What happens when standard treatments for depression don’t work? In this special Mental Health Month episode from the Black Dog Institute, we explore the next steps for primary care teams supporting patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Designed for GPs and allied health professionals, this conversation explores practical strategies, novel interventions, and referral pathways that can make a difference when conventional care is insufficient.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

·         The latest evidence and approaches for managing treatment-resistant depression

·         The evolving role of ECT as a safe and effective option for severe depression

·         How ketamine treatment can be integrated with psychotherapy for improved outcomes

·         What’s emerging in psychedelic-assisted therapies, including psilocybin

·         How Black Dog Institute’s training in neuromodulation, ketamine, and interventional psychiatry can support your clinical practice

Facilitator: Dr Sarah Barker – Clinical Psychologist

Panelists:

·         Dr Adam Bayes – Senior Research Fellow and Clinical Academic Psychiatrist, Black Dog Institute

·         Dr Melanie Babooram – Clinical Psychologist, Black Dog Institute

Join us to discover how the field is evolving and how you can help patients navigate new pathways to recovery when traditional approaches fall short.

Learn more about Black Dog Institute’s world-class neuromodulation clinic here https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/clinical-services/sydney-tms-neurostimulation-and-ketamine-program/

Join us for an insightful webinar on how digital resources can play a vital role in youth self-harm and suicide prevention. In this webinar, Dr. Michelle Tye and Dr Lauren McGillivray will share research on the effectiveness of digital suicide prevention innovations, explore the potential of existing and emerging digital tools for at–risk young people, and discuss how these could be integrated into care pathways to support young people. They will also highlight some practical strategies for supporting children and young people in ways that can prevent self-harm and suicide.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how digital interventions/tools can be used in the prevention and treatment of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours of young people, based on current research and evidence.
• Describe how to evaluate and compare different intervention options for children and young people.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an ideal framework and set of tools to enhance mental health support provided to clients and patients in a range of settings. It is evidence-based, easy to learn, clearly structured, time-limited, and it is respectful and consultative.

Health professionals working across all fields are reporting mental health aspects to their work with clients. Indeed, all health professionals can benefit from core CBT strategies to help support their clients and patients.

On the panel we will have Melissa Black, Ph.D., a researcher from The Black Dog Institute; Dr Kristine Kafer, Clinical Psychologist and Andrew Atkinson, a Lived Experience representative who has experienced success with CBT strategies.

Join us for this episode, where we will explore the role of the potential benefits of introductory-level, practical core CBT for use with clients and patients and delve into the broad applicability of introductory CBT skills for health professionals who have limited CBT training. This episode will give health professionals skills to use with clients who may benefit from addressing unhelpful thinking patterns which may be interfering with their health management.

Facilitator: 

• Dr Sarah Barker – Clinical Psychologist

Panelists: 

• Clinical Research Lead & Clinical Psychologist: Melissa Black, 
• Ph.D.Clinical Psychologist: Dr Kris Kafer
• Lived Experience Representative: Andrew Atkinson

For more information on our courses: https://black-dog-institute.my.salesforce-sites.com/forms/bdi_EducationCourseLanding

To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025 and its theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, this Expert Insights episode brings together an all First Nations panel to explore how the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Framework can be used to support and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Our panellists will discuss how the SEWB wheel can be a powerful tool in strengthening identity, connection, and resilience in young clients, as well as the role of protective factors in preventing suicide and fostering strong futures. Through a strengths-based lens, this conversation will highlight how the SEWB Framework is applicable across contexts and communities beyond First Nations communities, making it a valuable resource for all practitioners in both clinical and community settings.

Join us for this important discussion on how we can provide better wellbeing support and services to empower the next generation, ensuring they are supported to thrive, lead, and carry forward the strength and wisdom of their ancestors.

Panellists: 

Dr Clinton Schultz – Director of First Nations Strategy and Partnerships and Head of First Nations Research at Black Dog Institute.

Eliza Kitchener – National Network Specialist, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre.

Aunty Karyn – Lived Experience Representative.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies carry the potential to revolutionise the delivery of mental health therapy in a way that benefits both clinicians and clients. For clinicians, this may involve a reduction in administrative burden. For clients, this might include developing more robust and cost-effective approaches to treatment. Given the rapidly evolving possibilities of AI in mental health therapy, many clinicians have raised questions regarding what this technology involves and how it can be effectively implemented.

In this webinar, Dr. Kathy O'Grady and Dr. Anthony Joffe discuss the current landscape of AI as it applies to mental health therapy. This includes looking at how mental health therapists are currently using AI, their reasons for doing so (including how it has changed their practice), and their concerns about, and perceived barriers to, effective AI implementation. The need for effective policy, guidelines, and training will also be discussed.

As part of the Centre for Research Excellence in Depression Treatment Precision, researchers at the Black Dog Institute are working to understand how we can personalise treatment through the use of technology. More information can be found at: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/cre-precision/

Burnout continues to be a critical challenge in the Australian healthcare system, impacting not only the wellbeing of individual health professionals but also the sustainability of the sector. Despite its prevalence, targeted treatment options have often been limited. As part of The Essential Network (TEN), a blended care mental health support service for Australian health professionals, Black Dog Institute developed Navigating Burnout – a digital cognitive-behavioural therapy program for health professional burnout. In this webinar, Dr. Jan Orman and Dr. Matthew Coleshill discuss treatment options available for health professionals though TEN, as well as ongoing research conducted by The Black Dog Institute examining the effectiveness of Navigating Burnout in reducing burnout among medical practitioners.

For more information about TEN, visit https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/the-essential-network/

With increasing rates of chronic disease and comorbidity, a cohesive, team-based approach to address a broad range of mental health and wellbeing issues has never been more crucial. This webinar explores how GPs can effectively collaborate with other healthcare professionals within integrated care teams, breaking down silos and ensuring better patient outcomes.

Whether you’re a GP looking to enhance collaboration with your team or simply seeking to understand the latest trends in integrated care, this webinar will provide you with the knowledge and tools to transform patient care in your practice.

Facilitator: Dr Phoebe Holdenson Kimura

Guest: Dr Paul Fung

People with mental health challenges, particularly those with complex needs, often require more support than conventional health services can provide. But where can they turn for additional help? In this insightful webinar, Dr. Jan Orman is joined by Rachel Green, CEO of SANE Australia, to explore the power of digital mental health services and online psychosocial support.

Learn about Guided Recovery programs, moderated, clinically governed online communities, and other accredited services that provide a safe, supportive environment for individuals and their families. These services, offered by trusted organizations like SANE Australia, can be an invaluable complement to primary care, offering more accessible and targeted support than unmonitored social media groups.

Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, a time of declining and erratic hormonal activity often impacting both physical and mental health. Common symptoms include fatigue, hot flushes, irritability, loss of joy, anxiety, depressed mood, intrusive thoughts, and insomnia. Only 1 in 5 women seek help for menopause, stigma and shame are common, anxiety and depression risk increase significantly, and this is the highest point of suicide risk in a woman’s life. 

Join us for this short webinar where Clinical Psychologist Dr Sarah Barker and GP Dr Ceri Cashell will discuss how GPs can learn to consider whether perimenopause could be a contributing factor to mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression that patients are experiencing. 

Discover the transformative impact of integrating digital mental health resources into clinical care. While these tools are effective on their own, their full potential is realised when clinicians play an active role in guiding, coaching, and engaging with patients. Join Dr. Jan Orman and clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Barker as they explore how incorporating these resources into your practice can elevate patient outcomes, boost engagement, and offer a more holistic approach to mental health care.