The CAN-BIND Podcast

Breaking the Stigma: Understanding Suicide Risk and Prevention

Suicide impacts more than just the individual—it ripples through families, friends, and communities.

In this episode, host Andrew Kcomt is joined by Dr. Sakina Rizvi, Chair of the Arthur Sommer Rotenberg (ASR) Suicide & Depression Studies Program at the University of Toronto at St. Michael's Hospital. Together, they delve into the complexities of suicide risk and prevention, exploring the neurobiological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to suicide risk. They also discuss strategies for identifying, assessing, and supporting individuals at risk. Discover how a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention can save lives—and why compassion and understanding are key.

Host: Andrew Kcomt
Guest: Dr. Sakina Rizvi
Producer: Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan
Audio Editor: Anastasiia Marmyzova
Music: Teamwork by scottholmesmusic.com

Food for Thought: The Surprising Link Between Diet and Mental Health

Food and mood—two things we often separate in our minds. But what if they’re more connected than we think?

In this episode, our host, Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan, explores the groundbreaking work of clinician-scientist and psychiatrist Dr. Fabiano Gomes. From the impact of processed foods to the gut-brain connection, Dr. Gomes uncovers how nutrition affects brain function—and why dietary changes could play a crucial role in mental health treatment.

Host: Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan
Guest: Dr. Fabiano Gomes
Recorded by: The Watering Well 
Audio Editing and Production: Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan
Music: Teamwork by scottholmesmusic.com

A Decade of Unravelling Mood Disorder Mysteries: The CAN-BIND Research Journey

Over the past decade, CAN-BIND has led the charge in scientific exploration, pushing boundaries, challenging stigma, and conducting groundbreaking research in collaboration with patients and families.

In this special episode, join our host, Dr. Fabiano Gomes, and CAN-BIND Program Manager, Dr. Susan Rotzinger, as they take you on an exciting journey through the last 10 years of CAN-BIND's pioneering work in depression research.

Host: Dr. Fabiano Gomes
Guest: Dr. Susan Rotzinger
Producer: Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan
Audio editors: Christina Macaluso & Dr. Nirushi Kuhathasan
Music: Teamwork by scottholmesmusic.com

Epilepsy, Depression & Anxiety: What do we know?

*For more info on the webinar and registration, click on the link below
http://tinyurl.com/epilepsy-depression-anxiety

In this episode, CAN-BIND collaborated with EpLink to create this special podcast to explore what we know about epilepsy, depression and anxiety. 

Listen as Dr. Elaine Kiriakopoulos, the Director of the HOBSCOTCH Institute for Cognitive Health and Well-Being at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Epilepsy Center, discusses the current relationship between epilepsy, depression and anxiety and the type of resources and support people living with these conditions can seek. 

This podcast also gives you a sneak peek into a free webinar we will be holding with EpLink and the Ontario Brain Institute that delves into why depression can happen in people living with epilepsy, what to do about it and busting some myths about treatment. 

Resources for people living with Epilepsy, Depression and Anxiety:

UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favourable Thoughts)
https://epilepsyontario.org/programs/uplift/ 

HOBSCOTCH (Home-Based Self-Management and Cognitive Training Changes Lives)
https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/communications/success-stories/hobscotch.htm 
https://epilepsysco.org/programs-services/hopscotch/ 

MEW (The Managing Epilepsy Well Network)
https://managingepilepsywell.org/ 
 
Guest: Dr. Elaine Kiriakopoulos, Director of the HOBSCOTCH Institute for Cognitive Health and Well-Being, Dartmouth Hitchcock Epilepsy Center
Assistant professor of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
 
Hosts: Dr. Wegdan Abdelmoemin
Producer: Dr. Wegdan Abdelmoemin
Music: The Future is Ours by scottholmesmusic.com
Audio editor: Serhii Artiukh

