Pebble in the Pond

When working with others in need, self-care is essential. To prevent burnout, you need to be able to prioritise yourself and your own needs before effectively assisting others. Helen Gray is an experienced social worker who has experienced the impact of burnout firsthand. Born in the UK, Helen completed her social work training in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before later moving to Sydney. Helen com...

When training the body, the power of the mind is what drives you to continue, make you stronger and gives you the push you need to take your physical fitness to the next level. One person who knows this all too well is trainer, coach and Chinese medical practitioner Chris Miller. Just after his 20th birthday, Chris endured his third knee reconstruction, leaving him without any ligaments in his rig...

When it comes to performing at your peak, physical and mental health play an equally important role. Professional athletes are under constant pressure to maintain a high level of focus and fitness – and here to share his secrets to success is this week's podcast guest Fijian-born Australian rugby union player Samu Kerevi. Growing up in Fiji, at the age of 6 Samu found himself living in the Soloman...

With Pasifika and Maori youths statistically more susceptible to suicide and incarceration, the need for greater education, acknowledgement and support is essential.  As an individual of Maori and Samoan descent, Kimaea Kirifi-Aliifaalogo is on a mission to acknowledge, celebrate and uplift Maori and Samoan youths to be the best versions of themselves. She wants to educate youths to be aware...

In today’s digital world, we are now more connected than ever. Being constantly accessible brings with it a great deal of positives – but when it comes to bullying, this also means being inescapable.  As a public speaker and educator, Kirra Pendergast has presented to more than 400,000 students, teachers, and parents at schools across Australia and New Zealand, educating people and consulting...

This May 28th, 2020 has been declared the inaugural ‘LGBTI Domestic Violence Awareness Day’.  Intimate partner violence is reported at similar rates in same gender relationships to heterosexual relationships. While some studies have found even higher rates, particularly for bisexual women and trans and gender diverse people. However, given that the LGBTIQ community has struggled to gain equal...

Women who have experienced domestic and family violence use health services more frequently than women who have not. By combining early identification and intervention within our health system, one woman has a concept that can revolutionise our approach to support. As a former nurse and current social worker, Debbie McCarthy has been exposed to a number of situations pertaining to domestic and fam...

Rural and remote emergency aeromedical retrievals are often associated with physical accidents and incidents – but how many call outs are in relation to mental health? To find out, the Royal Flying Doctor Service conducted an Australia-wide study on the types of mental and behavioural disorders experienced by people that received a retrieval by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The leading reasons...

Mental health issues are alarmingly high within emergency services. Research conducted by Beyond Blue identifies self-stigma as being of significant concern.  Survey results of over 21,000 emergency services personnel reported staggering statistics around participants diagnosed with mental health issues feeling shame about their mental wellbeing, with two-thirds of diagnosed participants admi...

Seeing a loved one in distress is heartbreaking – but what happens when you feel like the professional support you reach out for isn’t enough? Beth McEwan is a high school teacher, a mother and a widow.  Her husband, Grant died after a long struggle with mental illness in October 2018.  During the battle, they experienced the cracks that many fall through when trying to get support in bo...

In times of great crisis, the need for a strong and supportive community is essential. Few know this as well as Yasser El Shall. Born in Cairo, Egypt, and immigrated to New Zealand 22 years ago, Yasser is the Service Manager for the Muslim Wellbeing Service at Kahu Tu Kaha, a Ngati Whatua organization, a not-for-profit provider of housing and mental Health Services. With a  desire to give bac...

By the very nature of their roles, emergency services first responders are routinely exposed to critical incidents and traumatic events. Collectively, these experiences can take a significant toll, placing first responders at high risk of developing mental health issues. From 1986 to 2016, Peter Bellion worked with Victoria Police, spending 26 years with the Major Collision Investigation Unit atte...

