Expert Insights – Black Dog Institute Podcasts

Can participation in arts program improve wellbeing? This question was explored in several major projects by Professor Katherine Boydell in partnership with the Australian Gallery of New South Wales. This Expert Insights panel session explores the research findings and ongoing studies that explore the therapeutic effect of art on mental health. It discusses the important elements that target menta...

Exercise is a neglected area for intervention in mood and anxiety disorders, yet the evidence is unequivocal in terms of benefit to mental health. This Expert Insights panel session examines some of the predictors of poor implementation in the clinical space, and what practitioners can do to overcome these barriers to exercise. We also focus on some of the major benefits as well as emerging innova...

Adolescence can be a period of significant sleep disruptions and can contribute to excessive tiredness and family conflict. This Expert Insights session covers sleep changes during this developmental period. We discuss established as well as emerging interventions for sleep. There is also a focus on working with families/caregivers, the use of digital technology, and working with or around demandi...

Exposure therapy is a core component of treatment in childhood anxiety disorders. However, research findings suggest that most clinicians in the real-world (not part of research clinics) do not use it in treatment.  This podcasts addresses the efficacy of exposure therapy in children with anxiety disorders and the barriers to implementation in everyday clinical practice. Moreover, the panel will a...

Over the last few years we have seen bushfires, floods, and persistent storms that have affected entire communities. The immediate effect is often shock and longer term, many experience anxiety and fear around disasters happening again. This Expert Insights explores the research findings on natural disasters and the short and longer-term impact on wellbeing. Moreover, we discuss best practice for...

Managing suicidal risk in adolescents presents unique challenges for clinicians. Building and maintaining trust with young people is crucial to providing effective care yet it needs to be balanced with keeping the patient safe which may need to include disclosure to caregivers.  Join our first Expert Insights of 2022 as we discuss the challenges, strategies, and research findings in managing suici...

The festive season is a time of celebration but it can also be a period of high stress for those of us working in mental health. The festive season can mean preparing for the shutdown of a private clinic whilst ensuring that our clients are well-supported in our absence. It can also mean managing higher rates of grief, trauma, and isolation in our client sessions. This Christmas period may be part...

Will the future of psychological therapy combine the best of digital interventions with clinician expertise? A growing body of evidence in this space indicates that when used well, digital interventions in conjunction with therapy can enhance patient progress and maintain treatment momentum between sessions.  This Expert Insights session explores the benefits of this latest innovation and the rese...

Repetitive negative thinking is present across a range of disorders but rarely addressed in treatment. This Expert Insights session explores the fundamental features of rumination and worry and its impact on a range of disorders. We also discuss some of the latest innovations in treating this trans-diagnostic symptom with our panel of experts. Panelists Elliot - Lived Experience Representative Pro...

Beginning and maintaining a conversation about mental health with a young person can be challenging. Building a connection, understanding their complex needs, unique experiences, and the challenges they face as a young person can lead to an effective conversation about their wellbeing. This Expert Insights session discusses effective and compassionate strategies for how to raise that conversation,...

The 2021 NAIDOC week theme is Heal Country, heal our nation. Incorporated into this theme is the concept that Country is inherent to identity and that it is more than a place; it sustains lives in every aspect - spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and culturally. As health professionals, our understanding of Country and its connection to the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal...

Medical professionals face significant challenges when they are experiencing an episode of mental illness. Their doctors play a dual role as both the health provider and colleague who could report to the medical board and affect another health provider’s capacity to practice. This can hinder help-seeking in health providers, increase stigma, and delay early intervention.  This panel session examin...

Australia’s emergency service workers keep our communities safe. Encountering unprecedented levels of emotional distress when responding to crises is part of the job. While for most people the distress will only last a few days or weeks, some will go on to develop mental health issues. Learning more about the impacts of trauma, skills to help manage the distress of your patients and what support s...

