In Episode 6 of A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna, to discuss findings from the State of Mental Health in Canada report. They delve into the report’s key insights, the challenges facing mental health care in British Columbia, and the steps needed to address these issues. From the toxic drug crisis to housing affordability, this episode highlights the pressing need for systemic change while exploring innovative approaches that offer hope for the future.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Mental Health in BC:
  BC’s attempt to manage mental health care through a specialized ministry, rather than integrating it into the Ministry of Health, has been described as a "seven-year failed experiment." The challenges of this model and its impact on service delivery are unpacked.
• Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health:
  BC has the highest rates of stigma and discrimination related to mental health and substance use in Canada. Mike and Jessica explore the potential causes and implications of this troubling statistic.
• The Toxic Drug Crisis:
  The ongoing opioid epidemic is discussed as a major issue in BC, underscoring the need for urgent action to reduce overdoses and provide support for substance users.
• Mental Health Data and Measurement Gaps:
  Questions arise about the accuracy and validity of provincial mental health data. Mike explains how data inconsistencies complicate efforts to measure progress and allocate resources effectively.
• Innovative Solutions in BC:
  The episode highlights programs like the PACT initiative (Peer Assisted Care Teams), which provides non-police responses to mental health crises. Originating in North and West Vancouver, this program has shown promising results and could expand to Kelowna.
• Housing and Affordability:
  Housing affordability remains a critical issue in BC, with seniors and vulnerable populations increasingly affected. Despite recent investments, more action is needed to address homelessness and ensure affordable housing for all.
• National Recommendations:
  The report calls for:
  • Legislating that 12% of provincial health spending be dedicated to mental health and substance use services.
  • Eliminating poverty, recognizing its direct connection to mental illness.
  • Collecting better data to improve service delivery and outcomes.

Calls to Action:

• Advocacy: Listeners are encouraged to advocate for increased mental health funding and policy changes.
• Support Those Affected: Check in with your friends, family, and those struggling with mental health in your life.
• Read the Report: Access the full State of Mental Health in Canada report here.

**Resources:
https://cmha.ca/what-we-do/policy-research/state-of-mental-health-in-canada/

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

In Episode 5 of A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels is joined by Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna for a conversation on Mental Health & The Holidays. The holiday season brings unique joys and challenges. In this episode, we dive into practical strategies for managing mental health and well-being during a time of heightened expectations, consumerism, and emotional triggers.

Key Topics Covered:

1. High Expectations During the Holidays

• The "perfect holiday" narrative: Balancing societal pressure and personal priorities.
• Strategies for managing expectations:
  • Focus on what the holidays mean to you.
  • Delegate responsibilities when hosting.
  • Accept imperfection: It’s okay if the ornaments aren’t perfectly placed.

2. Setting Boundaries

• Healthy boundaries ensure you protect your mental well-being.
• Tips for effective boundary-setting:
  • Be clear and kind in communication.
  • Examples: "I can join for dinner but not stay the whole evening."
  • Remember, boundaries aren’t inherently negative—they’re a tool for self-care.

3. Overindulgence: Food, Alcohol, and Spending

• Awareness and moderation are key to avoiding post-holiday regret:
  • Spending: Set a budget and stick to it. Consider alternative gifting options, like Secret Santa or giving your time.
  • Eating & Drinking: Stay mindful of consumption and its impact on mental health.
  • Maintain routines, like exercise, to balance indulgences.

4. Loneliness and Grief During the Holidays

• Loneliness is common during the season, especially when facing grief or being away from loved ones.
• Ideas to combat loneliness:
  • Volunteer in your community.
  • Reach out to friends or family through calls or cards.
  • Plan small traditions for yourself, like a Christmas Day walk.
• Managing grief during the holidays:
  • Allow yourself to feel emotions and reflect on positive memories.
  • Share your thoughts with a trusted friend or loved one.
  • Have a plan for anniversaries or milestones that may trigger grief.

5. Consumerism and Financial Stress

• The holiday season amplifies the pressure to spend, especially with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and gift-giving traditions.
• Strategies to manage financial stress:
  • Be mindful of spending limits.
  • Focus on meaningful, non-monetary gifts (e.g., quality time).
  • Prepare for post-holiday realities to avoid the "holiday hangover."

Key Takeaways:

• Manage expectations and focus on what truly matters to you during the holidays.
• Set boundaries to protect your emotional and mental well-being.
• Moderation in spending, eating, and drinking can prevent regrets later.
• Combat loneliness through connection, volunteering, and small personal rituals.
• Grief can be heightened during holidays—acknowledge it and seek support when needed.

**Resources:
https://www.interiorhealth.ca/stories/10-ways-focus-your-mental-wellness-during-holidays

https://cmha.ca/news/five-ways-to-protect-your-mental-health-this-holiday/

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

In Episode 4 of A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels is joined by Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna, for a discussion on men's mental health and suicide rates. Acknowledging the cultural and societal expectations surrounding masculinity, they explore how these norms contribute to the struggles men face when seeking help. This episode sheds light on alarming statistics, personal experiences, and the urgent need for more open conversations.

Key Topics Discussed

• The Silent Crisis: An overview of the suicide rates in Canada, where approximately 75% of the 4,000 annual suicides are men.
• Gender Paradox: Discussion of why men are more likely to die by suicide despite women attempting it more frequently.
• Cultural Expectations of Masculinity: How societal norms dictate that men should be strong and self-reliant, making it difficult for them to express vulnerability or seek help.
• Personal Experiences: Mike Gawliuk shares his journey with depression and the societal pressures that discouraged open conversations about mental health.
• The Role of Social Connections: The importance of having supportive relationships and how they differ between men and women.
• Impact of Life Events: How unemployment, relationship breakdowns, and parenting challenges can significantly affect men's mental health.
• Resources for Men: Introduction of various resources such as Heads Up Guys and He Changed It, aimed at providing support and information for men's mental health.
• Workplace Culture: The stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace and how it can prevent men from seeking help.
• Community Awareness: The need for increased awareness and conversation around men's mental health, particularly in light of the current drug crisis affecting men disproportionately.

