while, but that's about it. JO 54:42 Myth number three, people with schizophrenia are more violent or dangerous than other people, Chris. CHRIS 54:49 Well, this is the most dominant, common, pervasive, and enduring myth around schizophrenia that the public in their opinion, they associate schizophrenia and bias together. And why is that? Well, the portrayal of people with psychosis and schizophrenia, if you look at media reporting, it historically has been very negative, focusing on violence and unfortunate criminal activity instead of addressing the complexity of schizophrenia, and high suicide rates, and media not telling us very much about the illness in general. Also, Hollywood movies, sitcoms, and even children's cartoons, how they have historically and currently do portray people in a negative way who have a mental illness, especially schizophrenia or psychosis. The reality is that people with schizophrenia are more likely to harm themselves than others. When you look at the studies, approximately 97% of people with psychosis or schizophrenia are not violent. But for those people who are violent, and there is indeed a subgroup of people who will engage with the criminal justice system and act out a violent behavior, you have to look at the factors, all the factors that are involved in that happening. And even with a major Health Canada study, some years ago, talked about the multiple factors that are involved in a person engaging in violence, who has psychosis or schizophrenia. And those factors are the following: they're not receiving effective treatment, they have a previous history of violence or a volatile behavior, they're engaging in misuse of alcohol or other street drugs, they are experiencing paranoid hallucinations and delusions, which triggers fear in the individual. It's not a simple answer, it's a complex answer, and we need to understand those multiple factors, that it's just not just the illness that's involved, when people act out and violence. JO 56:43 Myth, people with schizophrenia require long-term hospitalization, Phil. PHIL 56:49 That definitely is a myth. And I think one thing, though, we need to state out right, though, is that sometimes hospitalization is needed for various reasons. But again, it's a very individual thing. And I have people with lived experience in my practice, who have never been hospitalized, but they do have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. And I have other people that I see who, unfortunately, have had multiple admissions for various reasons. It's not an absolute, you don't require long-term hospitalization with schizophrenia. JO 57:18 People with schizophrenia can't or won't work. Kat, you're living proof that this isn't true. KATRINA 57:25 Yes, I love my job. And I love being the proof of that not being true. PHIL 57:29 Yeah, that's great said Katrina. And from an outcomes perspective, and we're focused on getting people back to school, back to work, and people do want to get back to school and back to work. That really is the goal. JO 57:42 People with schizophrenia are more likely to end up in jail, Chris. CHRIS 57:47 Well, unfortunately, 3% of inmates in prisons are estimated to have schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, like bipolar disorder. Approximately 16% of prison inmates have major depression. But really much of this is a result of failed mental health policy. And what I mean by that is the institutionalization that occurred in the 60s and 70s, the outdated treatment laws, demanding a person become violent before the intervention. All of that has driven those who are in need of care into to the criminal justice and corrections system. So, we call that the criminalization of the mentally ill. And what they really need is to be in the public health care system where they can get help as opposed to being in a prison. That is certainly a social justice issue, for those of us who advocate for those who are living with schizophrenia and their family members. JO 58:42 Another myth, schizophrenia is caused by bad parenting. Who wants to tackle that one? KATRINA 58:49 I'll stand up for my mom. She was a good mom. My parents were excellent parents. It was other environmental triggers later in life of the traumas. And my mother had schizophrenia and schizoaffective by her final diagnosis point. PHIL 59:07 Some of it comes back from some terminology, I think, which unfortunately, in this early early 20th century. I mean a term sometimes you hear more in history than anything else is a schizophrenogenic mother. But definitely we know that it's nothing to do with bad parenting. JO 59:24 Chris, do you have a comment there, given that your mother suffered with mental health challenges, and many of your family members did as well? So, do you think that's genetics talking or the nature of your environment? CHRIS 59:38 Well certainly mothers, I think especially feel a huge amount of guilt and shame. What is it that I did that caused my child to be born with schizophrenia? But no one is born with schizophrenia. It's something that you develop later on in life. And we know that it's not completely genetic, and that's been a great revolution