People First Radio
Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
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People First Radio is a weekly one-hour radio broadcast to educate and raise awareness about issues related to health and wellness — with a particular emphasis on topics related to mental illness and mental health, homelessness and housing, and addiction, harm reduction and recovery.
Available episodes
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Navigating media in times of crisis
Kelsie Kilawna shares the story behind a new kit meant to help Indigenous communities in crisis navigate interactions with the media.
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Dec 1, 2023
A new end of life guide from the BC Humanist Association
Ian Bushfield and Sophie Burke join People First Radio to explore an end of life guide they’ve co-authored for humanists and non religious people.
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Dec 1, 2023
Personal stories of addiction and treatment shared at Parksville public hearing
Many people spoke emotionally about experiences with addiction and recovery at a recent public hearing in Parksville. At issue is a proposed addiction treatment centre, which would be run by Island Health, and offer a voluntary only 90 day treatment program for people aged 19 and over. There would be 19 beds at the site, […]
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Nov 27, 2023
Chrystal Toop’s journey to Blackbird Medicines
From overcoming challenges like experiencing homelessness as a youth in Thunder Bay, to learning about traditional plant medicines and family history from her grandfather, Chrystal Toop shares some of the journey that led her to start Blackbird Medicines, a cultural wellness program where she now supports Indigenous people training to be end of life doulas. […]
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Nov 20, 2023
Remembering Jan Coleman
When People First Radio first took to the airwaves on November 22 2007, Jan Coleman was there. She served as co-host with Kevin Midbo through 2010, and helped guide the program through its early years. Jan passed away recently, and People First Radio took some time to remember her impact on the show. Former host […]
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Nov 17, 2023
Death educator Susan Srigley on why we need more conversations about dying
Death educator and Nipissing University professor Susan Srigley starts her semesters off by having students reflect on their personal experiences with death. “The majority of those assignments tell a story of students who have not been supported around death, have not been prepared for death, and largely their experience is one of isolation and silence,” […]
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Nov 13, 2023
Talking mental health history with Matt Smith
Health historian Matthew Smith says that relatively speaking, many governments are doing less to address mental health than they were decades ago, and until that changes, state health providers will never be able to keep up. In a recent article published in the conversation, the University of Strathclyde professor pointed to poverty and inequality as […]
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Nov 10, 2023
When My Ghost Sings, Recovery following stroke and memory loss
When she was 32 years old, Tara Sidhoo Fraser had a stroke, and experienced the loss of most of her memories. She’s written about her recovery in the weeks, months, and years that followed in a new memoir, When My Ghost Sings. Sidhoo Fraser says sharing her story has created an outpouring of connection. “I […]
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Nov 5, 2023
The Whistler Housing Authority: a model to help with Canada’s housing crisis?
In conversation with Marla Zucht, general manager of the Whistler Housing Authority, a municipally owned corporation that aims to house at least 75 per cent of the community’s workforce.
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Nov 3, 2023
Bouncing back living with bipolar and psychosis – Victoria Maxwell’s story
Victoria Maxwell shares insights on her recovery process managing bipolar, psychosis, and anxiety. Maxwell says acceptance of her diagnosis was “the greatest liberator,” but it only happened after she met a healthcare team that was willing to work with her. “Once I did meet a psychiatrist and a nurse who really inquired about the reasons […]
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