Becoming Ararat: Armenian Mental Health Podcast

When someone asks you how you are, do you have a tendency to say, "lav em"? Sometimes we aren't even aware of how we really feel. It's important for us to be self-aware and to be able to describe our feelings. Here's a short list of words we can use, in both English and Western Armenian.

Check out aghvorpaner.com, which inspired me to do this episode. For a list of diasporan Armenian therapists: amhi.org/diaspora-therapists-database. Free support in Ontario: connexontario.ca/1-866-531-2600 & kidshelpphone.ca/1-800-668-6868 (database of mental health services), mdpac.ca (family physician psychotherapists), bouncebackontario.ca (15yo+; 6 phone sessions, workbooks, videos, etc.), info.mindbeacon.com/btn542 & ontario.abiliticbt.com (online cognitive behavioural therapy, check-ins with a therapist), and good2talk.ca/1-866-925-5454 (support for post-secondary students).

ՀԱՇ123 is a tool you can use to deal with emotional distress, based on the work of Canadian Dr. Marcia Kostenuik (drkostenuik.com). 

Համրել, Արթնութիւն, Շունչ, Մէկ բան, Երկու դրական յատկանիշ եւ Երեք շնորհակալութիւն:

In this episode of Becoming Ararat, we will discuss psychological treatment for depression. Are there different types? Is it better than medication? Listen for answers to these and other common questions.

Mount Ararat is sacred to Armenians. We can benefit from meditating on the image of a mountain and emodying the mountain. Becoming Ararat.

Inspired by Jon Kabat-Zinn (mindfulnesscds.com): "Mountains are quintessentially emlematic of abiding presence and stillness"Music by Khatchadour Khatchadourian (khatchmusic.com), used with permission. 

Տու՛ր, մի վախնար, 

Ա՛ռ, մի ամչնար:

An Armenian proverb about giving and receiving.

In this episode, I read the reflections of Robert Haddejian (editor, Marmara newspaper, Istanbul) on this proverb from his book Hyegagan Aradzner/Հայկական Առածներ. Get your copy from http://www.abrilbooks.com/haykakan-aratsner.html.

A poem by Bedros Tourian (1851–1872)

Intro music: Little Lake, composed by Garbis Aprikian, sung by Armand Arapian

A poem by Arshag Chobanian (1872-1954), exploring a dream wherein he is offered a world where hearts do no suffer, where life is an neverending festival, where there is no death.

What is depression? How is it diagnosed? What are the symptoms of depression? We'll answer these questions in this episode of Becoming Ararat. In subsequent episodes, we'll explore psychological, medication, complementary and alternative treatments for depression. Visit the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments for more information: canmat.org

A much-cited poem by 13th-century Persian poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī.

Music by Khatchadour Khatchadourian, used with permission.