Minding Your Mind

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...

It’s good to try to do a task as well as you can, but when you spend an hour rewriting one sentence, things might have gone too far. Are you a perfectionist? If so, should you address it? How can you change?  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...

How can Artificial Intelligence improve the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness? How do bots compare with human therapists? They’re definitely cheaper, with shorter waiting times for an appointment.  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...

How can Artificial Intelligence empower us to take better care of our own mental health? What tools can we carry around in our phone that will help us make better informed decisions about how we live?  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...

Why do people get violent? What link is there in the difference between violence and mental illness? How does violence affect victims? 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.headtohe...

Can you keep a secret? Should you? What are the things we want to keep secret? How do our secrets affect 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 about depression and support services, you can contact Head to Health at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.headtohealth.gov.a...

What is dissociation? It occurs when we become emotionally detached from our surroundings. Some get it when public speaking, and feel like they are outside their body, removed from what is happening. Why does dissociation happen, and who does it happen to?  If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠  . Let them know any other topics you’d like t...

When talking to someone who is going through a tough time, is it better to do so with empathy (understanding the feelings of another) or sympathy (feeling sorrow for another’s misfortune)? In Ian’s view, one is far better than the other.  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...

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? How can it empower and help those with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues? CBT techniques may be easy to learn, but how easy are they to use when you feel distressed? CBT expert Dr Jan Scott joins us. 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...

We discuss Ian’s new book on depression,  The Devil You Knew . What causes depression? What are the different types of depression? Why are the physical symptoms of depression so important? How does someone with depression find the treatments that will work for them? How can we lower our risk of getting depression? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at  ⁠mindingyourmind2@gma...