Psych Matters

Sleep disorders are often misunderstood and underdiagnosed. Understanding sleep physiology is key to diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can be categorized into disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, disorders of excessive sleep, parasomnias, and disturbances of the sleep cycle. Dr Robert Kaplan takes us through diagnoses, approach and treatment methods for the various sleep disorders including insomnia, sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, and REM sleep behaviour disorder.

Dr Robert M. Kaplan, MBChB FRANZCP MA MPhil, is a Forensic psychiatrist, lecturer and speaker with positions at the University of New South Wales, Western Sydney University and Wollongong University. His fields of expertise are sleep and pain disorders, neuropsychiatry and psychological aspects of physical disorders. He also holds the distinguished position at RANZCP, of Chair of the Binational Section Philosophy and the Humanities in Psychiatry.

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Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

In 2008, Australia and New Zealand ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD challenges traditional mental health legislation by emphasising the respect for inherent dignity, legal capacity, liberty and physical and mental integrity of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. The application of CRPD in mental health care requires a realistic and balanced interpretation of the CRPD as well as education and training of clinical staff in human rights framework.

Prof Neeraj Gill and Dr Ava Carter will outline the contemporary human rights framework. They examine civil and political rights, including involuntary psychiatric treatment and coercive interventions, along with economic, social and cultural rights. The discussion will also cover the application of the UN CRPD in mental health care in Australia as well as social determinants to health, social justice and public mental health.

Prof Neeraj Gill is a psychiatrist at Gold Coast Health. He is a Professor of Adult Psychiatry at Griffith University and Professor of Public Mental Health at the University of Canberra. He is the Regional Vice-President, Oceania of the World Federation for Mental Health and the Secretary of the World Psychiatric Association Section on Psychiatry, Law and Ethics. He served as an elected Director on the Board of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) from 2020-2023.

Neeraj was awarded his Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) based on his doctoral thesis on 'human rights of people with mental disabilities'. He has published many papers on human rights, mental health law, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.

Dr Ava Carter is a dental surgeon and medical doctor, currently specialising in consultation liaison psychiatry and developing her skills in medical administration and management. She is passionate about collaborating to improve outcomes and drive system change in organisations in the healthcare sector, and is driven to elevate the voices of others, particularly in healthcare education and lived experience. 

Clinically, Ava has worked in public health services, in allied health, and in the private health sector, and currently holds an operational role as Senior Registrar at Canberra Health Services. Ava was appointed by the Board as the Appointed Director, Trainee, for a one-year term from 31 May 2023 and was reappointed for a further one-year term from May 2024 to May 2025.

Additional resources:

Mental Health and Human Rights: The Challenges of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Mental Health Care. 

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

Developed by the RANZCP Section of Leadership and Management (SLAM), the following discussion is hosted by the former Chair, Associate Professor Robert Parker. This conversation exploring the topics of leadership and management in psychiatry, with a focus on the future of these fields and the challenges faced by early career psychiatrists. The panellists, Dr Graham Dickson, Dr Diane Meschino and Dr Mamta Gautam, share their personal experiences and insights. They discuss the importance of values, passion, persistence and ethical leadership in driving positive change highlighting the need for collaboration, curiosity and the ability to navigate barriers.
 
Dr Graham Dickson is Professor Emeritus at Royal Roads University in Canada. He is CEO of LEADS Global, a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to improving health leadership worldwide. As the principal, he works closely with the Canadian College of Health Leaders to enable countries outside of Canada to use LEADS for leadership development. Graham worked with the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) over an eight-year period to support their leadership work and to create Health LEADS Australia. 

Graham is also working with colleagues to grow and expand the World Health Leadership Network, a collaborative enterprise dedicated to defining and understanding leadership necessary for moving health care forward in the 21st Century. LEADS Global has partnered with Accreditation Canada International and the Royal College Canada International to take medical leadership programs abroad.

Dr Diane Meschino is a psychiatrist, artist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, with an academic focus on medical leadership. Building on discourses and evidence regarding gender, equity, rights, justice and power, Diane was an early women’s health pioneer, founding and scaling programmes for underserved mental health populations. She has semi-retired to apply creative leadership and international collaboration to enhance healthcare system resilience and responses to climate change.

Dr Mamta Gautam, MD, MBA, FRCPC, CPDC, CCPE, CPE is an internationally renowned psychiatrist, consultant, certified coach, author and speaker.  Focused on physician well-being being since 1990, she is a trailblazer and leader in this field and is known as the “The Doctor’s Doctor”. She brings this knowledge and expertise to PEAK MD, through which she delivers keynote presentations and workshops, consults to healthcare organisations and coaches senior medical leaders internationally. 

