Have you ever felt lost when it comes to healthcare acronyms? Or wondered why it feels so difficult to navigate mental health and addiction services?

In this episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful podcast, host Adriana Grande sits down with Erica Bassakos, the Mental Health & Addictions Lead for the Windsor-Essex Ontario Health Team (WEOHT). Erica isn’t just a social worker and a local rock climber; she is a systems-thinker dedicated to transforming how our community accesses care.

We’re pulling back the curtain on the "macro" side of healthcareto explain how big-picture changes lead to better outcomes for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

· WEOHT vs. Family Health Teams: Finally—a clear explanation of who does what.

· The Power of Integrated Care: What happens when your doctors, therapists, and specialists actually talk to one another?

· The Goal of Primary Care: Why being "attached" to a family doctor is the secret weapon for mental health recovery.

Whether you are a clinician looking to get involved or a resident trying to find the "front door" to healthcare, this conversation is a roadmap to a more hopeful, connected future in our community.

Links

1. Health Care Connect: https://hcc3.hcc.moh.gov.on.ca/HCCWeb/faces/layoutHCCRegSplash.xhtml

2. WEC Connect: https://wecoss.ca/wec_connect

3. ConnexOntario: https://connexontario.ca/

4. WEOHT: https://www.weoht.ca/

5. WEOHT Primary Care Network: https://www.weoht.ca/resources/weoht-primary-care-network/

6. WEOHT Find Services (211, Connex, etc.): https://www.weoht.ca/resources/find-services/

24/7Crisis Lines

1. Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Crisis Centre (MHAUCC): 519-973-4435

2. The Sexual Assault Crisis Centre (SACC): 519-253-9667

3. National Suicide Prevention Line/Text: 988

Is it just a phase, or is it something more? While many are familiar with Anorexia or Bulimia, there is another eating disorder that often flies under the radar:

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

In this episode of Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful, host Adriana Grande sits down with Heather Leblanc, a Registered Social Worker at BANA and a specialist in the treatment of eating disorders and body image. Heather brings her expertise in social justice and weight-neutral care to help us deconstructthe myths surrounding how and why we eat.

Together, they dive deep into the complexities of ARFID—moving beyond the "picky eater" label to understand the sensory, psychological, and biological factors at play.

In this episode, we explore:

• ARFID 101: What exactly is it, and how does it differ from other eating disorders?
• Picky Eating vs. ARFID: How to identify the "red flags" and when to seek professional support.
• The Body Image Connection: Can you struggle with ARFID and body image issues simultaneously?
• CBT-AR Explained: Understanding the treatment process and why it’s not about "changing your personality."
• Parenting Strategies: How to lower the pressure at the dinner table while ensuring your child gets the nutrients they need.

Whether you are a caregiver feeling overwhelmed by mealtime or someone navigating your own restrictive eating journey, this conversation offers the tools, clinical insights, and hope you need to move forward.

What does "wellness" actually looklike for the next generation? In a world where mental health challenges for young people are on the rise, knowing where to turn for support is more critical than ever.

In this episode, BANA Health Promoter Adriana Grande sits down with Kim Mann, Outreach Worker at the Windsor-Essex Youth Wellness Hub. With over a decade of experience in the field, Kim pulls back the curtain on how the Hub is revolutionizing local support for youth aged 12–25.

In this conversation, we dive into:

What is a Youth Wellness Hub?Understanding the "one-stop-shop" model.

Beyond Therapy: The wide variety of in-house services and collaborative programming available right now

Low-Barrier Access: How the Hub creates a safe, inclusive space for the Windsor-Essex community.

Whether you are a young person looking for a community, a parent seeking resources, or a local professional, this episode isa roadmap to the incredible support systems available in our backyard.

Connect with the Windsor-Essex Youth Wellness Hub:

· Website: youthhubyqg.com

· Socials: @youthhubyqg

View the Program Schedule: Browse Events Here

Tune into this honest and informative episode by visiting www.bana.ca/podcast or listening on Amazon Music, Spotify, or iHeartRADIO.

In this episode of the Be Yourself: Happy, Healthy, Hopeful podcast,BANA Health Promoter Maryum Chaudhry (she/her) sits down with Sara Dalrymple (she/her), a Registered Social Worker specializing in eating disorders, tounpack some of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding disordered eating.

