What role can a community organisation play in improving the mental health of people? Can solving local problems within communities improve the mental health of those who live in them? How well are governments doing in responding to mental health challenges in communities? Executive director of Australians for Mental Health Chris Gambian joins us. …

It’s good to have a busy, active life, but for good mental health, we also need to find some peace and contentment. Is that harder now than it was in simpler times? How do we find those moments of peace? When life is challenging, how can we find contentment? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmi…

People often say their friends will always support them. But should they? When a friend does something you think is bad, should you be an uncritical source of support? Or is a good friend someone who can tell you when you’re making bad decisions? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyourmind2@gmail.com…

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mi…

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mi…

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 He…

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 …

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 oth…

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindingyou…

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…

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 th…

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 …

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 s…

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 topic…

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 a…

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 …

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@gm…

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 c…

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@g…

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 li…

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 th…

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 t…

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 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 contac…

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…

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…

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 . L…

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 comment…

Ian and James pick their 10 most interesting eps of 2023. If you’re new to Minding Your Mind, this is a good place to start. 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 H…

What can we learn about our mind from one of the greatest and most complex characters of fiction, Hamlet? Shakespeare expert and actor John Bell analyses Hamlet’s psychology and we learn about indecision, uncertainty, rationality, revenge, grief and much more. To find out more about depression and support services, you can contact Head to Health at…

In this Innovating for the Earth podcast, Heirloom CEO Shashank Samala and Leilac CEO Daniel Rennie explain how their partnership aims to accelerate the removal of legacy carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere and provide a pathway for the electrification of hard-to-abate industries, including cement, lime, iron, and steel.…

Can people sometimes lose control and do something they later can’t explain or understand? A moment of madness? Can those with a mental illness sometimes not be in control of their actions? Is "being in control" a switch or a spectrum? To find out more about depression and support services, you can contact Head to Health at ⁠www.headtohealth.gov.au…

Can being alone be good for us? For some of us, is being alone an essential part of maintaining good mental health? Do some people (e.g. James) need time alone more than others? Why? Is it because he was an only child? If you have any questions or comments email, Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any other topics you’d lik…

Men have a higher suicide rate than woman, are less likely to seek treatment for a mental health issue, and more likely to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. Why? What approaches might make men more willing to take better care of their mental health, and seek help when they need it? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at m…

When we are anxious, adrenaline flows, thoughts race and we get edgy, agitated and hyped up. When we are depressed, we are sluggish and slow, and it’s hard to get motivated, or even to get out of bed. Anxiety and depression look a lot like opposites. Are they? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com …

What effect do hormones – all those chemicals that rush around our bloodstream – have on our mental health? How do different hormones that are secreted when people are in love, pregnant, going through menopause, etc affect their emotions, moods and mental health? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.c…

If we are depressed or anxious, is how we react to it a test of our character? Do we need to be "strong" and "fight back"? Or is thinking this way an unhelpful myth? 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 an…

Journalist Nick McKenzie, who reported on and was sued by Ben Roberts Smith, tells us about the toll the investigation and court case took on his mental health, and the strategies he used to cope. 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 fi…

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 comment…

For your mental health, what are the best, and worst, ways to transition from work to retirement? Here’s a hint: don’t move abruptly from full-time work to no work at all, and don’t move away from all your friends. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any other topics you’d like th…

What can we learn about our mind from the great writers? Actor and Shakespeare expert John Bell joins us to discuss what the character of Macbeth tells us about ambition, guilt, morality and 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 cov…

If you were given too much change in a shop, would you keep it? If you did, knowing it was wrong, what effect would that have on your mental health? Is being good, good for you? Ethics expert Simon Longstaff joins us to discuss the relationship between ethics and mental health. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyo…

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental illness that affects a person’s ability to manage their emotions. Those with BPD are often impulsive and have big mood swings. What are the signs? How do you treat 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 …

What can we learn about our mind from the great writers? Actor and Shakespeare expert John Bell joins us to discuss what the characters in The Merchant of Venice tell us about prejudice, justice, revenge, greed, mercy and mental health. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any othe…

Autonomy and social connection are two important pillars of mental health, but aren’t they in conflict? The closer your relationships, the more you compromise and give up autonomy. How do we resolve the tension between the two? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any other topics …

We have discussed blended families, but what about the other parent? The one who is outside the new, blended family? How do things work for them? 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, …

What does it mean when we describe someone as having a sense of entitlement? That they arrogantly act like they own the world? What is entitlement? Is it a bad thing? Isn’t it good to believe that we are entitled to a happy life? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any other topic…

How would you describe yourself? Age, family background, relationship status, job but then … outgoing and confident? Shy and insecure? Introvert? Extrovert? Disciplined? Impulsive? Curious? What is your personal identity? Why does it matter? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at mindingyourmind2@gmail.com . Let them know any…

What is stress? How is it different from anxiety? Does stress build up over time? How does stress affect us? How can we control and reduce stress? 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,…

How is mental health research funded? What areas get funded and which miss out? Who decides? How? How could the system be improved? 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 contac…