DCO Discourse...

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 sur...

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, no...

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,...

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 s...

In this episode, Vijay from Distress and Crisis Ontario reads the new DCO article on our website they wrote, entitled "Navigating Seasonal Affective Disorder: What Helped Me". This short solo episode shares their own story about dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and ties it in with research into what SAD is and the science behind it. Check out the full article with references here: ht...

In this episode, Vijay from Distress and Crisis Ontario revisits the topic of Halloween safety and inclusion. 👻 With the big night just around the corner, this short, solo episode shares practical safety tips, explores how to create an inclusive environment for families who may not celebrate, and highlights thoughtful ways to make the season fun for everyone. Whether you’re trick-or-treating, han...

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...

As AI becomes a growing part of how people seek support, what happens when human connection is replaced by conversations with chatbots? This study followed nearly a thousand people over four weeks as they exchanged hundreds of thousands of messages with ChatGPT, examining how factors like tone, conversation style, and interaction type shape emotional wellbeing. Tune in as we unpack what the resear...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Caitlin Plant has a conversation with returning guest Regan about the complexities of Thanksgiving. Specifically, they discuss the impact of Thanksgiving on Indigenous communities and Regan's personal journey of becoming more aware of colonialism's ongoing effects. They explored the holiday's historical context and evolving perspectives, emphasizing the importance...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Vijay speaks with Dr. Neta Gear, Executive Director of DCO and a longtime leader in the mental health field. Together, they dive into a challenging, but crucial conversation: race in therapeutic settings. Dr. Gear unpacks why therapy is rarely truly “race-neutral,” how systemic inequities shape mental health, and why representation among counselors matters for trus...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay continues with the mini-series entitled "Crisis Reports", looking at current literature in the sector. This installment, we look at a paper entitled "Burnout and Professional Quality of Life Amongst Crisis Hotline Responders: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Canada During COVID-19". How are Canada’s crisis-line responders coping with the pressures of the...

In this deeply personal and candid conversation, Vijay sits down with their friend "Sarah" (a pseudonym to protect her privacy), a trans woman with lived experience navigating systemic barriers in mental health care. Recorded in an intimate setting, this episode explores Sarah’s mental health journey and her firsthand experiences with emergency services, psychiatric wards, and crisis lines. She sh...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay and Caitlin turn the spotlight on World Suicide Prevention Day, reflecting on how awareness days help bring vital attention to urgent mental health issues. Together, they explore the work of programs aimed at Suicide Prevention, highlighting the diversity of programs aimed at a common goal. From Sri Lanka’s national pesticide ban to Canada’s Buddy U...

This week, Caitlin Plant and Sabrina Popernitsch, a registered psychotherapist and person with lived experience, discuss Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) as an important tool for increasing accessibility to mental health support and reducing stigma. They explored the key components of MHFA, including the ALGES approach and the importance of person-first care and self-care for those providing support...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay starts a new mini-series entitled "Crisis Reports", looking at current literature in the sector. This installment, we look at a paper entitled "Enhancing Equity on Crisis Lines: Understanding the Background, Practices, and Learning Needs of Responders in Canada". How well do responders handle crises involving mental health concerns like anxiety, dep...

This week, on DCO Discourse… we’ve done something a little bit different. In this episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at DCO, sat down with her young son to read the book “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang. After reading the story they talk about what strategies we can use when we are grumpy to feel better, and how we might support others. A synopsis of the story is as follows: “Jim the ch...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with master's student Tristan, Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez, and Dr. Tara Collins, academic researchers involved in a study looking at queer callers in crisis line settings. The discussion focused on the challenges faced by queer service users in crisis lines, highlighting the significant mental health disparities within the LGBTQ+ community. Tara...

On this week’s episode of DCO Discourse… Caitlin Plant is joined by her brother, a teacher with six years of experience, to explore how parents can prepare for back-to-school season with intention. Using added insights from a Psychology Today article, also titled Back-to-School Parenting ( https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/a-different-kind-of-therapy/202408/back-to-school-parenting ), they e...

This week on DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Caitlin Plant to talk about the hidden emotional weight of summer. From FOMO and disrupted routines to grief triggers and social media comparison, we’re holding space for the parts of summer no one talks about. Summer is often portrayed as a season of joy, sunshine, and connection—but for many, it can be a time of&n...

This week on DCO Discourse, podcast host Christina Droumtsekas, is speaking about reimagining self-care—not as bubble baths or luxury escapes, but as everyday survival. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s maintenance, nourishment, and coming home to yourself in a world that constantly pulls you away. Whether you’re burnt out, grieving, caregiving—or just tired of “doing it all”—this episode is your remi...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with Dr. Michael Woodford and Dr. Tin Vo, two academic researchers involved in Thriving On Campus, an Ontario-wide study of 2SLGBTQ+ university students’ experiences, wellbeing, and academic development. The discussion centered on the "Thriving on Campus" project, a comprehensive study examining LGBTQ+ students' experiences in Ontario universi...

This week, in a miniature solo episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares some research on parenting over the summer. Specifically, this episode explores strategies to support their summer experience including trying new things, fostering supportive relationships, providing opportunities for learning, managing screen time, and encouraging boredom. The res...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Co-hosts Vijay Moonilal and Caitlin Plant, talk about the experience of coming out to wrap a bow around the end of Pride month. In this (not so) mini episode, we’ll dive into three questions. What was your coming out experience like? What internalized notions have you had to unpack? And what advice would you give to your younger self about identity? As we...

In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas, and guest advocate Regan Roberts shed light on the lived experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during Brain Injury Awareness Week. Roberts, a student intern, writer, and survivor of a life-altering car accident in 2021, shares her deeply personal journey—from a seven-day coma and relearning basic functions to a delayed dia...

In this second of the 2 part series, episode of DCO Discourse for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with registered psychotherapist Carlton Brown to explore the unique challenges men face regarding mental health. Together, they unpack how masculinity, stigma, and silence can impact men's emotional well-being and how therapy can be a space for healing, vulner...