Content/Trigger Warning: This episode discusses subjects of burnout, self-care, self-harm, suicide, and mental health.

I recently connected with Stephanie McMahon, a registered psychotherapist in Ontario, who happens to also be a wildlife rehabilitation centre volunteer, to talk about what burnout is and how it impacts individuals, what clearing space for self-care looks like, and how we can all ask for help when we need it.

This week we're talking about self-care and burnout, and that means difficult conversations regarding mental health, self-harm, suicide, and what it looks like to ask for help. If you need immediate help because you're feeling you may harm yourself or others, please contact emergency services in your area. If you're in Canada visit talksuicide.ca or call 1-833-456-4566 to connect with crisis responders.

The content of this episode is not and should be not considered therapy or a replacement for speaking to a healthcare professional about mental health. A number of links to resources by province are available in the show notes for this episode at DefenderRadio.com.

If you're not able to listen to this episode right now – don't. It's really, really okay, I promise.

Links:

Stephanie McMahon's PsychologyToday.com profile:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/stephanie-mcmahon-north-bay-on/894131

Talk Suicide Canada: https://talksuicide.ca/

Kids Help Phone: https://kidshelpphone.ca/

Mental health resources via Canada.ca, including provincial lists of services: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

The Song Mike Talks About: Set Ourselves Free by The Wild (YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ5NVviEEAg)

Want to suggest topics for Defender Radio? Reach out to us at [email protected], by visiting DefenderRadio.com or engaging host Michael Howie on social media via Instagram (www.instagram.com/howiemichael) or Facebook (www.Facebook.com/DefenderRadio).

The Switch is produced by The Fur-Bearers (www.TheFurBearers.com), a charitable non-partisan organization whose mandate is to advocate on behalf of fur-bearing animals in the wild and in confinement, promote coexistence solutions in communities and protect the habitats of fur-bearing animals across Canada. You can follow The Fur-Bearers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/furbearers), Twitter (www.twitter.com/furbearers) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FurFree).