Food For Thought - the Podcast

Most people (probably) think they know R2MR - test number one, what do those letters and numbers stand for? If you said, "Road to Mental Readiness" you would be right. But test number two is, how many programs do they have? You'll never guess...and also, do you know they have an App? 

Let's just say there is a lot more to R2MR than meets the eye, and in this episode my two amazing guests, Alanna Brochu and Mike Toms help me do a deep dive into all things R2MR.

Enjoy this fabulous conversation as we wrap up Season 9!

Links:

For inquiries about R2MR:

+R2MR Ops & Trg@CMP DMH@Ottawa-Hull

For information on the App:

Road to Mental Readiness (R2MR) - Canada.ca

For the family:

CANADIAN FORCES MORALE AND WELFARE SERVICES – Road to Mental Readiness – R2MR

Suite of Services Available (plus overview):

The Road to Mental Readiness - Canada.ca

We know how important physical, mental and even emotional and social wellness are. But for some reason we tend to either overlook or negate how important spiritual wellness is. Capt Gabriel Snyman joins me on this episode to talk about what it is, why it's important, and how we might inadvertently already being more spiritual than we think. It's a fun and interesting look at what it means to be spiritual, how it affects everyone, and how it's an important component of making members even better soldiers. For more information about what spirituality is check out:

https://www.verywellmind.com/how-spirituality-can-benefit-mental-and-physical-health-3144807

Or reach out to your unit chaplain! They're there to help you with support, resources or just to lend an ear:)

Also if you want to learn more about the Buddy Up program you can check that out here

And if you want to hear more about the program, check out this podcast Dr. Paul Sharp talks with Seth McVeity and Robert Olson about the program what it is meant to do and how organizations and the men particularly who work there, can help each other be seen.

 

When you think about the military...what are the things that first come to mind? Deployments, postings, serving your country going to different countries to defend their sovereignty...

But what about the CANEX? This is an institution that has been around a lot longer than many people are probably aware. CANEX serves the military community in a very unique way. They are located on most Bases and Wings and provide members with the essentials from mess kit to washing machines. You can go there to get your gas and your lottery tickets, to get your post office box (depending on where you live) and in some locations they are full on grocery stores. But the people at the CANEX are also special because many of them are CAF spouses and children. So the connection to the military runs deep. In this episode, we talk all things CANEX with Asst Manager Jen McDonald and you'll be surprised to learn how many things your local CANEX can help you with!

 

If you want to get a CF ONE card click here: CANEX CF ONE

If you have a question or suggestion for what else you would like to see at the CANEX in Edmonton, please feel free to reach out to Jen at: McDonald.Jennifer@cfmws.com 

If you are interested in learning more about or taking the Mental Fitness Suicide Awareness course or would like to have us come to your unit you can email us at healthpromotionedmonton@cfmws.com or click here for more information: Health Promotion Workshops

We are taking a slightly different approach to our Nutrition Month episode, because as it always does, it follows Heart Month and so we thought it only appropriate to talk about both but with a twist. Most people think of heart disease as a man's problem, but it turns out to be one of the number one killers of women too. But because it presents differently in women, it is often overlooked or written off as anxiety...Ahem...

Anyway - we are going to look at nutrition as it pertains to both heart and bone health with a bit of a focus on women but also what everyone should be doing to protect their hearts, strengthen their bones and ensure that they maintain their muscle mass. 

Here is Cheryl's contact information - 528-6236 or cheryl.nickurak@forces.gc.ca or book through the Specialists Clinic - 528-4609 or 4950. 

Here are the links that were mentioned throughout the show:

Heart and Stroke - heart healthy eating

Canada's Food Guide - Healthy Plate

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)

Low-Glycemic Index Diet

Portfolio Diet (for people with an LDL of 5 and above)

Why Women's Heart Health?

Health Promotion - Workshop Information (Essential Nutrition and Stress: Take Charge)

Dairy Nutrition Canada - Calcium Handout

Iron and Your Health

Fibre Facts

Omega-3 Fats

Adding Protein to Your Diet

Sarcopenia

An Introduction to Sarcopenia - Video Webinar

When we think about "Men's Health" our thoughts might go to Movember, and prostate cancer or testicular cancer, or even heart disease. It doesn't always go straight to mental health, even though the first three letters are M-E-N...

So in this episode, I'm talking with Maj Robert Reid, Psychiatrist/Flight Surgeon and Mental Health Clinical Lead here at CFB Edmonton, and we're unpacking men's mental health, in the context of the human condition and the way we have all been conditioned to believe certain things about how we should all be. This is particularly true when it comes to that thorny topic of what it means to be a man, and what it looks like to go through life either meeting that stereotype or fighting back against it, and how both have an impact on mental health.

Men's health is in trouble. While most research does exist based predominantly of men - whether regarding heart health or suicide - the reality is that more men still die by suicide at a rate of almost 3 to 1 and so we know that men remain at higher risk. Why that is multifactorial, but we need to get to the bottom of it so that they can get the help that they need to be healthy and able to meet the many, many challenges that the world is constantly throwing their way. In a way that isn't toxic, doesn't undermine their personal autonomy and isn't viewed as being in competition with women's health - of any kind. When we take care of the men - everyone benefits...so hopefully this conversation will encourage you to do the things that you can, to help you be the best version of yourself OR be there to support others in their journey. 

Here are the links that were mentioned if you are interested in learning more about how we came to be subject to these gender roles and maybe start to think about how we can push back against them.

Cognitive Distortions

Challenge Cognitive Distortions

Gender Roles and Depression Risk

Men's Health Checklist

Mindfit Toolkit

Men's Health Research

The Real Face of Men's Health Report

 

 

 

 

If you need a break in the middle of your day or could use a little help falling asleep, give this 8 Mindful Minute Meditation a try. It's sure to help you deal with resting stress face and make you feel a little less peaked :) Enjoy!

If you have ever had a conversation with a child or a partner while driving in the car, or while doing the dishes or some other task, you will understand the value of creating a space and an opportunity to decrease the cringe factor by finding a neutral environment and one where eyeball to eyeball contact is neither required nor possible. We all need to have a place to talk about things - general things, hard things, uncomfortable things, and sometimes that is difficult to find - for all kinds of reasons. Enter gaming - not pew pew gaming necessarily but board games and we're not talking checkers either, although that could certainly work as well. No we are talking about War Hammer and Magic the Gathering. Dungeons and Dragons and things of that nature - where people with intense passions and a desire to find a place of likeminded folks to share that with gather to game and...to talk. Not on purpose, but because it is a place of common ground - multiple common grounds as it happens. This conversation with MCpl Evan Harper from 1 PPCLI is a fascinating look into how we can build community, build camaraderie and help people connect in ways that allow for so many positive things to happen. If you have always wondered or are looking for your people, then check out this episode - it's a gooder!

Homefront Games contact information:

www.homefrontgames.com

evan.harper@homefrontgames.com 

Magic the Gathering - Spell Table

Everything you ever wanted to know about Magic the Gathering

Everything you ever wanted to know about War Hammer 40K

Don't Change Much Podcast 

Post annual briefing season, here's a bit more of what we really want members to know that we can do to support them, in their units, to be the most operationally ready - but also the best versions of themselves they can be. It takes a combination of individual action and organizational responsibility to create the environment that allows all that to happen, and health promotion can be the secret sauce to get that going. We hope you take us up on our offer to come to you to help to create a plan, together, that will move CFB Edmonton to the top of the charts in 2026.