Experts Weigh In on Tackling the Loneliness Epidemic

The evidence is clear: social isolation and loneliness can be as harmful to our health as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. But what can we do about it?

Imagine if, after a doctor’s visit, you could receive prescriptions for walking groups, cultural programming, and community meals, in addition to medicine.

Social prescribing looks different in each community and for each person, depending on interests, needs, and goals. Across the different models, social prescribing works to build intentional bridges across social, arts and culture, nature, and health systems to foster a more connected community where we can all thrive.

Join us online at The Walrus Talks at Home: Rx Belonging, as we explore the power of social prescribing to build connections, improve well-being, and foster belonging.

Philanthropy makes more of an impact than we realize, and the sector is undergoing major shifts.

Speakers come together at The Walrus Talks Shifting Power in Philanthropy to discuss what the future of philanthropy looks like. What are the innovations and advancements in philanthropic giving? With donor bases now comprising younger generations and more women, what changes will we see in giving trends? How can we embed equity and reconciliation into philanthropy?

Join us in Toronto, or online, to learn about the practices and people shaping philanthropy in Canada right now.

The ubiquity of social media and tech in the lives of young people has been coming under intense scrutiny recently. Youth mental health indicators have been in sharp decline at the same time as children, adolescents and young adults have increasingly become hooked on devices.

As educators sound the alarm about deteriorating student focus and behavioral issues, school boards file lawsuits against social media companies, and governments ban cellphones in schools, researchers are working to understand the effects of smartphones on brains and mental health.

Join us online at The Walrus Talks at Home: Teens and Screens for a discussion about social media, brain science, and ways youth mental health can be supported.

Did you know that in Canada’s health care system, menopause is not part of any mandatory medical training? How is it that over half of Canada’s population will experience a life-altering journey and our system isn’t prepared to support them? Join us on October 17, at The Walrus Talks Menopause, to shatter the silence surrounding menopause.

The program features a diverse range of speakers, including medical experts, cultural leaders, and specialists who deal with the different stages and experiences of menopause, from peri to post.

Join us in Toronto or online to learn about the physiological changes during menopause and their impacts on mental health, society, and the economy.

Featuring:

Dr. Ariel Dalfen, Psychiatrist; Co-founder and CEO, BRIA

Sarain Fox, Artist; Activist; Filmmaker

Dr. Jenny Godley, Professor, Sociology; Adjunct Professor, Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary

Janet Ko, President and Co-founder, Menopause Foundation of Canada

Dr. Iliana Lega, Scientist, Women’s College Hospital Research and Innovation Institute; Staff Endocrinologist, Women’s College Hospital

Luna Matatas, Sex and Pleasure Educator

Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe, Medical Director, Primary Care Outreach, Women’s College Hospital; Health Expert, CTV’s The Social; Advocate; Author