Best BC Schizophrenia Society Podcasts (2024)

1
Suicide, Stigma & Skates: Corey Hirsch’s journey with mental illness 25:01

6M ago25:01

25:01

In this episode, we delve into the mental illness journey of former NHL goalie, Corey Hirsch. Renowned for his stellar career with the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, Corey's life story extends beyond the ice, unveiling a silent battle with mental illness. From the pinnacle of professional hockey to the darkest corners of despair, Corey sha…

1
Beyond the Statistics: Schizophrenia and Suicide 33:05

6M ago33:05

33:05

In this episode, we address the troubling reality of suicide rates among individuals grappling with schizophrenia. Studies reveal a staggering statistic, up to 15% of those with schizophrenia tragically take their own lives. This alarming figure, particularly affecting young people in the early stages of their illness, underscores the urgency of ou…

1
A Caregiver's Narrative: Loving someone with schizophrenia 29:58

7M ago29:58

29:58

Being a caregiver to a person grappling with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia isn't easy. Schizophrenia is a complex and often misunderstood illness that affects those living with the illness as well as those who love and care for them. A caregiver's responsibility goes beyond mere physical care. Caregiving can take on many forms. On thi…

1
Hope on the Horizon: The scientific pursuit of a cure for mental illness 33:16

7M ago33:16

33:16

In this episode, our discussion revolves around a controversial question: Can mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, be cured? We tackle that question and more with a distinguished guest, Dr. Daniel Weinberger, the director and CEO of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Together, we discuss the complexities of researching the sources of m…

1
Revolutionary Tool: Using virtual reality to treat psychosis 25:03

8M ago25:03

25:03

Psychotic disorders are amongst the most severe and disabling of all mental disorders. In this episode, discover the ground-breaking world of Virtual Reality (VR) therapy for psychosis. Join Dr. Mar Rus-Calafell, a clinical psychologist and professor in Germany, as she explains how VR complements traditional therapies. Participants can explore imme…

1
The Insight and Mental Illness Link: Examining first episode psychosis intervention 26:34

8M ago26:34

26:34

In this episode, we explore the critical theme of impaired insight in severe and persistent mental illness, known as anosognosia. Dr. Nicole DeTore, Director of Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, guides us through her groundbreaking research on early intervention services, particularly the NAVIGATE program, which offers hope for individual…

1
Beyond the Selfies: Social media's influence on mental illness stigma 30:33

9M ago30:33

30:33

In the season 4 premiere of Look Again, our hosts delve into the relationship between mental health, mental illness, and social media with Kody Green, also known online as @SchizophrenicHippie. Kody shares his personal journey of being diagnosed with schizophrenia and the unanticipated role of becoming a 'Mental Illness Social Media Influencer' whe…

1
Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined Season 4 Trailer 1:42

10M ago1:42

1:42

Get ready for Season 4 of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined. This season, we're diving deep into the 'big questions' that families can face during different stages of the mental illness journey. From recognizing initial symptoms to the pursuit of a diagnosis, navigating the complexities of symptoms to the search for effective treatment, and ad…

1
Bodies, Not Minds: Racism & Schizophrenia 30:15

1+ y ago30:15

30:15

Does a person's race affect the treatment they may receive for a serious and chronic mental illness? As we have heard through our discussions with experts, people living with schizophrenia, and family members—conscious and unconscious biases can play a huge role in how a person is treated within the health care system. Multiple studies and reports …

1
Psych Meds: The Whole Story 24:24

1+ y ago24:24

24:24

Like any prescription medication, Abilify, Risperdal, Clozapine, and other anti-psychotics have side effects. And like any medication, they are prescribed to help a person manage an illness. Anti-psychotics can help with a number of different illnesses, but often used to help manage a person's symptoms of schizophrenia, including paranoia, delusion…

1
Schizophrenia: What's gender got to do with it? 27:50

2y ago27:50

27:50

Television and film like to portray people with schizophrenia as young, white men. And yet, in real life, schizophrenia is not as seen on TV — especially for women. Scientists are now seeing how illnesses like schizophrenia can impact men and women differently, which means more research needs to be done around women and serious mental illnesses. Do…