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

This episode explores the work of psychiatrists in government, private practice and research for the population of military and veteran personnel in Australia. The conversation covers various specialist fields in psychiatry, including trauma-related disorders, substance abuse and forensic work. A/Prof Jon Lane, Leonie Nowland, Dr Alex Lim and Prof Jenny Firman discuss their experiences in private practice and its unique challenges and opportunities. They also highlight the role of Open Arms, a national counselling service for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), in providing culturally aware and trauma-informed care.

A/Prof Jon Lane, FRANZCP, MBBS (Hons), PhD, has been in the Army since 1989 and is also an Afghanistan veteran. He is a clinician in private practice, as well as holding several different roles. These include being a Consultant Psychiatrist for the DVA and Open Arms; the Psychiatry Lead for the University of Tasmania School of Medicine; and has adjunct appointments and research projects with the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research and Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation. He is also the current Chair of the College's Military and Veterans' Emergency Services Personnel Mental Health Network.

Leonie Nowland is the First Assistant Secretary of Open Arms. Leonie has a wealth of experience working in critical roles in mental health across the State and Commonwealth public sectors and in the private sector in the UK and New Zealand. Leonie’s move to the role of First Assistant Secretary of Open Arms, is the culmination of many years’ experience in the mental health sector and she brings to the role a strong background as a mental health administrator and clinician, with a focus on community mental health.

Dr Alexander Yick-Chern Lim is an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland, and Co-Founder, Director and Chief Medical Officer of Zed3 Medical Group, a nationwide mental healthcare services provider. He is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Zed3 Specialist Centre, and is engaged with policy, research and education in the field of serving and ex-serving uniformed personnel healthcare with a focus on precision medicine. Dr Lim is a member of the Military, Veterans' and Emergency Services Personnel Mental Health Network at the RANZCP.

Professor Jenny Firman AM joined the Royal Australian Navy as a medical student and over the next 22 years of full time service was posted to a range of positions in the Navy and Australian Defence Force. After leaving the full time Navy she spent a decade in the Australian Government Department of Health working on communicable diseases and health emergencies. In 2019 she was appointed as the Chief Health Officer in the DVA.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

In this episode Dr Warren Kealy-Bateman FRANZCP speaks with transgender youth about what it’s like being a young transgender person in Australia. Often absent in discussions around transgender youth healthcare are the voices of transgender youth themselves. This podcast explores four individual experiences with transgender healthcare across Australia and considers how psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals can better help transgender and gender-questioning youth in their journey.

Dr Warren Kealy-Bateman works in Dubbo and regions as a clinical director. He has experience in education and training, public health and eating disorders. His academic work includes LGBTIQ+ health disparity.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

In this episode, Dr Linda Kader interviews Ginny Whitelaw, a former NASA scientist and leadership expert. They discuss topics such as finding purpose as a leader, authenticity and inquiry in leadership, aligning body, energy, and mind, and the vision for leaders in the world. Ginny shares insights from her own journey and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, psychological safety, and aligning one's gifts with leadership. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to cultivate a sense of healing and wisdom in order to create positive change in the world.

Dr Ginny Whitelaw is a Rinzai Zen master and founder and CEO of the Institute for Zen Leadership. A biophysicist by training, she combines a rich scientific background with senior leadership experience at NASA and 25 years developing leaders at such companies as Novartis, Dell, Merck, T. Rowe Price, Mercer, and JNJ. A recognized expert in development of the whole leader, she has authored several books, including The Zen Leader and Resonate. She co-developed the FEBI®, which measures 4 patterns of personality that connect body, mind and behaviors, and trains practitioners worldwide in applying FEBI in their work.

In her nearly 10 years at NASA, Dr. Whitelaw became the Deputy Manager for integrating the International Space Station, for which she received NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal. She holds a PhD in Biophysics and a 5th degree black belt in Aikido.

Dr Linda Kader is a consultant psychiatrist, psychotherapist & mindfulness teacher with a strong interest and commitment to raise and facilitate necessary conversations in healthcare leadership and management. She works at The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Children's Hospitals offering leadership & clinical care, supervision & teaching of registrars, and supporting various aspects of service development  & implementation. She is a Mentor for registrars with RANZCP, holds passion for refugee healthcare and engages in Human Rights Advocacy through her local Council committees. She brings to her daily work extensive practice and knowledge of mindfulness and compassion to nurture professional, safe and engaging working atmosphere for her teams and all staff.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

In this episode Prof Brett McDermott is in conversation with A/Prof Yoram Barak about the Kioku project. This study is looking to test new ways to reduce loneliness. Loneliness has an incredibly negative impact on health, especially so for older adults. Rates of loneliness are creeping up in most high income and middle income countries, especially for women and men over the age of 70. Based on some research that was developed and tested in the early 2020s and this is the beginning of a journey of developing games in which we share personal true stories with each other and reduce loneliness.

