Whether it’s decreasing the amount consumed or quitting completely, changing alcohol habits can be a lonely journey. Having a supportive community is vital for long term success – but, is being part of an online community as effective as in-person support? Dominique Robert-Hendren is the Head of Clinical Innovation and Chief Clinical Psychologist at Hello Sunday Morning and is also our special guest for this week. She is a community educator and national speaker on person-centred and recovery-focussed programs and strategies. Hello Sunday Morning (HSM) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to help people who want to change their relationship with alcohol. Five years ago, Hello Sunday Morning developed and launched the prototype of what is now the Daybreak app - a behaviour-change program which taps into the power of anonymous community support to help people who want to change their drinking habits. Today, more than 65,000 Australians have now downloaded and registered with the app. Dominique Robert-Hendren joins us today to delve into the Daybreak app: how it works, what is known about its efficacy, and the process of transforming it from a lifestyle app to a clinically-useful adjunct for supporting people to reduce their dependence on alcohol.

Pebble in the Pond

S3:E34 | Dominique Robert-Hendren: Can an App Really Reduce Alcohol Dependence?

School refusal can result in significant functional impairment, chronic mental health issues, social isolation, family conflict and ultimately a poor trajectory into adulthood. In a bid to combat this issue, the Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) Day Program North and Day Program South provide integrated mental health and education services to children and young people experiencing significant functional impairment due to mental health issues, which have usually resulted in refusal to engage in school. The Department of Education has also appointed this week’s guest Ben Orford as Head of Campus for the centre’s education and vocational program, ensuring young people can access an integrated education and mental health treatment service. Ben Orford has worked in the education and health field for more than 10 years and is passionate about improving education delivery and outcomes for students with chronic health and complex mental health conditions. Stay tuned as Ben highlights how Child and Youth Mental Health Services, and the Department of Education work together to improve mental health, social, educational, and vocational outcomes for young people in the program.

S3:E33 | Ben Orford: How Professionals Can Work Together to Tackle Complex School Refusal

Once a child or young person discloses their thoughts, plans or acts related to self-harm and suicide, mental health professionals rapidly enter a space which requires both clinical and ethical decision-making. This can include sharing this information with parents, sensitively but clearly. Parents are likely to respond to this news with a range of experiences and emotions, commonly shock, denial, anger, powerlessness, guilt, shame, or embarrassment. This can often be challenging for mental health professionals who then need to listen to parents' concerns as well as work with them to appreciate the potential risks associated with their child's suicidality. This week’s guest Lyn O’Grady is a Community Psychologist with an interest in the mental health of children, young people, and families. She has previously worked with parents in the community sector, as a school psychologist and a manager of the KidsMatter Project for the Australian Psychological Society. Lyn currently works in private practice with children, young people and families and is a registered supervisor of psychology interns. She is also the author of a book titled “Keeping Our Kids Alive: Parenting a Suicidal Young Person”. Stay tuned as Lyn joins us to highlight the ethical challenges facing mental health practitioners when working with children and young people in relation to suicide risk. Lyn will also provide examples of ways to help parents come to terms with their child’s distress and empower them to be able to provide support. This includes ways to understanding their child’s needs, facts about suicidality, and how they can keep their child safe during times of distress.

S3:E32 | Dr Lyn O'Grady: Supporting Young People at Risk of Self-Harm & Suicide

Working in a frontline environment routinely exposes an individual to trauma. When combined with pre-existing psychological experiences, this can be a trigger for traumatic injuries including PTSD. It doesn’t matter what type of injury was sustained in the line of duty - direct physical trauma or observed trauma – the impact is synonymous.  The experience of trauma has a neurobiological impact on the brain, and ‘multiple’ impacts will place a person into a state in which they may no longer cope. By routinely providing psychoeducation for immediate intervention, teach self-help techniques that are neurobiologically effective, and provide more structured support from leaders and other health professionals, then we have a much greater opportunity to prevent traumatic injuries developing. Today’s guest Kerry Howard is a best-selling author and psychologist specialising in trauma prevention and treatment. Kerry has won two international awards for her commitment to treating PTSD and improving mental health in Australia. Since 2010, Kerry has presented at a variety of international conferences including the USA, Europe, and Australia. She developed professional development training in the promotion, prevention, and early intervention of traumatic injury. Her book, ‘The Trouble with Trauma’ provides clear guidance about how to resolve traumatic experience. Stay tuned as Kerry delves into the facts of PTSD formation, and what we need to implement in the early stages for greater prevention and treatment.

S3:E31 | Dr Kerry Howard: PTSD Formation (& How We Can Improve Our Approach)

When you or someone you know is having a hard time mentally dealing with things, the simple realisation that you’re “not alone” make a huge difference to how you deal with it. This is the foundation of lived-experience – to share stories, extend empathy, and help shape the outcome for others in similar situations. Our guest for this week is Vanessa Kite, a Maori woman of Te Aupouri, Ngai Takoto decent, and one of the 2021 recipients of the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association study grants. As a registered nurse, Vanessa is passionate about helping to improve the quality of life for others, with plans in place to become a credentialled Mental Health Nurse with her studies. From incidents of physical and sexual abuse to substance dependency, Vanessa has overcome a wealth of hardship to get to where she is today and joins me to tell her story.

