DCO Discourse...

In recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are revisiting an episode from the DCO Discourse archives featuring Caitlin Plant and Melissa Ireland. Melissa is an Indigenous holistic social work professional with a passion for inclusion and education, wellness, and connection to community and culture. In this episode, Caitlin and Melissa discuss relationships, learning and un...

In honour of World Suicide Prevention Day 2026, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Sidney Stacy, Chair of the Suicide Prevention Community Council for Hamilton (SPCCH) and Assistant Professor (PT) in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. He shares his personal story that has motivated him to become a key advocate for suicide prevention strategies in the...

In this episode of DCO Discourse, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Nerin Kaur, Executive Director of ConnexOntario, to discuss the importance of International Overdose Awareness Day and the role we all play in reducing stigma surrounding addiction. Together, they explore common misconceptions about overdose and substance use, the barriers stigma creates when seeking help, and how individuals can su...

In today's epsiode, we are celebrating Youth Empowering Youth Day by speaking with Abigail Lee, a soon-to-be Grade 12 student in Ontario who founded The Peer Power Project, a youth-led non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local communities since August of 2024. Through the organization, she has led a variety of initiatives, including senior social events, community donation drives, and...

In this episode of DCO Discourse, Lexie sits down with DCO's Executive Director, Dr. Neta Gear, and Board Vice Treasurer, Diwa Satkunanathan, for a conversation about leadership, governance, and the future of Distress and Crisis Ontario. Together, they discuss what inspired their involvement in the distress and crisis sector, the important role DCO's Board of Directors plays in supporting the orga...

In this special edition, we sit down with Lev Goldberg, best known on social media platforms as Lev Swims Lakes, to discuss his journey to marathon swimming across the Great Lakes in an effort to raise money for LGBT YouthLine. We bring you a deeper conversation where we discuss how his identity as a trans man shaped his dive into the pool and more. How can someone swim for 24 hours straight? List...

In today's epsiode, we're changing things up! After months of interviewing incredible guests, we realized we never properly introduced ourselves. So this week, Caitlin and Lexie sit down for a relaxed conversation to share more about who they are, what they do at DCO, and the experiences that have shaped their work. In honour of International Self-Care Day (July 24), they also explore what self-ca...

In this episode, we connect with Sheila Levy, Executive Director of one of our member centres, the Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line. We discuss Sheila's role in building the Help Line from the beginning and her tenure as leader of this evolving organization. From starting out with 14 volunteers to managing 60, Sheila's leadership has led them to expand their services to provide a 24/7 crisis line in...

On today's episode, we sit down with Lauren Pragg, the Executive Director of LGBT YouthLine. Lauren (they/them) is a second-generation Indo-Trinidadian settler who has worked extensively in community engagement, research, and communications positions until joining LGBT YouthLine as Executive Director in 2023. LGBT YouthLine is one of our beloved member centres and they provide confidential, anonym...

In this special edition, we sit down with Alina Avram, an Ottawa-based public servant and speaker who brings a lived experience perspective shaped by navigating significant physical health challenges and grief. We discuss her resilience, loneliness in sickness, and how able-bodied individuals can promote meaningful accessibility and inclusion practices in their lives. Alina is vulnerable and share...

In this episode, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Heather Lacey, Executive Director of Able2, to reflect on National Accessibility Week and explore the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful connection. Heather shares an overview of Able2's work supporting people living with disabilities and discusses how the organization's unique matching program helps foster lasting relationships,...

May is Sexual Violence Prevention awareness month, and in light of this important topic, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with The Learning Network and The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC). In our conversation with The Learning Network, we discuss their work and how it contributes to promoting gender equity through gender-based violence prevention, the intersection of gender-based violen...

In this episode, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Lauren Smith, Registered Psychotherapist, to explore the connection between mental health, movement, and spending time in nature. As the weather gets warmer, they discuss how being outdoors and in motion can support emotional well-being. Drawing on over 16 years of clinical experience, Lauren shares insights from her work supporting individuals, cou...

In this episode, Caitlin and Lexie sit down with Dr. Jennifer Gordon, a registered clinical psychologist, associate professor of psychology at the University of Regina, and director of the Reproductive Mental Health Research Unit. We discuss her journey to becoming a pre-eminent researcher within women's mental health, how her research advances interventions for infertility-related distress and pr...

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...

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 th...

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 res...

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...

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 div...

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,...

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...

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 P...

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 anyth...

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 incorporat...