If you would like to learn more about the Diabetes program please visit here, if you would like to see their past webinars visit here. 

Below is an interview between Madiha and one of our clients from our Diabetes education program. Read from her point of view the impact SCHC's diabetes education has had on her, and how she won't let type 2 diabetes bring down her positive spirits! 

I have been with Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities since 2014, engaging in every workshop and gathering that I heard about. In August 2014, my results detected that I have Type 2 diabetes— displaying borderline health conditions for me at that point. My family physician sent me to Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) to consult with Mariella Fortugno, my dietitian/social worker, to guide me through a routine to achieve my blood sugar and blood pressure targets. Mariella was the main root of teaching me everything about diabetes, and the lifestyle changes, the portioning, and all that came along with it since the beginning of my time with her. My experience at the Markham and Lawrence location and Mariella’s engaging programs and workshops where she gathered people as we learned about vitamins were very informative. At the hub location (Brimley and Eglinton), I was under the care of my nurse, Sharmini, and dietitian, Arshad, who is very accommodating to me with their assistance.

​When it comes to my dietary restrictions, I am very conversant with my new lifestyle. As a diabetes patient, I understand what to consume and how to consume it. It was a significant change from my previous diet. My current diet consists of lots of vegetables, and I made sure to have protein in every meal; consuming very less amount of carbs (rice, potatoes, chickpeas) and meat (pork and beef, due to religious dietary restrictions). Consumption of more protein was essential for me as it helped with slow digestion and post-meal blood sugar spikes, increasing the feeling of fullness, keeping blood sugar level intact.

​To discuss the strictness of my diet, I consume my fruits numerically to balance the serving, which includes 11 grapes and 11 cherries in a day, and limited consumption of rich fruits such as bananas (only half of a banana a day) and no mangoes.

Attending the workshops with Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) has helped me understand even the type of oil that I should buy for consumption and how to monitor my blood sugar level every two hours. My overall experience with Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) has been very informative and beneficial for myself and my health. It was hard work to change my diet and lifestyle but it was worth it!

In the past three decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.6 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Both the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades.” (World Health Organization, 2020 Diabetes Report)  Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC) is dedicated to meeting the diverse, holistic health needs of the communities of Scarborough by addressing the physical, mental, social, financial and environmental aspects of their health.

​In January 2014, The Scarborough Hospital partnered up with Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC). The key stakeholders stated that since partnering with SCHC, The Scarborough Hospital has seen “more greater efficiency in having the right care provided at the right place in a timely manner.” The beneficial aspect of this collaboration has given opportunities to patients with diabetes who come to The Scarborough Hospital and are assessed and then either admitted to the hospital based diabetes program or referred to the SCHC’s Community Diabetes Education Program, depending on their care needs. When patients with diabetes are referred to SCHC, an initial needs assessment is performed by a nurse and a social worker who provides care and connects them with community resources, some of which can be offered on site.

In August 2014, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities' (SCHC) Diabetes Education Program was granted recognition by the Canadian Diabetes Association's Standards Recognition Review Committee for successfully meeting the Standards for Diabetes Education in Canada (2015), which allowed the community health centre to continue assisting and treating individuals with Type 1 and Type 1 Diabetes and offered numerous workshops to educate patients who are keen to learn more in a community-based setting.

To learn more about the Diabetes program please visit here and to watch some of their webinars please visit here. 
 
​Sources:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes 
http://www.centraleastlhin.on.ca/newsandevents/TellaStory_f/CollaborationenhancingdiabetescareinCentralEastLHIN.aspx 
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/scarborough-centre-for-healthy-communities-diabetes-education-program-receives-formal-recognition-591172811.html

We had the opportunity to sit down with Jane Rumleskie, a volunteer board member of SCHC and we discuss her journey into SCHC and how this experience has helped her learn more about the community she resides in. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello all, my name is Jane Rumleskie and I am in my third year as a Board member with SCHC. I reside in Scarborough with my husband and my pets. I have been a public servant, working with the provincial government for the past 19 years in the field of criminal justice. Though I am working corporately now, most of my career was spent as a Probation and Parole Officer in Toronto. I also volunteer with a local bulldog rescue organization coordinating their social media accounts and as a foster. Though I love city living, I am originally from a very small town in Northern Ontario with a population of 1200 people! I think growing up in a small town has made me appreciate the importance of community which likely drew me to volunteering at SCHC!

