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 248: On How to Help Children Cope with Graphic Images

    October 17th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  15 mins 10 secs
    on how to help children cope with graphic images

    This special episode of the podcast is being shared in response to events currently occurring globally that may be causing distress for our listeners and those they support. In this episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, and Christina Droumtsekas, Waterloo-based art therapist, discuss information from a Global News article written by Katie Dangerfield, titled, “Israel attack: How to help young people cope with graphic images on social media”.

  • Episode 247: On Stigma and Discrimination

    October 16th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 53 secs
    on stigma and discrimination

    This week, as World Mental Health Month continues, we use information from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to explore what stigma and discrimination are, how they directly affect persons living with mental health and substance use disorders, and how we can work to combat their effects.

  • Episode 246: On Thanksgiving and Gratitude

    October 9th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  11 mins 43 secs
    on thanksgiving and gratitude

    As this episode is released on October 9th, 2023, we would like to wish our listeners in Canada a Happy Thanksgiving. In today’s episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, reads an excerpt from an article featured in our October eNews + Views newsletter, “The history of Thanksgiving — An Indigenous perspective”, written by Kaleeb Meeks for Pelham today. She also shares some options for practicing gratitude in general if you are not someone who celebrates Thanksgiving.

    As this episode is released on October 9th, 2023, we would like to wish our listeners in Canada a Happy Thanksgiving. In today’s episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, reads an excerpt from an article featured in our October eNews + Views newsletter, “The history of Thanksgiving — An Indigenous perspective”, written by Kaleeb Meeks for Pelham today. She also shares some options for practicing gratitude in general if you are not someone who celebrates Thanksgiving.

  • Episode 245: On World Mental Health Day 2023

    October 2nd, 2023  |  Season 2  |  22 mins 25 secs
    on world mental health day 2023

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, talks about World Mental Health Day, which occurs on October 10th. She explores the World Health Organization’s “World mental health report” and discusses the theme for World Mental Health Day 2023, “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right”.

  • Episode 244: On Asking For Help With An 8th Grader

    September 25th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  10 mins 57 secs
    on asking for help with an 8th grader

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, sits down with her daughter to talk about asking for help. They share some of their own opinions and experiences on asking for help, as well as some tips that could be useful for others who struggle with seeking support.

  • Episode 243: On Active Listening with Sabrina

    September 18th, 2023  |  Season 2  |  20 mins 34 secs
    on active listening with sabrina

    This week, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, has a conversation with Sabrina, a psychotherapist, about active listening. They discuss how to actively listen to those in your life who need support, how to request active listening from others, and how to actively listen to ourselves.

  • 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.