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.

What We Cover in This Episode:
What is financial compatibility?

Katie explains why compatibility isn’t about equal income — it’s about aligned values, spending habits, expectations, and long-term goals. Understanding each other’s “money mindset” helps reduce conflict and build trust.

Why money conversations feel so hard?

Shame, past experiences, family teachings, and even unspoken expectations all shape how we interact with finances. Creating a safe, judgment-free space is essential.

How to talk about money with your partner

Practical guidance from Katie on:

Choosing the right moment

Starting with curiosity

Being transparent about income and debt

Discussing spending styles, lifestyle expectations, and shared financial plans

Checking in regularly as a team

Debt: Red flag or normal part of life?

Debt itself isn't the issue — secrecy is. Katie outlines how transparency and a realistic repayment plan matter more than the number itself.

Navigating income disparity

Couples don’t need to earn the same amount to be financially compatible. What matters is shared values, open communication, and agreeing on how to manage resources together.

When to seek outside support

Financial institutions and professionals can provide clarity, structure, and reassurance. Mike reinforces that reaching out for help — financial or mental health — is a sign of strength, not failure.

The mental health impact of financial stress

Mike shares insight and data on how finances affect well-being:

41% of Canadians name money as their biggest stressor

Nearly half lose sleep over financial concerns

Shame and stigma are major barriers to seeking help

He also highlights everyday mental health strategies: noticing changes in mood or sleep, staying connected socially, exercising, and reaching out for professional support when needed.

Key Takeaways:

Start the money conversation early and often.

Transparency builds trust — secrecy breaks it down.

You don’t need identical money styles, just shared understanding and a joint plan.

Financial stress impacts mental health, and mental health impacts financial decision-making.

Seeking support from financial experts or mental health professionals can make a significant difference.

Approach finances as a team: same goals, same direction, shared understanding.

Resources & Links:

For mental health resources, financial wellness tools, or past episodes, visit the A Way Forward podcast page at cmhakelowna.org.

Have questions or suggestions? Email us at awayforward@cmhakelowna.org
.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is supported by Beem Credit Union. With deep roots in BC and a commitment to your financial wellness, Beem proudly backs conversations that help build stronger, healthier communities.

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 already using this model, she highlights the power of being met by trained responders—without uniforms, judgement, or police presence—who can meet people where they are and on their terms.

CRCL launches in Kelowna in early 2026 and aims to provide immediate, human-centered support for anyone aged 13+ who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

Key Topics Covered

• What is CRCL?

• A mobile, community-led crisis response program.
• Stands for Crisis Response Community Led.
• Built to bridge the gap between crisis lines and 911.

• Why a community-led model matters

• Many people in crisis are met with police response—not always appropriate or trauma-informed.
• CRCL teams include clinicians and trained peers with lived experience.

• Role of Peer Support

• Peers bring empathy, credibility, and firsthand understanding of navigating mental health challenges.
• Their input shaped program design—from how phone calls are answered to how people are greeted.

• How CRCL works

• Service for anyone 13+—you can call for yourself or someone else.
• Call or text a dedicated number (to be released).
• A two-person team responds in person—no uniforms, no police.
• Fully consent-based: the individual in crisis directs the process.
• Focus on safety, de-escalation, listening, and co-creating a care plan.

• When to call CRCL

• “There is never a wrong time to call CRCL.”
• Crisis is self-defined.
• Early support can prevent emergencies.

• How CRCL fits with existing services

• Helps divert people from emergency departments and police involvement.
• Strong collaboration with first responders when safety concerns exist.

• Lessons from other BC communities

• Kelowna will be the 7th community to implement this model.
• Jamie shares insights from Victoria’s program, including partnerships, safety practices, and community relationships.

• Launch timeline

• CRCL Kelowna launches early 2026.
• CMHA Kelowna will release access details and resources as the program becomes available.

Notable Quotes

• “When we don’t include the voice of lived experience, we’re just going to get it wrong.” — Jamie
• “There is never the wrong time to call CRCL.”
• “You define what crisis looks like in your life—and your experience is valid.”
• “This program meets you where you’re at, with compassion, dignity, and choice.”

Resources & Links

• Learn more: A Way Forward Podcast page at cmhakelowna.org
• Have a question about CRCL or this episode? Email: awayforward@cmhakelowna.org

About the Podcast

A Way Forward: Conversations on Mental Health, presented by Beem Credit Union, explores timely and complex mental health topics with local experts, sharing insights that help build healthier, more compassionate communities.

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 journey—including his cancer diagnosis and how community has become his lifeline—offers a moving reminder of the healing power of connection and authenticity.

Key Themes

- Identity & Mental Health: Understanding the mental health impacts of being “out” versus “not out,” and the internal work of self-acceptance.

- Code-Switching & Survival: How changing behaviour to fit in affects emotional well-being, even for those long out of the closet.

- Community & Connection: Why safe spaces and supportive networks are critical for thriving, not just surviving.

- Trauma & Resilience: The lasting mental health effects of discrimination, loss, and societal stigma—and the ways gay men build strength and healing.

- Barriers to Health Care: The inequities gay men face in accessing medical and mental health supports, particularly outside major urban centres.

Resources Mentioned:

https://checkhimout.ca/
https://pflagcanada.ca/
https://gmsh.ca/
https://advocacy-canada.lgbt/

Takeaway:

Matteo reminds us that mental health and identity are deeply intertwined—and that thriving comes from being seen, heard, and supported for who we truly are. Building community, finding purpose, and showing up authentically are not only acts of courage, but acts of healing.

The A Way Forward Podcast: Conversations on Mental Health is proudly presented by Beem Credit Union.