In today’s society, the conversation surrounding mental health has become increasingly prevalent. With this shift in awareness comes the recognition of the need for diverse and specialised professionals to support individuals in their journey toward mental wellness. Among these professionals are Mental Health Social Workers, who play a crucial role in providing holistic care and support to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Social work, as a profession, is deeply rooted in the ethos of improving lives and promoting social wellbeing. Mental Health Social Workers embody this etho ..read more

Love it or loathe it, our world is becoming ever more pervasive with social media, screens and interactive technology. These advances provide access to new ways of connecting with people across the world. Endless information is at our fingertips, as well as a perpetual source of entertainment. Because of these perks, it has led many of us to embracing our phones, tablets or devices as constant companions — never being too far from a scroll, clip, news, game or some other social buzz. While we can appreciate these mod cons, the importance of being mindful of their impact on our wellbeing is bec ..read more

Anxiety, worry, and fear are all natural emotions. Anxiety usually involves a feeling of apprehension or nervousness about potential negative events and can lead to uncomfortable physical reactions. These emotions will most likely result in behaviours such as avoidance, seeking reassurance or irritability (known as the flight or fight stress response). It’s normal for children to experience feelings of anxiety as a part of growing up, but due to the varying nature of humans and their responses, it can emerge differently during the different developmental stages. Mostly, these emotions don’t pe ..read more

What is burnout? Job burnout is an ‘occupational syndrome’ that is characterised across three dimensions: Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion Feelings of cynicism or negativism related to one’s job Mental distance and reduced professional efficacy Burnout can impact physical and mental health in several ways. Physical symptoms can include headaches, intestinal issues, fatigue, or changes in sleep and appetite. Mentally, burnout might induce feelings of detachment, feelings of reduced personal accomplishment, experiencing a loss of motivation or a sense of helplessness. Certain persona ..read more

Communication is the basis of human interaction and is a process by which information is exchanged through a common system of symbols, signs or behaviour. In the context of relationships and mental wellbeing, healthy communication underpins and fosters understanding, respect and connection among individuals. Healthy and effective communication involves active listening, empathy and assertiveness. The importance of effective communication Effective communication plays a pivotal role in sustaining healthy relationships and promoting overall wellbeing. Research shows there are strong links betwee ..read more

Access Psych has opened seven new clinics which will make mental health support available to an estimated half a million people. The new clinics, which are now open in Geelong, Officer, Mornington, Frankston, Caroline Springs, Williams Landing and Ballarat, will offer an extensive range of mental health services to the 570,000 residents in these areas. In February, Access Psych announced it had opened three new clinics: two in Victoria (Dandenong and Oakleigh) and one in New South Wales (Albury-Wodonga). The opening of ten new clinics in just two months reinforces our commitment to provide men ..read more

Access Psych is excited to announce the opening of three new clinics across Victoria and New South Wales. The new clinics can be found in Albury-Wodonga, New South Wales, and Dandenong and Oakleigh, both in Victoria. The new sites will help us deliver face-to-face services to over 137,000 people who live in these areas and help us achieve our goal of connecting more people with the mental health support they need, when they need it. This is no easy task, but we hope we’ve taken another step closer with the opening of our new sites. The clinics will help us extend our support network to more pe ..read more

Frontline workers, such as firefighters, police officers and defence workers, are known for their resilience, but they are also at high risk of poor mental health. Employees in the police and emergency services sector have substantially higher rates of psychological distress and probable PTSD compared to the Australian population and workers in other industries (10 per cent compared to four per cent of the general population – including the Australian Defence Force). Meanwhile, one police officer, paramedic or firefighter takes their own life every six weeks. The Frontline Mental Health Confer ..read more

Psychological injuries – cognitive, emotional and behavioural symptoms that affect how a worker feels, thinks and interacts with others – are increasing amongst the Australian workforce. According to Work Safe Australia, whilst still relatively small, mental health conditions account for an increasing number of serious claims, rising from six per cent in 2014-15 to nine per cent in 2020-21. The average time lost per serious claim was 30.7 weeks – having risen from 18.8 weeks between 2015-16, whilst the median compensation paid was $55,270, compared to $13,883 for physical injuries and disease ..read more

Pop culture has spawned plenty of myths about relationships, whilst romantic comedy movies and even reality TV – shows such as Love Island and The Bachelor – have played their part in shaping the way we think about relationships. Unfortunately, myths and false expectations surrounding relationships can negatively impact relationships when taken at face value. Some myths contain kernels of truth, but others are completely wrong, which is why it’s important that to separate fact from fiction. Our relationship psychologists have taken the liberty of breaking down seven of the most common relation ..read more