It's A Mind Field!
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It's a Mind Field! (IAMF!) is 13-week pilot audio, multi-media, and community engagement project for and by Australians with lived experience of mental health challenges. This pilot season has been funded by the Mental Health Commission of NSW. This podcast includes discussion around topics such as depression, stigma, and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult.
It's A Mind Field!
1M ago
After 10 years in the mental health sector supporting patients, and being a patient himself, Max Simensen believes there is a better way to approach treatment.
Max speaks up against emotional suppression and discusses how people with mental health issues find a need to perform 'unwellness’ in order to access the treatment they need.
Over the last two years, Max has led NSW’s first operational SafeHaven - a drop-in service, offering an alternative to Emergency Departments for people in suicidal distress. SafeHaven is staffed by peer workers who have their own lived experience of s ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
2M ago
What happens to young people when religious dogma clashes with sexual identity? In many cultures, living outside of sexual norms can evoke guilt, shame and rejection. But, Mohammad Awad who runs the award-winning Muslim Peers Project, which supports young Muslims, says that religious identity and queer identity are not mutually exclusive - they can exist in harmony.
An artist, writer and poet, Awad talks with Chris Jaeger about mental health consequences of marginalisation, advocating for acceptance, and creating a safe place where young Muslims can access culturally sensitive support.
T ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
2M ago
In Part II of Big Feelings, Chris Jaeger introduces Natalie Toal - a ‘super feeler’ who is an advocate of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for managing big feelings.
Natalie explains what is involved in the therapy, and outlines its benefits. Natalie relies on DBT herself and, as a peer worker in mental health, she is involved in helping others who are dealing with overwhelming feelings.
Chris and Natalie also discuss the burden of stigma faced by people with big feelings and diagnoses of borderline personality disorders.
IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
Conte ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
2M ago
After 10 years in psychotherapy, Hanna Achelles has learned to navigate big feelings. In this interview with co-host Chris Jaeger, Hannah talks about befriending emotions to stop them from becoming overwhelming and developing into depression. For those who experience extreme emotions, managing those feelings can be a complex and lifelong journey.
IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
Content warning -Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners t ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
3M ago
It has taken 10 years in psychotherapy for Hanna Achelles to navigate big feelings. In this interview with co-host Chris Jaeger, Hannah talks about how she recognises and befriends emotions as a tactic to prevent them from becoming overwhelming and degenerating into depression. For those who experience extreme emotions, managing those feelings can be a complex and lifelong journey of self-awareness.
IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
Content warning -Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
5M ago
Executive Producer of IAMF, Leon Fernandes has faced deep trauma because of failings in mental health care. While awaiting a psychiatric hospital bed, Leon spent 12 terrifying nights in an open ward shared with people experiencing drug-induced psychosis.
In this episode Leon speaks candidly about his fears and suicidal thoughts. With presenter Chris Jaeger, he discusses failures of a system that is too often beset by ill-considered patient communication and inadequate funding.
As recipients of care, and as mental health peer support workers, Leon and Chris offer their unique perspectiv ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
5M ago
Loneliness affects one in three of us. It is a silent epidemic that can negatively impact our mental and physical health.
Producer/presenter Chris Jaeger talks about his experiences of loneliness, delving into the roles played by friendship, romantic connections, and loss.
Expert, Dr Michell Lim explains her mission to elevate awareness, and encourage actions, to address loneliness.
IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.
Content warning -Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this co ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
6M ago
In this episode, we hear the stories of two people whose loved ones have died by suicide.
It’s heavy stuff, involving big emotions. As presenter Leon Fernandes says in the interview, “There are places where words can’t reach and that darkness [of suicide] is absolutely one of them.”
Jane talks about the loss of husband Jez, and how she continues to struggle to make sense of his suicide, with gusty honesty and deep compassion.
Gab’s experience happened at just 14 when her beloved brother took his life. Many years later, Gab would lose a second family member to suicide when her father chose t ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
6M ago
How comfortable are you in talking about sex and suicide? No matter what, we each have a close relationship with and strong opinions about sex and suicide. Talking candidly about them can be difficult – with each they can fill us with unease, bring up distressing memories, force us to sit with uncertainty and with fear.
*This episode has a significant focus on suicide. If you need to talk to someone, please visit the Mindframe website where you will find a list of contacts.
Guests:
On the final episode for season one, we chat with Stella Anna Sonnenbaum MPH CSSE, a Somatic Sexologist and Cer ..read more
It's A Mind Field!
6M ago
In this mesmerising episode, Leon Fernandes is joined by Ruah Grace who talked about her life-long experience of hearing voices. A deeply spiritual character, Ruah recently departed this life after suffering a short illness. This episode is dedicated with love, to Ruah, her partner, family, and friends.
Ruah’s voices took on many guises from warm and loving, to sinister and deadly.
A lived-experience advocate in mental health, Ruah reflected on her Māori-Irish heritage, childhood sexual abuse and psychiatric drug treatments. Ruah characterised her voices as ‘glorious intruders’ and expla ..read more