Move For Mental Health in the CAF

Food For Thought - the Podcast

In this (longer than usual) episode we hear from two experienced CAF members who between the 2 of them have 14 tours and years and years of experience both military and life. We talk about men and mental health, not because there aren't women in the military or because women don't have mental health challenges, but because men tend to be more resistant to acknowledging and doing anything about it. It's a tough conversation to have, with yourself and each other, but as you will hear, when you push those feelings down, things don't generally get better, in fact they can very quickly spiral downwards to where rock bottom isn't just a hypothetical thing, but a very real place.
But all is not lost - there is change happening, albeit not as fast as we may want or need, and the good news is there is something that everyone can do to help make sure people, your coworkers, colleagues, battle buddies have to go through alone.
Hope that you enjoy hearing the candid stories shared by MWO Mitch Booker and WO Nolan Swetlikoff - they were so open and generous and shared so much great information it was a real pleasure to have this conversation. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that there is help out there for you, maybe as close as the person standing next to you on the shop or hangar floor.
If you want to do a little more reading (hint hint nudge nudge) here is a great blog about how negative self-talk can be really detrimental to doing the things that you probably know on some level that you need to do:
How Does Negative Self-Talk Impact Our Ability to Care? — Next Gen Men
Here are the links from the Men's Health Foundation to help you take control of your health, whether that's physical or mental:

• Men's Health Check From The Canadian Men's Health Foundation (menshealthfoundation.ca)
• MindFit Toolkit: Made For Men To Help With Stress & Anxiety (menshealthfoundation.ca)
• Move For Your Mental Health (menshealthfoundation.ca)
• Don't Change Much Podcast | Presented By Canadian Men's Health Foundation (menshealthfoundation.ca)

Thanks for listening - be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! F4T is available to be heard on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In, Spotify, Google Player and of course Apple Podcasts.
Food for Thought is brought to you by Charissa McKay with Heather Gareau-Miller, Nicole Emerson, Jeremy Peressini and others!
All production, post-production and promotion by Charissa McKay, music by Musway Studio (Inspiration 34-2). Recorded in Edmonton, or Amiskwacîwâskahikan, Treaty 6 land, Metis Nation Region 4, home to the first peoples including the Cree, Dene, Stoney, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux and Blackfoot.
Find more Health Promotion content at cfmws.ca and search for Health Promotion Edmonton.