I’m done with mental models that no longer keep me healthy. It sounds like I’m on the right track as ⁠Dr. Diane McIntosh⁠ – renowned and esteemed Canadian psychiatrist, educator, and author – joins me on this concluding episode of Sturdy Glass Sponges.

According to Dr. McIntosh, the world has never been more open to finding ways to expanding the horizons on mental health, and she shares her insightful take on how it is that we can overcome life’s hardships, draw on internal strengths that are never too late to form, and tap into the value of saying no to ways of being that need to be left behind.

A very special thanks to Dr. McIntosh for rounding out the conversation we’ve had since the first episode – here’s to a healthy 2024 for all.

Follow Dr. McIntosh’s riveting work by visiting her site:

⁠https://drdianemcintosh.com

It’s alarming to know that at any point in time, 1 in 3 Canadians are struggling with their mental health and those who do feel they need mental health care, can’t access it. It’s unbelievable to think that in this day and age, a time where we’re constantly hearing about the importance of getting help, access to care still isn’t equitable.

Psychological services are proven to be an effective way to improve people’s mental health and allow them to participate fully in their life, work, and community. Many resources are free and in this episode, I’m joined by special guest Autumn Tuffin McDonald who shares her personal experiences with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

With this episode, I aim to inspire us to think critically about what it is we might need in terms of care, and sharpen our own criteria of things to look for in mental health resource options. I know it’s easy for me to send out a list of mental health resources, websites or phone numbers, but instead I wanted to round out my podcast, Sturdy Glass Sponges, with a discussion that prompts us to think differently about sourcing out mental health care options.

For a roundup of mental health care support ideas, please visit elenaiacono.com.

I’m Elena Iacono and my aim with Sturdy Glass Sponges is that we're inspired to look at our own lives, and the challenges that may come our way, in a renewed way.

What is a friendship? And why does it sometimes feel hard to define the word the older we get? This episode explores this topic and more as specifically asked for by my podcast listeners. I’m joined by Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, a nationally respected and esteemed relationship psychologist who gives it to us in a straight and clear way.

Social well-being is vital to our total health and while research continues to show just how important friendship is, we’re living in a time where social avoidance is becoming the norm. Someone recently tried to tell me it’s because we’ve become lazy and self-centred. I think it’s because the various amounts of hurt in our lives have stacked up so highly, we’re scared to trust, be open, and allow ourselves to feel and be seen.

Friends are the sacred sacrosanct spaces of our lives where we can be our whole selves, true, most simple selves. And when relationships are overly complicated, painfully negative, condescending, or distant, we need to stand firm on acting on what’s best for us.

As we learn in this episode, people change and with them, friendships change. And while sometimes we want to hang on to the people we have in our closest circles, for whatever reasons we believe to be the truth, we have to let go for the good of our health. And when relationships do change and end, pain follows. It’s only natural because the end of things bring their own level of grief and mourning that only we can understand and deal with in our own way.

We all need good friends and Dr. Kirmayer shares how we can keep them close.

I’m Elena Iacono and my aim with Sturdy Glass Sponges is that we're inspired to look at our own lives, and the challenges that may come our way, in a renewed way.

Connect with Dr. Kirmayer - visit her site at miriamkirmayer.com