This three-part series features academic General Practitioners, Dr Wei-May Su and Professor Louise Stone, in conversation about the complexities of providing meaningful primary health care.In episode two, they explore the challenges of providing primary health care when treating the rare, the unknown, the complex, the not learned about, and the different.They reflect on the changes to the health system over the years and that currently primary care is dealing with more uncertainty than ever. They touch on issues of patient representation in medical research, accessibility and equity of care, the oversimplification of diagnostic processes, and how interdisciplinary care and collaboration can support practitioners.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes in this series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

This three-part series features academic General Practitioners, Dr Wei-May Su and Professor Louise Stone, in conversation with various GPs about the complexities of providing meaningful primary health care. In episode one, May and Louise sit down with General Practitioner and researcher Professor Michael Kidd to explore the complexities of providing mental health care in a range of settings, from top-down health systems to working directly with patients. They discuss the challenges GPs face in providing mental health care within restricted systems and how they deal with moral injury in their work. They speak to the importance of showing humanness in person-centred care and the benefits of interdisciplinary support and collaboration.   Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes in this series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

Content warning: This episode discusses suicidality.Join Professor Nicholas Procter (Professor and Chair, Mental Health Nursing) and Dr Conrad Newman (psychiatrist and PhD candidate) for this episode of Book Club, where they discuss the ways in which Konrad Michel’s book ‘The Suicidal Person: A New Look at a Human Phenomenon’ (2023) has influenced their work. Together they explore how treatment and interventions have changed in this space over the decades, and the importance of compassion when working side-by-side with clients, keeping their experience of feeling suicidal at the forefront of the conversation. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of Book Club by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Book Club or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

We’ve just released the first episode of our new partnership podcast series: Creative Arts Therapies, on Mental Health In Focus.This four-part series is produced in partnership with the Australian New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA) and Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN).Hosted by clinical psychologist, Professor Mark Creamer, the series features practising therapists and academics who explore the diversity of creative arts therapies and their therapeutic value. Episode 1 – The Evidence | LISTEN NOWEpisode 2 – Qualifications and CompetenciesEpisode 3 – Clients and SettingsEpisode 4 – Future DirectionsEpisodes will be released fortnightly from Wednesday 11 September 2024. Follow Mental Health In Focus on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcasting platform to stay up to date.

In this episode of In The First Person, Trent McWhinney: a creative arts therapist, shares his personal story of anxiety and depression.In conversation with Professor Mark Creamer, Trent talks about the various interventions he’s tried and what impact they’ve had on his symptoms as well as how his art practice has helped him both personally and professionally.Trent takes listeners on his journey – how it led him to be involved with radio, leading an LGBTIQA+ mental health network of practitioners and becoming a creative arts therapist.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

You’ve likely heard of Creative Arts Therapy, but how much do you really know about it as a mental health profession?Join clinical psychologist, Professor Mark Creamer, as he sits down with Dr Kate Dempsey, CEO of ANZACATA: the peak professional association for creative arts therapists in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.Together they explore the practice and breadth of Creative Arts Therapy and debunk common misconceptions about the profession. They explain why the practice emphasises the importance of the creative process rather than the result, and touch on specific populations who may especially benefit from creative therapy to support their mental health.Kate describes the training, regulation and requirements for ongoing accreditation of Creative Arts Therapists, the role they play in an interdisciplinary mental health care team, and shares some advice for anyone thinking about entering the field. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for MHPN’s four-part partnership series with ANZACATA, releasing throughout September and October 2024 on our show: Mental Health In Focus.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/. 

Tune in as Professor Mark Creamer (clinical psychologist) and Neil Cole (consumer consultant, mental health advocate, writer and playwright) talk about supporting people living with schizophrenia and psychosis.Their wide-ranging conversation touches on diagnosis, symptoms and treatment – both pharmacological and psychosocial, exploring the positive and negative impacts on quality of life.Neil also highlights the benefits and challenges of creative outlets for people living with serious mental illnesses, sharing his experiences working alongside people with schizophrenia in various performing arts and psychosocial programs.  Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

