TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

Parents have many concerns around COVID’s effects on the mental health of youth. But child and adolescent Psychiatrist and Suicidologist Dr. Tyler Black notes the situation isn’t all bad (or good). The UBC professor and former medical director of emergency psychiatry at BC Children’s Hospital shares his insights, informed by 12 years of clinical practice, along with urgent calls for systemic change to make mental health care accessible for everyone who needs it. Need help? Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.

From fast fashion to fast food, it’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of consumption. This week, Tamara talks to Tara McKenna, author of Don’t Be Trashy and founder of the Zero Waste Collective, for tips and inspiration on living with less waste and more purpose. By embracing quality over quantity, curation over clutter, McKenna shares how we can all make small, meaningful changes that not only benefit our planet, but bring us more joy.

Even before COVID-19, older adults in Canada faced higher rates of depression, isolation and loneliness. This week, Tamara speaks with Dr. Joy Masuhara, an LGBTQ+ trailblazer and family physician with Vancouver Coastal Health, who has devoted her long career to caring for elders. They discuss Dr. Masuhara’s work as an advocate and healthcare provider for racialized seniors, the critical role of community care, and the steps we can all take to improve the lives of seniors in our communities.

There’s the perfectly Instagrammable version of motherhood, and then there’s the reality of what that drive to be perfect does to a woman’s mental health. In this episode, Tamara engages Amanda D. Watson, bestselling author and lecturer, in a frank discussion about the unrelenting pressures of motherhood and how to address them with honesty and a feeling of community.

As the World Juniors approaches, the mental well-being of elite athletes is in the spotlight. In this episode, Corey Hirsch, Olympic Silver Medalist and former NHL goalie, tells his mental illness story, and joins Dr. Diane McIntosh, psychiatrist, author and TELUS’ Chief Neuroscience Officer, for a spirited discussion with Tamara. Together, they highlight the courage and resilience of people who experience mental illness, offer ways to find support, and share how we can all prioritize our well-being.

Governor General award-winning Winnipeg author and sought-after speaker, David A. Robertson has published over 25 books, including many children’s stories. David talks to Tamara about his Norway House Cree Nation identity, which he learned about later in life, and he delves into how writing about the love, culture, and resilience of Indigenous people is one of the many ways he honours his family’s history and connects with people from all backgrounds.

Marc Brackett is a research psychologist, Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. He’s also the best-selling author of Permission to Feel, which describes his evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning. Marc breaks down what it means to ask “how are you today?” and how we can begin to answer truthfully as we learn to explore, understand and regulate our own emotions.

When Ashley Bristowe was told her son, Alexander, would never walk or speak as a result of a rare genetic disorder, her life changed forever. Ashley’s memoir, My Own Blood, chronicles her years as Alexander’s caregiver and advocate, in a Canadian system that often disregards disabilities. Today, Alexander has subverted expectations and regularly attends school and loves to swim. And the University of Alberta now includes Ashley’s book in their curriculum; an important step toward change.