of understanding since the time my brother was diagnosed with psychosis in the 60s. Today, our understanding is that gene expression, how genes express themselves, it's very much influenced by environmental factors such as trauma. That can be in utero as well as a young child or in adolescence in terms of bullying. But even to this day, I think it's just one of those things, I don't want to call it natural, maybe that's the word natural, but mothers will especially feel guilt ridden. What did I do during the pregnancy? Or what did our home life have to do with it? Let me say that, if you're in an unhealthy family dynamic, that's not going to be good for anything you experience in life in terms of your health care, whether it's physical or mental. So, addressing the family environment and the home is important in terms of its own mental health and resiliency, and wellness. But to say that a parent caused the schizophrenia is not based on any kind of fact, or scientific fact. JO 1:01:11 Another common myth that people with schizophrenia will never recover, provides a perfect segueway into my next few questions, about the much-needed growing focus on recovery. In this case recovery, meaning people receive timely diagnoses, early intervention, and bio-psycho-social-vocational treatment strategies. A mouthful, I know, but we'll break it down for you after we first talk about recovery philosophy. Phil, how would you describe recovery philosophy from a psychiatric perspective? And how will that philosophy change to reflect emerging research? PHIL 1:01:54 Recovery philosophy has been evolving over time. And as much as we understand and appreciate the illness of the individual, we evolve within the recovery philosophy. I've been working in early intervention services for quite a few years, and most of the services, our clinic here has been around for 25 years. And that is definitely part of the philosophy. So not necessarily new, but at the same time it's new enough, where we still need to be able to talk about it. And really, the recovery philosophy is that appreciation that people with lived experience with psychosis, schizophrenia, can recover. And that's where we can look at then the definition of what, really what recovery is being a symptomatic recovery as well as functional recovery. And that sense of psychological well being, of course, as well. But a recovery philosophy is just more a construct in which we work within the medical system, that everybody has the potential to recover, how ever you define that. JO 1:02:58 Chris, what does recovery philosophy mean to you as an advocate and recovery practitioner? CHRIS 1:03:05 Well, we need to understand that recovery is not about a cure. And another thing is that illnesses don't recover, people do. And recovery as a concept, as a philosophy, and as a movement as it is today, has strong roots in the advocacy efforts of people with lived experience. So, we learn about the experience of recovery from the people themselves, who see it as a journey. They see it as a process, and indeed it is that. And even the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in 2006, in their landmark report and later other documents, said that recovery should be placed at the center of mental health reform. Historically, the mental health system has been about symptom reduction. And that's fair, and that's understandable. But really, the goal of our mental health system should be that of quality of life, or life satisfaction. So, recovery is made possible by our providing safe places for people to be themselves. It's built on hope. It comes from a strength perspective as opposed to a deficit perspective. It's about shared decision making. That should be our goal. The goal of mental health services should be that of promoting quality of life and promoting recovery oriented mental health services. And we still have a long ways to go in that. Recovery as a term is probably in all mental health documents and policies today. But it really hasn't filtered down into actual practice like it ought to
Riley Gordon graduated with honors from Brandon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics (Mathematics minor) in the spring of 2014. Then, in 2017 he completed a degree program at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities, obtaining a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering with Environmental Emphasis in water related topics. Coinciding with his time at the U of M, Riley interned with a Civil Engineering consulting firm, working in both Intelligent Transportation Systems and Water Resources groups.As an engineer, Riley will be applying the skills he gained through both his education and related industry experience to assist in AURI's broad range of projects and initiatives. He primarily works out of the Co-products lab in Waseca, MN, but will also apply his skillsets by delving into projects related to all four of the focus areas that encompass AURI's work.Riley is originally from Brandon, Manitoba, CanadaPlease support this podcast by checking out:Steward: https://gosteward.com/EPISODE LINKSAURI Website: https://auri.org/PODCAST INFOApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/regenerative-agriculture-club/id1589813038Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NcUjBj2OIXjjcQBV0rPv2?si=ruFlImdlTvK9NBkTh1ptOQRSS Feed: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1847147.rssYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqEOn-dUAkZxJzkzuRfs8ygOUTLINE:0:00 Introduction4:33 AURI's geographic footprint5:56 Main focus areas10:48 What's the path when clients first engage with the Institute?12:17 North America major ag trends15:28 Changes since the 2018 farm bill22:58 Interacting with larger companies who are testing the waters in the hemp space24:51 Production and processing29:11 Supporting Native Communities32:45 What's your advice to young people who are considering a career in agriculture?35:29 How can people get in touch with you?GET IN TOUCHIf you would like to connect, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at don@raclub.coSOCIAL MEDIAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/regenerativeagricultureclub/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regenerativeagricultureclub/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donpdavidson/
Theo Fleury is perhaps best known for his time as a former professional ice hockey player, but off the rink, his life once carried the markings of a troubled childhood, abuse and coping with emotional pain through addictive and self-destructive behaviors.Today, Theo defines himself as a victor over trauma and addiction, and a facilitator to those still trying to find their way. His best-selling books, Playing with Fire and Conversations with a Rattlesnake, encourage open sharing and provide practical tools that people seeking help can personally use. As a motivational speaker, Theo tells his story to reach more people and to raise awareness of abuse and childhood trauma for the purpose of destigmatizing shame.Theo has been awarded the Canadian Humanitarian Award and the Queen's Jubilee Medallion. He is a Siksika Nation Honorary Chief and recipient of the Aboriginal Indspire Award. He also holds two honorary doctorates – one in Science from the University of Guelph-Humber for outstanding contributions to the mental health of Canadians, and another in Laws from Brandon University for his work in combating child abuse and promoting healing and recovery.In the Adjusted Reality podcast, well-known athletes, celebrities, actors, chiropractors, influencers in the wellness industry, and other podcasters will talk with host Dr. Sherry McAllister, president, F4CP, about their experiences with health and wellness. As a special gift for listening today visit f4cp.org/health to get a copy of our mind, body, spirit ebook which focuses on many ways to optimize your health and the ones you love without the use of drugs or surgery. Follow Adjusted Reality on Instagram.Find A Doctor of Chiropractic Near You.
A Hoops Journey celebrates the big 50 by bringing in former guest Novell Thomas to interview our host, Aaron Mitchell. We flip the script and put Mitch on the hot seat. One of the very few to win a provincial title as a player, a national college title, and a provincial title as a coach, Aaron has had a long storied basketball career, starting off with his time at Terry Fox and ending in Brandon University. Plus, the back story of Corbs and Aaron, deep reflections, hilarious anecdotes, tough challenges - we have all that in this special episode! We want to thank YOU, our audience for supporting us in so many ways. There is zero chance we make it to Episode 20, let alone 50 of these without your continued support. Lastly, this episode is dedicated to the life of Rich Goulet.
This evening I had the pleasure of sitting down and get caught up with a very intelligent, outspoken, friendly, and vibrant young woman. Academically she has done excellent and has managed to remain on various academic awards lists. Neethu Manianghattu traveled to Canada on her own for the first time after receiving a scholarship to study at Brandon University, we sat down and zoomed in on her experience as a Jamaican Navigating Canada on her own for the first time. Connect with Neethu: IG - https://www.instagram.com/neethu05/?hl=en LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neethu05/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/winetalkpod/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/winetalkpod/support
Episode 23 of A Hoops (Hot Mess) Journey travels all the way to a familiar place - Brandon University where we chat with current Women's Basketball Head Coach, former National Team player and proud Richmond native: Novell Thomas. From his path from Steveston High, to Simon Fraser University, to EA Sports, Novell outlines his journey through the highs and lows of his playing career and his transition into coaching. Plus, funny stories living and coaching with Aaron, a freestyle that never came to be, and a hot Kobe take; we got it all in this episode of the podcast. ----more---- Sponsored by: Goodlad Clothing Sponsored by: Parkside Brewery Follow @ahoopsjourney on Instagram! Send any mailbag questions to ahoopsjourney@gmail.com Sounds by: Zapsplat, AudioJungle and Finn Leahy Audio Clips from: Youtube