Taking the conversation off the therapy couch and into everyday life, Off the Couch with Nikk and Shereen is a friendly and casual podcast about men’s mental health in Edmonton, Alberta, based on both evidence and lived experience, and featuring guest speakers from the Edmonton area.

Meet the Hosts!

Nikk Leavitt

Nikk is trained in public health and health promotion, with a research background in men’s mental health, and more specifically, how masculinity shapes the way men deal with (or avoid dealing with) their mental health. His background is a big part of what he brings to this podcast. He’s trying to understand why this conversation is still so hard to have, and what can be done to make it easier.

Outside of work, Nikk tries to practice what he preaches. Running, the gym, basketball, and hiking are how he takes care of his own mental health – Waterton is his happy place. And if there’s one thing this work has taught him, it’s that taking care of your mental health doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it out to be.

Shereen Singh

Shereen is a therapist, entrepreneur, mom, and lifelong believer in growth, connection, and a little bit of humour along the way. 

With many years of experience in the non-profit sector, and the founder of Endeavor Mental Health & Wellness, she’s passionate about making mental health conversations feel real, relatable, and judgment-free.

When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her with her family, dreaming up her next big Endeavor, or saying, “I have an idea…” 

Episodes, Evidence, and Resources

Episode 1: Intro to Off the Couch (May 22, 2026)

Evidence

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2026). Women and Depression. https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/depression
• Ar, Y. (2026). Perspectives on eliminating barriers and fostering solutions to men’s participation and engagement in mental health services. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, (Advanced Online Publication), 1381-1395. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/pgy/article/1823478
• Bilsker, D., Fogarty, A. S., & Wakefield, M. A. (2018). Critical issues in men’s mental health. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(9), 590-596. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0706743718766052
• Chatmon, B. (2020). Males and mental health stigma. American Journal of Men’s Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7444121/
• Kuehner, C. (2017). Why is depression more common among women than among men? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27856392/
• Leavitt, N. (2023). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among Canadian men: does men’s alignment with traditional masculine norms play a role in the development of GAD? (thesis). Open ULethbridge Scholarship (OPUS). Retrieved from https://opus.uleth.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/54753f89-4168-491b-b289-81ecde9bba70/content
• Martin, L. A., Neighbors, H. W., & Griffith, D. M. (2013). The experience of symptoms of depression in men vs women: Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(10). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1733742
• Movember. (2025). The real face of men’s health. https://movember.com/uploads/files/2025/The%20Real%20Face%20of%20Men’s%20Health%20Report%202025%20-%20English%20Canada.pdf
• Rice, S. M., Oliffe, J. L., Kealy, D., Seidler, Z. E., & Ogrodniczuk, J. S. (2020). Men’s help-seeking for depression: Attitudinal and structural barriers in symptomatic men. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 11, 2150132720921686. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2150132720921686
• Shi, P., Yang, A., Zhao, Q., Chen, Z., Ren, X., & Dai, Q. (2021). A hypothesis of gender differences in self-reporting symptom of depression: Implications to solve under-diagnosis and under-treatment of depression in males. Frontiers Psychiatry. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.589687/full
• Vickery, A. (2022). ‘It’s made me feel less isolated because there are other people who are experiencing the same or very similar to you’: Men’s experiences of using mental health support groups. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), 2383-2391. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hsc.13788
• Wagner, A., & Reifegerste, D. (2024). Real men don’t talk? Relationships among depressiveness, loneliness, conformity to masculine norms, and male non-disclosure of mental distress. SSM – Mental Health. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266656032400001X

Episode 2 & 3: Mental Health and Culture Part 1 & 2 (June 4 and June 12, 2026)

Evidence

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2014). Cross-cultural mental health. https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/cross-cultural-mental-health-and-substance-use-2/
• Gopalkrishnan, N. (2018). Cultural diversity and mental health: Considerations for policy and practice. Frontiers in Public Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6018386/
• Gyamfi, s., Boakye, P., Giannotti, N., & Cruz, E. (2025). Understanding the multi-faceted nature of the public stigma of mental ililness: Insights and implications from structural violence perspective. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12365575/
• Lu, P., Oh, J., Leahy, K., & Chopik, W. (2021). Friendship importance around the world: Links to cultural factors, health, and well-being. Frontiers in Psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7848226/
• Srivastava, R. (2025). The complexity of cultural identity. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12006669/
• Unesco. (n.d.). Culture. https://www.unesco.org/en/query-list/c/culture