Together, they explore the nuanced differences between eating disorders and disordered eating, shedding light on how seemingly “normal” behaviours—like skipping meals or feeling guilty after eating—can actually be signs of deeper struggles. The conversation tackles harmful assumptions, such as the idea that you can tell if someone has an eating disorder just by looking at them, or that recovery is simply about eating “normally” again.

With a trauma-informed, weight-neutral lens, Sara draws from her experience using CBT, DBT, and Health at Every Size (HAES) principles to offer thoughtful insights.

Tune in to this honest and informative episode by visiting www.bana.ca/podcast or listening on Amazon Music, Spotify, or iHeartRADIO.

In this episode, BANA Health Educator Maryum Chaudhry (she/her) sits down with NEDIC staff Emily Tam (she/her), resource development coordinator, and Ary Maharaj (he/him), Health Educator.

Together, they delve into the intersection of food, body image, and mental health within racialized communities, bringing their expertise in eating disorders to the conversation.

The discussion explores how cultural expectations, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers impact the experience of disordered eating in People of Colour (POC).

They also examine how traditional foods are often labeled as “unhealthy” within Western narratives, and how hustle culture and medical bias influence perceptions of health.

Throughout the episode, the NEDIC team offers valuable insights on how eating disorder care can be made more inclusive.

Tune in to this insightful conversation by visiting www.bana.ca/podcast or listening onAmazon Music, Spotify, or iHeartRADIO.

EDAW Special: The Impact of Social Trends on Body Image and Mental Health

In this episode, BANA Health Educator Maryum Chaudhry (she/her) sits down with Dr. Anita Federici (she/her), a registered clinical psychologist and expert in eating disorders. Dr. Federici brings over 20 years of experience in helping individuals navigate eating disorders and body image struggles.

In their conversation, Maryum and Dr. Federici explore the impact of societal trends, including social media and celebrity culture, on body image and mental health. They discuss how platforms like Instagram and TikTok contribute to body comparison and how the normalization of weight loss medications is affecting public perceptions of health and beauty.

Dr. Federici shares valuable insights into how diet culture and societal pressures influence mental health.

To listen to this insightful episode, visit us at www.bana.ca/podcast or check us out on Amazon Music, Spotify, or iHeartRADIO.

Find recovery space resources here.

In this episode, BANA Health Educator Maryum Chaudhry (she/her) sits down with Scout Silverstein (they/them), a specialist in gender-affirming eating disorder care and an advocate for intersex justice, harm reduction, and anti-carceral crisis response.

Scout brings a unique and valuable perspective on the intersection of eating disorders, body image, and the experiences of transgender and intersex individuals. In their conversation with Maryum, Scout delves into the complex challenges that marginalized communities face when it comes to mental health and wellness.

They discuss the importance of respecting differences—even when we cannot fully understand or accept them—and how kindness and empathy can help foster greater understanding and support for diverse identities. The impact of societal stigma on self-esteem and body image is also explored in depth.

Scout shares insights into their work within the eating disorder field and highlights how community involvement plays a crucial role in building resilience. The discussion also touches on the relevance of traditional mental health therapies, such as CBT-E, for trans individuals and the need for more tailored approaches in treating this population.

To listen to this insightful episode, visit us at www.bana.ca/podcast or check us out on Amazon Music, Spotify, or iHeartRADIO

In this episode, BANA Health Educator Maryum Chaudhry (she/her) chats with registered dietitian Kia Peters (she/her) from Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC). As an Anishinaabe Kwe from the Caldwell First Nation, Turtle Clan, Kia brings valuable insights into how eating disorders, food insecurity, and cultural relationships with food impact Indigenous communities. Kia and Maryum discuss Kia's professional journey in the realm of dietetics and how her life experience has informed her practice. Kia also delves into indigenous perspectives on food, wellness, and related barriers faced by Indigenous communities living in Canada.

For more information about eating disorder treatment in the Windsor-Essex Community, please visit www.bana.ca.

You can also reach our intake specialist by calling our intake line at 1-855-969-5530. Connect with us on social media @banawindsor.