S3:E30 | Vanessa Kite: Overcoming Adversity (My Lived Experience Journey)

When it comes to addressing addiction in Australia, issues of underfunding, under resourcing and continued stigma prevents us from progressing further. To move forward, we must consider a system reboot. This week, we welcome Dr Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute and Director at 360Edge, a consultancy specialising in the alcohol and other drugs sector. With 30 years’ experience in policy and practice implementation, Nicole’s vast sector knowledge has made her an invaluable asset as a member of the Australian National Council on Alcohol and other Drugs (ANACAD) - Australia’s key expert advisory council to the Australian Government on drugs. Nicole has a unique combination of experience and skills in clinical practice and management, research, teaching, and policy development. Tune in as Nicole delves into the many facets of addiction, and how changes to the system can completely transform the way we approach prevention, treatment, and recovery.

S3:E29 | Dr Nicole Lee: Exploring a System Reboot in Addiction

Addicts, especially those leaving the prison system, need intensive support at this critical point of vulnerability. A stable job and income are important elements to provide structure, consistency, and purpose. This week’s guest Simon Fenech is Operations Manager of Fruit2Work, an enterprise creating meaningful employment opportunities for those impacted by the justice system. His transformation from an addict thrown deep into Australia's criminal underworld, to an inspirational figure changing the lives of others, is one you won’t want to miss tuning into today. Simon is a former Australian and Asia-Pacific kickboxing champion and was a finalist in the Social Enterprise Champion of the Year award in 2019. In 2020, he was named by QANTAS Travel Insider magazine as one of the 100 most inspiring Australians. Listen in as Simon takes us through his journey, from working as a delivery driver in 2008 when he suffered a workplace injury and subsequently made life-changing decisions that took him down paths of addiction, rehabilitation, self-discovery, and finally, to his purpose today.

S3:E28 | Simon Fenech: Turning the Hell of Addiction into a Force for Good

Suicide and mental health matters are global problems. To break the stigma, we need to speak out. Sharing personal mental health experiences has proven to be an effective means to provide valuable insight into suicide prevention initiatives, as well as contribute to improved care and enhanced safety. One man committed to making a global difference in suicide prevention is this week’s guest, Stuart O’Neill. Raised in Melbourne Australia, Stuart’s mostly self-employed life has provided its fair share of highs and lows. Stuart first became an Australian Surf Lifesaver in the 1980’s - a passion that he still fulfills to this day. His desire to save lives now includes his book, ‘Just One Reason’, a practical toolkit to avoid the taking of a life. Stuart’s book takes readers on a journey of his experienced mental illness and distressed thoughts about his life. He wrote this book about how he was able to overcome his struggles and wanted to give the tools he used to others who may be experiencing similar experiences. Highly praised by readers from around the world, ‘Just One Reason’ incorporates practical solutions for those struggling with thoughts of suicide. Tune in as Stuart tells us about his battle with suicidal thoughts and depression, and how ‘Just One Reason’ has made a difference to those battling with their mental health.

S3:E27 | Stuart O’Neill: Sharing Lived Experiences in Suicide Prevention

Despite the best efforts of governments over the years, providing timely, appropriate, and equitable access to services supporting child mental health has been problematic. Both parents and professionals have difficulty navigating a fragmented service system, and there are long waiting lists for assessment and treatment. At the same time there is increasing recognition of the importance of considered investment in child mental health, given the opportunities for prevention and early intervention before problems become more challenging to manage. To combat this, the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was developed. This provides a framework to guide critical investment in the mental health and wellbeing of children and families. One man dedicated to driving this strategy is today’s guest, Professor Frank Oberklaid. Frank is an internationally recognised researcher, author, lecturer, and consultant, and has written two books and over 200 scientific publications on various aspects of children’s health and development. He is Co-Group Leader of Child Health Policy, Equity and Translation at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and a Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. Frank has longstanding clinical, research and policy interests in children’s health. He is Chair of the Victorian Children’s Council, which provides expert advice to the Victorian government on children’s health, and Co-Chair of the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Continue listening as Frank delves into the into perceived strengths and weaknesses of the current system, along with advice as to how to improve it.

S3:E26 | Frank Oberklaid: The National Children’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy

Developing and implementing a framework for mental health training and support in a large organisation is essential. It also requires a significant amount of hard work, research, testing, and feedback. This week’s guest Tania Raghavan is a Senior Psychologist with the Queensland Police Service. She has played an integral role in developing the QPS Mental Health and Wellbeing Literacy Framework and is currently working to embed training throughout a number of existing operational programs. Amongst 18 years of extensive experience in providing psychological services, Tania also has extensive experience providing critical incident response services with organisations nation-wide. This includes the ‘Queensland Police Service (QPS) Mental Health and Wellbeing Training Framework’, which was developed to provide a structured approach to training to support the mental health and wellbeing of QPS members as they progress through their career lifecycle. Tune in as Tania delves into valuable insights into the framework process, including the challenges faced in developing and implementing a framework within a large, geographically dispersed organisation.