What brought you to SCHC? Why did you decide to volunteer?
I had been living in Scarborough for several years after a move from downtown Toronto and wanted to make more connections to my local community. I saw an ad in a local newspaper looking for new SCHC Board members and decided to apply. Early in my career I was employed as a housing worker at another CHC which had opened my eyes to the amazing work that happens at community health centres.

Tell us 2 or 3 things that work really well in your volunteer experience at SCHC?
Joining a Board after not having done so for many years was certainly going to be a learning experience for me. I really appreciated the excellent care taken by the Centre in recruitment, including extensive reference checks, to ensure appropriate candidates are chosen. This told me immediately that SCHC is committed to connecting the right people to the right roles within their organization. Also, the orientation process was very thorough and made me feel very valued in my new volunteer role.

I met Kerrin Churchill two years ago at an art workshop at Agincourt Library. Since then, a friendship and collaboration has formed between us. Kerrin had an idea to create a project in which seniors in the Scarborough community can come together to explore cultural spaces and to express their creativity through visits in artistic activities led by a professional artist.

Kerrin and her friend Susan MacDonald  (both volunteers on this project), along with Navia Harry of the Active Living Centre at Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. 

A successful grant application was made to the New Horizons program and the first event of Creative Space was held on September 16. It was a beautiful sunny day, at the dreamy Guild Park and Gardens, a park known for its beautiful historical sculptures scattered all around the park. 

 John Mason of Friends of the Guild provided a tour for a group of 12 seniors so they can learn more about the history and stories about the park and pieces within.

Artist Tara Dorey facilitated a drawing workshop for participants. Everyone gathered around the outdoor amphitheatre in the park where Tara talked about drawing, lines, and contour drawing. Everyone got tote bags prior the workshop with all the needed supplies for the session.

Each person then proceeded to explore the park and choose a sculpture to practice their contour drawing. After an hour and half and a few attempts, participants gathered once more at the amphitheatre to share their sketches and their experience of it with the group and received feedback from the artist. 

Everyone was inspired and energized by the event and were keen to participate in future events by Creative Space. A few people in the park inquired if they could register as well. Despite the current challenges that we are facing, with following the health guidelines, organizers are determined to continue to bring joy, creativity and connectivity to the life of seniors in Scarborough through these unique visits and artist led workshops.

The next meeting for this group will be held on October 14th, 2020 at Scarborough Arts. There is currently a waiting list, but please contact srayati@schcontario.ca if you are interested.

Written by Tagan Mani, Marketing and Communications Assistant

The month of September marks Alzheimer's Awareness Month and that’s why, if you have been following us on social media, you would have noticed we have been posting about Alzheimer's awareness to help reach more people about the cause and why brain health is so important.
 
Truth is, Alzheimer's can or does impact us all. Alzheimer's Society Canada stated that 1.1 million Canadians are affected directly or indirectly by the disease. If that stat is not alarming enough, Alzheimer's Association reports that there will be a projected amount of 13.8 million people age 65 and older to have Alzheimer's dementia by 2050. To learn more about Alzheimer's signs, stages and tips for caregivers, read our previous blog post here.
 
Dementia does not discriminate based on the colour of your skin, your profession, or any other factor beyond your control. That is why, when loved ones with dementia are receiving care, it is imperative that the activities you do are truly meaningful to them, since the more personalized it is, the more beneficial it will be.
 
If you are uncertain on what meaningful activities/engagement are, the Alzheimer's Society of Canada defines it as a person-centred approach which encourages and invites people with
dementia to purposefully participate in the work of an organization to which they belong. When participating, the activities should involve them contributing ideas, skills, and abilities while being mindful that their participation would vary, depending on what their current abilities are along with the personal history they have. This is important because Alzheimer's has a critical impact on one's behaviour, memory, and senses. Which is why, at times, activities that people living with dementia used to enjoy they can now find overwhelming. It is also important to ensure that the staff who provides care are also knowledgeable, attentive, and encouraging.

Alzheimers.net notes that meaningful and stimulating activities can encourage self-expression, lessen anxiety and irritability, assist with emotional connections and memories while making your loved one feel more engaged. Stimulating activities can include baking, arts and crafts, puzzles, playing music and gardening. In later stages, simple and familiar activities like folding laundry, caring for a baby doll by dressing and changing diapers, or even washing dishes can give individuals with dementia a sense of purpose and belonging.
 
