In this episode Paul joins me again to talk about how we learned to temper our expectations while seeking treatment for our daughter, and ultimately get off the roller coaster of hope and despair. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MHMomPodcast Artwork by Alex Costanzo

The Causeway Work Centre in Ottawa provides employment and wellness supports to people with mental illness and other challenges. Executive Director Hailey Hechtman joins me to talk about how Causeway helps people, including youth, find meaningful work and live more independently. For more information: Website: www.causewayworkcentre.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: CausewayWork Twitter: @CausewayWork Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MHMomPodcast Artwork by Alex Costanzo

Lynn Courey and Mike Menu join me to talk about the work of the Sashbear Foundation, which they founded in memory of their daughter Sasha, to support parents and families of loved ones living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or other emotion regulation disorders. In particular, the Family Connections™ Program provides a free, 12-week program of skills training to families across Canada. For more information: Website: sashbear.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: Sashbearorg Twitter: @SashbearOrg Email: [email protected], Twitter: @MHMomPodcast Artwork by Alex Costanzo

My friend Leslie joins me to talk about her experiences as a single parent raising her daughter Katie, who was diagnosed as an adolescent with bipolar disorder and anxiety. Now in her early thirties, Katie is successfully living independently. Leslie and I talk about the challenges of dealing with the school system, managing your work life, and handling the tumultuous teen years. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MHMomPodcast Artwork by Alex Costanzo

It can be hard to know how much to share about your kid’s mental illness, and what to say when you receive comments or advice. In this episode, Paul and I talk about some approaches that worked for us when talking to family, friends, neighbours, and work colleagues. 1:35 - Update on Malika 3:26 - Introducing the topic - how to talk about it when you have a kid with mental illness. Balancing openness with considerations such as privacy and respect and why we feel we can be more open now than in the past. 9:35 - Some general suggestions about what to say when you receive comments or advice. 14:25 - Talking to family. 21:20 - Talking to friends 25:25 - Talking to the neighbours. 29:50 - A conversation about work and some general wrap-up comments. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MHMomPodcast Artwork by Alex Costanzo

My daughter Malika joins me to talk about mental health crisis lines, specifically the Youth Services Bureau Crisis Line in Ottawa and the Kids Help Phone, and how they helped us as a family. Youth Services Bureau Crisis Line https://www.ysb.ca/services/ysb-mental-health/24-7-crisis-line Kids Help Phone https://kidshelpphone.ca

Mental health walk-in clinics were a lifesaver for us when we didn't know where to go for help for our daughter. In this episode I talk about how mental health walk-ins work and what they offer, with special mentions of the Crossroads Children's Centre and Youth Services Bureau in Ottawa. Crossroad's Children's Mental Health Centre https://crossroadschildren.ca/walk-in-clinic/ Youth Services Bureau https://www.ysb.ca/services/ysb-mental-health/youth-mental-health-walk-in-clinic/ The Walk-in Counselling Clinic (Ottawa - for individuals, couples and families) https://walkincounselling.com/

In this episode Paul and I talk more about what we learned at home that helped us cope as a couple.

My husband Paul joins me on this episode to talk about the importance of asking for help, and some of the resources and supports that helped us.

Welcome to the Mental Health Mom. If you're the parent of a kid with mental illness, this podcast is for you. In this episode, I'll talk about who I am, and why I'm doing this podcast.