Empowering Women: Sandi Treliving on Mental Health Advocacy and Bridging the Gender Gap

Mental health is paramount. We know this. But what you might not is that when it comes to  women and mental health - the support, and the research itself, does NOT add up.And that's what we're talking about in today's episode of feelgoodery. After I give a quick rundown on the wild allergy season we're having, and a few foundational things to consider! Then - I'm talking with Sandi Treliving, a passionate mental health advocate and the force behind womenmind. We cover a range of topics including Sandi's morning routine, her brother's battle with schizophrenia, and the incredible work being done to address the gender gaps in mental health research and treatment. Sandi talks about the founding of womenmind, its goals, and the achievements they've made so far. We also touch on the impact of social media on mental health and the challenges faced by women in the workplace.We're covering: Seasonal allergy TipsSandi's brother's battle with schizophrenia and dealing with doctors who don't believe the parentswhat the gender gap is in mental health, and the ripple effect it can havewomenmind and the progress in four short yearssupporting women in Academia Sandi's feelgood thing! To learn more about womenmind, click here.Sandi's Bio: Sandi Treliving is a dedicated philanthropist, an advocate for mental health, a supporter of Canadian arts and culture, and a champion of healthy living. These passions, skills and beliefs are matched with a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained from a long and successful career in retail banking. Like many Canadians, Sandi has been directly impacted by mental illness (her brother lived with schizophrenia), which inspired her to dedicate her time and resources to various mental health initiatives. In 2014, she became a Director on CAMH Foundation’s Board and in 2020 she and her family became founding funders of CAMH’s womenmind, a community of philanthropists committed to closing the gender gap in mental health. Sandi sits on the Advisory Council of HXOUSE, a community incubator that helps foster innovation and opportunity for creative entrepreneurs and is also Chair of the Advisory Board for Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch, a private donation fund dedicated to the discovery, development and promotion of Canada’s next generation of emerging filmmakers and content creators. Sandi and her husband, Jim Treliving, live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. TIMESTAMPS06:11 Morning Routine and Fasting Habits08:20 Mental Health Advocacy and Personal Impact10:41 Challenges and Misconceptions in Mental Health16:26 Gender Disparities in Mental Health Research21:47 Founding Womenmind: A Family Initiative32:35 Understanding Hormones and Women's Health35:20 Gender Bias in Academia and Workforce37:20 Challenges Faced by Women in the Workplace39:42 The Importance of Mental Health Research47:12 Social Media and Mental Health50:44 Future Goals and Community SupportTo learn more about Womenmind, click here.