Welcome to the July show of Radio Totally Normal Toronto on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca. Belke will be your host for this June 13th, 2022 episode.
*Radio Totally Normal Toronto, or RTNT for short, is a voice for community mental health; produced by the members and staff of Progress Place, a mental wellness clubhouse in downtown Toronto.*
Today we are going to tune into a group discussion about Mental Health and New Hobbies!
Mental health can be impacted by many different things, from life-changing events to everyday tasks. And while there are many strategies we can actively engage in to improve our mental health, an often-overlooked factor is spending time on an activity that you enjoy – otherwise known as a hobby.
*Disclaimer: All recordings done for RTNT were using the Zoom platform to maintain social distancing through these times.
This episode features perspectives and information that are not directly from RTNT. We are NOT health professionals who specialize in Covid-19 or any other physical health matters. If you have any questions about Covid-19 please visit the website for either Toronto Public Health or Public Health Ontario or contact your doctor directly for any health questions or concerns.
If you are in crisis, please call 911 or the Gerstein Crisis Centre (if you’re in Toronto) at (416) 929-5200*
Enjoy the following group discussion on Mental Health and New Hobbies featuring members and staff of Progress Place
Here are some great tips for how hobbies can improve your mental health according to a Utah State University article:
Reduced stress: participating in activities during leisure or spare time has been shown to reduce stress levels. For instance, one study showed approximately 75% of participants’ cortisol levels (one of the most widely studied hormonal markers of stress) were lowered after making art. Don’t consider yourself to be an artistic person? That’s okay! This study also showed that prior experience wasn’t needed to reduce stress.
Enhanced well-being: a study in New Zealand found that engaging in creative activities can lead to an improved sense of wellbeing that may have long lasting effects. Participants felt a higher positive affect or mood and a sense of flourishing after days where they engaged in a creative activity.
Improved social connection, decreases in depression and anxiety: while there are many mental health benefits related to hobbies on your own, group or ‘team’ hobbies have also been shown to provide important opportunities for social connection, friendship and support. Research also shows that adults who regularly participate in some kind of team sport are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress.
Improved mental health: hobbies that include physical activity have been linked to many health benefits including reduced stress, reduced blood pressure, and a lower heart rate. But if you take physical activity outside, there are many additional positive benefits. Experts agree that spending as little as 10 minutes in nature can lead to improved mood, focus, and overall wellbeing.
*If you are looking for a community to be a part of your Mental Health recovery; please visit a Clubhouse near you. Clubhouse International reaches over 100,000 people living with mental illness per year in 320+ clubhouses in 34 countries. Please visit clubhouseinternational.org to find a clubhouse in your community.*
A special thank you to our interviewers of RTNT. Thank you to all the members and staff of Progress Place who work hard each month to create a recurring episode of Radio Totally Normal Toronto. Thank you to our listeners. Please, share this episode with your friends and family.
To learn more about RTNT or listen to previous episodes please check out radiototallynormaltoronto.org. You can stream RTNT on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podbast if you search