Episode 4: Addiction (June 26, 2026)

Evidence

• Bhuptani, P., Zhang, Y., Danzey, L., Bali, A., Langdon, K., & Orchowski, L. (2024). Interpersonal trauma, shame, and substance use: A systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11090047/
• Brady, K., & Back, S. (2012). Childhood trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol dependence. Alcohol Research. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3860395/
• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2026). Substance use and addiction. https://ontario.cmha.ca/addiction-and-substance-use-and-addiction/
• Green, C., Yarborough, M., Polen, M., Janoff, S., Yarborough, B. (2016). Dual recovery among people with serious mental illnesses and substance problems: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Dual Diagnosis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4326568/
•  Ingram, I., Kelly, P., Deane, F., Baker, A., Goh, M., Raftery, D., & Dingle, G. (2020). Loneliness among people with substance use problems: A narrative systematic review. Drug and Alcohol Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32314504/
• The Meadows Outpatient Centre. (2026). The difference between habit and addiction. https://meadowsoutpatient.com/the-difference-between-habit-and-addiction/
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023). Prevention. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/prevention
• Turner, S., Mota, N., Bolton, J., & Sareen, J. (2018). Self-medication with alcohol or drugs for mood and anxiety disorders: A narrative review of the epidemiological literature. Depression and Anxiety. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29999576/
• Votaw, V., & Witkiewitz, K. (2021). Motives for substance use in daily life: A systematic review of studies using ecological momentary assessment. Clinical Psychological Science. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34447615/

Episode 5: Socio-Economic Status and Mental Health (July 10, 2026)

Evidence

• Alegria, M., NeMoyer, A., Falgas, I., Wang, Y., & Alvarez, K. (2019). Social determinants of mental health: Where we are and where we need to go. Current Psychiatry Reports. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6181118/
• Government of Canada. (2022). Mental health inequalities by income in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/mental-health-inequalities-income-canada.html
• Government of Canada. (2024). A time for urgent action. The 2024 report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/poverty-reduction/national-advisory-council/reports/2024-annual.html
• Government of Canada. (2025). Financial stress and its impacts. https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/financial-wellness-work/stress-impacts.html
• Ridley, M., Rao, G., Schillbach, F., & Patel, V. (2021). Poverty, depression, and anxiety: Causal evidence and mechanisms. Economics. https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/poverty-depression-anxiety-science.pdf
• Ryu, S., & Fan, L. (2022). The relationship between financial worries and psychological distress among US adults. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8806009/
• Votaw, V., & Witkiewitz, K. (2021). Motives for substance use in daily life: A systematic review of studies using ecological momentary assessment. Clinical Psychological Science. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34447615/
• Vritkapa, K., Urmy, F., & Hoque, F. (2025). Social determinants of health: The impact of this overlooked vital sign. Journal of Brown Hospital Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12224330/

Episode 7: Toxic Masculinity (August 14, 2026)

Evidence

• De Boise, S. (2019). Is masculinity toxic?. Norma, 14(3), 147-151. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/18902138.2019.1654742
• Falk, Orjan, Wallinius, M., Lundstrom, S., Frisell, T., Anckarsater, H., & Kerekes, N. (2013). The 1% of the population accountable for 63% of all violent crime convictions. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3969807/
• Government of Canada. (2023). Suicide in Canada: Key statistics. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/suicide-canada-key-statistics-infographic.html
• Government of Canada. (2024). The national suicide prevention action plan (2024 to 2027). https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/national-suicide-prevention-action-plan-2024-2027.html
• Government of Canada. (2026). Suicide, self-harm, and suicide-related behaviours in Canada. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/mental-health/suicide-self-harm/suicide-mortality.html
• Horton, E., Schermerhorn, N., & Hanel, P. (2026). The impact of toxic masculinity on restrictive emotionality and mental health seeking support. Personality and Individual Differences. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886925004210
• National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Men and mental health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/men-and-mental-health
• Oliffe, J. L., Kelly, M. T., Johnson, J. L., Bottorff, J. L., Gray, R. E., Ogrodniczuk, J. S., & Galdas, P. M. (2010). Masculinities and college men’s depression: Recursive relationships. Health Sociology Review, 19(4), 465-477. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.5172/hesr.2010.19.4.465
• Ogrodniczuk, J., & Oliffe, J. (2011). Men and depression. Canadian Family Physician. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3038800/
• Sagar-Ouriaghli, I., Godfrey, E., Bridge, L., Meade, L., & Brown, J. (2019). Improving mental health service utilization among men: A systematic review and synthesis of behavior change techniques within interventions targeting help-seeking. American Journal of Men’s Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6560805/
• United Nations. (2019). Global study on homicide. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/global-study-on-homicide-2019.html
• Vickery, A. (2021). Men’s help-seeking for distress: Navigating varied pathways and practices. Frontiers in Sociology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8661038/
• Waling, A. (2023). ‘Inoculate boys against toxic masculinity’: Exploring discourses of men and masculinity in# Metoo commentaries. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 31(1), 130-156. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10608265221092044

