DCO Discourse...

Moving Forward Through Partnerships

About the show

Discussions on topics related to mental health, addictions, and life in Ontario, Canada. We aim to provide our listeners with tools and resources that will help them to improve their own mental health and wellness, as well as tools to help them support their family members, loved ones, and their communities at large. If you would like to provide feedback and/or request future topics, please use the following link: https://forms.gle/MhSNiyMm2c2xsiv8A.

We regret to announce that the ONTX text and chat program will cease operations on November 30th, 2023. Text and chat services will remain available until that date, however, they will no longer be accessible starting December 1st, 2023. If you are seeking support alternatives, we encourage you to visit our website at www.dcontario.org/locations to locate your nearest Member centre, some of which provide their own text and/or chat support services.

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Episodes

  • Episode 242: Archive Episode: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

    September 11th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  11 mins 52 secs
    archive episode: seasonal affective disorder (sad)

    This week, as we enter seasons of shorter days, longer nights, and colder weather, we are sharing an archived episode on Seasonal Affective Diaorder. In this archived episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, explores how to maintain your mental health during the fall and winter months with Sabrina, a mental health advocate and Qualifying Registered Psychotherapist.

  • Episode 241: On Suicidal Ideation and Creating Hope Through Action

    September 4th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  17 mins 50 secs
    on suicidal ideation and creating hope through action

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, provides information on suicidality and suicidal ideation to honour World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. This episode contains talk of what suicide and suicidal ideation are, how to navigate loss related to suicide, how to support someone following an attempt to die by suicide, and more.

  • Episode 240: Archived Episode: On Gender-Based Violence and The Signal for Help

    August 28th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  26 mins 45 secs
    archived episode, on gender-based violence and the signal for help

    In this archived episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, interviewed Andrea Gunraj from the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF). They talked about gender equality, gender-based violence, and the Signal for Help as developed by the CWF at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Episode 239: On Supporting Youth with Eating Disorders

    August 21st, 2023  |  Season 2  |  24 mins 28 secs
    on supporting youth with eating disorders

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, discusses how to support youth with eating disorders. This episode covers basic information on what eating disorders are, signs and symptoms to look out for, how to talk to youth and healthcare professionals, and more.

  • Episode 238: On “Mom Guilt”

    August 14th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 57 secs
    guilt, mom

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, talks about "mom guilt". She discusses what it is, where it may stem from, and how we can attempt to manage it.

  • Episode 237: On Preparing for Back to School

    August 7th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  14 mins 58 secs
    on preparing for back to school

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares tips for getting ready to go back-to-school. The episode contains information from two sources, one aimed at supporting college and university students and one aimed at supporting parents and younger children.

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares tips for getting ready to go back-to-school. The episode contains information from two sources, one aimed at supporting college and university students and one aimed at supporting parents and younger children.

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares tips for getting ready to go back-to-school. The episode contains information from two sources, one aimed at supporting college and university students and one aimed at supporting parents and younger children.

  • Episode 236: Archived Episode: On Self Compassion

    July 31st, 2023  |  Season 2  |  12 mins 21 secs
    archived episode, on self compassion

    This week, we’re resharing one of our most popular episodes on self-compassion. Self-compassion, as defined by Kristin Neff, is the practice of extending compassion to oneself in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering. In this archived episode, a past student health promotion intern, Harisaa Selvanayagam, speaks with her professor, Dr. Jim Perretta, about the importance of self-compassion and how to begin practicing it in our lives.

  • Episode 235: On Sleep Hygiene

    July 24th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  20 mins 3 secs
    on sleep hygiene

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, explores the topic of sleep. Specifically, how sleep and our mental health interact with one another and how to improve our sleep hygiene.

  • Episode 234: On Sunlight and Sun Safety

    July 16th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  16 mins 49 secs
    on sunlight and sun safety

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, explores why sunshine can be beneficial to our health, as well as outlining some safety tips and what to do in the case of sunburn and heat stroke.

  • Episode 233: On Managing Screen Time

    July 10th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  15 mins 35 secs
    on managing screen time

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, discusses information overload, shares how to determine if you should cut back screen time, and provides tips around limiting device use. If you or your family members are struggling with setting boundaries around devices, the strategies laid out in this episode could help.

  • Episode 232: On the Intersection of Ageism and Gender Bias

    July 3rd, 2023  |  Season 2  |  15 mins 43 secs
    on the intersection of ageism and gender bias

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares some information from the Harvard Business Review and Forbes on the intersectionality of ageism and gender bias that women face in the workplace. Included in the episode are some strategies for combatting gendered ageism.

  • Episode 231: On Brain Injury Awareness Month with Lex Heffernan

    June 26th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  16 mins 38 secs
    on brain injury awareness month with lex heffernan

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, has a conversation with Lex Heffernan from the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington for Brain Injury Awareness Month. They explore why talking about brain injury is important, who can be impacted by brain injury and how to support them, and more.

  • Episode 230: On National Indigenous History Month with Charity Fleming

    June 19th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  35 mins 20 secs
    on national indigenous history month with charity fleming

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, sits down with Charity Fleming from Qualia Counselling Services to learn about National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous Peoples Day, and how non-Indigenous settlers and allies can respectfully acknowledge, celebrate, and support these important times of awareness.

  • Episode 229: On Pride Month with Valéry Brosseau

    June 12th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  23 mins 1 sec
    pride, valéry brosseau

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, has a conversation with Valéry Brosseau about Pride Month. They talk about why celebrating Pride is important, how allies can support their 2SLGBTQIA+ loved ones, how to navigate feelings of inadequacy or fear that may surround Pride, and more.

  • Episode 228: On the Importance of Awareness Days

    June 5th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  12 mins 27 secs
    on the importance of awareness days

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, explores why awareness days are important as well as sharing specific information on Pride Month, National Indigenous History Month, and Brain Injury Awareness Month, which are all celebrated in June. Over the next three weeks DCO Discourse… will be focusing on each of those awareness themes.

  • Episode 227: On Social Media and Youth Mental Health

    May 29th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  19 mins 56 secs
    social media, youth mental health

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares further information on youth mental health, specifically related to social media use and a recent advisory released by the United States surgeon general. Included in this episode are some concerns, how the youth feel, and advice for parents on navigating social media use for their teens