Listen to our podcast
FIFO and mental health TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including mention of suicide. Today, we’re focusing on the impact that working FIFO, or fly-in-fly-out, can have on a person’s mental health. We speak to Matt Resta who works in the mining industry, about the ups and downs he’s faced living between site and his home, and why he’s decided to become an advocate for mental health in his workforce. We also speak to Dr Laura Fruhen, of Radboud University in the Netherlands. Before Laura moved overseas, she worked on a project with WA’s Mental Health Commission examining the mental health of FIFO workers. She tells us about the findings from that work, including some of the factors that can impact mental health on site. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Apr 16
•
45 min 11 sec
Post-traumatic growth TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including serious injury following a car accident, burn injury and depression. Today, we’ll be looking at post-traumatic growth – where people have been able to unlock newfound perspectives after suffering hardship. In this episode, we’re going to speak to 18-year-old Josh Forde, whose entire future was rewritten following an awful car accident just one year ago. Josh’s attitude in the months after the crash is a testament to his character and his ability to find the positives in anything. We’re then joined by Dr Lisa Martin from the Fiona Wood Foundation, who unpacks some of the theories about how post-traumatic growth occurs. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Apr 09
•
57 min 46 sec
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and stigma. In today’s episode on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, we speak to PhD student Kate Fitzgerald. Kate received a diagnosis of ADHD just before the referral system was met with substantial delays through the COVID period. She explains how to get a diagnosis, and how ADHD affects her day-to-day. Telethon Kids Institute researcher and UWA PhD student Irene Mateo Arriero then explains the best practice for parents and family members to discuss their child’s ADHD with others, and counters the common misconceptions around overdiagnosis. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Apr 02
•
44 min 7 sec
Autism TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and stigma. In today's really special episode, we will be speaking to 8-year-old Andre and his big sister Summer, who is 9 years old. Andre has a diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder, and we’ve gone to his house so he and Summer can ask me questions about my own experiences with autism, which my brother also has a diagnosis for. We’re then joined back at the office by CliniKids and Telethon Kids Institute’s Dr Gail Alvares, who tells us about the importance of listening to people with autism when doing 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. Check out Andre's favourite surfing group oceanheroes.com.au or on Instagram @oceanheroes You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Mar 26
•
53 min 19 sec
Tourette Syndrome TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including OCD, suicidal ideation and vocal tics. In today's episode, we'll be discussing one of the more misunderstood health conditions, Tourette Syndrome, or Tourette's. Today's first guests are mother and son Mandy and Conor Maysey, who join us to dispel common misconceptions about Tourette's, which Conor first realised he had after a traumatic period in his early 20s. The pair also discuss the great work being done by the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, of which Mandy is president. We are then joined by Telethon Kids Institute Senior Research Fellow and mum to a daughter with Tourette's, Dr Melissa Licari, who shares details about her campaign to launch Australia's first national research project evaluating the unmet needs of people with Tourette's and other tic conditions. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Mar 19
•
1 h 6 min
Socio- and psychopathy TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including childhood trauma. We’re going to do things a little differently today. You see, it turns out it’s not all that easy to get someone diagnosed with sociopathy or psychopathy to talk about their experiences. So instead, we’re going straight to the research and talking to Dr Jacob Dye, a researcher at Federation University who does all sorts of interesting work looking at dark triads and other traits that are present in these disorders. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Mar 12
•
26 min 20 sec
Dependence and addiction TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including depression, drug-related harm and PTSD. Over the next two episodes, we're going to discuss a couple of topics to which quite a bit of stigma is still attached. So we're changing up our format a little bit, going straight to some wonderful researchers in these fields. Today, we will be joined by ECU's Dr Stephen Bright, who tells us why dependence is the preferred term over addiction in research, dispels misconceptions around having an 'addictive personality', and shares insights into his research on pill testing. 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. You can follow our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Mar 10
•
37 min 33 sec
Refugee mental health TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some listeners, including war, displacement, violence and PTSD. Today's episode examines the mental health of refugees who have left behind their homeland in times of war. Our first Guest, Vlad Guz, woke up to bombs going off at Kyiv International Airport, heralding the beginning of a Russian invasion of his country. Vlad shares his story and explains why he thinks it is so important to not keep quiet. We are then joined by psychologist Avalon Tissue, who shares her own insights from working with refugees and the children of refugees. 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. Vlad's recommendations for anyone who would like to make a donation to Ukraine are United 24 and National Bank of Ukraine. NOTE: Alix mistakenly refers to Avalon Tissue, Clinical Psychologist (MCP) as a doctor in the introduction to this episode. Our sincere apologies to Avalon for the confusion!
Mar 05
•
1 h 23 min
Burnout TW: This episode contains discussion of content that may be distressing to some viewers, including anxiety and depression. And we are back for a second season of Embracing the Mind! We kick off the new season with this episode devoted to something so many of us experience with the rigours of work-life balance: burnout. Our first guest is Renee Buckingham, who tells us about the workload she packs into her day as a vegan blogger, commercial radio producer and contractor. Clinical psychologist Dr Joyce Chong then explains some of the factors that contribute to feelings of overwhelm, and how to address these. 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. You can follow Renee @melbveganguide and our host Alix @drwoolard on Instagram.
Feb 27
•
41 min 23 sec
Trailer - Season 2 Welcome to Season 2 of Embracing the Mind. Join us as we talk about what goes on in the mind of an autistic child, what it’s like to receive a diagnosis of ADHD and how to live with OCD. We also speak to a Ukrainian refugee who survived the Russian invasion, learn how to grow from adversity, and finish with a special investigation into the trauma parents sometimes go through in the birthing suite.
Feb 20
•
1 min 38 sec