Acts of violence can affect anyone. But some people, such as those with disability, may be especially vulnerable to experiencing violence, with 1 in 2 adults with a disability experiencing violence after the age of 15. After suffering a decade of abuse at the hands of her former husband, Nicole Lee now uses her lived-experience of family violence to speak out for those who don’t yet have a voice....

As part of the National Suicide Prevention Trial, the Australian Government is supporting the implementation and evaluation of twelve suicide prevention trial sites across Australia. One of the individual’s responsible for its implementation is Stuart Auckland. Stuart is the Coordinator of the Community Health Development Program Area at the Centre for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of Tasma...

Warning: This week’s episode deals with potentially triggering issues relating to domestic violence. If you feel at any time that you need help or support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Simone O’Brien is a domestic violence survivor, speaker, strong advocate for women against violence. Her journey started in 2012, when she suffered a horrific attack at the hands of a perpetrator who would n...

Adolescence represents a time of significant physical, psychological and cognitive change for young people. With this, is a time of potential vulnerability for the development of mental health issues in the context of young people's lives. Unfortunately for Indigenous people they have higher rates of issues stemming from multiple rumours that impact on social and emotional well-being. One of these...

In order for positive and successful culture changes to happen in any workplace, there needs to be a change of attitudes at all levels. With a background in Psychology, Mark Molloy first joined West Midland Ambulance Service (UK) on a graduate entry Paramedic program. He has enjoyed a varied and decorated career spanning more than 16 years in both England and Australia. As an experienced Intensive...

For nearly twenty years, Menslink has supported young men in Canberra affected by family violence. However the issue is getting worse. Patterns of violent behaviour are being entrenched without early intervention. Research and data show there are many root causes for violence and not one operates in isolation. Martin Fisk has led Menslink's efforts to support young men through difficult times (lik...

In a bid to become Australia’s most mentally healthy city, Townsville has embarked on the Mentally Healthy City (MHC) project, aiming to help citizens flourish and thrive as a community. This is achieved by heightening the focus on mental wellness and assisting individuals and organisations to better support those people who from time to time may be mentally unwell. As a Project Manager, Brendon M...

Just like cardiology, mental health is about much more than rushing to the Emergency Department for acute care after a catastrophic event. Mental ill-health is preventable and is not just about managing symptoms or distress; it’s about ensuring the fundamentals for good mental health and wellbeing are in place for all of us. South Australia’s Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns says this entren...

What causes people to suffer mental health conditions in their workplaces is not limited to their work and work environment. Recent evidence strongly suggests the erosion of traditional employment relationships and stressors at home are the major causes of mental health issues arising at work - and the modern employer is ill-equipped to deal with both. Enter Workplace Law: eloquent, mindful, obser...

As an experienced human rights, international relations and law academic and family violence and social change advocate, Liana Papoutsis’ lived experience of intimate partner family violence has led to a personal crusade for education and awareness. Listen in as Liana discusses how it is time to go beyond awareness and talk about the resources and actions needed to change our community if we are t...

What is broken inside men that is causing the death of more than one woman a week in Australia? Phil Barker is a Sydney-based columnist, public speaker and author. He is a former magazine editor and publisher of titles such as Vogue, GQ, Delicious, InsideOut, and Donna Hay. When he's not working his day job, as a consultant creative director and communications specialist, Phil is writing and speak...

Rural mental health in Australia has progressed in leaps and bounds – but how does that compare on a global scale? As the Member of Parliament for the large rural electorate of New Zealand’s Taranaki King Country, Barbara has a long career in the New Zealand Dairy Industry as a farmer and is a Board Member on a number of industry boards, including DairyNZ. In 2012, Barbara was awarded the inaugura...

When it comes to life on the front line, the risk for physical and mental health is significantly increased. One person who knows a little about risk is Allan Sparkes. As a frontline Police Officer with 20 years’ service, he is the only Australian ever to receive Australia’s highest bravery decoration and a subsequent National bravery decoration. The majority of Allan’s service was carried out wit...