In this episode of Dóchas, we will be hearing from members of the community who have made the return home to Ireland.

Everyone has their own story to tell and experience to share. Some have found the move to be exactly what they hoped for, that returning to Ireland has filled a void that was present as an expat. Being close to our loved ones is the driving force behind many people’s choice to return. However, some have found the move quite difficult, logistically and emotionally. Saying goodbye to an established life and friends is never easy. Often, when people return, they realise that life has not stood still whilst they have been away and that many people have moved on with their lives.

Making such a move, is a very personal decision, and one that is not easy. Especially when there is so much chatter on the subject, that you don’t know what to believe.

People also have to return in times of crisis or distress, which can cause an additional level of turmoil in a difficult situation.

So weighing all of this up, we felt it was important to hear from those who have made the move and ask whether they have any particular insights to share.

We will be joined by Donna McKiernan, Natalie Lucey and James Parnell.

In 2016, James returned to Dublin after 16 years in Sydney.

He published several articles in the Irish Times about his experience, appeared on RTE, TodayFM and Newstalk and participated in Irish Government forums helping emigrants return to Ireland. Mostly though, James is a fellow emigrant navigating through his new life and wanting to share the journey with fellow returnees.

The wellbeing movement has seen a huge surge in its following over the past 15 years. From healthy eating, to exercise programs, and self-care strategies, the amount of information that is being shared is vast, but how can we distinguish between fads and trends, and research and science backed approaches?

Join Roisin Trainor, Founder of Mind Yourself, Mental Health First Aid Training and Wellbeing Practitioner and Alan Earls, Project Lead at Sydney Safe Space, as we dive into the changes that have occurred in the health and mental health space, and we learn to separate fact from fiction.

This enlightening episode sparks a very interesting conversation and poses questions such as, is it our own responsibility for the information that we consume, or is there a shared responsibility with those who are circulating this information and misinformation?

Join us as we explore the choice that Irish emigrants make on permanently settling in Australia. We will be chatting with a number of people who have chosen to call Australia home.

Some have lived here longer than others, and some have found the decision easier to make than others, but for their own personal reasons, they chose to emigrate to Australia and permanently settle here.

As an expat, we are often faced with the unbearable decision as to where to spend the rest of our lives. For some, the pull of the heartstrings to Ireland, calls them back home. For others, that pull, is not enough, and whilst they may miss Ireland and their family, the life they have created in Australia, wins out.

This episode aims to bring a sense of hope and optimism about a future in Australia, but we will also be asking the tough questions about how difficult the journey might have been.

Hear from people who have had this experience and a professional's guidance if you find yourself in this situation.

A diagnosis of cancer,  or other serious illness can be devastating. But there are ways to cope with the emotional distress and preserve your quality of life.

Many serious health problems seem to develop unexpectedly, upsetting your life out of the blue. You may feel overwhelmed by waves of difficult emotions—from fear and worry to profound sadness, despair, and grief—or just numb, frozen by shock or the feeling that you’ll never be able to cope. The emotional upheaval can make it difficult to function or think straight, and even lead to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

But whatever your diagnosis or emotional response, it’s important to know that you’re not powerless.

We will hear from Martine, Helen and Gillian who have all been through their own journey with a health diagnosis and we will also chat to Conor McCaffrey, GP  who offers some information about healthcare for serious illness and how we can look after ourselves mentally during this time.

Join us as we examine our relationship with alcohol, especially during the festive season and how to recognise problem drinking and addiction in ourselves and our loved ones.

The festive season is a good time to reflect on our drinking culture and the way we drink.

Alcohol can not only affect our physical health but it can also significantly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Some people may feel down over Christmas and New Year, and drinking can make this worse.

The relationship between alcohol and mental health is complex. Some people may drink alcohol to relax or help cope with daily stresses; however, alcohol is a depressant drug that can cause anxiety and increase stress. Alcohol can negatively affect thoughts, feelings and actions, and contribute to the development of, or worsen, existing mental health issues over time.

We are delighted to be joined by Joan Purcell, COO of Foundation House, Geraldine Leyden who has lived experience of alcohol addiction and Melissa Meenan who made the decision to stop drinking in her late twenties. 

Show notes: 

Geraldine Leyden - https://www.instagram.com/serenitytenx/

Melissa Meenan - https://www.instagram.com/lady_mil123/

Joan Purcell - [email protected] / https://www.foundationhouse.net.au/

Supporting a loved one through a crisis is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do, and so often we tough it out alone. We do our best with the skills and knowledge we have, but often we’re fumbling in the dark, unsure of whether we’re on the right track, afraid of doing more harm than good.

While most people have some intuition and the best of intentions when it comes to caring for loved ones in crisis, most people could benefit from some upskilling provided by a mental health professional, alongside a group of people going through a similar experience. We will be joined by clinical psychologist Emer McDermott and our special guest Sean Keenan who is living through this experience. 

On Monday 10th October, on World Mental Health Day, we explored eating disorders, in all of their complexity. We were delighted to be joined by Kate Mulray from The Butterfly Foundation. The Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them.

We were also joined by Jane Murphy, who has experience of living with an eating disorder and we are entirely grateful to her for sharing her story. We spoke about what eating disorders are, some of the myths associated with them and we discussed accessing support in the healthcare system.

This was a really informative discussion, and we would encourage you all to take a listen.

Content Warning: We discuss eating disorders and there will be mentions of suicide and mortality. If any of the content makes you feel uncomfortable or upset then Butterfly has a national helpline that you can contact from 8am-midnight, 7 days per week on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673). www.butterfly.org.au