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Episodes from A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health
Episode 23: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Episode OverviewThis episode explores the growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapy and how substances once heavily stigmatized are now being studied and used as treatments for mental health conditions. The conversation breaks down what these therapies are, how they work, and where the science is headed.Why Now? The “Psychedelic Renaissance”Early research in the 1960s–70s paused due to policy and stigmaResurgence began around 2010Drivers of renewed interest: Stronger scientific evidence, Increased public awareness (media, podcasts, documentaries), Greater accessibility of research information. Who Might Benefit?People with: Treatmen...
Episode 22: Complex Grief: Finding a Way Forward
Grief is rarely simple. In this episode of A Way Forward, host Jessica Samuels explores Complex grief — the layered and often misunderstood experience of loss that can include trauma, unresolved relationships, sudden death, and other difficult circumstances. Jessica is joined by Mikayla Angle, Community Education Coordinator at CMHA Kelowna, and Chivonne Monaghan, an educator, speaker, and author. Together they share personal experiences, professional insights, and the work they are doing to create more open conversations and community support around grief. In This Episode · What complex grief means and why it...
Episode 21: Relationships, Money, & Mental Health
In this episode of A Way Forward, host Jessica Samuels is joined by CMHA Kelowna CEO Mike Gawliuk and Katie Bransfield, Director of Consumer Banking at Beem Credit Union, for a candid and practical conversation about how relationships, finances, and mental health intersect.Money is one of the leading stressors for individuals and couples across Canada — yet it remains one of the hardest things to talk about. Together, the panel explores how to bring openness, safety, and teamwork into conversations about money, and why doing so can strengthen both your relationship and your mental well-being.Wh...
Episode 20: CRCL Kelowna
In this episode, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Innovation & Project Development Manager at CMHA Kelowna, Jamie Lloyd-Smith to introduce CRCL (Crisis Response Community Led), an innovative new service operated by CMHA Kelowna. CRCL offers a compassionate, community-driven alternative to traditional crisis response—one that does not involve law enforcement and is built on peer support, clinical expertise, and voluntary participation.Jamie explains who CRCL is for, how it works, why peer experience is foundational, and how it fills a critical gap between crisis phone lines and emergency services. Drawing on insights from other BC communities al...
Episode 19: Navigating Mental Health as a Gay Man
In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Matteo Stewart to explore the unique mental health challenges faced by gay men. Matteo shares his lived experience navigating identity, community, and mental health—from coming out in the 1990s, to the ongoing effects of societal expectations, to finding belonging and resilience later in life.Together, they unpack what it means to be “out to yourself,” the impact of code-switching, the intersection of trauma and identity, and how political and social climates continue to affect 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health today. Matteo’s honesty about his own jour...
Episode 18: Involuntary Care
Episode 18: Involuntary CarePresented by: Beam Credit Union Host: Jessica Samuels Guest: Mike Gawliuk, CEO, CMHA KelownaEpisode OverviewIn this episode, Jessica Samuels speaks with CMHA Kelowna CEO Mike Gawliuk about the complex and often divisive topic of involuntary care in British Columbia’s mental health system. Together, they unpack what involuntary care means under the BC Mental Health Act, explore how and when it’s used, and discuss why it continues to spark debate around human rights, compassion, and the need for a stronger voluntary care system.<p...
Episode 17: First Responders & Mental Health
Being a first responder means running toward the situations most of us run away from. But that comes with an emotional and mental toll. In this episode, Jessica speaks with Kelowna Fire Captain David McCarthy, who shares what it’s like to experience trauma on the job and how the fire department is working to ensure firefighters get the support they need.David discusses the evolution of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) within the Kelowna Fire Department, the importance of peer support and early intervention, and how breaking the stigma around mental health has changed the cu...
Episode 16: Corey Hirsch
In this powerful episode of A Way Forward, host Jessica Samuels sits down with Corey Hirsch — former NHL goaltender, Stanley Cup champion, Olympic silver medalist, broadcaster, and mental health advocate.From the outside, Corey seemed to be living the dream at the height of his hockey career. But behind the mask, he was struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and suicidal thoughts that nearly cost him his life.Corey opens up about:-The hidden reality of living with OCD while playing in the NHL.-Why stigma kept him silent for over 20 years.-How sh...
Episode 15: Workplace Mental Health pt. 2
In this follow-up to Episode 11, host Jessica Samuels continues her conversation with CMHA Kelowna's Director of People, Culture & Engagement, Candace Giesbrecht.The focus of this episode is burnout and its relationship to the workplace. Candace and Jessica dive deeper into what burnout looks like, how it manifests in professional environments, and how organizations and individuals can begin to address it.Topics Covered:- The definition and symptoms of burnout- How burnout differs from general workplace stress- The systemic and organizational contributors to burnout- What workplaces can do to...
Episode 14: Debt & Mental Health
In this powerful episode, Jessica Samuels and Mike Gawliuk sit down with Maggie Sinclair from Beam Credit Union to unpack the current reality of debt in Canada—and the deep mental health impacts that often come with it. With household debt hitting record highs and many Canadians living just $200 away from insolvency, the conversation covers the emotional toll of financial strain, stigma, and the hard choices people are forced to make.Maggie sheds light on how seemingly small financial decisions—like “buy now, pay later” services—can spiral into overwhelming debt. Mike brings a mental health lens to th...
Episode 13: Managing Your Mental Health
In this episode, hosts Jessica Samuels and Mike Gawliuk unpack what it really means to “manage your mental health” — and how that differs from managing mental illness. Together, they explore everyday actions, habits, and mindset shifts that can help anyone take better care of their mental well-being, with a strong focus on understanding why these strategies work. Key Topics Discussed:Mental Health vs. Mental Illness Learn the critical distinction between having mental health (which we all do) and having a mental illness (a diagnosable condition). You can flourish or struggle with mental health — whether or not yo...
Crisis Response Community Led (CRCL) | Forward Focus #2 | A Way Forward
In this Forward Focus episode, Jessica Samuels and co-host Mike Gawliuk shine a spotlight on CRCL – Crisis Response Community Led, formerly known as PACT.Jessica and Mike break down what CRCL is, how it works, and why this model matters now more than ever:What is CRCL?CRCL provides community-based, in-person mental health crisis support for individuals 13 years and older. It addresses issues like emotional regulation challenges and substance use crises, offering immediate support, connecting individuals to services, and providing follow-up care.Why the name change from PACT to CRCL?To re...