Content warning: This episode discusses both hypothetical and real-life traumatic events, including the NSW Bondi Junction shopping centre attack in April 2024.If your client came to you and said, “I've been asked to tell my story to a journalist,” would you encourage them to do it?Join psychologist, Dr Cait McMahon, and journalist, Ashlynne McGhee, as they discuss the intersection of journalism and mental health. Bringing their own professional perspectives, they share what it’s like to work as a practitioner supporting journalists seeking mental health support, as well as the experience of being a journalist reporting on traumatic events.Together they explore the unique challenges journalists face working in the field, their responsibilities when interviewing people in duress and the benefits of collaboration between journalists and mental health professionals.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

Content warning: This episode discusses themes of suicidal ideation and thoughts of harm to others. Many people may have preconceived ideas about the ‘highs and lows’ of bipolar disorder, but what is it really like to live with it?In this episode we hear from Neil Cole who has previously been a practicing lawyer, a Melbourne City Councilor, and a Member of the Victorian Parliament. He currently wears a number of hats including consumer consultant, mental health advocate, writer and playwriter. Tune in to hear Neil share his experiences of bipolar disorder over several decades of his life.In conversation with Clinical Psychologist, Mark Creamer, Neil shares his experiences pre and post diagnosis. He describes his relief at receiving the diagnosis, the changes medication had on his symptoms and provides insight into the impacts of living with bipolar disorder on his life, work and creativity. He also shares valuable advice for mental health practitioners who support individuals like him, who live with bipolar disorder.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

How can practitioners support individuals to reduce the impact of problematic anger?In the final episode of this three-part series, Clinical Psychologists Mark Creamer and Dr Tony McHugh are joined by Mental Health Social Worker, Michelle Birkic, to discuss current approaches to treatment for clients struggling with anger. During their conversation they emphasise the importance of practitioners being agile and curious when working collaboratively with clients, and share the range of strategies they use in treatment. Drawing on research and their clinical practice, they discuss predictors of treatment success and what the future of anger treatment should look like in order to improve care. Liked this episode? Listen to the first two in the series if you missed them and stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

Tune in as Clinical Psychologists Mark Creamer and Dr Tony McHugh are joined by Professor of Clinical Psychology, Glen Bates, to investigate the breadth of reasons people experience anger.Drawing on the literature, they explore the factors that contribute to anger and explain why some people are at greater risk of experiencing problematic anger. They touch on gender, socioeconomic status, occupation, environment, genetics and more to examine the elaborate network of factors that play into how and why humans get angry.Stay tuned for the final episode in this three-part series featuring Mark Creamer and Tony McHugh where they discuss treatment options for anger.Liked this episode? Be the first to hear about future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Anger can affect many aspects of life, even as mundane as waiting in line at the grocery store. But what is anger, really?In this episode, Clinical Psychologists Mark Creamer and Dr Tony McHugh are joined by senior scientist at the Centre for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience USA, Dr Amy Adler, as they consider the definition of anger. During their conversation they explore its cognitive and behavioural components; its normality as a human emotion, and at what point it can be considered ‘problematic.’They share research findings about the relationship between anger and various mental and physical health issues; the enduring impacts it has on individuals in military service, and how anger plays into current diagnostic criteria. Stay tuned for two more episodes in this series featuring Mark Creamer and Tony McHugh discussing mental health and anger.Follow MHPN Presents to be alerted when they drop.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Join Lived Experience Practitioners India Guerrieri and Julie Rickard as they share their respective stories of a suicide attempt and suicide bereavement.Throughout their open, honest and candid conversation, India and Julie explore the guilt, shame and stigma surrounding suicide, including how finding the right support and sharing their experiences helped combat their feelings of isolation.Listen as they provide insight into the complexities of experiencing suicidal ideation or grieving a loved one who has suicided, and how sharing their stories with each other has helped them make sense of their own experiences and led them to make a difference in the field as Lived Experience Practitioners.To hear more on this topic, tune in to A Conversation About… Suicide: Combatting the Silence and follow MHPN presents for future episodes.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

“So many people fall into the trap of wanting to ignore that this is happening at all to somebody.” - Jesse SheersIn this episode, lived-experience practitioners Jesse Sheers, India Guerrieri and Julie Rickard speak about the importance of breaking the silence and stigma around suicide.Drawing upon evidence-based theories and their own lived experience they ‘flip the script’ on common myths, offering insights on how to initiate and engage in conversations about suicide. They explore the significance of holding hope for a person and creating a safe space in which someone feeling suicidal can voice their thoughts without judgement.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM

Music therapy has the potential to help people both feel better and get better. In the final episode of this music therapy series, our host Clinical Psychologist Professor Mark Creamer, and Registered Music Therapists: Dr Jason Kenner and Dr Jennifer Bibb explore what music therapy aims to achieve, treatment goals and why change occurs.Expand your knowledge by hearing about the difference between individual and group sessions, the ways in which music therapy can meet short and long-term goals, and how music therapists use their unique skills and methods to provide collaborative care.Liked this episode? Listen to the previous episodes in this series:  the first introduces the profession of music therapy and the second that explores what happens in a session.MHPN would like to thank the Australian Music Therapy Association for their collaboration on this series.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

So much more than making music; music therapy provides a unique conduit to achieving client goals.In the second episode of this series about music therapy, our host Clinical Psychologist Professor Mark Creamer, and Registered Music Therapists: Dr Jason Kenner and Dr Jennifer Bibb explore what happens in a session. Tune in to learn how music therapists adapt their practice to help a broad range of client groups including premature babies and their parents, older people, people experiencing psychosis, those at the end of their lives, and many others meet their needs. Jason even picks up his guitar to demonstrate how the same song can be modified for different therapeutic applications.  Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the next episode that explores the outcomes that can be achieved from music therapy sessions. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… Mental Health and Music Therapy or any of MHPN's podcasts here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Over millennia and across the world, people have used music as therapy.This three-part series features Clinical Psychologist Professor Mark Creamer and Registered Music Therapists: Dr Jason Kenner and Dr Jennifer Bibb, as they explore the practice of music therapy.In episode one, they offer an introduction to the field of music therapy, what it takes to practice in the field, its different forms, and how it can support different people with a variety of needs.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for episode two where they take an in depth look at the practical applications, what happens during a music therapy session and the positive outcomes that can be expected. Follow MHPN Presents in your podcast app to be notified of future episodes.MHPN would like to thank the Australian Music Therapy Association for their collaboration on this series.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…  or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM. 

In this episode of Book Club, Brisbane based psychiatrist, Associate Professor Warren Ward, and lived experience Recovery Coach, Lexi Crouch, discuss ‘The Eight Keys to Recovery from An Eating Disorder’ by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb (2011); exploring the significance of the author’s brave accounts of their experiences with disordered eating.Tune in to learn why Warren and Lexi see the authors as ‘pioneers’ in the world of eating disorders, and the continued impact of their lived experience voice over the 10+ years since the book’s release. Warren and Lexi share their respective practitioner and lived experience perspectives on the book’s themes, exploring the importance of stories of recovery for people living with an eating disorder; why the book inspires hope in them both, and how this ‘coach in a book’ can complement the therapeutic techniques of practitioners supporting individuals experiencing disordered eating.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of Book Club by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about Book Club or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

As the mental health impacts of climate change are becoming more widely understood, many practitioners might be considering how climate-distress impacts them both personally and professionally.In this episode, our experts highlight the role that mental health practitioners can play to support individuals and communities experiencing climate-distress, while looking after their own wellbeing.This is the final episode in a four-part series featuring Developmental Psychologist, Ann Sanson, Clinical Supervisor and Psychotherapist, Merle Conyer and Environmental Psychologist, Susie Burke, as they explore and explain the nexus between climate change and mental health. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here:  bit.ly/37FFMFM

With climate-related extreme weather events becoming more prevalent, it’s no wonder the evidence shows that today’s younger generation have significant concerns about the future. How can practitioners support young people when many of them feel that ‘humanity is doomed’?Tune in as our experts share tips and strategies for engaging and supporting young people as they navigate growing up in a world experiencing more climate-related disasters than any generation before. They’ll discuss research exploring the reactions of children and young people to the climate emergency and outline how parents and mental health providers can best respond to their needs.This is the third episode in a four-part series featuring Developmental Psychologist, Ann Sanson, Clinical Supervisor and Psychotherapist, Merle Conyer and Environmental Psychologist, Susie Burke, as they explore and explain the nexus between climate change and mental health. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

A ‘conspiracy of silence’ around climate change might be present in any conversation, even within mental health practice. In fact, this ‘elephant in the room’ may be bigger than you realise.Tune in as our experts share their top techniques for supporting conversations about climate distress in sessions with clients. Drawing on theories such as Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, they demonstrate how practitioners can better understand a client’s relationship with nature and how to respond if they express distress about climate change.This is the second episode in a four-part podcast series featuring Developmental Psychologist, Ann Sanson, Clinical Supervisor and Psychotherapist, Merle Conyer and Environmental Psychologist, Susie Burke, as they explore and explain the nexus between climate change and mental health. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

