In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Ya’ara Saks about the multifaceted challenges that parents face today, particularly in the realm of mental health.
The discussion touches on how hormonal changes, device usage, and the relentless noise of social media complicate communication between parents and their tweens and teens.
Minister Saks a mother of two teenage daughters, emphasizes the importance of fostering independence while equipping young people with the tools to navigate their emotional and mental health amidst bullying and the pressures of modern society.
The conversation also focuses on the impact of misinformation and disinformation as well as increasingly disrespectful behaviour and its impact politicians with families.
The interview also delves into the necessity of consent and healthy relationships, highlighting how these concepts are intertwined with physical and emotional well-being.
HON. YA’ARA SAKS
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Associate Minister of Health
MP, York Centre
Mother of 2
Associate Minister of Health
MP, York Centre
Mother of 2
“I often say I’m both Minister and mom. I’m a single mom to two amazing teenage daughters. And at the same time, I’m also holding space for parents and kids across the country, and not just at home, but everywhere — from rural and remote communities to Indigenous communities to life in urban landscapes — that are really, really noisy and challenging for so many. And what I’m keenly aware of is that parents are often grappling of, how do I talk to the young people in my life? How do I talk to my kids?”