Introduction In the midst of the festive season, where joy and togetherness are celebrated, trees adorned with twinkling lights, windows decorated with Christmas ornaments, classic films airing on every channel, and carols echoing through the streets—all these holiday symbols have the power to evoke the most wonderful emotions. However, they can also feel oppressive when we’re finding it difficult to...
Introduction Ecotherapy, is an emerging nature-based therapy has been found to significantly improve mental well-being. Ecotherapy is a form of experiential therapy that uses nature as a therapeutic tool to promote mental health. It's rooted in the idea that humans have an innate connection with nature, and this bond can be used to foster psychological well-being. The history of ecotherapy can...
Eating Disorders in General Eating disorders are severe mental health conditions that impact individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or background. Those affected by eating disorders employ disordered eating behaviours as a means of managing challenging emotions or situations. These behaviours can encompass various patterns, such as restricting food intake, consuming excessive amounts of food in one sitting, engaging in...
‘Wear it Purple” Day (based in Australia) occurs this year on Friday 25th August and is a day for the whole community to go purple in support of LGBTQIA+ youth, and to stand out against bullying and discrimination. It was founded by 2 students Kate Hudson & Scott Williams who saw the high rates LGBTQI+ people at risk and has...
In a world where unprecedented connectivity allows plans to be made, rearranged, or cancelled within minutes through texting alone, and the ability to converse with loved ones even continents away, occurs simply via “WhatsApp or Messenger”, the irony remains that a significant prevalence of social isolation and loneliness persists among elderly Australians over 65yrs. Is Being Alone the Same as...
We all have experiences in life that are difficult, painful, or challenging. Our internal voice can be harsh, judging us for our perceived shortcomings and mistakes. Instead of getting caught up in self-criticism or negative thinking patterns, self-compassion encourages us to approach ourselves with kindness and explore constructive ways to address our challenges. As Dr Kristin Neff (Educational Psychologist) states,...
Mental health stigmatisation poses a significant obstacle for individuals grappling with various mental health conditions, such as PTSD, schizophrenia, severe depression, and many others. Stigma, fuelled by misconceptions, fear, and negative stereotypes, results in discrimination and social exclusion - something we often hear from our clients. Overcoming this challenge and creating an inclusive society demands collaborative efforts from individuals,...
How Do I Learn To Live With Bipolar? Practical Steps For Individuals And Families What is bipolar? Bipolar is an umbrella term to describe a group of mental health conditions that cause extreme fluctuations in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. If you have bipolar disorder, your mood is likely to go through extreme highs (known as mania or...
How much time do you spend checking your phone? And how much of that time is spent on social media? Social media can help us to feel connected with friends, however spending too much time on it can negatively affect our wellbeing. “Six months of social media binging can lead to depression”, says a new study by Dr Brian Primack (professor of...
Identifying What’s Important: If we were to take a positive perspective on COVID-19, it’s vital to identify what is really important to us. This is different for each of us, and its good to reflect upon what the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown had upon you, and what you now value more than you did previously? What we have...
