The "So, why?" Podcast with Stepped Care Solutions

Stepped Care Solutions

So, why are we excited about Stepped Care 2.0? This podcast explores issues and challenges as well as ideas and solutions leading to strengthening support for mental wellness and recovery. We will engage with a variety of speakers who come from different backgrounds and perspectives as we explore mental health and addictions and a variety of issues that impact systems, communities and individuals. The views and opinions shared are those of the speakers and are not to be taken as medical advice and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Stepped Care Solutions.

  1. From Individual Story to System Change: Mobilizing Mental Health Narratives Across the Spectrum

    5月13日 ·  附贈內容

    From Individual Story to System Change: Mobilizing Mental Health Narratives Across the Spectrum

    How do our stories shape both personal wellbeing and system change?  On this bonus episode of The “So, Why?” Podcast, recorded live during a fireside chat co-hosted by Unsinkable and Stepped Care Solutions (SCS), the panel explores how individual stories shape self-understanding and community healing and how narratives inform policy, care design, and population-level change.  Panelists include: AnnMarie Churchill, President and Lead Executive Officer at SCS Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director, Unsinkable Joshua Bell, Unsinkable Champion and mental health advocate and moderator Afreina Noor, Partnerships Lead, Unsinkable Stepped Care Solutions is proud to partner with Unsinkable for a conversation that explores the full arc of mental health storytelling—from individual experience to systemic transformation. Want to hear more about how the innovative Stepped Care 2.0 model supports communities to reframe, rethink, and redesign the delivery of mental health and substance use health systems? Check out previous episodes of The “So, Why?” Podcast on our website, YouTube channel, Spotify or your favourite podcast apps. https://steppedcaresolutions.com/mental-health-podcast/  More information: Unsinkable website: https://www.weareunsinkable.com/  Resource Kit: (link to download)  Unsinkable @ Work: https://www.weareunsinkable.com/unsinkable-at-work  On the panel: AnnMarie Churchill, President and Lead Executive Officer, Stepped Care Solutions AnnMarie brings over 30 years of clinical and systems-level experience across healthcare, research, and community settings. She has led the implementation of Stepped Care 2.0®, including Wellness Together Canada, and specializes in trauma, anxiety, and resilience. Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable  Hailey is a mental health and social impact leader using storytelling to drive systemic change and reduce stigma. A 2025 LeadHer Award recipient, she has also received the King Charles III Coronation Medal and was named one of The Peak’s Emerging Leaders for 2024. Joshua Bell, Unsinkable Champion Joshua is a mental health advocate and community leader who brings both lived experience and national leadership to his work across organizations and initiatives. In 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contributions to mental health and suicide prevention in Canada. Afreina Noor, Partnerships Lead at Unsinkable Afreina designs and facilitates national conversations, such as this one, under Unsinkable’s flagship program Unsinkable @ Work, that use storytelling as a tool for connection, stigma reduction, and systems change. Afreina is the host and moderator of this conversation.  About Unsinkable: Unsinkable helps Canadians tell their mental health stories and create spaces where these stories become a lifeline for others. Through sharing personal experiences, Unsinkable fosters connection, reduces isolation, and offers hope.

    53 分鐘
  2. The Power of Partnership and Policy: Building Thriving Mental Health Systems

    5月6日

    The Power of Partnership and Policy: Building Thriving Mental Health Systems

    How do we build partnerships across sectors and governments while working to position mental health and substance use health care as a public good—and public right? On this episode of The “So, Why?” Podcast, Shauna Cronin, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Stepped Care Solutions, speaks with SM Sansouci, National Government Relations Lead at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), about bridging the gap between high-level policy frameworks and on-the-ground, community-based care. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in moving from systems designed to manage illness to those that foster thriving and wellbeing across the population. A key theme throughout the conversation is the importance of building shared intent—across organizations, governments, and funders—as a foundation for meaningful and sustainable system change. More information for this episode: CMHA website Mental Health Week 2026 campaign details CMHA campaign on funding mental health news release This episode’s guest: SM Sansouci is the Government Relations Lead with CMHA’s National Office. Her role is to influence federal public policy. This entails everything from organizing (Parliament) Hill Days, ghost writing op-eds, publishing research, and participating at consultative tables where decisions are being shaped.  Unlike many lobbyists who come from political staff roles, SM spent the first decade of her career as a researcher in the federal public service, working on the development of legislation and public programs. She brings that insider’s understanding of how government decisions are made to non-profit advocacy, where over the past ten years her work has helped strengthen early program iterations of the National Housing Strategy, cement a legislative right to housing, and secure the creation of a $500 million Youth Mental Health Fund. About the CMHA: The Canadian Mental Health Association is the largest provider of frontline community mental health and addiction services in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and Yukon, CMHA provides services that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, and support recovery and resilience. Want to hear more about how the innovative Stepped Care 2.0 model supports communities to reframe, rethink, and redesign the delivery of mental health and substance use health services? Check out previous episodes of The “So, Why?” Podcast on our website, YouTube channel, Spotify or your favourite podcast apps.