Episode 8: Relationships (August 25, 2026)

Evidence

• Braithwaite, S., & Holt-Lunstad, J. (2017). Romantic relationships and mental health. Current Opinion in Psychology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28813281/
• Cacioppo, J., & Cacioppo, S. (2014). Social relationships and health: The toxic effects of perceived social isolation. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4021390/
• CDC. (2024). Health effects of social isolation and loneliness. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html
• Downey, C., & Crummy, A. (2022). The impact of childhood trauma on children’s wellbeing and adult behavior. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468749921000375
• Holt-Lunstad, J. (2021). Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors: The power of social connection in prevention. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8504333/
• Lindert, J., Arndt, S., Cook, N., Bain, p., & Kawachi, I. (2025). Positive and negative family relationships correlate with mental health conditions – A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health Reviews. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12320053/
• Merrill, R. (2022). Within- and cross-mental health disorder correlations in husband-and-wife pairs. BMC Psychiatry. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9721020/
• Stein, C., Redondo, R., Simon, S., & Silverman, Z. (2024). Strengths, struggles, and strategies: How adults with serious mental illness navigate long-term romantic relationships. Community Mental Health Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11408583/
• Thomas, P. (2022). The impact of relationship-specific support and strain on depressive symptoms across the life course. Journal of Aging Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9013430/
• World Health Organization. (2025). Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early death. https://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2025-social-connection-linked-to-improved-heath-and-reduced-risk-of-early-death

Episode 10: Sexual Violence, Consent and Awareness (Sept 18, 2026)

Resources

• Sexual Assault Centre Of Edmonton (SACE)
• 211 Alberta
• Government of Canada – Sexual Violence and Consent

Evidence

• Easton, S., Saltzman, L., & Willis, D. (2014). “Would you tell under circumstances like that?”: Barriers to disclosure of child sexual abuse for men. Psychology of Men & Masculinity. https://www.ovid.com/journals/pmema/abstract/10.1037/a0034223~would-you-tell-under-circumstances-like-that-barriers-to?redirectionsource=fulltextview
• Government of Canada. (2019). Sexual assault. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/jr/jf-pf/2019/apr01.html
• Government of Canada. (2025). Reporting to police and investigations. https://www.canada.ca/en/office-federal-ombudsperson-victims-crime/sissa-essas/reporting.html
• Government of Canada. (2026). A definition of consent to sexual activity. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/victims-victimes/def.html
• Government of Canada. (2026). Gender differences in experiences of violence and unwanted sexual behaviour in Canada, 2025. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260331/dq260331b-eng.htm
• Government of Canada. (2026). Meaning of consent. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/section-273.1.html
• Handlarski, R. (2026). Consent defense in sexual assault cases – Canadian law explained. https://www.rhcriminaldefence.com/blog/consent-defence-sexual-assault-canada
• Mou, N. (2025). Men’s sexual violence against women: A systematic review of self-reported measures of perpetration. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12953655/
• O’Sullivan, L., & Ronis, S. (2026). Isolate, inebriate, intimidate, repeat: High rates of sexual force against women are reported when young men given anonymous surveys. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08862605261432630
• Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. (2025). Understanding sexual violence statistics. https://www.sace.ca/learn/understanding-sexual-violence-statistics/

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