Leon Fernandes has a conversation which 'changed his life'.  His guest Greg, has wisdom in bucket-loads. 

They discuss the difficulties of coming-out as a gay man, in decades past, and run-ins with suicide.

Coming out as a gay man was often a journey marked by profound trauma and societal rejection. The weight of societal stigma and fear of persecution hung heavily over individuals who dared to be true to themselves. Many faced isolation from family and friends, discrimination in workplaces, and even violence. The courage it took to embrace one's identity in a hostile world cannot be overstated. Yet, despite the adversity, these individuals paved the way for progress, resilience, and the gradual transformation of societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

Chris Jaeger talks with his cousin Jess about miscarriage. She tells her heartbreaking story of pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage can inflict profound emotional wounds, often leading to a complex array of mental health challenges. Grief, guilt, and deep sadness may engulf individuals and couples, triggering feelings of inadequacy and despair. Anxiety and depression can emerge, lingering long after the physical pain subsides. The loss of a hoped-for future can leave a deep sense of emptiness and longing. Yet, amidst the darkness, there's resilience. Seeking support, whether through therapy, community, or loved ones, can foster healing. Acknowledging the validity of one's grief and allowing space for emotional expression are crucial steps towards navigating the arduous path to recovery.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

 Chris Jaeger continues his conversation with paramedic Jason Kirkaldy.

A front line paramedic, Jason experiences trauma daily. He speaks about the unique mental health challenges faced by first responders. 

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

Chris Jaeger talks with paramedic Jason Kirkaldy who opens up about revealing mental health struggles in a workplace that sometimes demonstrates a culture of shame. Jason discusses trauma that stems from working on the frontline in paramedicine and how that can impact mental health. 

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

After 10 years in the mental health sector supporting patients, and being a patient himself,  Max Simensen believes there is a better way to approach treatment. 

Max speaks up against emotional suppression and discusses how people with mental health issues find a need to perform 'unwellness’ in order to access the treatment they need.

Over the last two years, Max has led NSW’s first operational SafeHaven - a drop-in service, offering an alternative to Emergency Departments for people in suicidal distress. SafeHaven is staffed by peer workers who have their own lived experience of suicidality.

https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/safehaven

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

What happens to young people when religious dogma clashes with sexual identity? In many cultures, living outside of sexual norms can evoke guilt, shame and rejection. But, Mohammad Awad who runs the award-winning Muslim Peers Project, which supports young Muslims, says that religious identity and queer identity are not mutually exclusive - they can exist in harmony. 

An artist, writer and poet, Awad talks with Chris Jaeger about mental health consequences of marginalisation, advocating for acceptance, and creating a safe place where young Muslims can access culturally sensitive support.

The Muslim Peers Project 

The Muslim Peers Project is an initiative by Outloud to support young queer Muslims experiencing mental health distress. 

https://outloud.org.au/projects/muslim-peers-project/

https://www.instagram.com/muslim_peers_project

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

Leon Fernandes talks with Meg, a clinical psychologist who reveals how stigma and shame inhibit members of her profession from discussing and seeking treatment for their own mental health issues.

Meg’s perspective is shaped by having faced mental health trauma and the uncomfortable reactions exhibited when communicating her experiences to colleagues.

Leon, who has for a long time been in therapy with Meg, talks about the comfort that he feels from knowing that his therapist truly understands what it’s like to walk in his shoes.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

In Part II of Big Feelings, Chris Jaeger introduces Natalie Toal - a ‘super feeler’ who is an advocate of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for managing big feelings.

Natalie explains what is involved in the therapy, and outlines its benefits. Natalie relies on DBT herself and, as a peer worker in mental health, she is involved in helping others who are dealing with overwhelming feelings.

 Chris and Natalie also discuss the burden of stigma faced by people with big feelings and diagnoses of borderline personality disorders.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

After 10 years in psychotherapy, Hannah Achelles has learned to navigate big feelings. In this interview with co-host Chris Jaeger, Hannah talks about befriending emotions to stop them from becoming overwhelming and developing into depression. For those who experience extreme emotions, managing those feelings can be a complex and lifelong journey.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website

Executive Producer of IAMF, Leon Fernandes has faced deep trauma because of failings in mental health care. While awaiting a psychiatric hospital bed, Leon spent 12 terrifying nights in an open ward shared with people experiencing drug-induced psychosis. 

In this episode Leon speaks candidly about his fears and suicidal thoughts. With presenter Chris Jaeger, he discusses failures of a system that is too often beset by ill-considered patient communication and inadequate funding.

As recipients of care, and as mental health peer support workers, Leon and Chris offer their unique perspectives from both sides of the fence. 

Leon’s motivation to bare his soul in a raw and challenging account of lived-experience is, he says, driven by a need to give voice to those who are silenced by fear, or lack the capacity to speak up for themselves. 

In Dr Sophie Isobel, Leon finds a like-minded advocate. A clinician and researcher, Dr Isobel looks into the shadows of mental health services, documenting harm that occurs in the course of psychiatric hospitalisation. She speaks with Leon about her findings and how the knowledge of iatrogenic harm can be applied to improve patient outcomes.

While the episode reveals flaws in the system, Leon and Chris are at pains to emphasise the exemplary care offered by compassionate health care workers and praise facilities that attain high standards while functioning under difficult financial constraints.

IAMF! is supported by the Mental Health Commission of NSW.

Content warning -
Interviews include explicit language and feature topics such as depression, stigma and suicide. We acknowledge that this content may be difficult and we encourage listeners to take care of their safety and well-being.

Help is available -  
Lifeline - call 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service - call 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au

IAMF! Facebook /  Instagram /  Website