    40 分鐘
  3. Transforming Campus Mental Health at UC Chile

    3月19日

    Transforming Campus Mental Health at UC Chile

    This episode of The “So, Why?” Podcast features a conversation with María Paz Jana Le Bert, Director of Student Health and Wellness, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), on how UC Chile has been transforming its campus mental health system with person-centric approaches. In conversation with Sarah Harte, Manager of Implementation and Service Delivery Strategy at Stepped Care Solutions, they explore how flexible and open access services have improved wellbeing for students, staff, and the broader post-secondary community.  Want to hear more about how the innovative Stepped Care 2.0 model supports communities to reframe, rethink, and redesign the delivery of mental health and substance use health services? Check out previous episodes of The “So, Why?” Podcast on our website, YouTube channel, Spotify or your favourite podcast apps: https://steppedcaresolutions.com/mental-health-podcast/  More information: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: https://www.uc.cl/  Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges: ​​https://www.chpcn.ca/okanagan-charter  One-at-a-Time (OAAT) counselling and approach: https://steppedcaresolutions.com/one-at-a-time-approach/   This episode’s guest: María Paz Jana Le Bert holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, with a focus on diagnosis and intervention techniques, and has worked as a clinical psychologist for youth and adults. For nearly two decades, María Paz has served in a variety of roles supporting the campus community’s mental health and wellbeing services and transformation.  About Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) is one of the oldest universities in Chile. It has five campuses, four of them in Santiago, more than 30,000 students across 18 faculties, and is recognized as one of the top universities in South America.  The Counselling Centre at UC Chile began implementing stepped care in 2020. After an initial demonstration of the Stepped Care 2.0 model, they scaled their implementation further, with an open access approach and One-at-a-Time counselling. UC Chile also shares outcomes of this work with other organisations and communities within Chile and across South America.

    31 分鐘
  4. From Shelves to Services: Mobilizing Evidence to Transform Mental Health Systems

    2月18日

    From Shelves to Services: Mobilizing Evidence to Transform Mental Health Systems

    This episode of The “So, Why?” Podcast features a conversation with Michael Cooper, Vice President of Data & Partnerships at Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC), on how to mobilize evidence to transform mental health systems. In conversation with Shauna Cronin, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Stepped Care Solutions, they discuss how to shift approaches from simply publishing research in journals to a model where the findings are a central, dynamic part of the system design process itself. More information at the Mental Health Research Canada website: ⁠⁠https://www.mhrc.ca/⁠⁠   Out of the Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada (2006): https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/out-of-the-shadows-at-last-transforming-mental-health-mental-illness-and-addiction-services-in-canada/ Want to hear more about how the innovative Stepped Care 2.0 model supports communities to reframe, rethink, and redesign the delivery of mental health and substance use health services through flexible, open access, recovery-focused approaches? Check out previous episodes of The “So, Why?” Podcast on our website, YouTube channel, Spotify and your favourite podcast apps. This episode’s guest: Michael Cooper is an experienced charity executive with over 16 years of experience in fund development, project management and government relations. Michael advocates for improving our understanding in detecting, treating and managing mental health issues. He has a strong focus on the utilization of data to inform policy and advance mental health care in Canada and currently oversees MHRC's large scale data project tracking the ongoing mental health of Canadians. About Mental Health Research Canada: MHRC is a non-governmental, registered national charity committed to making mental health research truly count for Canadians. With one in four Canadians impacted by mental health challenges, the gap between what people need and what’s accessible continues to grow. MHRC bridges this gap through: Population Data Collection, Analysis, and Rapid Reporting; Studentships and Fellowships; Supporting and Leading Innovative Solutions, partnering with likeminded organizations to address real-world, current mental health needs.

    30 分鐘
  5. Peer Support: The Power of Community Connections

    2025/03/13

    Peer Support: The Power of Community Connections

    Connecting with people who genuinely understand your mental health and wellness journey  can be a powerful step in recovery and care. Peer support programs are a vital resource in mental health and substance use health care pathways. Whether through one-on-one conversations or in group settings, talking with people who have shared similar experiences can create a recovery-oriented community through a sense of validation and non-judgmental support. Peer support can also serve as a stepping stone to help individuals prepare for the next stages in their recovery and wellbeing. This episode of The “So, Why?” Podcast features a conversation with Shaleen Jones, executive director of Eating Disorders Nova Scotia and founder of Body Peace Canada, on the transformative power of connection and the importance of accessible wellness services that meet care seekers where they are.  More information: Body Peace Canada Eating Disorders Nova Scotia Stepped Care Solutions is now operating and delivering PeerOnCall – a mobile health platform designed for workforce peer support, built with input from public safety communities. Find out more at our website. This episode’s guest: Shaleen Jones has been an advocate, organizer, supporter, and all-round rabble rouser in the field of eating disorders for over twenty five years, holding leadership positions with community organizations across Canada. She is currently the executive director of Eating Disorders Nova Scotia, and founder of Body Peace Canada. Having overcome an eating disorder, she is passionate about recovery, the transformative power of peer support, and creating sustainable, systematic changes across the sector. Shaleen was one of the first people trained to provide peer support for those with eating disorders in Canada, and earned her Peer Support Certification from Peer Support Canada in 2015. Shaleen has been recognized for her work with multiple community and mental health awards, and she currently serves as a member of the Government of Canada’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Mental Health, the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Hallway Group, Quality Mental Health Care Network, and the E-Mental Health Collaborative.