At SCHC, we offer different programs that provide help to those impacted with dementia or may be experiencing some early signs. Our two programs that focuses on this are the Adult Day Centre and the Active Minds Social Club (in partnership with Alzheimer Society of Toronto), respectively. In our Adult Day Centre, we serve individuals, over the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with dementia, with full days of meaningful activities such as music and art therapy and chair yoga, plus events to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Our Active Minds Social Club also provides stimulating activities but caters to those who have been diagnosed before the age of 65, living with young onset dementia. Both programs also give respite for their caregivers.  See our website for more details on these programs.
 
The statistics and impact Alzheimer's has can be scary, but that is why it is crucial that we and our loved ones should become more educated about Alzheimer's and what preventative actions we can take. See our recent Instagram post below for highlights from a recent study that states 12 things that one can do to lower the risk of dementia. To learn more about Alzheimer's prevention read a prior blog post written by Joanne, our Community Caregiver Wellness Coordinator, and a former educator for Alzheimer's Society of Toronto.

 
We hope that reading this post helped you become more informed about Alzheimer's, what you can do to help prevent it, and what SCHC does for our community who have been impacted by it. Despite not having a cure yet for Alzheimer's, there are many options we can take to help the united fight against Alzheimer's.
 
To learn more about our programs related to Alzheimer's please feel free to contact us via Email: cssintake@schcontario.ca or Phone: (416)-847-4134
 
Sources
 
https://beta-ctvnews-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/beta.ctvnews.ca/national/health/2020/8/1/1_5048612.html
 
https://www.alzheimers.net/2014-03-06-stimulating-activities-for-alzheimers-patients
 
https://alzheimer.ca/sites/default/files/files/national/meaningful-engagement/meaningful-engagement-of-people-with-dementia.pdf
 
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures#:~:text=More%20than%205%20million%20Americans%20of%20all%20ages%20have%20Alzheimer's,10%25)%20has%20Alzheimer's%20dementia. 
 
https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/What-is-dementia/Dementia-numbers?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIutWKgcvr6wIVu_DjBx2bbAIrEAAYASAAEgJH_vD_BwE
 
https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Alzheimers-disease?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4MyWgNLr6wIVBJJbCh2I8gZgEAAYAiAAEgIjc_D_BwE

Today, September 10th, marks World Suicide Prevention day. Above is only a few of the statistics pulled from a very resourceful infographic created by Public Health Agency of Canada which you can view here.

Suicide Prevention is crucial to discuss and effects so many people. We need to become more informed, educated, and empathetic. If you or anyone you know may be experiencing suicial thoughts, we do have staff catering to mental health. If you want to learn more about Suicide Prevention feel free to read our blog post from last year about it here. 

​Maureen Pollard, a social worker, collaborated with Murray Foster and Ellen Torrie to create a song entitled "I Hope You Stay"  in the hopes it will be shared widely to raise awareness about suicide prevention and for the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention. You can listen to the song below. 

If you are interested in learning more about our mental health services please feel free to contact us at info@schcontario.ca or call us at 416-642-9445 for more information. 

SCHC and their Mind and Spirit Youth Leadership (MSYL) Program was looking for help to create a social enterprise venture to sustain their program once funding from their Ontario Trillium Grow grant was finished.

Debra McGonegal, Director of Communications and Development reached out to a philanthropic partner, The Northpine Foundation for advice. They suggested broadening the scope of this project, offered to fund a summer business camp for youth and connected SCHC to Enactus Canada who referred us to Ryerson Enactus and the project manager, Alessandro Farelli. Through this innovative initiative and great partnership, 24 youth were enrolled in the Youth Entrepreneurship Opportunity Summer Camp Program and matched with 14 mentors. The following is Debra’s interview with Alessandro as the camp was wrapping up for 2020.

How did you become involved in the Youth Entrepreneurship Opportunity (YEO) Summer
camp program?
I got involved early in March when the program was just a concept and hadn’t been created
yet. YEO is under the branch of project StartMeUp (SMU) and Enactus Ryerson and I had just
taken over as Project Manager (PM). Originally the program was focused on just the creation of businesses for youth through mentorship, but I wanted to include personal and professional
development. Eventually, I hired a Co-PM, Zohra, and on top of being the project manager for
YEO, I also became one of the mentors for our MYSLens team. I would also plan and facilitate
our weekly workshops for the first four weeks of our program.

How did SCHC and MSYL fit into this new project?
SCHC and MSYL were integral to the camp and it couldn’t have run without them. Debra from
SCHC secured funding for both mentees and mentors, and would regularly check in with me
and my team to provide support and advice. Gnanu, Renee, and Charanjit, plus summer staff
from MSYL handled enrollment of youth from their program and the local Scarborough
community . They joined weekly workshops and checked in with the youth to provide support
and get program feedback. I would also like to commend Gnanu specifically for checking in with me bi-weekly to see if there was any support he could provide to our program along with
setting up all of our Zoom meetings. Both the SCHC and MSYL were an absolute delight to work with and I look forward to strengthening our relationship with them.

How did the camp work? What were the goals for Enactus?
For the first month of our camp, the structure was quite similar across all groups. We had
weekly workshops (Entrepreneurship, Customers, Marketing, Finance) held on Mondays and bi-weekly workshops held on Thursday by Shopify on business website creation. Each mentor was paid for 10 hours of work per week, while mentees were expected to contribute 20 hours per week. The goal for Enactus Ryerson mentors was to help students with personal and
professional growth, and the creation and launch of their own business. Around 80% of the
groups were able to create their own business in some shape or form.

What did you learn about mentoring youth?
Everyone has some form of value to provide to our world even if they don’t see it. At the start
of our program, many of the youth in my group were quite shy and wouldn’t like to speak
during our discussions. However, as we catered more towards their interests, we saw them
become more outgoing. A big turning point was asking the youth to present on a topic they
were most passionate about. We put a minimum of 5 minutes for the presentations, but most
students went over 10 minutes and were quite enthusiastic while presenting. After these
presentations, the youth in our group were much more outgoing and willing to put their input
into both our discussions and the business they are running.
​
What did you learn about yourself?  And did this camp affect any of your ideas on your future path/s?
What I learned about myself is that I love to see other people grow to become better versions of themselves. Before I started YEO, I already knew that I liked helping others, but this program showed me that my calling is the development of others. I am very excited to continue this program and help both the youth we are working with now as well as working with new youth to help them grow. This camp has impacted my future career path, I know that I will continually be looking for ways to enrich the lives of those around me. When I become financially stable I would like to dedicate the rest of my life (and career) to help develop those around me whether they are a youth or those who are older than me.

What were the end results of the camp?
The result of the camp was quite positive with 7 businesses started and all of the youth growing personally as well. Each mentor plans to keep a relationship with their mentee and meet for one hour per week to check in on both their mentee's wellbeing as well as the progress they are making with their business. See below for a brief recap of business plan competition to wrap up the YEO summer camp.

Where would you like the YEO camp to go in the future?
I have big plans for YEO in the future. Over the next 2 weeks, I plan to work with my team along with SCHC and MSYL to create a comprehensive action plan to both improve and expand the program for the next 15 months. Ideally, by the Spring of 2021, I would like to bring YEO to other Enactus chapters so we can impact as many youths as possible.

Anything else you would want other youth in  Scarborough to know? Students in Enactus?
I would like the youth in Scarborough to know that we are here to help you grow both
personally and professionally. We are working to expand so we can help as many of you as
possible. You already have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in you, you just might
need a little bit of a push. For students in Enactus, I hope you stay tuned for our updates as we
plan on expanding our team along with hiring new mentors. For both students and mentors,
this program can be integral to your personal development so even if you are unsure, I
encourage you to take that leap of faith and join our program.

For youth interested in joining MSYL and/or YEO please email
healthpromotion@schcontario.ca or call (416)-642-9445 ext. 4473.

SALMA JAFFER & FLORETTE BACCHUS - HAYNES
Clinical Social Workers
Interprofessional Primary Care Team

Grief is a normal response to any loss and it is painful. COVID-19 outbreak has been unprecedented time for the entire community and collectively we are grieving the loss of our loved ones. During COVID-19 we are dealing with more than one wave of grief. Grieving is an experience that can shake the foundations of the lives of those affected. It calls upon individuals and families to utilize a significant number of resources in order to find ways to cope with the situation adequately; and to maintain some kind of balance and harmony in their lives.

