Dr Ahona Guha is a Melbourne-based forensic and clinical psychologist. She works with survivors of abuse and those who live with trauma. Ahona also works with perpetrators of harmful behaviours to assess risk, and provides treatment to reduce the risk they pose to others — and she has a deep understanding of the psychological and social factors that cause people to abuse others. Ahona has written her first book RECLAIM: Understanding complex trauma and those who abuse. MORE INFO: Ahona's website Ahona on Twitter @drahonaguha and Instagram @drahonaguha A broad definition of trauma is useful; a ..read more

Our guest for this episode is Alan Tomkins who is an ambassador for the Burn Chef Project, which was set up in the UK in 2019 to eradicate mental health stigma within hospitality. Alan was a chef for 22 years before finally leaving the industry he loved after he experienced significant impacts on his mental health. Now he’s using his living experience to work in mental health and recently started work at ermha365 as a Carer Respite Facilitator. MORE INFO: Alan's Facebook Page: Mental Health and the Hospitality industry Burnt Chef Project - Committed to making the hospitality profession healt ..read more

Our guest for this episode is Brianna Pauuwe who lives in the United States and advocates for and supports people with disabilities, with a focus on fitness, wellbeing and community for people who use wheelchairs. Brianna herself uses a wheelchair, after a life-altering car crash in 2011 when she drove under the influence of alcohol. She owns this experience and says she thinks it actually saved her life and gave her a purpose. She now works for the Wheel with Me Foundation that supports people with disabilities, including through the world's first fitness app Wheel With Me Fitness - made fo ..read more

Our guest for this episode is Elfy Scott, a Sydney-based journalist whose work has appeared in Buzz Feed Australia, Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Junkee and VICE. Elfy has just released her first book called THE ONE THING WE’VE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT: EXPOSING OUR UNTOLD MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.  It’s an incredibly engaging and compelling book. part-memoir about Elfy's living experience and that of her mum, who lives with Schizophrenia. It's also a journalistic delve into why there’s still massive barriers for people who experience mental health conditions like schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder ..read more

Christmas is considered as one of the six most stressful life events, along with divorce, moving house and changing jobs.  Although Christmas is meant to be a happy and joyful time, this isn't how everyone feels at this time of the year. Christmas can be a stressful and depressing time for many people. Some people find that the “Christmas spirt and celebration” can be really hard.  Our special guests for this episode are Belinda Ellis and Jackie Ashmore from ermha365. Belinda is a registered psychologist, specialising in forensics and is ermha365s Chief practice officer. She also op ..read more

NOTE: This episode contains discussion of death, grief and stillbirth. Listener discretion is advised. There’s a lot of reasons why Christmas and the New Year can be difficult, stressful and affect our mental health. Our guest for this episode is Kelly Scott, the current Victorian President of the Australian Funeral Directors Association and also its National Senior Vice President. Kelly is the General Manager of T J Scott & Son Funeral Directors based in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria – it’s a family business, which was established by her great-grandfather Thomas John Scott in 1938. She w ..read more

NOTE: This episode contains discussion of trauma, suicide and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. Dave Morgan a Vietnam Veteran who has written a book called The Invisible Trauma: Coping with PTSD. We know from some of the conversations we’ve had on this podcast that serving and veteran military members are particularly vulnerable to trauma. The Invisible Trauma is Dave’s journey and details the various treatments and studies that he’s been a part of in a quest to find what works for him so he can help others. The book also includes the living experience of others with Trauma an ..read more

Our guest for this episode is a dynamo! Heidi Anderson’s got influence and as she’s on her personal journey of confidence and being her authentic self, she’s bringing others along on the ride. Heidi’s had a successful career in radio, including the breakfast show in Perth on HIT 92.9, was a contestent in Big Brother and is a podcaster. When she spoke vulnerably on air to listeners about her battle with hating herself and her anxiety,  it sparked a reaction she never imagined. it’s changed her life and revealed her purpose.    Read Heidi's memoir Drunk on Confidence  Listen ..read more

LISTENER NOTE: this episode contains some content that may be confronting and distressing to people – listener discretion is advised. In this episode of GET REAL we meet DAVID MCGOWAN, a veteran Police officer who is the CEO of POLICE VETERANS VICTORIA, a not-for-profit organisation that supports Victoria Police Veterans and their families. Police Veterans Victoria has Veteran Peer Support Officers - volunteers who provide support to other police veterans and their families who may be dealing with personal issues, need to talk, or are seeking someone to confide in.  Police Veterans Victor ..read more

The Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, known as VMIAC is running a pilot project giving consumers of mental health services the opportunity to get education, training and practical learning experience to participate in leadership and governance arrangements across Victoria's transforming mental health system. Our guests for this episode are Erandathie Jayakody and Jo Rasmussen. Both Erandathie and Jo have living experience of being consumers of mental health services and are heavily involved in consumer leadership and elevating consumer perspective for the co-design, delivery and ou ..read more