Most of us have been faced with a patient who is not responding to standard treatments for depression. What can we do to support these patients?  TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and Ketamine have a growing body of research which indicate that they can be successful in the treatment of depression with many patients showing positive results.  This Expert Insights panel session discusses how...

In Australia, suicide rates have continued to rise over the last decade. Now, COVID-19 and the recent bushfire season has led to unexpected social and economic disruption and devastating impacts on the psychological health of Australians. Research and lived experience evidence tell us that suicidal behaviours are complex and can be shaped by the social, economic, and physical environments in which...

This Expert Insights session explores the differences and similarities between therapeutic frameworks with a focus on CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Schema Therapy. It also discusses the application of these frameworks and their efficacy for specific disorders.  Facilitated by Dr Carol Newall Panel Members – Hayden: Lived Experience Representative – Melissa Black: Clinical Resea...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/b0h2gqankqzmavv/Expert+Insights-+Prevention+of+Mental+Illness+in+Adolescents.mp3 This podcast showcases a world first research project (Future Proofing) at the Black Dog Institute, taking on the challenges of implementing a universal prevention intervention program for adolescent school students. Can a focus on prevention strategies during adolescence be the key to re...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/r8o32rukhbtzmkm/Expert+Insights+7+2020.mp3 COVID-19 is having a great impact on us all in terms of the way we live our lives including our ability to travel to and access treatment. As a result, online programs may become a treatment of choice for many patients.  This 60-minute expert panel session takes a deep dive into the emerging area of psychotherapy: structured...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/iv4ppm1fbao8uky/Expert_Insights-_Exploring_vulnerabilities_and_barriers_to_help_seeking_for_health_care_workers.mp3 At the best of times the work undertaken by healthcare workers is demanding and stressful. Add in a pandemic and the situation is amplified. This 60 minute expert panel session explores the wellbeing of healthcare workers, the personal and organisationa...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/pqnlgwcw9iuxz15/Expert_Insights-_Youth_Wellbeing_and_Convid19.mp3 This Expert Insights session will focuses on understanding and supporting youths throughout the COVID-19 era.  We discuss some of the advantages and drawbacks of staying home for youths, and the differences in impact for adolescents and children. Finally, we explore some practical ways to support and m...

https://www.mediafire.com/file/x5b7jgnyox71f2h/Expert_Insights-_Long_Time_Damage_After_Bushfires.mp3 This Expert Insights session focusses on the longer term mental health effects of the bushfires. Trauma related to events like the bush fires experienced late 2019/early 2020 are real. Throughout this session, we discuss the elements of successful mental health support and recovery in the months an...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1ywt1or75ei9k66/Care_After_an_Attempt_-_Expert_Insig.mp3 Attempting suicide is one of the strongest markers of increased risk of dying by suicide particularly in the days, weeks and months following the attempt. However, many people who survive a suicide attempt find it difficult to access the care they need to improve their safety and to address their underlying conc...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/w0z8bn6u43rvyge/Bipolar_2_-_Expert_Insights_forum_fo.mp3 Bipolar 2 disorder can be challenging for clinicians to both diagnose and manage effectively. However, timely recognition and intervention are vital to prevent a range of adverse biopsychosocial outcomes for people living with the disorder. Listen into this discussion between clinicians, researchers and lived ex...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/jv61y9g88fk2fn3/Science_of_the_Mind_Body_Connection.mp3 Physical and mental health are often viewed as two entirely distinct entities, each catered for by its own set of services, providers and treatments. In recent years, the interrelationship between physical and mental well-being has been more widely studied and a range of physiological pathways linking the two hav...

http://www.mediafire.com/file/k5i4c9gyb4tjumw/Cannabis_and_Mental_Health_-_Expert.mp3 The relationship between cannabis use and mental illness is complex, with cannabis implicated in both precipitating and perpetuating mental ill-health, while also being used by people experiencing mental distress as a means to alleviate symptoms. In February 2019 our expert panel of researchers, clinicians and li...