Important Statistics

• 75% of suicides in Canada are by men.
• 77% of deaths from unregulated drugs in British Columbia are male.
• 80% of these drug-related deaths occur indoors, highlighting issues of isolation.

Takeaways

• Encouragement to Seek Help: Mike emphasizes the importance of reaching out and having conversations about mental health.
• Community Action: Individuals can play a role in fostering community discussions and reducing stigma around mental health issues.
• Resources and Support: Awareness of available tools and websites can help men recognize when they need help and how to access it.

**Additional Resources**
He changed it

Buddy Up

Men's Health Foundation

ingoodcompany.menshealthresearch.ubc.ca

Heads Up Guys

Movember

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

In Episode 3 of A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels is joined by Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna, for a discussion on the cost of living and how it can affect one's mental health. This episode, Jessica and Mike explore how increased living expenses contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, especially for vulnerable populations.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Connection Between Cost of Living and Mental Health:
  • Highlighting the link between low incomes and mental illness, exacerbated by rising costs and interest rates.
  • The psychological burden of financial strain, emphasizing the stress on those with limited resources.
• Impact of Inflation on Social Interaction:
  • The term "inflation isolation" is introduced, addressing how financial strain limits social activities that are crucial for mental well-being.
  • Isolation can worsen mental health, transitioning from anxiety to more serious mental health issues.
• Vulnerable Populations:
  • Identifying various groups particularly affected, including nonprofit sector workers, seniors on fixed incomes, and service industry employees.
  • The challenges faced by these groups as costs rise.
• Resources Available:
  • CMHA Kelowna’s Rent Bank program is highlighted, providing no-interest loans to those at risk of eviction.
  • Other community resources for financial literacy and mental health support are shared, including food banks and counseling services.
• Managing Mental Health:
  • An emphasis on the importance of self-awareness and recognizing changes in behavior and mood.
  • Strategies for managing mental health during tough financial times are discussed, such as limiting technology use, seeking social connections, and engaging in free activities.

**Resources Mentioned:

• CMHA Kelowna: Mental Health Support Services | Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna
• Rent Bank Program: Central Okanagan Rent Bank | Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna
• Foundry Kelowna: Foundry - Where Wellness Takes Shape
• Virtual Counseling Services: Foundry Virtual BC - Foundry BC App
• Financial Literacy Programs: Home - Launch Okanagan

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

In Episode 2 of A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels is joined by Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna, for a discussion on housing and homelessness. This episode sheds light on the complex web of issues surrounding homelessness and highlights the importance of proactive community support and resources. The discussion examines the many pathways to homelessness, and how experiencing homelessness can significantly impact a person's mental wellness.

Resources and programs that can prevent individuals from becoming homeless, and that can support people to get back into housing are highlighted in this episode.

**Key Topics Discussed:**

• What It Means to Have a Home: The distinction between having a stable home versus temporary shelter, and why a secure place to live is critical to overall well-being.
• Pathways to Homelessness: Exploring the many factors—both individual and societal—that can contribute to housing instability and homelessness, from financial struggles, to personal crises, to mental health challenges.
• Prevention and Early Intervention: Mike shares insights on existing programs and services designed to intervene early, helping to prevent individuals from becoming homeless.

**Resources Mentioned:**

• Central Okanagan Rent Bank (Operated by CMHA Kelowna)
• BC Rent Bank (provincial entity)
• Boys and Girls Club (Shelter Diversion program)
• Metro Shelter Hub

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

In the first episode of A Way Forward Podcast: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, Jessica Samuels covers the topic of Youth Mental Health with CMHA Kelowna CEO Mike Gawliuk and the need for more mental health resources and support for young people. The conversation focuses on the importance of early intervention and how providing mental health services sooner can have a lasting impact on youth as they transition into adulthood.

Mike shares his expertise on the current state of youth mental health in Kelowna, emphasizing that many mental health struggles can be mitigated or addressed with timely and adequate resources. The episode also explores the critical role that youth dedicated organizations, school, and families play in advocating for more accessible mental health programs and the long-term benefits of investing in early intervention.

The episodes wraps up with a discussion of programs and resources available for young people as they manage their mental health challenges.

**Key Topics Discussed:**
- The current gaps in mental health resources for youth
- The importance of early intervention in preventing long-term mental health issues
- How early support can help ease the transition from adolescence into adulthood
- The role of CMHA Kelowna/Foundry Kelowna in advocating for youth mental health
- How youth dedicated programs, schools, parents, and communities can collaborate to provide better mental health support
- How parents and caregivers know when to see out supports for youth
- Real-life stories of impact and success when intervention happens early
- Programs and resources that are available

**Resources Mentioned:**
- Foundry Central (provincial entity, Foundry Virtual)
- Foundry Kelowna (operated by CMHA Kelowna)
- ARC Programs (Family Connections Centre)
- The Upstream Project (Boys and Girls Club Okanagan)
- The Bridge Youth Services

**General Mental Health Resources:**
If you or someone you know is struggling, CMHA Kelowna's Find Help Now page has a list of emergency and non-emergency resources for individuals of any age. CMHA Kelowna - Find Help Now

Introducing A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, hosted by Jessica Samuels in partnership with CMHA Kelowna, and presented by Beem Credit Union.

In this short introduction episode, Jessica Samuels outlines that this podcast will focus on the issues that are wearing on our mental health and are impacting the wider community.

She shares what to expect from each episode and promises to leave you feeling like you have...a way forward.