Most of us would admit to feeling shy from time to time, or anxious about public speaking: the larger the crowd the greater the terror. It’s also not unusual to feel awkward while making small talk with…
Not ready to fly first class with you just yet.
Piglets by Shutterstock
At a staff away day a few months ago we discussed well-being, both physical and psychological, in the workplace. I suggested, half tongue-in-cheek that we get a departmental dog – not practical on many…
Sharing stories around the dinner table fosters greater self-esteem and resilience in young people.
Howard Chalkley
Families and friends share memories all the time; “You’ll never guess…”, “How was your day?”, and “Do you remember when…” are rich daily fodder. Sharing memories is not only a good way to debrief and reminisce…
Children should be taken into consideration when helping adults with mental health issues.
Parent by Shutterstock
Mental illness runs in families. This is well known and uncontroversial. There is much that we could do to reduce this risk, but we currently do almost nothing. A parent with mental illness is several…
It’s normal to feel distressed after a such an attack, but this generally reduces in the following days and weeks.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
People in Sydney and the broader community are feeling shocked, anxious, and sad about the actions of a lone, unstable person that led to the tragic loss of lives in the siege early this week. But there’s…
We need to temper the desire to offer well-intentioned care to Sydney siege hostages by abiding to the guiding principle of not causing harm.
AAP/Joel Carrett
As the country reels from the Sydney siege and its unhappy end, many will be wondering what can be done for the hostages stuck for hours with the gunman in the Lindt café. The answer may be surprisingly…
Put down the laptop and feel the cheer.
Mike McCune
In the run-up to Christmas we find our to-do lists bloated with added chores: present shopping, card writing, preparing to travel or receive guests. We are bombarded with adverts telling us what to buy…
In 1954, the first director-general of the World Health Organisation, Dr Brock Chisholm, famously stated: “Without mental health there can be no true physical health.” More than half a century later, we…
Asylum seekers with an existing mental health condition who receive negative outcomes during the application process are particularly vulnerable.
Barat Ali Batoor
After much controversy, the Senate passed the Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 late last week. One aspect of the law – the “fast track assessment…
Disclosing mental illness in the office can be difficult. But it doesn’t need to be.
Image of office worker via KieferPix/Shutterstock
Deciding to disclose information about a non-obvious disability at work is complicated and potentially risky, no matter what you do for a living. For people with a mental health issue, like bipolar disorder…
For people with severe depression, incorrect application can worsen their condition or cause memory loss.
Nathan O'Nions/Flickr
Around 350 million people worldwide have depression. Antidepressant medications are often prescribed to treat the condition, alongside talking therapies and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise…
People who experience compassion fatigue are taking on the issues they witness without an appropriate outlet.
Mr.Nikon/Shutterstock
Health and social workers often choose their profession because they want to help people. But seeing trauma and suffering on a regular basis can have a deep impact on these workers. “Compassion fatigue…
The insanity defence is often an option of last resort rather than a lenient alternative to imprisonment.
Douglas LeMoine
What comes to mind when you hear or read about the “insanity defence”? Are the mental images of people who fake insanity to “get away with murder”? Your ideas might have been formed by films such as One…
The vulnerability of mentally disordered people warrants a range of strong protections to prevent wrongful convictions.
Emmanuel Huybrechts/Flickr
Confessions constitute strong evidence of wrongdoing, but not all of them are reliable. So what can the legal system do to ensure justice is done? A US judge is deciding on exactly this matter in a prominent…
There just aren’t enough psychiatrists to meet demand.
Psychiatrist via Shutterstock
Getting psychiatric care in the United States is a lot harder than it should be. Patients around the country are having a hard time booking appointments for outpatient care, and face significant hurdles…
When you have such a big stage, use it well.
Rocor
On a recent Halloween special of the X Factor, contestant Lola Saunders sang Crazy by Gnarls Barkley. When the song came under fire from Simon Cowell for not being Halloween enough, Saunders’ mentor, Cheryl…
The mental health problems of children with intellectual disabilities are largely undiagnosed and untreated.
SriHarsha PVSS/Flickr
High-quality epidemiological research shows children and adolescents with intellectual disability are four times more likely to have diagnosable mental health problems compared to others their age. This…
Mental health services for children and adolescents in the UK are beset by “serious and deeply ingrained problems”, according to a new report from the Health Select Committee. Referral rates are increasing…
It’s that time of year again - the end of daylight savings and the beginning of the dark season. While many of us look forward to seasonal festivities, millions can also expect feelings of depression…
Soldiers face a tough time adapting after service.
Ben Birchall/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Accusations are being made that the UK government is failing to meet the very standards it set for itself when it comes to veterans. Medical experts say former military personnel are not being given the…
Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary