The Power of Peer Support in tackling Mental Health with Dr Tahnee Bridson

Welcome to the We are Human Leaders podcast. Today we’re taking a very raw and candid deep dive in this conversation with Dr Tahnee Bridson around mental health and the power of peer support in the workplace.

Dr Bridson has a story that for many of us, including other healthcare professionals, will likely hit very close to home. It’s one of struggle, hidden mental illness and the challenges that come from caring for others in a high stress and high stakes environment. In this conversation Tahnee shares her experiences candidly, and opens up about her journey to being a part of the change in fighting the growing mental health crisis our health providers face.

Tahnee is the Founder of Hand in Hand Peer Support; a visionary solution in combating the mental health crisis and surrounding stigma in healthcare, by connecting medical professionals in Australia and New Zealand with free and confidential peer support. It was through this inspiring work that she was named Forbes 30 under 30 in 2021 and Queensland's Young Australian of the Year in 2022. Tahnee is a Psychiatry Registrar at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, and studied medicine at James Cook University in North Queensland where she graduated with First Class Honours and was awarded the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland Prize. 

Tahnee is not only an incredible mind, but she’s an incredible heart. Her Leadership style is so deeply human and so innately connected to her purpose in advocating for mental health support and reducing the stigma.

As a content warning, sensitive topics such as suicide, mental illness, eating disorders and other personal struggles are discussed which may be triggering and distressing for some listeners. 

This episode is not in any way psychological advice and should not be substituted for mental health advice. 

If you or someone you know is suffering with mental illness, don’t do so in silence, please reach out for help. In Australia you can access 24/7 counseling through LifeLine, and wherever you are in the world, support is available. Please take care of yourself and know that you matter.

Reach Dr Tahnee Brisdon and the Hand-n-Hand Peer Support Network here: https://www.handnhand.org.au/

We hope this episode has brought to the fore the power of peer support in life and business, and the power of community in helping to break the stigma and address mental health. If you’d like to feel connected and supported in your Leadership journey, we invite you to join us at www.wearehumanleaders.com - thanks for being with us for this episode.