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Bonus Episode: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ mental health TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including racial discrimination, transphobia, suicide, depression and anxiety. Today's very special bonus episode of Embracing the Mind follows the launch of the Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) Phase 2 National Survey Community Report. This first-of-it-kind national survey investigated the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people in Australia. We will return with season two later this year. Our first guest is social worker Tahlia Blow, a queer Mununjali woman living in Naarm (Melbourne). Tahlia shares her perspective on experiencing racial discrimination while growing up, at the same time as exploring her own identity. Next, we are joined by Associate Professor Bep Uink, a researcher at Telethon Kids Institute and Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University. Bep, a Noongar woman, was one of the lead authors on the Walkern Katatdjin Community Report. She received a research translation grant from Embrace @ Telethon Kids Institute to assist with publishing the report. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Sep 19
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42 min 9 sec
Episode 10: Body dysmorphic disorder TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Welcome to the final episode of season 1 of Embracing the Mind. Today, we explore the impact body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, can have on a person's life. Our first guest is Stacey Anderson, who bravely shares her own experiences with BDD and the measures she has put in place to look after her mental health and wellbeing. Next, Alix is joined by Dr Amy Malcolm from Swinburne University. Amy tells us about the prevalence of BDD in the social media generation, and shares how far research has come and still has to go. This may be our final episode of series 1, but we are excited to share a bonus episode or two while we work on season 2. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Aug 22
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51 min 57 sec
Episode 9: Climate anxiety TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners. Climate anxiety has become increasingly prevalent in schools and universities, where action groups such as School Strike 4 Climate have rapidly emerged in response to the threat of climate catastrophe. And with natural disasters increasing in frequency amid repeated warnings from agencies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a burden has fallen on younger generations set to inherit the repercussions of decisions made by today's policy-makers. Today's first guest, 16-year-old Victorian Joey Thompson, explains how he channels his own climate anxiety through action and activism for change. Next, Alix is joined by Associate Professor Fiona Charlson, a research fellow at the University of Queensland and leading expert on the mental health impacts of climate change. Fiona shares insights into the growing trend of climate anxiety in young people, and how people like Joey can actually use it for good. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Aug 15
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36 min 47 sec
Episode 8: Cultural safety TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including racial discrimination. Cultural safety, or the creation of safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, has become a leading priority within the Australian healthcare system. Today's first guest is Gija woman Sarah Cattermole, an Aboriginal Community Coordinator at Telethon Kids Institute, who recalls a time she was made to feel culturally unsafe as a mother accessing healthcare services for her son. Sarah also discusses how to make workplaces more culturally safe. Next, Alix is joined by Dr Mishel McMahon, a Yorta Yorta woman and Aboriginal Rural Health Coordinator at La Trobe University. Mishel tells us why culturally safety translates to understanding who you are, and why it is important to all Australians. She also explains why we need to stop thinking in terms of 'diversity'. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Aug 08
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46 min 55 sec
Episode 7: COVID, lockdowns and mental health TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's been a massive elephant in the room ever since March 2020, when much of the world went into varying degrees of lockdown. In the years since, we've learned to hate terms like 'unprecedented' and 'genomic sequencing', as we've collectively tried to brush aside the mental toll of extended lockdowns and lives put on hold. But over three years on, we are still coming to terms with the true mental health impacts of COVID lockdowns. In today's episode, Alix speaks to Gabe Milton, who moved to Melbourne weeks before it plunged into what become one of the longest lockdowns in the world. She is then joined by the Black Dog Institute's Dr Sophie Li, who explains why lockdowns were especially difficult for younger people, and how digital treatments and technology came to the forefront as we remained in our homes. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Aug 01
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42 min 45 sec
Episode 6: Gender diverse and trans young people's mental health TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be upsetting to some listeners, including transphobia. Our first guest on today's episode is Xander Bickendorff, a research assistant focused on mental health outcomes of trans and gender diverse people. Xan shares their story of self-discovery of their gender identity, and offers some advice on how to be a better ally for trans and gender diverse people. Next, Alix speaks to Telethon Kids Institute researcher and UWA PhD candidate James Hill, a queer Ngarrindjeri man who is conducting research into the stigma experienced by trans and gender diverse young people. James outlines his research and explains why we need to centre the voices of people with lived experience in all research. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Follow our host @dralwoolard on Instagram.
