Shows
DCO Discourse...Episode 369: On Suicide Prevention: WRSPCIn this episode, Vijay speaks with Elisa Brewer-Singh, Executive Director of the Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council, about what suicide prevention looks like beyond crisis lines and emergency response. The conversation explores WRSPC’s role in the broader mental health ecosystem, the risks of focusing only on moments of acute crisis, and the often-invisible work of prevention and community care. Together, they unpack the challenges of building connection around a deeply stigmatized topic and how everyday acts of “community maintenance” can help create a more compassionate, supportive Waterloo Region.
2026-03-0231 minDCO Discourse...Episode 368: On Mental Health for leadersIn this episode, Vijay sits down with Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable, to unpack what it really means to treat mental wellbeing as a leadership practice. They explore burnout, workplace vulnerability, and how organizations can move beyond stigma to create cultures that actually support people. Drawing on Hailey’s lived experience and crisis-sector leadership, the conversation dives into the power of mental health storytelling and what it takes to sustain optimism while doing emotionally demanding work.
Visit Unsinkable to see the great work they're doing in supporting mental health through story telling
2026-02-1639 minDCO Discourse...Episode 366: On Bell Let's Talk Day 2026 with Mary DeaconIn this episode, we’re focusing on the power of conversation and the ongoing effort to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health support across Canada through Bell Let's Talk Day. We’re honoured to be joined by Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let’s Talk, and we'll be speaking about the evolution and impact of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative, the importance of national dialogue on mental health, and how organizations and individuals can continue to drive meaningful change.
To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your lif...
2026-01-1937 minDCO Discourse...Episode 365: On DCO Discourse's 2025 HighlightsIn this episode, we listen to clips from our top five episodes of 2025, you’ll hear from current and previous staff at DCO including Marissa R, Caitlin P, Prabhvir G, Christina D, with guests including community members, and therapists such as Chad Mackintosh and Tracey Sebastian. It’s a reminder that the DCO discourse podcast is inherently a community initiative with many voices attached to it. I hope you enjoy! And we look forward to releasing more episodes in 2026.
Check out the full episodes here:
https://dcontario.fireside.fm/316
https://dcontario.fireside.fm/317
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2026-01-0525 minDCO Discourse...Episode 364: On CPBAO's Cuts to Training for PsychologistsIn this episode, Vijay breaks down the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario’s proposed reforms, which aim to speed up licensure and increase access to care. While supporters argue these changes could reduce wait times, many psychologists, educators, and community organizations warn they may compromise the quality and safety of mental health care. Featuring insights from the Psychology Advocacy Network, this episode explores what’s at stake, the growing pushback from professionals, and what these decisions could mean for patients across the province.
Check out the Psychology Advocacy Network's website here: https://www.psychadvocacy.ca...
2025-12-2228 minDCO Discourse...Episode 363: Archived Episode: On The Importance of SleepThis week, we're replaying a popular episode on sleep hygiene. Caitlin shares some information on why sleep is important to our mental health, how we can try to improve our sleep quality, and some resources to learn more. Stay tuned to the end, where Vijay addresses something we didn't the first time around, the dangers of oversleeping.
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 you for listening and...
2025-12-1514 minDCO Discourse...Episode 362: On Shifting Towards Cultural HumilityThis week we're doing another installment of Crisis Reports talking about a paper entitled “Rethinking Cultural Competence: Shifting to Cultural Humility”. This paper focuses on the shift happening across health and social services moving away from cultural competence and toward cultural humility. Your host, Vijay M, walks through what this means practically with some examples of how to incorporate cultural humility into crisis work.
Read the full article here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7756036/pdf/10.1177_1178632920970580.pdf
To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life...
2025-12-0817 minDCO Discourse...Episode 358: On Men's Mental Health: A Chat with HeadsUpGuysIn 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 self-care, screening tools, courses, and a therapist directory. Josh himself is a men’s mental health advocate and has done a tremendous amount of writing for the site
Check out the full websit...
2025-11-1030 minDCO Discourse...Episode 357: On Seasonal Affective Disorder 2025In 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: https://www.dcontario.org/navigating-seasonal-affective-disorder/
To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to...
2025-11-0317 minDCO Discourse...Episode 356: On Halloween Safety and Inclusion Pt. 2In 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, handing out candy, or hosting an alternative celebration, tune in for a quick and meaningful reminder to keep Halloween safe, kind, and community-centered.
Check out the Teal Pumpkin Project here: https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/teal...
2025-10-2710 minDCO Discourse...Episode 354: On Crisis Reports Mini-series #3: Can talking to a Chatbot affect our mental health?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 researchers found, from the short-term comfort chatbots can provide, to the risks of emotional dependence and loneliness with heavy use. We also discuss what these findings mean for the future of mental health technology, and...
2025-10-1320 minDCO Discourse...Episode 352: On Race in a Therapeutic Setting: Should Counselling be Race Neutral?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 trust and outcomes. Drawing on her own experiences as an immigrant, mother, and practitioner, she also reflects on generational trauma, cultural mismatches in care, and what it takes to make Canada’s counseling field more inclusive and responsive.
To c...
2025-09-2936 minDCO Discourse...Episode 351: On Crisis Reports Mini-series, #2: Burnout and Quality of Life Amongst Responders.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 their own work? What factors, like age, experience, and overnight shifts, make burnout and secondary traumatic stress more likely? Tune in as we explore new research on responder wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the supports that help most, the ga...
2025-09-2219 minDCO Discourse...Episode 350: On Living Experience with Emergency Mental Health: Sarah's StoryIn 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 shares how systemic underfunding, lack of training, and resource shortages shaped her care, and how individual acts of compassion by staff often weren’t enough to overcome structural problems.
Through Sarah’s story, listeners will hear the cracks in our...
2025-09-1537 minDCO Discourse...Episode 349: On Suicide Prevention: 4 Programs that are Saving LivesIn 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 Up campaign, which tackles men’s mental health and suicide prevention, they discuss how different approaches can make a life-saving impact. They also highlight Roots of Hope, a national suicide prevention initiative here in Canada...
2025-09-0829 minDCO Discourse...Episode 347: On Crisis Reports Mini-series, #1: The State of Equity in Crisis Lines in Canada.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, depression, and suicidal thoughts? What gaps exist in their ability to support marginalized groups such as Black communities, Indigenous peoples, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals? Tune in as we discuss the importance of cultural humility, the role of training, and the resources...
2025-08-2525 minDCO Discourse...Episode 345: On How Crisis Lines Can Better Support Queer CallersIn 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 and Tristan shared alarming statistics, such as 27% of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing major depressive episodes and 40% having lifetime suicide ideation, while emphasizing the impact of discrimination and the importance of gender-affirming care. Monica noted that while statistics are crucial for...
2025-08-1139 minDCO Discourse...Episode 341: How Do We Support 2SLGBTQIA+ Students on Campuses?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 universities, highlighting its unique scope and commitment to fostering change through research. The conversation explored various aspects of the project, including intersectionality challenges, mixed-methods findings, knowledge mobilization efforts, and the importance of socially responsive program design for LGBTQ+ students. The discussion concluded wi...
2025-07-141h 06DCO Discourse...Episode 339: On The Coming Out Experience: 3 Questions about Identity.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 well as share some insights about how to support 2SLGBTQIA+ people in your life.
Link to Pew Research Centre Coming Out Project: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/06/13/ch...
2025-06-3044 minDCO Discourse...Episode 329: On Identity with Vijay pt 4: Expanding the NarrativeIn the final episode of this series, Vijay, a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, continues to share their experiences as a trans non-binary individual of color, as well as sharing the experiences of others in the queer community. The discussion between Vijay and Caitlin focuses on the importance of timely and appropriate interventions for queer individuals, the need for better understanding and training in queer issues among healthcare providers, and the importance of advocating for change in mental health systems.
As discussed in the episode, the following are some resources that we felt were important to share.
2025-04-2155 minDCO Discourse...Episode 326: On Exploring Identity with Vijay pt 3: Tackling the “Tough Questions”.In this episode, Caitlin continues her conversation with Vijay, a Psychology & Neuroscience student and mental health professional, sharing their journey of self-discovery as a trans, nonbinary person of color. In part three Caitlin and Vijay delve a little deeper into some of the tougher questions surrounding identity, coming out, the suicide crisis in the trans community, and more.
As discussed in the episode, the following are some resources that we felt were important to share.
Trans Lifeline: https://www.translifeline.org - Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested fr...
2025-03-3138 minDCO Discourse...Episode 323: On Exploring Identity with Vijay pt 2: Understanding the 2SLGBTQIA+ Experience & AllyshipIn this episode, we continue our conversation with Vijay, a Psychology & Neuroscience student and mental health professional. Vijay shares their journey of self-discovery as a trans, nonbinary person of color, offering insight into the differences between trans and cis experiences, common misconceptions about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and the importance of allyship. We discuss how small acts of support can make a big impact, key terms allies should know, and where individuals can find community and resources. Tune in for an open and thoughtful discussion on identity, inclusion, and support.
To connect with support related to this episode...
2025-03-1053 minDCO Discourse...Episode 319: On Exploring Identity with VijayIn this episode, Caitlin Plant, Program Manager at Distress and Crisis Ontario, speaks with Vijay, a Psychology & Neuroscience student and mental health professional, about their journey as a trans, nonbinary individual of color. Vijay shares their personal experiences navigating identity, mental health, and some of the challenges of being part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. They discuss the impact of current social and political climates, the importance of allyship, and how small actions—like understanding pronouns—can make a difference. This is part one of an ongoing conversation exploring identity, resilience, and support within the community.
To connect with...
2025-02-1040 min