People First Media program archive
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Columbian Centre fosters commitment to being kind to one another

June 27th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

“Kindness is much more than just being nice, kindness is the weaving that makes a fabric of a compassionate community.”

Columbian Centre’s Annual General Meeting for 2012 was held on Tuesday June 26. Tom Grauman, the executive director, shared some thoughts about the culture of kindness that is fostered at Columbian Centre.

Earlier this month, 50 of us gathered in this very place in loving memory of resident Murray Glover.  Murray had lived at Columbian Centre since 1996.  He suffered many difficult experiences in his life, including arrest, detention, unfulfilled dreams, and separation from family.  But probably his greatest suffering was empathic – despite his own troubles, his heart went out tenderly to people who had misfortunes.  He humbly offered them his help and it was often received with surprise and deep appreciation.  Through it all, Murray was a loving and kind person.  Which brings me to another person making news this month… (more…)

A cross-border partnership to end stigma

June 21st, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A cross-border partnership to end stigma)

NoStigmas raises awareness to erase the stigmas of suicide and mental illness by sharing stories of hope and inspiration

A cross-border partnership to end the stigmas associated with suicide and mental illness has been created under the banner of NoStigmas.org—with participants from both Canada and the U.S. Ottawa-based Ray Folkins has joined Chicago-based Jake Moore in his ongoing efforts to develop collaborative partnership programs to help people implement life-changing and life-enhancing strategies. Both men have ‘lived experience’ with anxiety and depression and are now focused on helping others—and particularly, to help erase the stigmas related to mental health issues among youth and adults. (more…)

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Women and girls invited to create herArt

May 17th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Art project for women builds community spirit while raising awareness about women’s issues

Nanaimo Women’s Centre, with the help of artists from the community, offered women and girls the opportunity to create art in a project called herArt. The purpose of the project was to build community connections—among and between girls and women—through access to art education and creative expression.

Workshops took place during the last weeks of April and into the beginning of May 2012. The Nanaimo Women’s Centre provided the materials, space, and participants, and local artists volunteered to give workshops using their own particular methods and approaches. (more…)

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Analysis and the grail of the unconscious

April 26th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Analysis and the grail of the unconscious)

A form of psychotherapy, Jungian analysis is an interpersonal process of coming to terms with the unconscious

Carl Gustav Jung was a psychiatrist and the founder of analytical psychology. He is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as “by nature religious” and to make it the focus of exploration. Jung emphasized the individuation of a person. The process might be described as being all that we can be by uncovering the hidden parts of our personality through dreams, active imagination and self-observation. (more…)

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Daughter of chaos takes to the stage

April 19th, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Helani Davison is sharing her compelling autobiographical story of riches to rags—and the struggle to come back

Saltspring Island artist and performer Helani Davison has created an autobiographical performance—including narrative, poetry and anecdotes—called Daughter of Chaos. The performance draws on her personal experiences with mental illnesses, addictions and poverty. Helani told the Victoria Times Colonist that  she doesn’t think that mental illness and addiction should be anonymous. Her belief is that there would be much more healing if society could speak openly about it. (more…)

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A mother’s story of her son’s addiction

March 22nd, 2012 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A mother’s story of her son’s addiction)

June Ariano-Jakes shares a search for answers and the lengths she went to in trying to help her drug-addicted son

June Ariano-Jakes is the mother of five adult children and the grandmother of four. While she worked by day as a Licensed Childcare Provider, June spent literally thousands of nights poring over books and articles in the search for answers to help her son Nathan battle what would become a twenty-year-long heroin and cocaine addiction.

Addiction: A Mother’s Story is June’s account of addiction through a mother’s eyes. The book portrays the progression of Nathan’s addiction as the chapters unfold, how his addiction progressed to devastating and life altering circumstances and how it affected Nathan, his family and his mother. (more…)

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