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In this episode, Cassandra sits down with Adrian Kaleb Quijano, a writer, community member, and drag king in the Waterloo Region, for a conversation on visibility, identity, and navigating healthcare as a trans person. Drawing from his lived experience as a trans man with intersecting identities, Adrian reflects on the realities of accessing affirming care, the importance of community spaces, and how storytelling can help create greater understanding around gender and identity. In recognition of Trans Day of Visibility, the conversation explores how visibility can shape both personal experiences and broader conversations around mental health, belonging, and support. Adrian shares insights on the barriers trans people may encounter within healthcare systems, the role of chosen community, and the power of creativity, writing, and drag performance as spaces for expression and connection. Throughout the episode, Adrian highlights moments of resilience, joy, and collective care within trans communities, offering listeners an opportunity to reflect on how community support, inclusive systems, and compassionate listening can contribute to more affirming environments for everyone. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

In this episode, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Cassandra Petrella, Registered Psychotherapist, Doctoral Candidate, Clinical Director of Senta Counselling, and founder of the I Love Me Campaign, for a conversation in honour of International Women's Day. Together, they explore women's mental health, the pressures many women carry, and how anxiety, perfectionism, and comparison culture can shape the way women see themselves. Drawing on over a decade of clinical experience, Cassandra shares insights from her work supporting teen girls and women through counselling, education, and advocacy. The conversation explores how anxiety can show up in women, the impact of social media and achievement culture on self-worth, and what meaningful self-love actually looks like beyond the buzzwords. Cassandra also reflects on the importance of early mental health education for young women and how initiatives like the I Love Me Campaign can help in working towards building confidence, resilience, and healthier relationships with one's self. The discussion also connects to the work of distress centres across Ontario, highlighting how anxiety and distress may present in women during moments of crisis and what helps callers feel genuinely heard and validated. In recognition of International Women's Day, the episode also reflects on the importance of inclusive conversations about women's mental health that honour diverse experiences and perspectives. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

In this episode, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Jessica Ferne, Executive Director of the Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region, for a conversation on leadership, accessibility, and the evolving landscape of crisis response. Jessica shares her vision for DCOR, what it means to work with her team through transformation, and how innovation, funding pressures, and emerging technologies like AI are reshaping the way distress centres operate. Drawing on her global humanitarian experience and past work with the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health, Jessica reflects on universal truths human distress and crises, the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive care, and how standardized excellence can coexist with community-specific needs. In recognition of International Women's Day, the conversation also explores inclusive approaches to women's mental health, and the policy shifts needed to better support distress centres across Ontario. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

In this episode, Vijay speaks with Elisa Brewer-Singh, Executive Director of the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council, about what suicide prevention looks like beyond crisis lines and emergency response. The conversation explores WRSPC’s role in the broader mental health ecosystem, the risks of focusing only on moments of acute crisis, and the often-invisible work of prevention and community care. Together, they unpack the challenges of building connection around a deeply stigmatized topic and how everyday acts of “community maintenance” can help create a more compassionate, supportive Waterloo Region.

In this episode, Vijay sits down with Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable, to unpack what it really means to treat mental wellbeing as a leadership practice. They explore burnout, workplace vulnerability, and how organizations can move beyond stigma to create cultures that actually support people. Drawing on Hailey’s lived experience and crisis-sector leadership, the conversation dives into the power of mental health storytelling and what it takes to sustain optimism while doing emotionally demanding work. Visit Unsinkable to see the great work they're doing in supporting mental health through story telling

This week, to celebrate Black History Month in Canada, we are sharing a list of resources that can be used to explore conversations around concepts like decolonization, intersectional feminism, and the impact of race on social and economic justice.

In this episode, we’re focusing on the power of conversation and the ongoing effort to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health support across Canada through Bell Let's Talk Day. We’re honoured to be joined by Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk, and we'll be speaking about the evolution and impact of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, the importance of national dialogue on mental health, and how organizations and individuals can continue to drive meaningful change. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8. Editor's note: Hi Editor Damien here. This is the first episode we've implemented Riverside and we're still getting up to speed with multitrack editing. We'll have it fixed shortly. Thank you

In this episode, we listen to clips from our top five episodes of 2025, you’ll hear from current and previous staff at DCO including Marissa R, Caitlin P, Prabhvir G, Christina D, with guests including community members, and therapists such as Chad Mackintosh and Tracey Sebastian. It’s a reminder that the DCO discourse podcast is inherently a community initiative with many voices attached to it. I hope you enjoy! And we look forward to releasing more episodes in 2026. Check out the full episodes here: https://dcontario.fireside.fm/316 https://dcontario.fireside.fm/317 https://dcontario.fireside.fm/321 https://dcontario.fireside.fm/331 https://dcontario.fireside.fm/328

In this episode, Vijay breaks down the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario’s proposed reforms, which aim to speed up licensure and increase access to care. While supporters argue these changes could reduce wait times, many psychologists, educators, and community organizations warn they may compromise the quality and safety of mental health care. Featuring insights from the Psychology Advocacy Network, this episode explores what’s at stake, the growing pushback from professionals, and what these decisions could mean for patients across the province. Check out the Psychology Advocacy Network's website here: https://www.psychadvocacy.ca/ and on social media @psychologyadvocacynetwork to stay updated on the incredible work they're doing! Read articles on the subject here: www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/psychologists-rally-on-parliament-hill-against-proposed-cuts-to-training/ https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/college-looks-to-cut-psychologist-training-requirements-citing-ford-government-changes-11280859 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-psychologists-ontario-plans-lower-training-requirements-worry/ To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

This week, we're replaying a popular episode on sleep hygiene. Caitlin shares some information on why sleep is important to our mental health, how we can try to improve our sleep quality, and some resources to learn more. Stay tuned to the end, where Vijay addresses something we didn't the first time around, the dangers of oversleeping. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

This week we're doing another installment of Crisis Reports talking about a paper entitled “Rethinking Cultural Competence: Shifting to Cultural Humility”. This paper focuses on the shift happening across health and social services moving away from cultural competence and toward cultural humility. Your host, Vijay M, walks through what this means practically with some examples of how to incorporate cultural humility into crisis work. Read the full article here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7756036/pdf/10.1177_1178632920970580.pdf To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

November was Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Canada, so this week host Caitlin Plant is joined by Anna Najcler. Anna is the Volunteer Coordinator at the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) of Waterloo Region and a Counselling Psychology Student, Qualifying. Anna has joined us to talk about domestic violence in its many forms, as well as sharing some of the programs SASC offers to support survivors of gender-based violence in the region. Please be aware that this podcast explores topics that may be challenging for some listeners, we encourage you to take a break if you need it and always seek out any supports available to you. Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region: https://www.sascwr.org/ The Canadian Women’s Foundation: https://canadianwomen.org/ To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

This week’s episode is a companion piece to our November blog titled, “The Gift of Self-Care During the Holiday Season” (https://www.dcontario.org/self-care-during-the-holiday-season/). Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares some highlights from the blog post, as well as adding in her own thoughts. This episode focuses on promoting self-care as essential, not selfish, and shares tips on balancing body and mind, embracing emotions, letting go of perfection, and reaching out for support. To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8.

The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) shares that the third Tuesday in November marks the annual National Grief and Bereavement Day in Canada. The theme for this year is “Help Close Canada’s Grief Literacy Gap”. In this episode, Caitlin is joined by Dr. Susan Cadell, a social work researcher and adjunct professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo, as well as the co-founder of Grief Matters, a Canadian organization that aims to improve how we understand and make room for grief. Grief Matters: https://griefmatters.ca/ Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association: https://www.chpca.ca/awareness/national-grief-and-bereavement-day/ Grief literacy: A call to action for compassionate communities: https://lifeanddeathmatters.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Breen-et-al.-Grief-literacy-A-call-to-action-for-compassionate-communities-1.pdf Canadian Grief Alliance: https://aboutgrief.ca/ and their old site https://www.mygrief.ca/ To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8

In this episode, Vijay from Distress and Crisis Ontario talks about Men’s Mental Health for this Movember. Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and men's suicide. We talk to Josh Beharry, Project Manager of HeadsUpGuys, a website centered around men’s mental health, offering self-care, screening tools, courses, and a therapist directory. Josh himself is a men’s mental health advocate and has done a tremendous amount of writing for the site Check out the full website here: https://headsupguys.org/ To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member centre. Many of our Member centres operate 24/7. Thank you for listening and we hope you’ll join us again next week. If you would like to provide feedback on this episode, past episodes, or request future content, you can do so using the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8