Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction

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Therapist Julie Christiansen is an expert on anger. One of her most recent books is titled Rise in Rage.  Julie talks about how Canadians are experiencing more bouts of anger and even rage, in part because of the helplessness and the threat to our security we feel from tariffs imposed by the U.S. 

She is also the keynote speaker at this year's Wellness for All event on May 8th to raise money for Canadian Mental Health Association, Niagara.

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Experience shows that peer support is extremely successful. I’m going to start off with a new pilot program in St. Catharines called Welcoming Streets. It’s a partnership between Reach Niagara and Positive Living Niagara (POS), supported by Niagara Region and St. Catharines. Talia storm leads the Streetworks Program at POS and will co-direct the new porgram.

I’ll also chat with Quest Community Health Centre executive director Nancy Garner about the Niagara HELPS program that puts peer Navigators in niagara Hospitals.

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We know that gender violence against women and femicides in Canada continue to grow. But an alarming 1/4 of adolescent girls who are dating boys are experiencing an abusive relationship. 

Nicole Regehr, executive director at Gillian's Place, talks about the increase in the number of girls, mostly in high school, who facing gender abuse. 

Gillian's Place is a shelter in Niagara for survivors of abuse and violence. If you need help reach out. All communication is confidential.  https://gilliansplace.com

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Erin Clayton from Pathstone Mental Health for kids talks about how kids who are already at risk face greater threats from social media.

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CASON - Community Addiction Services of Niagara - provides comprehensive alcohol, drug and gambling addiction treatment for individuals and their families.

Executive Director Janice Rutger talks about the challenges people and families face and the programs CASON offers.

https://cason.ca/

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In 2023, 22.9% of people across Canada lived in households that struggled to afford the food they need.  That's 8.7 million people and a devastating 2.1 million children. The new numbers for 2024 from Feed Ontario shows an increase of 30%.

Community Care St. Catharines Thorold Executive Director Betty Lou Souter talks are the increasingly desperate need for food.

Feed Ontario
Community Care St. Catharines Thorold

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Sammy Bazely was on the show last week to talk about suicide and the overwhelming feeling that the world, and especially her young daughter, would be a better place without her.

Sammy talked about the time leading up to her suicide attempt and the unexpected family intervention that saved her.

In Part Two, Sammy talks about what life is like now, how she keeps the suicidal thoughts away, and her thoughts on where we need to go as a society to accept and help more people from dying by suicide.

Interviews are also available on the podcast Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction.

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Sammy Bazely is a young woman who is telling her story of struggling with suicide in the hopes that other people can recognize themselves in her story and reach out for help. 

Sammy is young, married, has a beautiful daughter and runs a successful business.  One day she was overcome by feelings that the world would be a better place without her.

Today is Part One of Sammy’s story of suicide.  

Listen for Part Two of Sammy's story when we talk about what she continues to do today to keep the suicidal thoughts away.