Mental Health

Same-sex Marriage - How I feel isn't enough

I would hope most of you are aware of the current same-sex marriage (SSM) postal vote; to be more specific, a plebiscite. A non-binding survey, used to gauge the position of the Australian electorate. The last national plebiscite was in 1977 to determine what our national song would be. The only other national plebiscites were in 1916, and 1917 regarding military service. Considering our current level of technology, the fact that this is neither mandatory, nor binding, as well as costing roughly $122 million, the question of why ‘bother with a plebiscite?’ is a reaction many have had.

Mental Health Commission - Adam's Story

Adam Schwartz was just 10 years old when depression took hold of him for the first time. He can remember describing the feeling to his mother, saying his heart was ‘black’ and his body ‘full of anger’.

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“It was a huge weight off my shoulders. For so long I had felt like my depression was a choice,” Adam explains.

Top 10 Ways To Staying Healthy - Radio Interview Top Ten at 10 | alive 90.5

Full interview below.

This week I had the privilege to speak with Ali Taylor. A very good friend of mine, radio host on alive 90.5, and CEO and creator of The Offical Top Ten Night, a charity organisation that directly supports Suicide Prevention Australia.

Discussing the top 10 ways to keeping healthy. Small, yet significant lifestyle changes anyone can incorporate into their lives, or to be more consciously aware of.

10. Exercise
9. Diet
8. Sleep
7. Professional support
6. Having something to look forward to

International Nurses Day - From a life saved, thank you!

Today is International Nurses Day. A day many of us wouldn’t know about.

I owe a lot to the nurses I’ve crossed paths with. In fact if any of us have ever had to experience the medical world and walk into a hospital either for ourselves, or a loved one, we owe more to the nurses we crossed paths with than we realise.

More gratitude, more appreciation, and more respect.

Graduating University - When you don't walk the traditional path

Graduating university; a significant achievement for some, an inevitability for others, and an impossibility for many.

I never imagined finishing university. Actually, that’s not entirely true.

Growing up, especially during high school, university was an inevitability for me. After all, that’s what you do, you go to high school, finish your exams, go to university and get a degree, and then get a job. That’s what we are taught to do, that’s the way the education system is structured. I never imaged any other path was realistic, let alone actually possible.

Dear Women...

Today is international Women’s Day, and so to the women in my life...

Dear women,

If there’s anything I know it’s that you have had, and continue to have an immeasurable role in my life. I quite literally wouldn’t be here without you – in fact none of us would be.

Thank you for bringing me into this world, and more importantly for keeping me in it.

You have loved me when I was unlovable; you listened when no one else would.

Happy Valentine’s Day - 40 Things I Think I Know About Love

Valentine’s Day, the day of love, can actually sometimes suck (and not in a good way).

In my world, it seems that everyone is in a serious relationship these days, or getting engaged or married, or having babies. Their Saturday nights are now date nights, Sundays are couple adventure days. A night out ends at 10, occasionally midnight, let alone anything later. Social media is of their romantic getaways, or anniversaries. Time they once had is very much limited. Things have changed.

Happy Holidays?

My hardest moments come around the same time each and every year. Ironically they fall during the happiest time of the year, the time we apparently all look forward to most. The time between pre-Christmas and post New Year’s Eve is meant to be one of celebration, happiness, sharing, drinking, eating, and joy.

It’s usually the time when friends, family, and loved ones come together to smile, laugh, reminisce, and switch off from their usual routines. Throw in a birthday to top it all off, and it should be the happiest time of the year.

So what happens when you aren’t happy during the happiest time of the year?

5 Ways to Better Communication

Most of us think we know how to communicate. After all, we spend a large amount of time talking to other people, sharing stories, asking questions. Yet wherever I go, the topic most commonly raised is communication.

How do I talk to the person I care about? What do I do when they don’t want to talk to me? How can I start the conversation? What advice can I give?

Communication is possibly the hardest skill to master for many of us. Fortunately, it’s a skill we can always develop.

RUOK Day | Who have you asked?

I received a call this afternoon from a friend of mine. She read my post about the importance of listening, and followed the links that provided tips on how to have a conversation about someone you’re concerned with. After asking “are you okay?” she was met with an “I’m fine”. When it was pushed, it was met with aggression.

She asked me:

“What can I do? How can I get someone I care for to acknowledge something isn’t right?”