1
Leading with Compassion: A Brother Fighting Stigma 27:45

2y ago27:45

27:45

It’s not easy to talk about the effect schizophrenia can have on one’s family members, especially a sibling. It can have a significant emotional, psychological, and physical impact on loved ones, as they balance their love for their family member and the sharme around this disease. In this episode, we have a very honest, frank, and vulnerable conve…

1
Me & My Three Mothers: Life with Schizophrenia 28:40

2y ago28:40

28:40

If you’re the child of a parent who lives with mental illness, you can be faced with a lot of tough challenges. You may feel overwhelmed, sad, scared or even angry. You may resent your parent for not being like the other parents. Or you could also wind up as a caregiver and try to fix everything. In her lifetime, Dr. Grace Cho, author of her memoir…

1
Break from Reality: Psychosis + Violence 23:06

2y ago23:06

23:06

While there's no way to predict whether a person with a mental illness will become violent, there's still a common understanding that those diagnosed with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are unpredictably aggressive. This can be seen in how people living with mental illness, substance use, and violence are portrayed through the new…

1
Behind Getting Committed 22:12

2y ago22:12

22:12

It is not an easy decision to call the police or an ambulance to take a loved one to a psychiatric facility - all in the hopes that they get the treatment they need and deserve. But sometimes people with an untreated mental illness lose insight into the fact they are ill and will not accept voluntary treatment, even when their illness may be causin…

1
Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined Season 3 Trailer 1:56

2y ago1:56

1:56

In its third season "Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined" wades into some controversial territory. Launching Oct. 12th, join us every two weeks as we dive into some hot topics -- involuntary treatment, the consequences of refusing medication, how race and gender impacts diagnosis and treatment, just to name a few. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of th…

1
Schizophrenia: People & Perceptions 22:25

2+ y ago22:25

22:25

Most people have seen movies or TV shows that have used schizophrenia as part of their story. But how often do we stop to think about what those representations actually mean or look like? Do they portray the experience of people living with schizophrenia accurately? As studies have shown, schizophrenia is one of the conditions that the general pub…

1
Self-Acceptance: Flaws & All 25:30

2+ y ago25:30

25:30

Since we kicked off our second season talking to someone who embraced her diagnosis of schizophrenia — we thought it would only be fitting to end this season with another guest who also doing her own heavy lifting when it comes to educating, creating awareness, and breaking myths about schizophrenia. In this episode, Faydra will be introducing you …

1
Breaking The Silence: Desi Mental Illness 29:59

2+ y ago29:59

29:59

In many cultures around the world, mental illness is still highly stigmatized and rarely talked about. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at how mental illness is viewed and talked about in the South Asian Community, one of the largest ethno-cultural groups in Canada. Talking about mental illness, getting help, or even getting diagnosed is hinder…

1
Schizophrenia: Then & Now 21:47

2+ y ago21:47

21:47

Schizophrenia. It's neither new nor rare and in fact it's existed for centuries — and it's the one mental illness that seems to be synonymous with madness. And despite being around for a long time, virtually everything we know about schizophrenia has been learned in the past 200 years — and mostly in the later parts of the 20th and 21st centuries. …

1
Autism: Schizophrenia’s Lost Cousin 24:49

2+ y ago24:49

24:49

Throughout this season, we have taken a deeper look into serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, and dived in headfirst to talk to professionals and family members about the subject. But what if I told you that symptoms of schizophrenia are also experienced by people with autism? Even more revealing, people with autism are at a higher risk of…

1
A Family Forever Changed 24:55

3y ago24:55

24:55

People learn from personal experiences. 1 out of 100 live with schizophrenia and until host Faydra Aldridge's sister was diagnosed with it, she thought it was something that only happened to others. But it isn’t, it's something that happened to and affected her family and affects almost every one of us in some way either directly or indirectly. Thi…

1
Schizophrenia: Nature vs. Nurture 24:10

3y ago24:10

24:10

Researchers have estimated that about 80 percent of the risk for developing Schizophrenia is hereditary and yet that doesn't mean people with that genetic component in their family history will actually develop the disorder. Sometimes Schizophrenia risk increases through a random mutation that is not passed from parent to child. In this episode, we…

