DCO Discourse...

In Part 2 of this two-part conversation, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, continues her discussion with Sabrina Popernitsch, a Registered Psychotherapist, delving into complex challenges that often arise during the holiday season. They address practical strategies for managing holiday budgeting, coping with seasonal affective disorder, and navigating grief during this...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, speaks with Sabrina Popernitsch, a Registered Psychotherapist, about navigating the emotional challenges of the holiday season. Together, they explore ways to manage expectations, avoid the stress of perfectionism, and support loved ones without overstepping boundaries. Sabrina also shares pract...

In this episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, speaks with Anna Najcler, Volunteer Coordinator at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC). Anna shares her journey to her current role, highlighting the essential qualities she looks for in volunteers, how SASC provides comprehensive training and support, and the unique needs of survivors from dive...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen speaks with Julie Earle, NP-PHC MScN, the Most Responsible Provider Nurse Practitioner on the Geriatric Dementia Unit at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences. Julie shares insights from her career, including co-leading Ontario’s first NP-led hospital and serving on the Consent and Capacity Board. They discuss unique mental health challenges in older a...

In Part 2 of this episode, Marissa Rasmussen continues her conversation with Valéry Brosseau, mental health advocate and founder of Validate Mental Health Consultants. Valéry shares insights from her TEDx talk on destigmatizing suicide, essential tools for supporting mental health, and how her extensive training has shaped her approach to advocacy. They also discuss the challenges of self-care in...

In Part 1 of this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, sits down with Valéry Brosseau, mental health advocate and founder of Validate Mental Health Consultants. Valéry shares her journey from volunteering at Distress Centre Durham to founding her own consulting firm, where she now leads workshops and training on mental health awareness an...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, sits down with Caitlin Jasulaitis, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Windsor, for a conversation about the unique and universal challenges of life in your twenties. While Marissa and Caitlin both bring the fresh perspective of young adults, they also recognize that many o...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, chats with Program Manager Caitlin Plant about Halloween safety and inclusion. 🎃👻 They share tips on keeping the festivities safe, creating an inclusive environment for kids who don’t celebrate, and fun, alternative ways to enjoy the season. Whether you're planning trick-or-treating or a diff...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, sits down with Dr. Diana Brecher, a clinical psychologist and adjunct faculty in the Counselling Psychology Department at Toronto Metropolitan University. With her extensive background in positive psychology, resilience, and mental health support, Dr. Brecher shares insights into how these conc...

In this episode, our Communications and Marketing Manager, Marissa Rasmussen, sits down with Clarence Cachagee, founder of Crow Shield Lodge. Clarence shares his journey and the vision behind this unique space dedicated to reconciliation and healing. He highlights how Indigenous land-based teachings foster connection and belonging within the community. Together, they explore the significance of th...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen sits down with Anne Anderson, a community pastor and leader of the Thirdspace Community, to explore the evolving role of faith communities in addressing modern challenges. Anne shares her journey and insights on how emerging faith communities are fostering leadership, particularly among younger generations. They discuss the intersection of faith, mental health, a...

In honor of National Truth and Reconciliation Day we are revisiting our conversation "On Truth, Reconciliation, and the Burden of Illness with Charity F" Also, we remain committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and perspectives. We encourage listeners to reflect on these discussions and seek further understanding through recent resources. Visit Indigenous Watchdog and the National Centre for Trut...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen and Alexandra Gordon discuss how parents can manage screen time for their children. With the return of school and the shift from potentially more screen time to less, this episode offers practical advice on creating healthier screen habits. We also dive into the dangers and benefits of the internet, how to set boundaries with children, and navigating their intern...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, talks with Caitlin Plant, Program Manager, about the realities of rehabilitation and its profound effects on mental health, just in time for National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. As Caitlin and Marissa share their personal experiences, they explore the challenges that come with physical recov...

In this episode, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, talks with Cheryl Vanderveen, an expert in dementia care and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, about the critical topic of Silent Strokes and their impact. Cheryl shares why raising awareness about Silent Strokes is essential and discusses how these often-overlooked strokes can lead to serious cons...

In this episode from August of last year, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, discusses how to support youth with eating disorders. With the return of school and potentially more high-stress environments for youth, a reminder of how to support them is fitting. This episode covers basic information on what eating disorders are, signs and symptoms to look out for, how to t...

In Part 2 of our discussion on single parenthood, Marissa Rasmussen and Caitlin Plant share valuable insights on the importance of support systems and self-care. They explore how single parents can find the resources they need and prioritize their well-being, especially as the busy school year begins. The episode wraps up with practical advice for making the back-to-school transition smoother. To...

This week, Marissa Rasmussen, Communications and Marketing Manager, is joined by Caitlin Plant, Program Manager, both from Distress and Crisis Ontario, to explore the complex challenges single parents face. In Part 1, they delve into the pressures and obstacles that come with balancing work, parenting, and societal expectations. Tune in for an honest and insightful conversation on what it takes to...

This week, Marissa Rasmussen, DCO’s Communications and Marketing Manager, talks with an aging gracefully social media influencer, Amanda Giorgini, about how social media impacts mental health across different generations. They explore societal pressures and online standards, discussing how these challenges affect various age groups. The episode also covers the benefits and drawbacks of social medi...

This week Caitlin Plant is joined by Marissa Rasmussen, DCO’s new Communications and Marketing Manager, to give some tips for a positive transition back-to-school this fall. Whether you are a parent to a school-aged child or youth, are an elementary or high school student, or if you are someone headed off to post-secondary education and beyond, this episode includes some strategies for preparing f...

This week Katelyn Doyle and Caitlin Plant talk about summer self-care. They include practical advice as well as some fun ideas to incorporate into your self care routine this summer! 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...

This week Katelyn Doyle, Communications and Marketing Manager, talks about celebrating Pride beyond June. If you'd like to see additional information on 2SLGBTQ+ supports and resources, please visit https://www.dcontario.org/2slgbtqia-supports/ 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...

This week Katelyn Doyle and Caitlin Plant talk about body positivity versus body neutrality. They pull information from the following articles: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-positivity-vs-body-neutrality https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4814782/ https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/0512fe_ccc6638a5e3844c8b3dcf4a0e536a9c2.pdf To connect with support related to this episode, or for a...

We've gotten past the midway point in the year and thought it would be a good time to offer this mental health refresher. In this week's episode, Brenda shares research about compassion fatigue and how to handle it. 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 Me...

This week Katelyn Doyle, Marketing and Communications Manager, reflects on Men's Mental Health Month. We want to continue the conversation beyond June and end the stigma surrounding men's mental health. To read the blog post on Men's Mental Health as well as for other resources, visit https://www.dcontario.org/mens-mental-health-month-2024/ . You can also check out our social media collaboration,...