All In The Mind

In 1966, as a reaction to disturbing reports of people having bad trips, the psychedelic drug LSD was banned in the U.S. Now some scientists are seeing promising results from studies into the therapeutic benefits of using psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness.

Turn on, tune in, and drop out … that was the catchcry of U.S. psychologist Timothy Leary in the 1960s. By 1966 psychedelics were demonised and banned, but now—in controlled scientific settings—there's a psychedelic 'renaissance' in mental health therapy. Early research on the use of ecstasy in the treatment of stress disorders looks promising.

Picture this—an Australian journalist sitting near a squat toilet under the only light in the prison cell he shares with 140 others, writing pages of notes about happiness. After 15 months in a notorious Cambodian prison, for a crime he denies, James Ricketson shares his insights into his personal experience in Prey Sar prison—and his new reflections on the state of happiness. Please note that thi...

Do you prefer ‘vibrate on’ or ‘vibrate off’? Well, either way—heads up, as we explore the world of haptics. To get the best information from whatever you choose to touch, haptic sensing involves a lot of neural effort. We'll hear about how this sensing has been examined in the past, as well as some speculation on where haptics might go in the future.

Criminal lawyer Sarah Hopkins' novel The Subjects is about the overcriminalisation and overmedicalisation of young people—and her innovative ideas for youth justice. The protagonist, Daniel, is 16-years-old and has just arrived at a Juvie delinquent centre—but there’s no medication and he doesn’t have to stay. Then he gets the eerie sense that he’s part of an experiment.

When you’re waiting in a queue there are various ways to bide your time: chat to someone, gaze off into the distance, or check your phone. The science of human interaction tells us that the impact on your brain and body is vastly different depending on your choice. Live person-to-person connection changes us and the society we live in, so it’s in our best interests to use technology sensibly.

It could be that the profession of psychiatry needs a revolution. A UK medical doctor with experience in mental health feels that we’re still trying to understand and come to terms with mental health issues—and how best to provide treatment. He talks with two psychiatrists, a historian, and a service user. They all can imagine a different future for psychiatry.

At night our brain can have adventures. Even if they're fully asleep, some people end up sleep walking or even sleep driving! The neuroscience of nightmares and dreaming—and what they can tell us about the workings of our brain. 

What ultimately drives human behaviour? A leading professor of psychology, Michele Gelfand, suggests that culture is one of the last uncharted frontiers. From her pioneering research into cultural and social norms she’s found an important distinction between tight and loose cultures, and their tendency to make or break rules. These social norms or informal rules of conduct determine whether we co-...

Mental health is a major and highly stigmatised problem in Indonesia. Some villages still practise ‘pasung’ where the mentally ill are kept in cages separate from the family home—because of a taboo. Indonesian PhD candidate Sandy Onie had his own lived experience of mental illness, and so did his father—but psychological help was hard to come by. Now Sandy is determined to make a change.

What’s the scariest word in the English language? Still highly stigmatised, schizophrenia is the illness that we dare not speak about openly, and this silence may get in the way of recovery.

Smart people are not only just as prone to making mistakes as everyone else—they may even be more susceptible to them. This idea has been dubbed the Intelligence Trap. It explains the flaws in our understanding of intelligence and expertise, and how the decisions of even the brightest minds and talented organisations can backfire.

Traumatic events such as mass shootings and natural disasters can cause high proportion of children to suffer mental health problems. We hear how to equip adults to minimise the impact of trauma on children.

Parenting can be tough—even when your child is considered so-called ‘normal’. Nine-year-old Lucy looks like a curly haired angel, but she's often strangely manipulative and physically violent. Her mum and dad are still searching for a diagnosis which could make sense of her extreme behaviour. But their patience and love for Lucy is extraordinary.

Dementia affects around 450,000 Australians, and it comes in hundreds of forms. New research reveals that one form of dementia takes away the ability to daydream, and this has implications for improved care. Sleep disruption in middle age also emerges as another risk factor. And we hear how, after diagnosis, one person found a meaningful role in breaking down the stigma of dementia.

If you were given a date from the last five years could you say what day of the week it was? One young woman in Australia can remember every single day of her life since she was born. We hear about her life and the research she’s involved with—as a single participant.

In a world fixated on how we look and what we eat, it’s not surprising that body dissatisfaction represents an increasing mental health issue—and it affects all body types, genders, and ages. Whilst anorexia nervosa is still a significant condition for girls and young women, some boys can experience a condition called muscle dysmorphia.

Loneliness is a growing issue around the world, and a recent national survey reveals that 1 in 4 Australians are lonely.

We would like to share with you an excerpt from a new ABC podcast called The Parenting Spectrum. A show about autism and family life—hosted by Fiona Churchman, Travis Saunders, and their son Patch. They explore issues like safety, lack of sleep, finding the right school, and how to help your child embrace their identity and prepare for adulthood.

Sophie and Ryan are both on the autism spectrum, and they call themselves ‘Aspies’ even though Asperger’s is no longer an official diagnosis. They also share a passion—even an obsession—for musical theatre, so they’ve teamed up to create a cabaret called ‘The Aspie Hour’. It’s irreverent and funny and it breaks down commonly held misconceptions about autism.

Would you be comfortable with a Huntsman spider crawling on your arm, or a python slithering over your shoulder? Not many of us would, but when this discomfort causes you so much anxiety that it interferes with your daily life – it’s become a phobia. Many people never seek help for them, but treatment can be effective. Whether it’s a fear of birds, dogs, heights, or having injections, exposure and...

Imagine somebody being critical of you, putting you down every day. That can be depressing. What’s more, if you do it to yourself over a long period it can cause changes in your brain, your body, and your feelings. Some psychologists say that a focus on compassion can soothe your inner critic and make a real difference. It’s known as Compassion Focussed Therapy.

After the birth of her first child Nicola Redhouse experienced unrelenting post-natal anxiety. She’d grown up in a household steeped in psychoanalytic thought and had expected to gain insight from the Freudian concept of the unconscious mind. Instead she went on to discover neuropsychoanalysis—a field which investigates where the brain ends and the mind begins.

Conditions such as depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, and gut problems are common in Australia. British TV presenter Dr. Michael Mosley, who’s known for his Fast diet and exercise programs, says there are effective preventive measures which highlight the crucial connection between body and mind. He shares knowledge from experts and those with lived experience on how to reset your health.

Psychedelic drugs were banned in the US in the late 1960s, which ended the flourishing research into their potential for treating mental illness. Now a leading professor from Imperial College London is re-visiting the field. He’s convinced that psychedelic therapy offers a new paradigm for mental health. His other passion is treatment for addiction, and to discover why some of us are more vulnerab...