I 👏🏻 AM 👏🏻 BACK 👏🏻

The second half of 2022 was equal parts a touch-and-go shit show, an absolute privilege, and a great teacher.

When it comes down to it, I overcommitted, and as a result, I became quite unwell, let people/ teams down, and learned a lot about not being an island (constant journey).

In this new first episode of 2023, I briefly go over the last 6–8 months, the new year ahead, and a slight change in rhythm. I am excited to reintroduce the podcast under the new title (I know, again!!) of a future me problem. A quintessential me term vis-a-vis overcommitting, saying yes and working out later—think Confessions of a Shopaholic scene, ‘good angles on APRs’, knowing I am going to do it but don’t have the space to right now, and finally working on this currently to solve a future me problem—early interventions.

I’m keen to hear your feedback, topics you want me to discuss, and people you want me to chat to. DM me or email the pod at [email protected].

Tom from Podlike is continuing his editing prowess, proud to have my brother’s band’s music mixed in, and the exciting new addition of Carolyn’s illustrations 🤘🏻.

Rounding off this year we have an episode from University of Sydney’s research program, right care first time where you live, funded by the BHP Foundation. We are checking back in with ACT Health– chatting with Joey Brogden (mental health advocate) and Sam Huntley (BMC). These two women have worked hard to change the inclusion narrative of health service design and delivery within ACT Health. I get to ask what have been the challenges, successes, and the learnings from being a research program site.

EDITING | Podlike

MUSIC | Sampson

This episode is brought to you by The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre (BMC). I get the great pleasure of sitting down with two of BMC’s lived experience working group members (LEWG) to chat about the role lived experience members have played in the history of mental health understanding – going right back to ancient Egypt!!

This week I was joined by the world's first Minister for Loneliness Tracey Crouch.

In 2018 the UK announced a new ministerial position within, then Prime Minister, Theresa May's cabinet; this was the result of late Labor MP, Jo Cox's extensive advocation to address the threat their nation was facing in loneliness. In 2016 Jo Cox was horrifically murdered in a shooting and stabbing in Birstall, UK. Tracey Crouch was elected to carry this portfolio through, on behalf of her late friend and colleague.

We clearly define loneliness and it's independent relationship to mental ill-health; noting that each have the ability to be the antithesis for the other.

MUSIC | Sampson

EDITING | Podlike

This week I was joined by the world's first Minister for Loneliness Tracey Crouch.

In 2018 the UK announced a new ministerial position within, then Prime Minister, Theresa May's cabinet; this was the result of late Labor MP, Jo Cox's extensive advocation to address the threat their nation was facing in loneliness. In 2016 Jo Cox was horrifically murdered in a shooting and stabbing in Birstall, UK. Tracey Crouch was elected to carry this portfolio through, on behalf of her late friend and colleague.

We clearly define loneliness and it's independent relationship to mental ill-health; noting that each have the ability to be the antithesis for the other.

MUSIC | Sampson

EDITING | Podlike

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This episode is sponsored by

· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theinformed/support

If you haven't had IG's algorithm suggest the account @sitwithwhit I suggest you write a letter. The woman behind, and in-front I guess, of this account is Dr Whitney Goodman.

Whitney is a therapist who uses her platform to help us understand and identify things that impact our mental health, often when we don’t even realise it. The concept I got to dive into with Whitney was toxic positivity.

Whitney has written the book titled 'Toxic Positivity'. This book was birthed during COVID and is the culmination of her years as a therapist and what she has personally witnessed on social media in regard to toxic language, inspiration quotes, greener grass, and the constant search for good vibes only. Whitney walks us through the understanding, identification, and impact toxic positivity can have on not just our own mental health and self-esteem, but that of those around us.

MUSIC | Sampson

EDITING | Podlike

The incomparable Chris Sweeney is on the podcast this week.

Chris talks with me on the challenges being faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in mental ill-health – navigating us with his experiences.

You might be familiar with Chris' work as a writer, director, and host of Homo Sapiens the podcast. His latest projects Back to Life, starring Daisy Haggard, and 'The Tourist' starring Jamie Dornan & Danielle McDonald have been huge hits and couldn’t recommend you stream them now!

MUSIC | Sampson

EDITING | Podlike

Following on from last week, I got to catch up with the University of Sydney’s research program, right care first time where you live, funded by the BHP Foundation. However this week I spoke with their first program site ACT Health. ACT HEalth services the nations capital here in Australia. I interviewed trailblazing lived experience advocate for youth mental health, Josephine Brogden alongside the catchment’s general coordinator, Dr Elizabeth Moore.

Both Elizabeth and Joey speak passionately to the troubles facing young people in the community that are impacting their mental health. We also spoke about the upcoming program workshop (one of three) where the mapping foundations are laid by those residents of the community, decision makers, consumers and carers, policy reps, and clinical providers.

EDITING | Podlike

MUSIC | Sampson

This episode checks in with the research program from the university of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, right care first time where you live.

Grace Lee, whom we interviewed last season about this research program, is a PhD candidate with the university of Sydney, and the evaluation manager for this research program.

Leon Young is the founding CEO of Cogniss—a for profit tech company that creates human solutions for human problems. For Leon Cogniss is the culmination of a creative digital career that spans education, advertising and marketing, behaviour change and games.

Welcome back to part two of my chat with Sydney University’s Brain and Mind centre evaluation research manager, Grace Lee, and founding CEO of Cogniss, Leon Young.

EDITING | Podlike

MUSIC | Sampson

I feel confident in saying that we have all been affected to some degree by the horrific events unfolding in Ukraine. It feels surreal to be witnessing a pivotal world-event through the palms of our hands. ​ ​

Last week I shared an article published by Mashable, 'Watching footage from Ukraine? Here's how to protect your mental health', written by journalist Rebecca Ruiz; a frequenter of many large publications like Mashable, Forbes, NBC News, and Al Jazeera America. I had the great opportunity to sit down with Rebecca and dive deeper into her article, its research, and how we can practically support ourselves and those around us as Russia continues to invade Ukraine. ​

​Rebecca and I talk specifically about current research from Dr E Alison Holman and Dr Roxane Cohen Silver on the trauma responses we as removed individuals can have to confronting reports of events/ subjects.

EDITING | Podlike

MUSIC | Sampson