Best Mental Health Podcasts

Our favourite mental health podcasts will uplift you

Over the years, podcasts have seen tremendous growth in popularity. Among them are a growing number of podcasts that address varying mental health topics, which is great for self-care. They provide us with information about mental health issues, offer in-depth conversations with healthcare professionals, give tips and advice on working through problems, and dispel the stigma surrounding mental health.

What’s more? These podcasts let us know that we aren’t alone if we’re struggling with a mental health issue. Sometimes, just listening to someone who has been in your shoes can make a huge difference in how we feel.

So, if you’re looking for some of the best a great mental health podcasts, we’ve got you covered. This article will go through some of our favourite mental health podcasts.

Before we begin, however, it’s important to note that while these podcasts discuss anxiety, depression, and other issues, they aren’t a substitute for professional help. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visit Crisis Services Canada. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.

Now let’s dive into these mental health podcasts and learn more about what makes them special. You might find your next go-to podcast!

Our Picks:

• Terrible, Thanks for Asking
• The Happiness Lab
• Happy Place
• Cleaning up the Mental Mess
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Not Another Anxiety Show
• The Hardcore Self-Help
• The Calmer You
• The Trauma Therapist
• The SelfWork Podcast

Terrible, Thanks for Asking

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2016
Episode lengths: 11mins – 60+ mins

Anyone who has struggled with mental health knows how stifling it can be when someone asks, “How are you doing?” when we aren’t doing well. No doubt you answer “fine” and move on. This phenomenon is exactly what host Nora McInerny wants to address in her podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking.

As an author, TED main stage speaker, and co-founder of the Terrible, Thanks for Asking podcast, Nora has become a host that navigates difficult conversations and explores a wide range of emotions. Rather than accepting “fine” as an answer, Nora asks real people to honestly give their response to the question of how they are feeling. This opens up guests to share their true feelings and start honest conversations.

The show is highly rated by many notable publications and is one of the most popular mental health podcasts.

The Happiness Lab

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2019
Episode lengths: 30mins – 60+ mins

Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos, has studied happiness for years. And she’s found that many of us do the opposite of what will actually make us happy.

The Happiness Lab takes listeners through the latest scientific research and shares inspirational stories to break down what happiness really is.

Many listeners claim Dr. Santos is a lifesaver as her podcast is a great way to gain a new perspective on life. So, if you’re looking to re-examine what makes you happy, The Happiness Lab is for you.

Happy Place

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2018
Episode lengths: 24mins – 60+ mins

Sunday Times Bestselling author Fearne Cotton started the Happy Place podcast after releasing her 2017 book, Happy. In the book, she discusses some of her own experiences of happiness and not-so-happy times. Continuing from the success of her book, Cotton created the Happy Place podcast to share more stories and wisdom from experts.

With a goal of self-empowerment, enrichment, and sharing a rainbow of emotions and experiences, the Happy Place podcast interviews incredible people about love, life, loss, and so much more, revealing what happiness means to them.

This podcast is a great listen if you want to learn more about celebrities and leaders and their thoughts on mental health.

Cleaning Up the Mental Mess

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2018
Episode lengths: 20mins – 60+ mins

Whether you are personally struggling with a mental health issue or are trying to learn more about neuroscience and its impact, Dr. Caroline Leaf shares how to use your mind to live your best life in Cleaning Up the Mental Mess.

An expert in cognitive neuroscience and mental health, Dr. Leaf gives you practical and scientifically-backed tips on how you can take control of your mental, physical, and emotional health, allowing you to clean up that ever-present mental mess.

This is a great podcast if you have been trying to learn more about the neuroscience behind mental health and enjoy scientific research.

Therapy for Black Girls

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2017
Episode lengths: 20mins – 60+ mins

Many Black girls and women don’t have access to mental health resources that acknowledge their unique experiences and the toll anti-black racism can have on a person’s life. In Therapy for Black Girls, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford centres her discussions about mental health around the real-life experiences of Black girls and women. This weekly The podcast also uses pop culture and relatable examples to illustrate mental health concepts, making the themes more understandable for listeners.