With the already stressful days of being confined, being away from those we love, human touch, missed celebrations and trying to get use to the new normal can take a toll on you emotionally, mentally and physically. Our resilience will help us to practice new way of grieving.
Below is a chart explaining waves of grief that the community are experiencing during the pandemic.

Exploring coping strategies

We have to think of ourselves as being resilient because we are able to “bounce back” from losses and negative events by taking control of the situation, and practicing strategies to manage your grief, depression and anxiety.  We all have our own strengths that we could use to help us cope with difficult life situations.

• Acknowledge your feelings of grief by allowing your feelings/emotions to come out.  It is normal.
• Remember the special times, such as anniversaries, birthdays, or holidays can intensify feelings of grief, talk to someone, a close friend or a therapist

• Crying is not a sign of weakness and crying is normal as it helps you to release your emotions
• Join a peer support group.  Reaching out to others who might be going through the same journey as yours
• Visit love ones while following the necessary precautions for this unprecedented time
• Grow a plant in memory of your loved one
• Write a letter to the person you lost
• Practice self-care, by eating healthy, exercise and proper sleep
• Try holistic methods of coping, for example, Mindfulness, music therapy, art therapy and journaling
• Try to avoid depending upon substances such as alcohol, medications or drugs to help cope with your feelings
• Be kind to yourself

 
Additional Resources
 
Bereaved Families of Ontario 
Canadian Mental Health Association
CAMH
Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities
Toronto Central Health
 
References
 
Burrell, A., Selman, L.E. (2020). OMEGA. How do Funeral Practices impact Bereaved Relatives’ Mental Health, Grief and Bereavement? A Mixed Methods Review with implications for COVID-19. Journal of Death and Dying, 2020 –journals.sagepub.com
 
Wallace, C.L., Wladkowski, S.P., Stephanie, P. (2020). Grief during the COVID-19 pandemic: considerations for palliative care providers.

by VALERIE COX
National Outdoor Furniture

​During the summertime, people spend a great amount of time in the sun. From cutting the grass to baseball games to swimming, so many of our daily activities happen outside.

Spending time in the sun has many health benefits, but it is important to take the right steps to protect your skin from the sun’s exposure. By taking precautionary measures, you can safely enjoy the sun and all the fun moments and memories that summertime brings.
 
The Benefits of Spending Time Outside

Spending time outside is important for both your mental and physical health. By spending time in the sun, you receive Vitamin D which is responsible for bone growth, cell growth, immunity, and lowering inflammation in your body. From a mental health perspective, spending time outside is extremely beneficial because it increases your serotonin amount, the hormone that helps lower stress levels and improves your mood.
 
How Much Time Should I Spend Outside?

Spending time outside looks different for everyone because some work outside while others spend time outside for recreational purposes. To receive an adequate amount of Vitamin D, you should be spending between 10-30 minutes in the sun several times a week. Whenever you spend time outdoors, it is important to stay safe in the sun and make necessary adjustments for your skin type.

​Tips for Staying Safe in the Sun

Seek shade
​
Just like your body needs rest from physical activity, your body needs a break from the sun too. When outdoors, it is smart to seek shade either under natural elements like trees or architectural structures and even under umbrellas. Many parks and outdoor spaces around the city designated and created shaded areas for this purpose. So rest and remember that it is important to give your skin a break too.

By ARENNE KIRITHARAN
​SCHC

The fall of 2017 brought forward a challenge to MSYL (Mid Scarborough Youth Leadership) that was unlike anything we’ve done before. Our passions and commitment were tested as we applied for a grant with Toronto Public Health that would allow for a long-time project and vision to come to fruition. Litter Butt was an initiative that was in the works for a long time before we had the proper funding and support that would get us started.

As we embarked on the journey, each step only provided us with more challenges; that was until May 31st, World No Tobacco Day, where we proudly unveiled our finished product, that really only marked the beginning of our story.
 
Litter Butt is an anti-smoking and anti-cigarette litter campaign that emphasizes the harmful effects that smoking has on the human body and on the environment. Through a visual metaphor, of creating cigarette waste receptacles out of the shape of lungs so that as the litter in the lungs grow, the deterioration of the lungs are represented. Youth between the ages of 13-21 lead and part take in multiple activities as a part of this initiative.