S3:E25 | Tania Raghavan: Developing a Mental Health Framework for Police Services

As we all know, adolescents are highly influenced by their peers - and healthy peer relationships are important predictors of good mental health. However, the importance of peer relationships is not catered for in many mental health programs for young people, instead focusing on clinical intervention or online support materials. This week’s guest David Butt has played an integral role in shining a spotlight on youth peer support, helping to bring together the needs of young people, with practical tools for problem solving and positive mental health. David is the National CEO of GROW Australia – an intentional peer to peer support organisation Established in 1957, GROW was founded (and continues to be run) by people with lived experience and delivered by people with lived experience. GROW has drawn on its critically researched program and 60 years of experience to develop the ‘Get Growing Program’ for young people at risk of mental ill-health. With vast experience in health care, David’s previous roles have included CEO and Commissioner, National Mental Health Commission, Deputy Secretary for the Australian Department of Health, and CEO of Australian General Practice Network, amongst many others. Tune in as David informs us of his experience in mental health, GROW Australia, and their future plans.

S3:E24 | David Butt: How Young People Can Use Their Relationships to Build Resilience

Over recent years in Australia, overall rates of methamphetamine use have declined, however of those who use methamphetamine, ice is the most popular drug of choice. This week’s guest Professor Dan Howard was the Commissioner of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice and delivered his final Report to the Governor and Premier of NSW in January 2020. A former President of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal and a former Acting Judge of the District Court of NSW, Dan is a Senior Counsel at the NSW Bar, a Visiting Professorial Fellow with the School of Law at the University of Wollongong, and a Conjoint Associate Professor in the School of Psychiatry at the University of NSW. Dan is a former NSW Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor. He is the co-author of textbook ‘Crime and Mental Health Law’ in New South Wales, as well as the author of R v Milat – a case study in cross-examination. Tune in as Dan explains the range of health, social and criminal justice issues and responses made in the enquiry findings, and the impacts it has made on individuals and communities in New South Wales.

S3:E23 | Dan Howard: Inquiry, Report & Findings from the Special Commission into the Drug 'Ice'

Ever wonder why addiction works in a cycle? The answer could be all in your head. This week’s guest Judith Grisel took her first drink of alcohol at 13, and soon began using other addictive drugs. In less than a decade, her life completely transformed, ending up in a drug treatment centre. After learning about the disease model of addiction, and getting clean and sober, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in behavioural neuroscience. Now a professor at Bucknell University, Judith’s expertise lies in pharmacology, genetics and understanding the neural liability for substance use disorders. Listen in as Judy delves into her personal experience with drug addiction, and how it led to a career in neuroscience. She will also inform us on how drugs co-opt the brain circuits critical for normal development.

S3:E22 | Professor Judith Grisel: Never Enough - The Cycle of Addiction

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, cultural connection, positive self-identity, and a sense of belonging within family and community are the bedrock of health and wellbeing. If we are to improve outcomes, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and perspectives must be at the heart of systems that impact children. This week’s guest Catherine Liddle is an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, with a strong background in senior management positions with First Nations organisations. Catherine has also held senior roles within the Northern Territory Education Department, the ABC, and NITV (or SBS). As a journalist by trade, Catherine’s motivation has always been to drive change that leads to positive outcomes and options for First Nations people. Over the past 10 years she has led multidisciplinary teams, overseen workplace transformations, and advocated for policy reform. Listen in as Catherine takes us on a journey of her experience as a First Nations’ woman striving for better care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who have experienced trauma.

S3:E21 | Catherine Liddle: The Keys to Addressing Trauma for Children

There is a subtle but dangerous belief that the pressures and challenges of events in the workplace cause stress. This form of thinking could be seen as an ‘outside-in view’, where an external event is the cause of an internal response. In many cases there is a strong correlation between workplace risk factors and reported states of stress, however, this relationship is not causative. In other words, if there is a relationship between the workplace and stress, it is more likely an upside-down one, where resilient people make productive workplaces. This week’s guest Dr Ian Snape, CEO of Frontline Mind, presents a different way of thinking about stress in the workplace, and the value of building a resilient workforce. Ian has over 30 years of experience leading and managing teams in strategy, innovation, and adventure. He is the co-founder of two related companies, The Coaching Space Pty Ltd, a niche coaching company, and Frontline Mind, a global training company. Discover Ian’s approach to workplace stress, and what he believes is the key to a happy and productive workplace.

S3:E20 | Ian Snape: An Inside Out, Upside Down View of Workplace Stress

Pebble in the Pond is a podcast that hopes to create a ripple of change for mental health. Listen in as we interview the most fascinating and accomplished people in mental health, from lived experience speakers through to researchers, academics and influential industry leaders. Hosted by the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association, we are committed to progressing the understanding of mental health for the benefit for all.

hubhopper

Pebble in the Pond

hubhopper