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.

Heather Morrison

Talking 306 PodcastBy 306 Media ProductionsJun 15, 2021