Jul 25
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58 min 47 sec
Episode 5: Fathering TW: This episode contains discussion of postnatal depression, postnatal anxiety and birth trauma. Today's first guest is the founder of Karratha-based mental health service Grit and Gratitude, Liam Sorrell. Liam is a dad and counsellor who founded the Australian Dads Network, a platform for dads to connect, discuss parenting and seek support. Next, Alix speaks to Telethon Kids Institute researcher Vincent Mancini. Vincent discusses the rapid changes that new dads go through, as well as his work on The Fathering Project. This research aims to empower fathers to improve the health and wellbeing of their families. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto.
Jul 18
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1 h 2 min
Episode 4: Self-stigma TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of depression, anxiety, OCD and suicidal ideation. Welcome to episode four, where Alix is joined by Luke McPherson, a mental health ambassador who delayed seeking treatment for his own mental health as he struggled to overcome self-stigma. Since seeking help, Luke has shared his own story to encourage others to seek support and look after their mental wellbeing. Next, Alix speaks to Telethon Kids Institute researcher Megan Ansell, who discusses her research into self-stigma and why it often shows up differently in young people than adults. Megan recently won funding from Embrace to develop a resource for healthcare workers with information on stigma and self-stigma. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. Today's first guest Luke also has his own podcast, Between the Ears.
Jul 11
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1 h 4 min
Episode 3: Trauma and psychosis TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of eating disorders, trauma and severe mental illness. In this episode, host Dr Alix Woolard is joined by Tara Auty, who is receiving inpatient care in the United Kingdom. Tara is a close friend of a producer on this show, and shares her experience of living with psychosis and navigating a fragmented mental health system. Next, Alix speaks to Telethon Kids Institute researcher Zoe Waters. Zoe, who is completing a PhD at the University of Western Australia, discusses the leading risk factors for psychosis, and how we can better care for people experiencing it in our lives. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto.
Jul 04
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58 min 16 sec
Episode 2: Exercise, sport and mental health TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of racial discrimination and anxiety. In today's episode, host Dr Alix Woolard is joined by Richmond and Claremont great Michael Mitchell, a Yamatji man who experienced discrimination during his playing career. Once his football days were over, Michael started working in Aboriginal mental health, and continues to advocate for supporting the wellbeing of athletes. Next, Alix speaks to Phoebe George, who is completing a PhD into how young people's access to green and blue spaces impacts on their social and emotional wellbeing. Phoebe shares her insight into how sport and physical activity can boost mental health, as well as some tips on staying active. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Jun 27
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47 min 6 sec
Episode 1: Childhood trauma TW: This episode contains content that may be upsetting or triggering to some audiences, including discussion of trauma and substance abuse. In our first episode, host Dr Alix Woolard is joined by Corey Casey, who overcame childhood trauma as part of her personal healing journey. Corey shares her story and how she overcame a difficult upbringing to create a bright future for herself. Next, Alix speaks to Professor Helen Milroy AM, one of Australia's leading psychiatrists and mental health researchers, about how intergenerational trauma manifests itself across everything from brain development to our relationships. Helen and Alix also discuss the historical legacies impacting the transmission of trauma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how healing can take place. Embrace is supported by its principal partner, Rio Tinto. If this episode has caused you distress, please reach out to a loved one or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Follow our first guest @coreycasey1 on Instagram. Professor Milroy is Co-Director of Embrace at Telethon Kids Institute. She also serves as the Stan Perron Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Western Australia and the Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Jun 20
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1 h 6 min
Embracing the Mind - Trailer We know our mental health is as important as our physical health. Those same principles apply – we need to exercise our mind, have a diet of self-compassion, and find a balance that works for us. On this podcast, we talk to people about their mental health journey, including to those living with mental health conditions. We also learn from some of the leading researchers in mental health on the latest treatments and advances in their field. Join Dr Alix Woolard, a senior researcher in childhood trauma at Embrace @ Telethon Kids Institute, to learn more about the links between trauma and psychosis, how we can overcome self-stigma and why we need to make research practices more culturally sensitive. We're Embracing the Mind.
Jun 14
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1 min 25 sec