In this episode of 5 FAQs by EHN Canada, we sit down with Sydney Marcoux, MSW, RSW, Clinical Director at Victim Services of Durham Region, to unpack the realities of gender-based violence and its far-reaching impact. From recognizing early warning signs to supporting survivors with compassion, Sydney helps us separate fact from misconception, while shedding light on the emotional, psychological, and social challenges people face when seeking help.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL ANSWER:

• What exactly is gender-based violence, and how does it differ from other forms of violence or abuse?
• What are some early signs someone might be experiencing gender-based violence, and how can loved ones safely offer support?
• How does trauma from gender-based violence affect someone’s long-term emotional and psychological well-being?
• What role does shame or stigma play in preventing people from seeking help after experiencing gender-based violence?
• What resources and approaches can make a difference in supporting survivors and fostering safer communities?

Learn more about the amazing work that Sydney does here: www.victimservicesdurham.ca/home

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

You’ve probably heard the word breathwork tossed around, but what does it really mean? Can something as simple as breathing help calm the body, manage trauma, and build resilience in high-pressure professions? And how does it actually stack up against practices like meditation or yoga?

In this episode of 5 FAQs by EHN Canada, we sit down with Emily Day from EHN Guardians Gateway to explore how intentional breathing techniques can become a powerful tool for military members, first responders, and anyone living under constant stress. From daily routines to common myths, Emily helps us separate fact from fiction and shows how breathwork can play a key role in mental wellness.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL ANSWER:

• What exactly is breathwork?
• How does breathwork help in managing stress and trauma experienced in high-pressure professions?
• How does breathwork compare to other stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga?
• How can breathwork be integrated into the daily routines of those in high-stress professions?
• What are some common misconceptions about breathwork among military and first responder communities?

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

In this episode of 5 FAQs, we sit down with Jordan Anderson, Executive Director of Alpha House Toronto—a sober living facility dedicated to supporting individuals in early recovery—to explore the critical gaps in mental health care across Canada.As the country continues to grapple with a growing mental health and addiction crisis, access to timely, equitable, and compassionate care remains a major concern. 

Today's 5 FAQs:

1. What barriers prevent equitable access to mental health care across different populations?
2. How does income inequality influence mental health outcomes?
3. What measures are being considered to address the mental health and addiction crisis, and what are the concerns?
4. What measures can be implemented to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and addiction issues within the healthcare system?
5. In your ideal world, what does the future of mental health and addiction care look like to you?

Whether you're navigating the system yourself or advocating for change, this conversation offers clear, compassionate, and honest insight into what’s working, what’s not, and where we go from here. Tune in to hear from someone deeply embedded in the recovery community and committed to building a better, more inclusive system.

To learn more about Jordan and the incredible work he does at Alphahouse, you can click here.

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

In this episode of 5 FAQs, we sit down with Crystal Bell, Executive Director of Outpatient Services at EHN Canada, to tackle the five most searched questions about virtual therapy. As mental health care continues to evolve, virtual therapy has become a lifeline for thousands—but there’s still a lot of confusion about how it works, who it’s for, and whether it’s as effective as in-person treatment. Crystal brings her clinical expertise and frontline experience to answer the top FAQs, including:

1. Is virtual therapy as effective as in-person sessions for treating mental health or addiction issues? 
2. Are there specific challenges or benefits to virtual therapy for individuals dealing with addiction recovery? 
3. What can someone expect during their first virtual therapy session, and how can they prepare for it? 
4. How do therapists build rapport and trust through a screen, especially when working with clients in crisis or early recovery? 
5. What are some common myths or misconceptions about virtual therapy that you often hear from clients? 

Whether you're considering online therapy or just curious about the shift to digital mental health, this episode breaks it all down clearly and compassionately. Tune in for honest answers and expert insights you can trust.

Learn more about virtual therapy here.

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

To kick off this brand new season of 5 FAQs by EHN Canada, it is our pleasure to announce our special guest, Patrick De Belen.

Patrick is a community builder, a coach, a mentor and an artist in the truest sense of the word.

In this episode, we were excited to tackle the 5 FAQs about mental health in the artist community.

Here are today's 5 FAQs:

1. How does mental health impact creativity? 
2. What strategies can artists use to cope with performance anxiety? 
3. What role does community play in an artist's mental health? 
4. How can engaging in art improve mental well-being? 
5. How can artists balance their creative pursuits with self-care? 

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

In this very special episode of 5 FAQs by EHN Canada and EHN Guardians, Pamela Dandolo and Jonathan are excited to interview the one...the only.... WAYNE HANNAH!

Wayne is a Veteran and a First responder with over 2 decades of front-line and active duty experience. He is also a mental health advocate in the truest sense of the term. 

In this episode, we were excited to tackle the 5 FAQs about mental health in the Veteran and First Responder communities.

Here are today's 5 FAQs:

• What is the stigma surrounding mental health for those in active duty?
• Is there a difference in the stigma around mental health for the Firefighter community & the veteran community?
• What resources are available to help veterans overcome mental health concerns?
• How can family and friends support dealing with mental health concerns?

Pay it forward question:

• What is your favourite song to listen to when you are feeling down? Why?

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

What does it actually mean to have resilience and how does one actually explore and build it?

We asked Nick Halmasy from EHN Guardians Gateway, all about this topic, his experience and much much more!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL ANSWER:     

• How do you define resilience? 
• Why is resilience important to first responders?
• What training exists to foster resilience in this community? 
• How can first responders avoid compassion fatigue and burnout? 
• What does the future of building resilience look like for the first responder community? 

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

You’ve probably heard the term, but what does PTSD actually mean? Who does it affect? And what does healing really look like? We asked R. Nicholas Carleton, PhD from the University of Regina, these questions and more. Whether you’ve experienced trauma yourself, know someone who has, or simply want to learn more, this episode is for you.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL ANSWER:     

• What is PTSD and how does it manifest in individuals who experience it?  
• What are some common misconceptions about PTSD?  
• What treatment options are available for individuals dealing with PTSD?  
• How can we engage in any emerging therapies or approaches in mental health support that show promise for treating PTSD?  
• What roles does community support play in the healing process for those with PTSD? 

Resources:

• https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments
• https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/overview_therapy.asp

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

The landscape of mental health and addiction care is changing every day, including some cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment options. At EHN Canada, we are proud to run EHN Red Deer Recovery Centre, a treatment centre structured around Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (or ROSC). But what is ROSC exactly and how can it help out patients? To find out, we talked to Ben Borger, the Clinical Director of EHN Red Deer Recovery Centre and a true champion of this model of treatment.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL ANSWER:    

1. What is ROSC?  
2. What is recovery capital?  
3. What do we assess recovery capital?  
4. What are the key ways in which a national healthcare system can care for someone’s mental health holistically?  
5. What does the future of ROSC look like in the Canadian healthcare system? 

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.

Leaders are the quintessential example of people who forget to take care of themselves and their own mental health. In this episode of 5 FAQs, we explore the challenges that leaders experience, how their mental health is affected, and steps they can take to better care for their own mental health.  

 
THE 5 FAQs WE WILL ANSWER:    

1. What challenges do leaders typically struggle with when it comes to their mental health?  
2. In what ways do these mental health challenges manifest in a leader's work environment, and how can they affect team dynamics?  
3. How do the pressures of leadership impact a leader's home life and their role as a parent?  
4. How can organizations create a culture that supports mental health for leaders and employees alike? 
5. What does the future of mental health for leaders look like? 

Learn more about Kim Ades and the work she does at Frameofmindcoaching.com.

What do you think of the show?

Learn more about EHN Canada and starting your own mental health treatment journey at ehncanada.com.

To learn about how EHN Guardians supports Military, Veterans and First Responder communities, click here: ehnguardians.ca.