In this edition of the Care2Listen podcast, British Columbia's Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Jennifer Whiteside, provides further details about the Ministry's efforts to assist caregivers around the province.  This includes discussions on collaboration across ministries, the Overdose Public Health Emergency, and programs to address mental health issues in British Columbia.

Content Warning: 

This audio episode contains some sensitive content, such as discussions of addiction, the ongoing opioid crisis, suicide, grieving, and loss. As such, we recommend that you listen to it with caution.

In this episode of the Care to Listen podcast, host Sean Burke engages in a broad conversation with the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in British Columbia. Whiteside discusses her background as the former Minister of Education and Child Care and her role as the chief negotiator for the hospital employees union. She shares her perspective on the mental health challenges exposed by the pandemic, particularly in the healthcare sector, and the need for services to be integrated and seamless for patients. The discussion also covers British Columbia's recent decriminalization of certain drugs and the government’s focus on providing appropriate, culturally led mental health and addiction services for Indigenous communities. The complex nature of the ongoing toxic drug crisis is discussed along with strategies for prevention, treatment, care, and recovery that BC's Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is working on.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:26 Guest's Journey into Politics and Mental Health Advocacy

01:35 Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Healthcare Workers

02:54 Role of Ministry in Continuing Mental Health Programs

05:34 Collaboration with Other Ministries in Addressing Mental Health Issues

11:31 Challenges and Strategies in Addressing the Toxic Drug Crisis

18:23 Support for Healthcare Workers and Importance of Reaching Out

21:57 Indigenous-led Solutions in Mental Health

24:23 Long-term Vision and Strategy for Mental Health Care

28:32 Appreciation for Healthcare Workers and Encouragement for Self-Care

31:15 Conclusion and Final Remarks

Resources: 

Care to Speak | Care For Caregivers

Phone Resources

SafeCare BC: Your Mental Health Matters

Bounceback (bouncebackbc.ca)

This podcast is brought to you by: 

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