Mental Health

You are more likely to develop a mental illness during a pregnancy or in the 12 months after birth according to Dr. Nicole Highet of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE). Dr. Highet takes us through the difference between baby blues and perinatal depression and anxiety. You can find the Centre for Perinatal Excellence at: www.cope.org.au   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue  

Perinatal depression and anxiety is experienced by 1 in 5 new mother’s and 1 in 10 new fathers/partners. Having a baby is a big change for a mother and their partner. Not only will the baby impact the mother physically, emotionally, socially and their relationships, it will also impact hormones and the mental space of both the mother and their partner. We speak with Julie Borninkhof, CEO of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) about this transition. PANDA offer the only national helpline focusing on perinatal anxiety and depression. Julie reflects on what they’ve observed and heard from mothers, partners and friends via their support line as well as the services available to new families.   You can find Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia at: panda.org.au   The PANDA helpline is: 1300 726 306   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue  

Jane takes us on a journey of how she uses horse assisted therapy (see episode 7) with Gestalt therapy to bring about awareness in her clients of their reactions and their emotions to ultimately empower them to have more choice in how they respond to external and internal triggers. Jane has a master’s degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy and owns and runs Equine Assisted Therapy Australia in the hinterland of tropical Queensland. Jane is also a registered nurse and yoga instructor. You can find Jane at: equineassistedtherapyaustralia.com.au   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue  

Horses are large, imposing animals. For Jane Faulker, they are an amazing partner to effective therapy. Hear how Jane uses horse assisted therapy (also called equine assisted therapy) to help people ground themselves in the present moment and to start the healing process. Among many topics, we also discuss negative emotions and the role that a therapist and an animal such as a horse can play in helping someone sit with, and process, heavy emotions. Jane has a master’s degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy and owns and runs Equine Assisted Therapy Australia in the hinterland of tropical Queensland. Jane is also a registered nurse and yoga instructor. You can find Jane at equineassistedtherapyaustralia.com.au   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue

Anyone can call themselves a "counsellor" and start seeing clients. Unlike psychology and psychiatry, counselling is not government regulated and this makes finding the right counsellor tricky. What makes this even harder to navigate is that counsellors range from having no formal training through to having PhD's as well as those who have no experience through to those with decades. Confused? It's hard not to be. That's where peak bodies like the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) come in. The ACA is the largest, non-profit peak body who basically police their own members (they have about 7000 members). Counselors who are members of the ACA can call themselves "registered counsellors" and have to demonstrate that they know what they're doing. The ACA even have a black list of people who should not be practicing that they publish publicly. We speak with Philip Armstrong is the CEO of the ACA who helps to demystify the profession of counselor and how to find the right person to talk to.   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue

Family doctors (General Practitioners) can be the gate keepers to connect the community to the right mental health support. Hear directly from Dr. Chris Fildes - a family doctor for 37 years. We speak about depression and antidepressant medication, anxiety and benzodiazepines, and about the process of seeing a mental health practitioner. Dr. Fildes explains how government supported Mental Health Care plans work, how much they fund and what to expect out of the whole process of reaching out and speaking with a professional. For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue  

Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorders. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases. For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue    

Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with adolescents suffering from psycosis. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases.   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue    

Clinical Psychologist Rhiannon Thomas shares some of her experience in responding to and working with adolescents at risk of suicide and self harm. Rhiannon is a clinical psychologist and works in the public sector responding to acute mental health cases.   For emergency support contact: 000 for police, ambulance or fire services  13 11 14 for Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service for all Australians 1300 726 306 Perinatal Anxiety and Depression (PANDA) National Helpline 03 9935 7400 GriefLine National Helpline 1800 250 015 Alcohol and Drug Support Line 1800 858 858 National Gambling Help Line 1300 22 46 36 Beyond Blue