    30 分鐘
  6. 2024/11/22

    One-at-a-Time Helping Conversations: Moments in Time

    Moments in time can each hold incredible opportunities to make a difference for someone’s mental health and wellbeing. People experience interactions every day with the system that when optimized and prepared for can be moments of support and positive change. Single-session therapy (SST), sometimes called One-at-a-Time Therapy (OAAT), has been around for some time. It has been steadily gaining attention among providers and service delivery systems. SST can have tremendous impacts in different contexts with proven waitlist reductions and positive outcomes for many people. It is based on the assumption that something helpful can happen in one interaction.  SST is an important approach because many people can only attend, or want to attend one session. In fact, research shows the most common number of therapy sessions attended is one session. If a person will only engage once and may never come back for another session, it becomes really important that the one session they have is helpful. One-at-a-Time Therapy provides an effective option for people seeking support to address their concerns in the moment. Borrowing from this approach, One-at-a-Time Thinking has been identified as a core component of SC2.0; this thinking considers that every encounter across the mental health system is an opportunity for a person to have a helpful experience and address their immediate concerns.  This episode features Dr. Heather Hair who practiced for many years as an Approved Supervisor of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Hair’s interest in learning led to a tenured faculty appointment and administrative positions with a Canadian university. Dr. Hair’s multi-decade work with children, youth, adults, and families began as a child care worker in open and secure treatment facilities for adolescents. Subsequently, she worked as a registered family therapist at an Ontario inner city children’s mental health centre where she co-created and coordinated the Brief Therapy Services and developed and supervised the Brief Therapy Community Externship. For over 25 years, Dr. Hair has been developing and providing skills training workshops on one-at-a-time counselling conversations/single session therapy and practice focused supervision as well as program consultation to providers of mental health, social, and community services as well as faith communities. Her academic and professional interests include effective practice with children, youth, and families; supervision and staff training; the intersection of practice and social justice; the social construction of knowledge and meaning; and the qualities of helping conversations that encourage hope, change, and growth.

    33 分鐘
  7. 2024/09/16

    Single Session Therapy: Helping People Now

    Single-session therapy (SST), sometimes called One-at-a-Time Therapy (OAAT), has been around for some time. It has been steadily gaining attention among providers and service delivery systems. SST can have tremendous impacts in different contexts with proven waitlist reductions and positive outcomes for many people. It is based on the assumption that something helpful can happen in one interaction.  SST is an important approach because many people can only attend, or want to attend one session. In fact, research shows the most common number of therapy sessions attended is one session. If a person will only engage once and may never come back for another session, it becomes really important that the one session they have is helpful. One-at-a-Time Therapy provides an effective option for people seeking support to address their concerns in the moment. Borrowing from this approach, One-at-a-Time Thinking has been identified as a core component of SC2.0; this thinking considers that every encounter across the mental health system is an opportunity for a person to have a helpful experience and address their immediate concerns.  This episode features Dr. Windy Dryden, Emeritus Professor of Psychotherapeutic Studies at Goldsmiths University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and has authored or edited over 275 books. His current interests are in single-session and very brief interventions within a therapy and coaching context. Relevant publications include: Single-Session Therapy: 100 Key Points and Techniques’ (Routledge, 2019) which outlines the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of the single-session mindset and The Single-Session Counselling Primer: Principles and Practice (PCCS Books, 2020) which is a comprehensive introduction to SST for counsellors. His book, Very Brief Therapeutic Conversations (Routledge, 2018) is focused on work he has done conducting live demonstrations of therapy/coaching in front of an audience that last 30 minutes or less. He has done more than 800 such demonstrations all over the world.  His goal is to disseminate SST, or what he refers to as ONEplus Therapy, with the hope that it might help provide help at the point of need within the NHS. His latest book is Dryden, W. (2024). ONEplus Therapy and Common Emotional Problems (Onlinevents, 2024).  For more information on the work of Dr. Windy Dryden and for links to his books please visit: https://www.windydryden.com/

    30 分鐘

簡介

So, why are we excited about Stepped Care 2.0? This podcast explores issues and challenges as well as ideas and solutions leading to strengthening support for mental wellness and recovery. We will engage with a variety of speakers who come from different backgrounds and perspectives as we explore mental health and addictions and a variety of issues that impact systems, communities and individuals. The views and opinions shared are those of the speakers and are not to be taken as medical advice and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Stepped Care Solutions.