The PERSIST Podcast is co-hosted and produced by Dale Richardson, host of the Talking 306 Podcast. PERSIST aims to improve mental health in politics and public life. Learn more about PERSIST.

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In this bonus episode of the Talking 306 Podcast, PERSIST hosts Dale Richardson and Emile Scheffel speak with Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, NDP Member of Parliament for Nunavut.

Mumilaaq discusses taking a mental health leave in fall 2020 after experiencing "extreme burnout, anxiety, and depression", and the response from her community to that decision; the suicide and housing crises in Nunavut; the pressures and demands of being a Member of Parliament and being the the only representative of Canada's largest electoral district; the freedom she feels in her party to authentically be herself; how different cultural norms contribute to mental health challenges; the work she did in suicide prevention in Nunavut before the 2019 election; and more.

"I did get to a point where it was medical leave. I had to take that time off because I don't know what happens after that; the answer was probably body shut-down and that's how much I had worked myself into a state where I really needed rest." - Mumilaaq Qaqqaq

PERSIST is produced by 306 Media Productions.

About the PERSIST Podcast hosts: Emile Scheffel was previously the Executive Director of the BC Liberal Party and a communications aide in the BC Premier's Office. Dale Richardson was the Director of Digital Operations to Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe, and Director of Communications for the Saskatchewan Party.

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