In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month and the upcoming Sunrise Challenge fundraiser for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), we’re bringing back this important conversation with Nicole Cairns, providing a powerful reminder of why mental health matters now more than ever.

In this episode, host Brenda Jasmin is joined by Nicole Cairns, Director of Health and Well-being at Linbrook School. Nicole shares her journey from a career in computer science to her passion for health and wellness, and offers deeply informed, compassionate insights on supporting mental well-being in ourselves and those we care about.

Topics discussed in this episode:

✔️ Common myths and misconceptions about mental health

✔️ The real statistics behind mental health challenges

✔️ How to offer meaningful support to others

✔️ Ways to prioritize your own mental wellness

Whether you’re facing mental health challenges yourself or want to better support loved ones, this episode offers practical guidance, compassionate wisdom, and a message of hope.

Donate to the CAMH Sunrise Challenge here: https://give.camh.ca/site/TR/Events/SunriseChallenge?px=1326529&pg=personal&fr_id=1260

Here’s how you can connect with Nicole Cairns:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nicoleacairns

Email: ncairns@linbrook.ca

Some suggested mental health resources:

A great website with lots of tools for helping parents and children with regards to building children’s resilience: https://biglifejournal.com/

When looking for help for yourself or someone you are supporting:

• If your employer has an Employee Assistance plan, they have great online resources, sometimes they have online self-guided CBT, and they have access to therapists and counsellors.   Your HR team will have the needed contact information and it is anonymous. 
• CAMH (Centre for addiction and mental health has wonderful resources) https://www.camh.ca/

Mental Health Helplines:

Here’s how you can connect with Brenda Jasmin:

Instagram: @_brendajasmin

Get Brenda’s Guide on “How to Be Happier in Uncertain Times”: https://brendajasmin.kartra.com/page/happier

Join the She Flourishes Women’s Well-being Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sheflourishescommunity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brendajasminworkshops/

Website: www.brendajasmin.com

Email: brenda@bjasmin.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendajasmin/