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Did you know 1 in 5 people in Canada experience a mental health problem or mental illness, and 1 in 100 people in our country live with schizophrenia. This is not a rare illness. Mental illness is all around us and how we deal with it impacts everything, from our family life, the cost on our medical system, substance use, employment, the demand for housing… the list goes on and on.
The BC Schizophrenia Society’s brand new podcast series launched on March 31, 2021 with support from the BC Partners in Mental Health and Substance Use Information. The mission and message of the podcast aims to shine a light, once again, on the voices in the mental illness community through sharing the story of this podcast.
“Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined” will take a close look at the reality of serious mental illness, and the role we can all play in helping those who live with it lead the most productive lives possible. This podcast will speak with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. Be prepared for frank conversations, up-to-date medical information, immersive sound design, and stories of hope and resilience. This podcast is for anyone whose life has been touched by mental illness. In other words, it’s for everyone.
This podcast aims to humanize the impacts of schizophrenia on families and the worry and thoughts that families face, and aims to highlight the importance of education and support.
Subscribing to the podcast through Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify*
*must have account to subscribe
*Most phones come with a built-in podcast app.
Check out these informative “How to Listen to a Podcast” videos from CBC.
Listening on an iPhone:
Listening on an Android Phone:
As a community, we want to highlight and share support of podcasts that have offered their help in challenging the stigma around schizophrenia and serious mental illness. We may not endorse everything is that is said by the following podcasts, but did want to share some of the ones that are also helping us spread our messages around schizophrenia and serious mental illness.
Pop Psych 101 — In an effort to educate and normalize, two therapists, Ryan Engelstad and Hayley Roberts, talk candidly about mental health and illness through the lens of movies, music, books, and TV. Common pop culture mental health tropes are analyzed, and the accuracy of their portrayals are in question, for better or worse. PopPsych can be raw and real, and very serious; it can also be very funny. If we really want to normalize the conversation about mental health, then we need to start having real and normal conversations.
Refreshingly Human — Have you grown up around people always telling you what to do or who to be? Refreshingly Human is a space where we can share the human experience in an honest, open and safe way. I believe that when we strip people of the labels we’ve assumed them to be, we can actually connect with their lives more than we realise. By openly sharing our stories we can find that line of humanity and work towards being Refreshingly Human. We explore a range of topics on a theme by theme basis to find that link of humanity and connect to others just like us. Listen to new episodes every Monday.
Because We Are Strong — A podcast inspired by stories of struggle and strength. A place where you can feel safe enough to share every part of your rare story. The good, the bad, the happy, and anything in between. Many times those in the rare disease community feel isolated from the rest of the world. Rare disease comes with its own set of unique challenges, ones that are hard for the outside world to understand. Through our stories, we can bridge the gap between a lack of knowledge and understanding. Your story has the potential to touch and reach those who can relate and who otherwise feel alone. Together through our struggles, we can show our strength.
APA’s Medical Mind Podcast —A podcast about innovation in mental health care from the APA Division of Education. APA Administration host Ann Thomas interviews APA members and other healthcare professionals about new initiatives in psychiatry.
Inside Schizophrenia — A long-form monthly podcast by people with mental illness for people with mental illness. It provides a unique perspective on life through the lens of people living with schizophrenia and psychosis. New episodes are published once a month, available on your favourite podcast player. Each episode features a conversation between cohosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard about schizophrenia, and an interview with someone with lived experience with schizophrenia, a family member or caregiver, a first responder, or an expert to help us understand schizophrenia in a more meaningful way.
A Bipolar, A Schizophrenic, and a Podcast — The first podcast by people with mental illness for people with mental illness. Hosted by Gabe Howard and Michelle Hammer, each episode looks at life through the unique lens of people living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. New episodes every Monday on your favourite podcast player or by going to PsychCentral.com/bsp.
#OurAnxietyStories — Want to learn more about anxiety and hear people from all walks of life share their experiences with anxiety? On World Mental Health Day, our host John Bateman, who has coped with anxiety as well as depression for much of his life, recorded 8 hours of interviews with psychologists, experts, celebrities, and regular folks. These 15-minute conversations cover a wide range of topics including: Agoraphobia; Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); Panic disorder; Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Separation anxiety; Social anxiety; and Phobias. Funding for #OurAnxietyStories is provided by the BC Partners For Mental Health and Substance Use Services.