Minding Your Mind

In old books and films, sometimes people "go insane" as if a switch had flicked. Now we know that mental health is a spectrum, not a switch. So, what relevance do the terms "sanity" and "insanity" have today? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topi...

Through life we are regularly confronted with tricky decisions. What do I do after school ends? What job should I apply for? What career? What partner? Where do I live? Should I have kids? How should we make decisions? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them t...

Most things humans do have some purpose. Anxiety helps us identify threats and prepare for them. Depression, though, does not seem like something that aids our survival. But does it? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more about depres...

Ever feel really irritated with everyone, about everything? What is irritability? Why can it descend on us?  What can we do about it? How do you deal with someone who is irritable? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more about depression...

Being embarrassed is surely one of the worst feelings in the world. You say or do something wrong, then feel incredibly self-conscious, and wish the ground would swallow you up. What is embarrassment? Why does it happen? What’s going on with the red cheeks? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know...

There’s listening, and then there’s  active  listening. When we talk to someone who has a mental health issue, active listening is much better than normal listening. In fact, active listening is better whenever we’re talking to  anyone . What is it, and how do we do it? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Le...

What role can a community organisation play in improving the mental health of people? Can solving local problems within communities improve the mental health of those who live in them? How well are governments doing in responding to mental health challenges in communities? Executive director of Australians for Mental Health Chris Gambian joins us. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian a...

It’s good to have a busy, active life, but for good mental health, we also need to find some peace and contentment. Is that harder now than it was in simpler times? How do we find those moments of peace? When life is challenging, how can we find contentment?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know a...

People often say their friends will always support them. But should they? When a friend does something you think is bad, should you be an uncritical source of support? Or is a good friend someone who can tell you when you’re making bad decisions? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics...

Routines and habits are comforting, but the human mind need novelty. Doing new things, going new places, meeting new people makes us feel alive. How do we find the right mix between novelty and predictability? What effect can a lack of novelty have on our mental health? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let th...

We speak with psychiatrist and author Annie Buist about her novel The Glass House , the story of a young psychiatrist working in a busy hospital and trying to cope. The book sheds light on the pressures and difficulties faced by mental health doctors, nurses and patients. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let th...

Depression is an illness that drains us of energy. Can stimulants play a role in treating it? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more about depression and support services, you can contact Head to Health at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.headtohealth.gov.au⁠⁠⁠...

What causes panic attacks? If you have had one, are you likely to have more? What should you do if you have one? Can they be prevented? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more about depression and support services, you can contact Head to Health...

The three pillars of mental health treatment are medication, changing behaviour and therapy. How did therapy develop? What are the different types? Does it work? How do you find the best therapist for you?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out...

Why are men violent toward women? Can those at highest risk of offending be identified early? What is the connection between controlling behaviour in a relationship, and violence? What strategies and services will help reduce the rate of violence against women?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them kno...

Is the recently released Draft National Autism Strategy a game-changer that will radically improve the way governments assist those with autism? Or just another well-intentioned, waffly, non-specific document that will go nowhere? What specific things should governments do to better assist those with autism? Nicole Rogerson, CEO of Autism Awareness Australia, joins us.   If you have any questions...

The killing of six people by 40-year-old Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction horrified the nation. Cauchi started taking medication for schizophrenia aged 17, but at some point stopped. Why do people stop taking medication that can help them control and recover from mental illness? When someone with a serious mental health condition loses contact with the health system, how can the health system be more...

Mental illness is expensive, both to the individual and society. How do we reduce those costs? How can governments spend money on treating mental illness more efficiently and effectively?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more about depression and...

The number of people diagnosed with autism has risen dramatically recently. Why? Has diagnosis improved? Are there more people with autism? Does it have anything to do with eligibility for the National Disability Insurance Scheme? What are the best forms of support and treatment for those with autism? How can workplaces and schools better support students and workers with autism? If you have any q...

It’s easy to take the good thing in our life – friends, family, a sunny day, frozen yoghurt – for granted, but taking a minute to actively focus on the things we are grateful can be good for our mental health.  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To find out more ab...

Social media can be good (social connection, finding people with similar interests, learning new things) and it can be bad (addictive, bullying, people being mean, time-wasting). So, how do we get the good, and avoid the bad? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like them to cover. To fin...

How does being diagnosed with a mental illness affect us, especially when it is a condition that we may need to manage and live with for a long time? Psychologist Zsofi de Haan joins us to discuss the grief she felt after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and how she dealt with it.  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Le...

It’s great to feel you belong, to feel safe and comfortable as part of a family, social, sporting, work or school-based group. But what if you don’t have that feeling? What if you are in groups where you don’t really fit? How do you find where you truly belong? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics...

Our boundaries are limits we set that establish what we are comfortable with, and what we aren’t. Boundaries can be physical, emotional, sexual, or time-based (e.g. no work/study on Saturdays). How do we work out what our boundaries are? How do we communicate them to others? What should we do if someone violates them? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyou...

It’s nice to help others, but if you find it hard to say "no" whenever someone asks you to do something, you might be a habitual people pleaser, who puts their own needs second, third or even last. Why are some of us people pleasers? What should we do if we are?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any o...