Therapy for Black Girls has been featured in The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Essence, Bustle, Huffington Post, and more. It’s worth a listen – especially if you are a black woman looking for a podcast that understands the unique experiences you may go through.

Not Another Anxiety Show

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2016
Episode lengths: 10mins – 60+ mins

Not Another Anxiety Show host, Kellie Walker, is a registered nurse and certified health and wellness coach. She’s also a former agoraphobe (a person with an irrational fear of open and public spaces) and has had a long history of dealing with anxiety on a personal and professional level.

If you’re looking to learn more about anxiety but don’t know where to start, Not Another Anxiety Show is a great resource. As Kellie puts it, “no experience in deep breathing, chakra alignment, or pescetarianism required. Listen in for a good laugh and start feeling more human today.”

The Hardcore Self-Help

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2020
Episode lengths: 30mins – 50 mins

Let’s be honest, sometimes mental health can be hard to understand, especially when you’re faced with complex psychological explanations and scientific language. The host of The Hardcore Self-Help podcast, Dr. Robert Duff, feels the same way.

In the podcast, Dr. Duff answers listeners’ questions about mental health using plain, simple language and covers a wide range of topics, including addiction, depression, and relationships. “I talk to you just like I do in my books: like a friend. Life is hard enough to handle; you don’t need complicated jargon screwing it all up for you,” states Dr. Duff.

Have a listen if you want to be more versed in mental health but don’t want to navigate the difficult terrain of “scientific jargon.”

The Calmer You

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2017
Episode lengths: 15mins – 60+ mins

Chloe Brotheridge is an anxiety coach, hypnotherapist, and best-selling author. Her podcast, The Calmer You, addresses women who feel anxious about different aspects of their life and provides teachings that help calm anxiety. In doing so, the podcast helps people become more confident, assertive, and positive in daily life.

The Calmer You is a good choice if you’re looking for ways to quiet the little voice inside that makes you worry and be calmer.

The Trauma Therapist

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2014
Episode lengths: 30+ mins

Guy Macpherson has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is the host of The Trauma Therapist. In the podcast, Guy Macpherson interviews thought-leaders in trauma, mindfulness, addiction and yoga. Through these conversations, listeners learn more about the amazing people who dedicate their lives to supporting those with trauma and how you can overcome it.

The Trauma Therapist is an excellent choice if you’re looking to learn more about trauma and hear from different thought-leaders in the field.

Have a listen if you want to be more versed in mental health but don’t want to navigate the difficult terrain of “scientific jargon.”

The SelfWork Podcast

Apple Podcast reviews and rating
Release year: 2016
Episode lengths: 5mins – 45 mins

Dr. Margaret Rutherford is a psychologist with over 25 years of experience who created The SelfWork Podcast to help explain mental health and the importance of therapy in a non-judgemental environment. Each episode addresses a topic of mental health while also emphasizing that there’s no shame in seeking professional help.

This podcast is a go-to for when you want to listen to stories from a wide range of topics that address many avenues of mental health.

Become a mental health champion

There are tons of mental health podcasts – all with varying angles. Some dive deep into the neuroscience of mental health or specific mental health issues. Others offer tips on being more positive and help promote self-care and mental wellbeing. While the angle and perspective may be different, they all stress the importance of mental health.

We are currently in a mental health crisis. One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness over the course of their lives. But many struggle in silence due to the stigma surrounding mental health and the lack of access to care and mental health professionals.

Helping to ensure no one suffers in silence, organizations across Canada are working tirelessly to de-stigmatize mental health and increase access to professional help. But your help is needed to make their work continues.

Donate to the Support Mental Health Fund and support over 470 organizations offering lifesaving programs and resources. For example, advocacy efforts, crisis support, counselling, and public education. Your donation can save a life. Now is the time to become a mental health champion!