Visit the CAN-BIND website here:
https://www.canbind.ca/ 

Visit the EpLink website here:
https://eplink.ca/ 

Visit the OBI website here:
https://www.braininstitute.ca/ 

Canadian Virtual Mental Health Care: Perspectives from Lived Experience, Psychiatrist and Researcher

In this episode, we explore the strengths and challenges associated with virtual care, including phone visits and video calls. Listen as Dr. Sagar Parikh discusses with our guests Graeme, Amanda Ceniti and Dr. Amy Gajaria on their experiences as a patient, researcher and clinician (respectively). We also explore tips and suggestions to improve the quality of virtual care in Canada.
Guests:

Graeme: Student at Carleton University

Amanda Ceniti: Ph.D. Candidate, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto

Dr. Amy Gajaria: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Toronto

Hosts: Dr. Sagar Parikh, Psychiatrist at University of Michigan
Producer: Dr. Wegdan Abdelmoemin
Music: The Future is Ours by scottholmesmusic.com
Audio editor: Serhii Artiukh

Discovery Starts with You: Inspiring Perspectives on Participating in Research & Data Sharing

In this episode, we hear the perspectives of three women on why people participate in brain research using an open science and data sharing model: the care partner, the researcher, and the research student.

This podcast was created in collaboration between ONDRI (Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative) and CAN-BIND (Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression), supported by OBI (Ontario Brain Institute).

Guests:

Shelley: Community advisory committee member at the Arthur Sommer Rotenberg  Depression and Suicide Studies program (ASR) as well as the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI).

Dr. Jennifer Phillips: Scientist at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal.

Patricia Burhunduli: MD/Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Ottawa.

 

Hosts: Andrew Kcomt (Hope & Me), Ruth Kruger (ONDRI)  and Wegdan Abdelmoemin (CAN-BIND)
Music: The Future is Ours by scottholmesmusic.com
Audio editor: Serhii Artiukh

To learn more about the campaign:  https://braininstitute.ca/research-data-sharing/discoverystartswithyou

 

MDMA and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy with Dr. Emma Hapke

In this episode, we host Dr. Emma Hapke, psychiatrist, and researcher at University Health Network and the University of Toronto. Dr. Hapke's work explores MDMA and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in people suffering from severe mental health issues like PTSD and treatment-resistant depression. In this episode, we discuss the latest research, the pros, and cons of these methods and we promote an upcoming conference on the state of psychedelic research in Canada and worldwide. The conference is happening on 21 Oct 2021. Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/psychedelics-i…ets-170387541724

Hosted by Dr. Wegdan Rashad Abdelmoemin
Guests: Dr. Emma Hapke
Music: Make your dreams a reality by scottholmesmusic.com
Audio editor: Serhii Artiukh

Visit our website: www.canbind.ca/videos/podcasts/

This podcast was recorded in September 2021

Part 2: Interview with Senator and Psychiatrist Stan Kutcher on #MentalHealth

In this episode, Dr. Sagar Parikh interviews our guest; Canadian Senator Stan Kutcher on the social determinants in depression care, the role of policy in enhancing teen mental health, technology, and, some tips for parents and teens.

READ TRANSCRIPT HERE: www.canbind.ca/videos/podcasts/

Podcast was recorded in December 2020

Interview with Senator and Psychiatrist Stan Kutcher on #MentalHealth (part 1)

In this episode Dr. Sagar Parikh interviews our guest; Canadian Senator Stan Kutcher on his journey becoming a psychiatrist, getting involved in teen mental health and discussions on how the school system can take part in providing mental health care.

READ TRANSCRIPT HERE: www.canbind.ca/videos/podcasts/

Podcast was recorded in December 2020

Nothing About Us Without Us- Community Involvement in Research

In this episode we discuss the importance of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) at The Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression (CAN-BIND. We also interview 2 of our CAC members (Madeline and Michael) on their personal experiences as well as what they enjoy doing as the CAC.

READ TRANSCRIPT HERE: https://www.canbind.ca/videos/podcasts/

Podcast was recorded in June 2020