This week I had the great opportunity to chat with Dr Haley LaMonica on The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre Youth Model; a model created to deliver quality mental healthcare to a help-seeking young person.

Dr. Haley M LaMonica is a mid-career researcher and practicing Board Certified Clinical Neuropsychologist. She has 15 years clinical experience across her career lifespan. Dr LaMonica holds a position as a Senior Research Fellow with the Youth Mental Health and Technology Team at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, where she leads the Digital Technology, and Brain and Mind Centre Youth Model research streams to which we chat about in this episode. In this research stream. Her work focuses on the development of effective and clinically relevant digital solutions to improve mental health outcomes as well as the education and training programs necessary to improve the quality of mental health care, including how this can be facilitated through the use of technology.

Excitingly, the next phase involves the co-creation of a young person’s education and training module to equip, empower, and support young people in identifying their rights and expectations for quality mental healthcare.

If you're between the ages of 16-25 you can participate in this co-creation by following the link in the show notes to fill out a 10 minute survey on your personal experience in mental healthcare as a young person (click here). 

MUSIC | Samson

EDITING | Podlike

I had the immense pleasure of chatting with two of Orygen’s (Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne) youth suicide prevention researchers. A/Prof Jo Robinson, who is the Head of Suicide Prevention at Orygen, and Dr Louise La Sala, Youth Suicide Prevention Researcher at Orygen.

Jo Robinson is an Associate Professor at Orygen, where she leads the suicide prevention research unit, which is regarded as the leading centre of youth suicide research in the world.

A/Prof Robinson’s work focuses on the development, and rigorous testing, of novel interventions that specifically target at risk youth across settings, on evidence synthesis, and on the translation of research evidence into practice and policy. Her work has a strong focus on the potential of social media platforms in suicide prevention. This includes the development of the #chatsafe guidelines, the first evidence-based best practice guidelines for safe peer-peer communication about suicide online, which are now available in 12 countries around the world.

Dr Louise La Sala is a researcher with the suicide prevention unit at Orygen. Her expertise is in the area of online behaviour and youth mental health, focusing on the social and psychological impact digital technologies can have on young people. Louise is a lead researcher on the #chatsafe project, exploring the role social media can play in youth suicide prevention and evaluating the impact of universal suicide prevention interventions. 

We talk all things, youth suicide prevention, the need to listen to young voices experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours today, the role social media plays, the current global pandemic, and empowerment and education through advocacy. 

Jo’s spoke passionately about the much needed disruption in the suicide prevention sector by co-creating deliverables for online communication about suicide among young people; as well as providing guidelines for their significant adults around them. 

EDITING | Podlike MUSIC | Sampson

Bringing you a new episode in our partnership with The University of Sydney; this episode spotlights the amazing work by Australia’s first and only foundation purely focused on raising funds to invest in life-changing mental health research, The Breakthrough Foundation.

The Breakthrough Foundation has announced their funding for the continuation of research into young people’s circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles) and the interactions with mental health and well-being, led by researcher Dr Jacob Crouse.

We had the wonderful John Mannion, Breakthrough Foundation’s executive director and newly appointed South Australian Mental Health Commissioner. John spoke about the foundation’s portfolio and to why The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre research into young people’s circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles) and the interactions with mental health and well-being is the recipient of their first interstate funding.

In this episode John’s passion is palpable, speaking to the core drive of wanting to change by increasing the, shockingly low, under 50% of evidence-based interventions used in mental health and communities.

We hope you enjoy this new partnership with The University of Sydney!

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Music: Sampson

Editing: Podlike

We have a real treat for you today - we had the real pleasure of a chat with Bree Stewart. Bree is a woman of many talents and experiences - at the time of recording, Bree was an e-mental health worker within national services supporting people in online communities. Bree is trained in psychotherapy and trauma informed practice, with a background in comedic acting. These two worlds have collided in her brilliant mental health focused Podcast - Feelz (check it out!). Bree also has a lived experience of mental health recovery - which she speaks with us about in this episode, and credits her experiences as being far more impactful than any training she’s received. We just loved this chat with Bree - and honestly it felt like reuniting with a long lost family member as we discussed everything and anything (safe to say some of the gory stuff didn’t make the editing cut!). We spoke about stigma, recovery and what it’s like to build your own family to support you. In this episode we discuss depression, suicidal thoughts and actions. If you or someone you know needs help or further advice please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. We’ve linked Bree’s podcast in the show notes - check it out! Enjoy! \\ Credits \\ Music and Editing: Nocturnal Hubcap

Welcome to Bite Sized! This episode we dive into the idea of self care, inspired by our dear friend Lucy and her advice of self care as a carer for her husband and, recently, his father. Join us for a quick chat on self care; what it actually is, what it means to us individually and how it plays out, and the role it plays in our daily mental health management. Everything we chat about is based on our lived experience of mental ill-health, which we respect is different for everyone, and our stories do not always reflect the experiences of others. If you or someone you love needs help or support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. // Links // https://headtohealth.gov.au/

Welcome to Bite Sized! This episode we dive into the idea of help-seeking, inspired by our dear friend Sharanjit and her brilliant episode where she spoke about her experiences seeking help in her family, her friendship circles and her wider community. Join us for a quick chat on seeking help; what you should know before starting out on your journey, tips for navigating the experience and some examples of what help-seeking has meant to us. Everything we chat about is based on our lived experience of mental ill-health, which we respect is different for everyone, and our stories do not always reflect the experiences of others. If you or someone you love needs help or support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. // Links // https://headtohealth.gov.au/