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Episodes from A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health
Episode 27: Bridging the Gap: Bringing Foundry to the Westside
In this episode, host Jessica Samuels is joined by the Clinical Practice Manager at CMHA Kelowna, Kirsten Charles and youth advocate Delaney Neukomm for an important conversation about youth mental health, access to support, and the vision behind expanding Foundry services to the Westside.As Foundry Kelowna approaches its 10-year milestone, the discussion reflects on the impact the centre has had supporting youth ages 12–24 and their caregivers through counselling, peer support, family navigation, primary care and social services.The episode also explores CMHA Kelowna’s Not Alone: Bridging the Gap campaign, which aims to brin...
Episode 26: Mental Health in South Asian Communities
In this episode of Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna & District’s A Way Forward Podcast: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, host Jessica Samuels is joined by community advocate and businessman Balzor Singh and CMHA Kelowna counsellor Sureet Dosanjh for an honest conversation about mental health in South Asian communities.Together, they explore the realities of stigma, cultural expectations, gender roles, resilience, language barriers and the importance of culturally competent mental health support. Balzor also shares his family’s deeply personal experience navigating mental health crises and how that journey inspired him to be...
Episode 25: Rising Housing Costs & Mental Health
In this episode, host Jessica Samuels is joined by Jaime Edmondson (Beem Credit Union) and Mike Gawliuk (CEO CMHA Kelowna) to unpack how rising housing costs are impacting mental health across British Columbia.From renters feeling locked out of the market to homeowners struggling with rising interest rates, this conversation explores the emotional toll of financial stress—and what support looks like. Key Themes1. The Emotional Weight of Housing CostsHousing affordability is one of the top stressors affecting mental health todayFeelings of hopelessness, anxiety, shame, and guilt are increasingly com...
Episode 24: Substance Use and Addiction: The Recovery Journey
In this episode of A Way Forward, host Jessica Samuels sits down with CMHA Kelowna CEO Mike Gawliuk to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in mental health: substance use and addiction.This conversation goes beyond surface-level assumptions to explore what addiction really looks like, why recovery takes time, and what supports are needed to help people move forward.Key Takeaways1. Addiction is a chronic, recurring conditionRecovery is not a one-time fix. Relapse can be part of the process, not a failure. 2. Detox is...
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...