DCO Discourse...

Episode 42: Blind or Partially Sighted

September 6th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  17 mins 37 secs

Vision loss can occur at any age and can be caused by eye problems that are present at birth, by conditions that appear later in life, or by infections or environmental factors. Aging however, seems to be most closely connected to the eye health of indivi

Episode 41: Duty to report

August 30th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  16 mins 28 secs

We all share a responsibility to protect children from harm. This includes situations where children are abused or neglected in their own homes. Ontario’s Child and Family Services Act (CFSA) provides for protection of these children. The Act states that

Episode 40: From the Ashes

August 22nd, 2019  |  Season 1  |  28 mins 59 secs

addictions, from the ashes, jesse thistle

Jesse Thistle is Cree-Metis on his mother’s side and Scottish and Algonquin on his father’s side. Jesse is a P. E. Trudeau and Vanier Scholar, as well as a Governor General Silver Medalist. He is a Ph.D. Candidate in History and is an Assistant Professor,

Episode 39: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

August 20th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  26 mins 22 secs

post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event - either experiencing it or witnessing it. It can be an extremely debilitating condition that can occur after exposure to an event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. This is not a rare condition. PTSD can affect anyone who has had a traumatic experience and is among the most common mental health problems. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1 in 10 people will suffer from PTSD and the number can be higher among specific groups of workers.

Episode 38: Communicating with Youth Experiencing Depression or Suicidality

August 17th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  21 mins 18 secs

communicating with youth experiencing depression or suicidality

Despite the increasing awareness around mental illness, it continues to be the single most disabling group of disorders. According to the World Health Organization, it affects youth, and specifically teen females, particularly hard. It is estimated that between 10 and 20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness and approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth have experienced a major depressive episode. This indicates that over 3 million teens in Canada today, between the ages of 12 and 19, are at risk of developing depression.

Episode 37: Understanding Homelessness

August 9th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  20 mins 29 secs

understanding homelessness

Housing is one of the most important factors for a healthy life. A good home is important for individuals and for overall population health. There is a growing number of Canadians who are precariously housed or homeless. Changes in the economy and in the housing market are adding to homelessness. The supply of affordable housing has not kept pace with the needs of the population. There has also been a decline in the amount of affordable rental housing in many cities. Combine that with declining incomes and a widespread reduction in social benefits for low-income Canadians, and you get a population that has to spend a greater percentage of its income on housing.

Episode 36: First Nations or Aboriginal Cultural Sensitivity

August 1st, 2019  |  Season 1  |  19 mins 47 secs

aboriginal perspectives, first nations or aboriginal cultural sensitivity, native cultural sensitivity

As help line call responders, you are asked with every contact, to provide care and sensitivity to the needs and conditions of the caller. That sensitivity involves being open and accepting of the person’s background, values and experiences and being awar

Episode 35: Collecting or Hoarding

July 25th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  18 mins 42 secs

collecting or hoarding

Hoarding is a complex behaviour that has been recognized as a distinct mental health disorder in the influential Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). People who hoard accumulate extreme, disorganized clutter in their homes and su

Episode 34: Mental Health First Aid

July 18th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  17 mins 37 secs

mental health first aid

Good mental health involves feeling good both physically and mentally; possessing the ability to enjoy life, and coping effectively with everyday challenges. ‘Easy enough’, you may say, but for many, this can seem like a lofty goal.

Episode 33: A Focus on Anxiety

July 12th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  33 mins 39 secs

anxiety

We all feel nervous, tense or worried at certain times and in certain situations. This anxiety is normal and can be a helpful feeling when it motivates us or warns us of danger. Anxiety is commonly experienced in high pressure situations, for example, pri

Episode 32: DCO Conference 2019 Talk - Loneliness

July 5th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  44 mins 6 secs

loneliness

DCO Conference 2019 Talk - Loneliness

Episode 31: The Seeds of Self-Care

July 3rd, 2019  |  Season 1  |  23 mins 58 secs

self-care

According to the 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey, 21.2% of males (2.8 million) and 23.4% of females (3.2 million) aged 15 or older reported that most days were quite a bit or extremely stressful. This is an alarming number of people who indicate str

Episode 30: DCO Conference 2019 keynote - Finding the passion in what you do with Nina Spencer

June 25th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  58 mins 54 secs

finding the passion in what you do with nina spencer

Motivational speaker, Nina Spencer discusses how to find the passion in what you do.

Episode 29: Gambling is a Family Problem

June 23rd, 2019  |  Season 1  |  21 mins 56 secs

gambling, the family impact of gambling

Our second part/episode on this topic looks at the family impact of problem Gambling. People gamble for a variety of reasons, and there are many vulnerability factors that can contribute to the development of a gambling problem. While most people do not e

Episode 28: Is Gambling really a problem?

June 15th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  30 mins 33 secs

gambling

Most Canadian adults gamble—and do so without experiencing problems. Many young people gamble as well. In a 2006 survey of Ontario students aged 15 to 17 years, it was found that one in three youth (35%) reported gambling at least once in the past year.

Episode 27: Opiates Addiction and Providing Support - Part 2

June 6th, 2019  |  Season 1  |  19 mins 50 secs

opiates addiction, providing support

People with drug dependence may be suffering in silence, missing opportunities for treatment and prolonging the process of recovery, as a result of the stigma and prejudice that society clings to regarding those with drug addictions.