While the practical ramifications of climate-related disasters may not be a mystery to many Australian communities, the cumulative mental health impacts on individuals and community may be less obvious or well understood. In this four-part podcast series, join Developmental Psychologist, Ann Sanson, Clinical Supervisor and Psychotherapist, Merle Conyer and Environmental Psychologist, Susie Burke, as they explore and explain the nexus between climate change and mental health. Tune in to episode one, where our host and guests discuss the latest research identifying the range of mental health impacts resulting from the global climate emergency, including helping practitioners to understand who is most at risk and how they might respond.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

The impact of social isolation and loneliness has never been more prevalent than in a post-pandemic world. Tune in as Dr J.R. Baker, CEO of Primary and Community Care Services, and Dr Rosanne Freak-Poli, life-course and social epidemiologist, discuss the impacts of experiencing social isolation and loneliness. Combining the latest research with their own anecdotes, J.R. and Rosanne explore the importance of community and the ways in which Covid-19 altered our social landscapes and sense of connectedness. They discuss the relationship between choice and anxiety, the role of technology, and consider the wider impacts of social isolation on health.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

“I have not experienced anyone speak, write, [or] live like Audre Lorde. The things that she was saying 40 years ago are things that I feel like as a society and as a community, we are grappling with today.” – Stephanie MendisIn this episode of MHPN Presents Book Club, social workers Stephanie Mendis and Alyssha Fooks discuss the profound impact that Audre Lorde’s book, ‘Sister Outsider’, featuring a collection of essays and speeches, has had on their personal and professional growth.Focusing on Audre’s speech at the 1984 New York Institute for Humanities Conference ‘The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House’, both are struck by how her observations; despite being made nearly 40 years ago and in the Northern Hemisphere, remain relevant for marginalised communities within and outside of the Australian health care system. Listen to be inspired by Stephanie and Alyssha’s passionate call to arms for a better understanding of the impact of intersectionality, racial justice, gender equality, cultural safety, the lived experience voice, and the importance of continued learning and development.  Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of Book Club by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about Book Club or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM. 

In this three-part series, Professor Mark Creamer chats with emergency medicine and psychiatry experts about mental health crises. Join Mark and his guests as they share valuable tips and strategies to effectively manage and/or avert a mental health crisis and explore how best to mitigate the negative impact they may have on practitioners. In the third and final episode hear from Dr Jacqueline Huber, staff specialist and clinical lead for psychiatry in the emergency department at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney; and Dr Clare Skinner, President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Mark, Jacqueline and Clare discuss practitioner burnout in Australian emergency healthcare settings, including what can be done on individual and systemic levels to manage it. They explore the importance of psychological safety and the prevalence of conflict in the workplace. Our host and guests identify the potential negative impacts of conflict, as well as opportunities for deeper understanding; sharing tips to manage conflict between teams and strategies for leaders to promote psychological safety in emergency departments. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM. 

In this three-part series, Professor Mark Creamer chats with emergency medicine and psychiatry experts about mental health crises. Join Mark and his guests as they share valuable tips and strategies to effectively manage and/or avert a mental health crisis and explore how best to mitigate the negative impact they may have on practitioners.In episode two, psychiatrist Dr Tad Tietze provides insight into the challenge and complexity of supporting suicidal clients. Tune in to hear Tad’s advice for practitioners in responding to suicidal presentations in their work - how to fully understand the person’s story, ask the right questions and provide support in the moment. Mark and Tad also explore the importance for practitioners to recognise and respond to their own distress responses to these challenging presentations and of collaborating with the person’s wider care team. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

In this three-part series, Professor Mark Creamer chats with emergency medicine and psychiatry experts about mental health crises. Join Mark and his guests as they share valuable tips and strategies to effectively manage and/or avert a mental health crisis and explore how best to mitigate the negative impact they may have on practitioners.In the first episode of the series, you’ll hear from Dr Song Chan, a consultant-liaison psychiatrist working at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. Tune in as Song outlines his four key strategies to respond to and manage mental health crises, including what factors practitioners should consider in the immediacy of the moment to aid the de-escalation of the crisis. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the rest of the series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

MHPN Presents is excited to announce a new three-part podcast series; ‘A Conversation About… Emergency Psychiatry’.Join Professor Mark Creamer as he chats with three emergency psychiatrists and an emergency medicine expert, about mental health crises. They’ll share valuable tips and strategies to manage and/or avert these crises and explore how best to mitigate the negative impact they may have on practitioners.The first episode will be released on Wednesday 2nd August. Don’t forget to follow MHPN Presents to keep up to date with all future podcasts for mental health professionals.

Join Tim McDonald, a mental health peer worker, as he and psychiatrist, Dr Ruth Vine, discuss the evolving field of peer support; what it is and what are some of the merits, opportunities and challenges Tim has experienced in the role.  Hear Tim’s insights about the importance of relationships in peer work – both within the clinical team and with the service users - and the role of hope. Expand your understanding of this growing and increasingly important peer workforce – its breadth, scope and potential - by listening to Tim and Ruth’s engaging conversation. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

In this episode of MHPN Presents, In the First Person you will hear a powerful story about family violence and maternal mental illness. Join Millie and hear about her lived experience of growing up in a family with a mother with schizoaffective disorder and a father who used violence.Millie describes challenging and adverse experiences in her family life, in particular during her teenage years, and how they impacted her then and now. What supports or strategies did and/or could have helped her and her family? Expand your understanding and deepen your practice by listening to Millie’s story, her reflections and her insights.   Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Join Prof. Pat Dudgeon (a Bardi woman from the Kimberley in Western Australia), Dr Stewart Sutherland (a Wiradjuri man) and Prof. Alan Rosen across this four part series as they discuss how, by living in harmony with nature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are, at the same time, a strength and a priority in our response to the significant impacts of climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic.

Join Prof. Pat Dudgeon (a Bardi woman, from the Kimberley in Western Australia), Dr Stewart Sutherland (a Wiradjuri man) and Prof. Alan Rosen in the final episode of this four-part series as they discuss how, by living in harmony with nature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are, at the same time, a strength and a priority in our response to the significant impacts of climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the rest of the series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Join Prof. Pat Dudgeon (a Bardi woman, from the Kimberley in Western Australia), Dr Stewart Sutherland (a Wiradjuri man) and Prof. Alan Rosen in the third episode of this four-part series as they discuss how, by living in harmony with nature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are, at the same time, a strength and a priority in our response to the significant impacts of climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the rest of the series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Join Prof. Pat Dudgeon (a Bardi woman, from the Kimberley in Western Australia), Dr Stewart Sutherland (a Wiradjuri man) and Prof. Alan Rosen in the second episode of this four-part series as they discuss how, by living in harmony with nature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are, at the same time, a strength and a priority in our response to the significant impacts of climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic.  Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the rest of the series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM.

Join Prof. Pat Dudgeon (a Bardi woman, from the Kimberley in Western Australia), Dr Stewart Sutherland (a Wiradjuri man) and Prof. Alan Rosen across this four-part series as they discuss how, by living in harmony with nature, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are, at the same time, a strength and a priority in our response to the significant impacts of climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for the rest of the series of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: bit.ly/37FFMFM

Tune in to the second episode in this two-part series as Sabin Fernbacher and Louise Newman build on their previous conversation and explore in more depth, the complex inter-relationship between family violence and mental health; and trauma and mental health.  Join them as they identify the potential significant social, developmental and mental health costs on adults, families, children and, in fact, communities that experience trauma. Hear as they describe diagnosis as a form of ‘shorthand’ and how diagnosis, in and of itself, doesn’t describe how the experience of trauma, poor attachment, repetition of dysfunctional maladaptive relationships, complex trauma and/or relational trauma has impacted. From their extensive clinical experience working with women and children who have suffered from the persistent effects of family violence, Sabin and Louise explore the importance of sensitive enquiry about family violence; how compassionate questions mitigate blaming and labelling, shifting the focus away from ‘what is wrong with this person?’ to ‘what happened to them?’; providing a much richer perspective.  They provide practical tips and strategies about when to ask and how to craft questions which will elicit responses which actually help clinicians to understand. This episode is a must-listen for mental health professionals looking to better understand the impact of family violence on mental health. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

In this two-part series of A Conversation About… join Sabin Fernbacher and Louise Newman, peers and experts in this area as they share their insights into the complex nature and prevalence of family violence and its impact on Australian women, children and their mental health. Listen as they traverse the challenges of the field – the chicken and egg of intervention (What came first, the experience of family violence or the mental illness?) to the limitations of merely diagnosing and treating the mental illness. From gaslighting to coercive control, Sabin and Louise share what they have learnt from their extensive experience working clinically with women and children who have suffered the persistent mental health challenges linked with family violence. Guest and host leave no stone unturned as they delve into the unique challenges and triumphs of their work, as well as the critical role mental health professionals play in providing trauma-informed care.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

“When students have a high sense of school belonging, we see reduced mental health [concerns], improved well-being, even improved physical health and better school experiences, the benefits of a sense of school belonging are really quite compelling...”Get ready to put the research into practice about the key elements that contribute to young people feeling a sense of belonging. Discover the relationship between belonging and inclusion and find out how belonging relates to loneliness. Tune in to this episode of ‘A Conversation About..., as community psychologist Dr. Lyn O'Grady and educational and developmental psychologist, Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen unpack the complexities and value of belonging – how it is nuanced across individuals and time – and how ultimately a sense of belonging can be connected to long-term well-being. They also discuss the ‘dark side of belonging’ and how a need to ‘fit in’ can lead young people to engage in behaviors that may not support their mental wellbeing.Kelly-Ann shares her research into ‘discovering the ingredients’ that helps young people feel they ‘belong’ at school. How teachers play a key role and what schools can do to support both students and teachers to belong. They also reflect on the COVID-19 lockdowns and how our collective sense of belonging has evolved, creating innovative new ways to connect.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About... by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About... or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

“I just remember thinking he could be someone else's baby and I was just holding him.”Ariane, mother of Henry, former elite dancer, child services caseworker, and psychologist and now advocate, shares her raw and unedited account of the experience and clinical treatment of postpartum psychosis. Listen in as Ariane shares her powerful story of being a first-time mum experiencing psychosis. What did the psychosis feel like? How did she find being in a Mother and Baby Unit? What were the personal and system barriers that impeded her health seeking behaviour? What was the impact of receiving incorrect diagnoses? What were the triggers for her recovery? Be reminded of the power of feeling safe and seen and feel inspired by Ariane’s “renewed sense of purpose and drive to support the next group of mothers to come through.” Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

In this four-part series, host Professor Mark Creamer will be joined by expert clinicians, researchers, service providers, emergency workers and partners of emergency workers to discuss experiences and topics unique to this workforce, who provide a vital and valuable service to the community.  The series will cover how and why the nature of their work can put emergency workers at greater risk of mental health problems, the kinds of problems they might develop, the best models of care, and the common challenges faced by clinicians when providing support. Brought to you by a partnership between Phoenix Australia’s Responder Assist – the Centre for Excellence in Emergency Worker mental health and the Mental Health Professionals’ Network.  Subscribe to Mental Health in Focus now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasting platform.

“No one can prepare you enough for what parenthood is like” - Natasha LindrosWhat is perinatal mental health? You might be surprised to learn it encompasses more than you think.  In this episode of A Conversation About…, Dr. Nicole Highet, psychologist, and Natasha Lindros, clinical psychologist, share their perspectives on what Perinatal Mental Health is; how and why the field - of which Australia is a world leader - is growing and evolving; and why it is a rewarding specialty in which to work. Tune in to equip yourself with the clinical knowledge and tools to support parents during the vulnerable life stage of becoming, or trying to become a parent.   Nicole and Natasha have both worked in the field for many years. They identify the value of the biopsychosocial model, treatment options they find useful, explore what is needed to support clinicians, and offer personal insights into what it is like to hold the dual roles of provider and parent. Mindful of the challenges often associated with ‘becoming a family’, they reflect on the particular disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll be inspired by Nicole and Natasha’s positivity and hope for all families, to not just survive but to thrive.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About… Perinatal Mental Health, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

Do you feel moral panic about the digital well-being of young people? Are you swamped by the effects of the ‘data deluge’? This digitally nutritious conversation will leave you with a sense of competence and control, ready to better support young people’s (and perhaps even your own) digital well-being. Listen in to this episode of A Conversation About Digital Well-being and Young People’s Mental Health as Dr. Lyn O’Grady, Community Psychologist, and Jocelyn Brewer, Psychologist explore the role technology plays in our lives and how we can support young people to use it in safe and savvy ways.  Jocelyn's professional journey, from teacher to psychologist and mother, gives her a unique perspective into the definition of digital well-being. She shares her insights on supporting young people’s well-being, including how to involve them in the conversation around their own digital well-being. Lyn and Jocelyn share how they have evolved professionally to work in this space supporting families, discussing how technology has changed across generations, and how to ‘get curious, not furious’, with young people in order to help them navigate and stay safe online. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of A Conversation About by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About Digital Well-being and Young People’s Mental Health or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

In this five-part series, hear about the mental health service system through the respective - and at times contrasting – lenses of clinician and lived experience experts; psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, Dr Ruth Vine; and Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, Mary O’Hagan.In the final episode of the series, Mary seeks Ruth’s perspective on several critiques of psychiatric practice. Tune in as they debate Mary’s description of the ‘pills and pillows’ approach to public psychiatric care, and whether diagnosis is a scientific or political process. While they don’t agree on everything, they do agree on the significance of each individual’s experience of mental illness, and the importance of empathy and curiosity in service provision. Liked this episode? Listen to previous episodes featuring Mary and Ruth on MHPN Presents. And stay tuned for future episodes of In Conversation With… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In Conversation With…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

In this five-part series, hear about the mental health service system through the respective - and at times contrasting – lenses of clinician and lived experience experts; psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, Dr Ruth Vine; and Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, Mary O’Hagan.In the previous three episodes Ruth took the conversational lead. In episodes four and five, Mary takes the lead as they explore Ruth’s views and experiences of psychiatry as a profession. The challenges they both experience in finding a balance between the biological, psychological and social approaches to treatment – and how the balance has progressed and changed over the years – is the consistent thread throughout their conversation.Liked this episode? Listen to previous episodes featuring Mary and Ruth on MHPN Presents. And stay tuned for future episodes of In Conversation With… by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In Conversation With…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here:  https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

“Every time my pager went off, I felt like vomiting.” In this episode, clinical psychologist Professor Mark Creamer sits down with former client and volunteer firefighter, Alex, and his partner Lyn, to reflect on Alex’s experience and clinical treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).Tune in to hear the couple’s journey through and beyond the cumulative impacts of Alex’s role as a Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteer firefighter, attending bushfires - including the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfires - car accidents, house and factory fires over his 20 years of service.In sharing their powerful and personal story, Alex and Lyn highlight what helped and hindered their progress before, during and after seeking treatment, while Mark reflects on the challenges and opportunities that presented while treating Alex’s PTSD.  Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of In The First Person by following MHPN Presents.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In The First Person, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

“The book talks about things that society would rather not talk about.”- Dr Nivanka De Silva Ignite your ‘personal fire’ in this episode of Book Club, featuring clinical psychologist, Dr Radhika Santhanam-Martin and psychiatric registrar Dr Nivanka De Silva - two migrant women of colour based in Melbourne - as they explore Judith Herman’s ‘Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror’ (1992). Tune in to hear Radhika and Nivanka’s ‘aha moments’ as they reflect on the book’s powerful themes of witnessing and remembering trauma; how it has inspired a ‘new way of seeing and knowing’ in their practice; and why the ideas presented are more relevant than ever for Australian society and mental health practice. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes of Book Club by following MHPN Presents. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Book Club, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.

Does mental health legislation help or hinder outcomes for people seeking help?In this five-part series, learn about the mental health service system through the respective - and at times contrasting – lenses of clinician and lived experience experts; psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, Dr Ruth Vine; and Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, Mary O’Hagan.In episode three, Ruth and Mary discuss the ‘dominant clinical world view’ that Mary argues underpins the mental health service landscape, and the challenges this poses for reform. Tune in to hear how our host and guest, from their respective clinical and lived experience leadership positions, direct a critical lens on current practices for managing risk in care settings; how the presence of the Mental Health Act works for and against clinical management of risk; and discuss the impacts for both service providers and service users.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for more featuring Dr Ruth Vine and Mary O’Hagan continuing their conversation, by following the MHPN Presents podcast show.Visit the MHPN website for this episode's host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about In Conversation With…, or any of MHPN’s podcast series here:https://bit.ly/3d6nFea.