By Shirley Roberts - October 2021 - The World Health Organization recognizes October 10th as World Mental Health Day. In 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) established World Mental Health Day in an effort to promote education and advocate for people experiencing mental health issues. This year’s theme, set by the [...]
By Nina Badwal - September 2021 - - Suicide intervention is one of the emerging priorities in St. James Town according to the St. James Town Service Providers’ Network (SJTSPN). The SJTSPN is a group of agencies that promotes equitable social and economic development initiatives and provides informal economic opportunities and population specific [...]
- By Yvonne Yorke - - This mural is approximately 10-years-old. Have you ever wondered what Article 26 is about? If so, here is the answer: Article 26 is from the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary [...]
By Nina Badwal - June 2021 - A group on a bird walk (Photo: Andrés Jiménez Monge) A recreational activity that was once seen fitting for retired white men is now attracting a diverse group of people. Bird watching – or birding which includes the visually impaired – has reached an all-time high [...]
- By Aarti Sharma - Can you bend, fold, and stretch like a 5-year-old? Well, if that idea appeals to you then roll out a yoga mat to roll in flexibility, fitness, relaxation and much more. With the 7th anniversary of International Yoga Day on June 21st, let us take a peep into [...]
- By Nea Maaty - In the Moss Park community, at 257 Dundas Street, you will find a colourful rainbow accented building that the Friends of Ruby call “Home.” The Friends of Ruby Home was designed for LGBTQI2S youth between the ages of 16 to 29 years who are in need of transitional housing [...]
Jane Lee, a certified yoga teacher, shares her personal experience with practicing yoga and meditation for 18+ years. Can you tell us about yourself and what inspired you to teach mindfulness meditation? A couple of years ago, I was blindsided by an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis while pursuing fertility treatments trying to have a [...]
By Shirley Roberts National Nursing Week annual celebrations take place May 10-16, 2021, the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, May 12. Nightingale (1820-1910) was a social reformer and widely credited with being the founder of modern nursing. The theme this year #WeAnswerTheCall was developed by The Canadian Nursing Association to showcase the many [...]
By Loretta Bailey with contributions from Adonis Huggins – FOCUS As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to plague almost every single country in the world, the issue of domestic violence is becoming a cause for concern among global leaders including in Canada. According to reports, domestic abuse cases are on the rise [...]
On January 12, Canada celebrated National Youth Day (separate from International Youth Day which falls on August 12), as we go into the 11th month of the COVID-19 pandemic. Toronto will be in the midst of a lockdown that began on November 23 and has been extended as an emergency. Meanwhile, around North America, [...]
Nalini Pandalangat, Director of Newcomer Health & Specialty Services, Sherbourne Health, is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She completed her PhD at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, and has extensive experience leading projects and programs in the community health, hospital and international development sectors. Her PhD was on cultural influences on help-seeking, treatment and support for mental health problems in the Sri Lankan Tamil community. Her research and program interests are focused on immigrant mental health, gender and health, cultural competence, health care access and health equity. Currently she is part of a core team working on the development and dissemination of a refugee mental health framework.