1
Hidden In Plain Sight 26:04

3y ago26:04

26:04

Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the symptoms of schizophrenia. In particular, the cognitive losses that can be associated with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Anosognosia is a medical term meaning 'to not know a disease.' This occurs for people with brain injuries as well as mental illness, and means…

1
It Could Be Me... 22:13

3y ago22:13

22:13

Mental illness touches everyone's lives, whether we want to admit it or not. And yet, mental illnesses like schizophrenia are rarely discussed publicly. That lack of conversation is what our guest is hoping to change. Meet Michelle Hammer, a mental health advocate, entrepreneur and graphic designer. She challenges the idea that schizophrenia should…

1
Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined Season 2 Trailer 1:22

3y ago1:22

1:22

Brought to you by the BC Schizophrenia Society and supporting BC Partner organizations, "Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined” returns for a second season this fall beginning October 27. This time the podcast goes deeper with the subjects we tackle, the guests we talk to and the research we dive into — we're pushing you to really look at what it'…

1
Schizophrenia: One Woman's Journey 19:55

3y ago19:55

19:55

It's not easy to live with a serious mental illness, like schizophrenia, and the future sometimes seems daunting and hopeless. But many people living with serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, are able to lead full and rewarding lives. It may not be what one imagined, but then life never is. In this episode, host Faydra Aldridge speaks with…

1
Mental Illness and Police: A Hopeful Story 18:00

3+ y ago18:00

18:00

Serious question: Why is it that when people show signs of serious mental illness or psychosis -- calling the police for help is often viewed as a "last resort" by families and loved ones? Historically, when law enforcement and mental illness intersect, the results have been patchy. But Sgt. Cara Thomson of Surrey RCMP's Police Mental Health Outrea…

1
Bridge the Gap -- Mental Health and Substance Use 15:55

3+ y ago15:55

15:55

It's a hard reality that mental illness and substance use often coincide. Combine these factors with poverty and social marginalization, and you have the snowballing problem known as "concurrent disorders." Dr. Bill MacEwan has spent the last 20+ years working with patients in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, a neighbourhood that is home to around 20…

1
The Truth Behind Psychiatric Medication 23:26

3+ y ago23:26

23:26

On this episode of Look Again we’re asking: what’s at the root of the hesitation around using medication to treat mental illness? How do the medications actually work on the brain? And what other treatments work in combination with medications? Host Faydra Aldridge speaks with Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez from the Department of Psychiatry at the Univer…

1
Does Cannabis Cause Schizophrenia? 22:01

3+ y ago22:01

22:01

Right now, there's an idea that cannabis is a harmless drug and some people say they use it to help their mental health. But for those predisposed to serious mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia, science tells us it’s not that cut and dry. Host Faydra Aldridge of BCSS, along with her guest Dr. Nick Mathew, a practising addiction and forensic psyc…

1
Schizophrenia and COVID-19: A family's story 32:07

3+ y ago32:07

32:07

In this special episode, learn about the alarming statistics revealing Schizophrenia as the second-highest risk factor in COVID-19 mortality rates, and discover what it’s like to live through a pandemic with a mental illness. In part one, host Faydra Aldridge is joined by a woman who witnessed how the stress and uncertainty of living in the time of…

1
Hearing Voices 19:13

3+ y ago19:13

19:13

In this episode, host Faydra Aldridge illuminates the reality of what it's like to experience auditory hallucinations, or “hear voices,” by speaking to people who have lived it. Faydra is joined by Dr. Randall White, the Medical Director of Community Mental Health in Vancouver and the clinical director of the BC Psychosis Program at UBC Hospital, t…

1
Mental Health vs Mental Illness 26:41

3+ y ago26:41

26:41

While mental health is a well-covered topic, people often lump it together with mental illness. We want to challenge the idea that disorders like Schizophrenia are 'mental health' issues. Listen in to our first episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined, where host Faydra Aldridge of BCSS along with her guest Dr. Diane McIntosh, a clinical a…

1
Introducing Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined 1:23

3+ y ago1:23

1:23

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined” is a groundbreaking new podcast brought to you by the BC Schizophrenia Society and supporting partners. The podcast brings forward the humanity of mental illness while dispelling the myths by sharing the voices of medical experts, family members, and people with lived experience with mental illness. Host Fay…

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BC Schizophrenia Society Podcasts

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