Brainwaves

On today's episode of Brainwaves, we talk to Ela Simon, co-author of The Bipolar Express. Written with her daughter Natasha, the book describes the “rollercoaster of mania and depression” as experienced by mother and daughter. We talk about what it's like to care for a child with a mental illness, and also about her experience of writing a novel with her daughter and how the journey brought them t...

This week on Brainwaves, we discuss the highly criticised Netflix series "13 Reasons Why". The show has come under immense media scrutiny for its portrayal of mental health and suicide. We discuss the parts of the show that don't sit well with us, and express our thoughts on comments from strangers on the internet and mental health organisations as well. This episode of Brainwaves contains major s...

On this week's Brainwaves we talk to Evan Bichara, Consumer Advocate for the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit. Evan is a long time mental health advocate and has worked across Australia in the field utilising his personal lived experience and his Greek-Egyptian background. We talk about the role that culture plays in mental illness and the ways in which our communities can shape our experie...

This week on Brainwaves, volunteer Rebecca bravely talks about her experience of self harm and her journey through recovery. Rebecca describes her seven-year long progress and the various methods that helped her along the way. This episode of Brainwaves discusses self harm. Please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Wellways' Helpline on 1300 111 500 for support.

World Bipolar Day was celebrated last week on Thursday the 30th of March. To honour the day, Brainwaves spoke to Nicci Wall of This Is My Reality on her lived experience of bipolar disorder. We talk about some of the turning points in Nicci's recovery, the damaging stigmatisation of the disorder, and how advocacy has helped shape her view of the world. For more information, please visit Bipolar Li...

On today's show the Brainwaves teams talks to Alex Mills from the Opening Doors Leadership Program. The program helps promote community involvement and decreases social isolation leading to poor physical and mental wellbeing. To find out more information on Opening Doors you can visit their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/The-Opening-Doors-Leadership-Program-143923135691631/ or you can...

This week on Brainwaves, we reconnect with Carlo Laruccia, a passionate mental health and wellbeing advocate. Early last year we interviewed Carlo about his lived experience of mental illness, which you can listen to here. Today, we talk about his recovery and the skills he has developed along the way.

This week on Brainwaves, the team discusses the newly released film "Split". The movie has come under criticism for its negative portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder and mental health in general. We discuss some of the themes in the movie and the implications of stigma in the film industry. This podcast does contain spoilers for the movie, and also mentions some heavily distressing issues i...

On today's episode of Brainwaves, the team has a panel discussion on education and mental health. With university going back over the next couple weeks, we discuss the pressures of being a student, including how to manage study, work, friends and your own mental health. We also talk about the many resources out there for when being a student becomes just too much, and all the coping mechanisms we...

Today on Brainwaves, we talk to Anto and Marina, two delegates from Indonesia. The pair have travelled to Australia in order to observe our mental health care system and advocate for safer practices in their home country. We discuss the differences between our mental health care systems, the problems people face in relation to stigma, and their future goals for mental health care in Indonesia. 

This week on Brainwaves, we take a look back to all the big events that helped shape mental health care in 2016. We talk about the best and the worst of the year that has been, and look back on a collection of stories that formed our show throughout the year. 

Today on Brainwaves, we talk to clinical psychologist Dr Christopher Mogan about hoarding disorder. The Anxiety Clinic defines Hoarding Disorder as a formal psychiatric disorder which is estimated to affect up to 5% of the population. Dr Mogan talks to the Brainwaves team about this disorder and the impact, his research, and ways people can receive help. To find out more information on Hoarding Di...

Today on Brainwaves we talk to Sally Watkins, founder of The Wellbeing Navigator. Her site and app collates a wide variety of mental health resources in various media forms, such as podcasts, videos, ebooks and interactive therapy, and displays them all in one convenient resource. We discuss how her free website can help those struggling with various aspects of their wellbeing as well as their fri...

This week on Brainwaves we talk to Capella Meurer, a PhD student from Monash University. Capella is currently conduting graduate level research on the treatment of eating disorders and recovery experiences. We discuss how eating disorders have changed over the past few years in regards to mortality and the rise of social media, and also learn of Capella's exciting new research project aimed to hel...

On this week's show we speak to music therapist Dr Cherry Hense, a post-doctoral research fellow from Melbourne University specialising in young people's musical identities, about the ways in which music therapy can be used in the treatment of mental illness. More information on music therapy can be found at http://www.austmta.org.au/

This week the Brainwaves team speaks to Phil Crooks from Senswide Employment. For many people, wellness and recovery goes hand in hand with meaningful employment. Phil chats about what it’s like for people with mental illness to find employment through a disability employment service. Feel free to contact Senswide for more information at info@senswide.com.au or (03)86207155.Panel Operator: LaurenI...

On today’s show Brainwaves members Terri & Serena interviewed Sue Nunn, founder and lived experience facilitator and Jarred Harvey, participant of the support group ECHOES. ECHOES is a peer support group for individuals who experience dissociation and multiplicity.

This week Brainwaves has Felice Jacka on the show, Associate Professor at Deakin University and President of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research and the Australian Alliance for the Prevention of Mental Disorders. Felice discusses her research around the role of diet and nutrition as it relates to mental health disorders. Felice also explains the ways in which people’s moo...

Carlo Laruccia is a passionate mental health and wellbeing advocate, and today on the show Carlo talks about his lived experience of mental health, recovery and human connection.

On today's episode, the Brainwaves team is joined by Professor Eoin Killackey. Professor Killackey is Associate Director, Research and Head, Functional Recovery Research program at Orygen. The program develops and trials innovative treatments that help manage the functional recovery of young people. Professor Killackey discusses the current and potential role of technology, specifically virtually...

On today’s show we talk to Nina Mitchell, author of the children’s book My Mum Has Depression. Nina was prompted to write the book after realising that she and many other parents who suffer from depression have difficulty explaining the subject to their children.  More information can be found at http://www.nutsaboutnina.com.au/

On today's show, our guests are from Wild at Heart- Founder and Director, Phil and participant, Sarah. Wild at Heart is a community arts organisation for people who experience mental illness, disability or disadvantage. It provides opportunities to make art- music, dance, video and performance. Life is a Song is one of the many programs offered by Wild at Heart. Life is a Song uses autobiographica...

Today on Brainwaves, we talk to the head of clinical practice at Headspace National, Vicky Rile about cyber bullying.  To help prevent online bullying, Headspace has partnered with Reword to support the creation of a tool that identifies insulting words and statements, by putting a line through the word, making users reconsider what they're writing. The National Children's and Youth Law Centre est...

This week is Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Week, which aims to raise awareness about mental health issues arising before and after childbirth. Today on the show we have Nicole from the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), a non-profit organisation which aims to provide help to those struggling emotionally during pregnancy and early parenthood. For more information on perinatal mental health v...

Today on Brainwaves we talk to Rhett Corker, the Men's Health Program Manager at The Movember Foundation. Each November, men all around the world are challenged to grow a mustache in order to raise money and awareness for three key areas of men's health: testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. Rhett tells us about how the foundation evolved and some of the new...