A/Prof Yoram Barak's research interests include multiple sclerosis, cancer, a wide range of psychiatric conditions (such as depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive–compulsive disorder), old-age psychiatry, and suicide. He is also interested in Alzheimer's Disease and has published a popular book called "Preventing Alzheimer's: A Personal Responsibility".

Prof Brett McDermott is an Australian medical graduate who trained in Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the UK and Sydney. Apart from being a Professor at the University of Tasmania, he holds other academic appointments: By-Fellow at Churchill College, Cambridge University; Adjunct Professor at JCU; Professorial Fellow at Mater Research and from 2006-2016 was a Board Director of beyondblue: the National Depression Initiative. Current position is the Clinical Director CAMHS Tasmania.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

This episode of Psych Matters recorded at the 2023 RANZCP Congress in Perth is about remote supervision for psychiatry trainees.
Inequitable access to psychiatric care has been highlighted as a significant shortcoming for both the Australian and New Zealand mental health care system for some time.
The college developed a rural psychiatry roadmap 2021 to 2031, a pathway to equitable and sustainable rural mental health services, and has made a number of proposals for change, emphasizing how building the rural psychiatry workforce will require the development of dedicated rural psychiatry training pathways to fellowship.

The roadmap focuses on expanding opportunities for aspiring psychiatrists to live, train and practice rurally, as well as optimising the support available for those who take up these opportunities. One of the key priority areas for the roadmap has been to develop the remote supervision regulations which have been endorsed by the board and will be implemented over the coming years.

Remote supervision is for newly created and established training posts that have not previously been provided by existing resident psychiatry supervision. The principal supervisor does not reside in the location and is primarily off site. Remote supervision is not designed to replace existing supervision arrangements but rather extend the training opportunities into locations which may have been unable to offer a training post due to meeting requirements of the current supervision policies.

This conversation is with Associate Professor Jill Benson and Associate Professor Mat Coleman, who were involved with an expert advisory group in the development of the remote supervision guidelines and new regulations.


Associate Professor Jill Benson AM is an Adelaide-based GP who has mostly worked with refugees, Aboriginal people and doctors. She is also an academic and medical educator and has written the Remote Supervision Guidelines for the RACGP as well as RANZCP.

Associate Professor Mathew Coleman is a consultant psychiatrist with the WA Country Health Service, Clinical Director for the Great Southern and Midwest Mental Health Service and Clinical Academic with the Rural Clinical School of WA. He is a qualified child and adolescent, and addiction psychiatrist and has experience and qualifications in health service management. He was also the former Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

In this episode the speakers discuss their personal backgrounds and experiences with diagnosing and treating ADHD. They emphasize the need for ADHD training and education in the field of psychiatry and the push for ADHD to become mainstream in mental health services. Collaboration and peer review in ADHD treatment are also discussed, along with medico-legal considerations including the Senate inquiry on ADHD in Australia with a discussion on room for improvement in ADHD services.

Dr Peter Heffernan is a Melbourne based Consultant Psychiatrist with over 35 years’ experience in Psychiatry, Psychological Medicine, and Psychotherapy. He has worked in the field of assessment and care of Adults with ADHD over the past 12 years, including the assessment, diagnosis and management of over 3,500 Patients.  He is a member of the United Kingdom Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN) having completed the UKAAN training in the assessment and treatment of Adult ADHD at the London Institute of Psychiatry. He is also an augural member of the Australian ADHD Professionals Association Professionals (AADPA).  He was the inaugural Chairperson of the RANZCP ADHD Network Committee, and continue to be an active member of the Committee and is a long-standing member of the Victorian Association of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapists.

Prof Emerita Sarah Romans is an adult academic social psychiatrist with over 40 years experience as a consultant. Worked in public and academic settings in her career and more recently in her private practice in Wellington. Her research areas have been mood disorders, women’s mental health, and medical education.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.

This episode revolves around the importance of youth mental health and the need for specialized care for young people. Dr Astha Tomar facilitates this discussion with distinguished panel members Prof Patrick McGorry, Dr Iain Macmillan, Dr Daniel Pellen, Dr Leonardo Sauaia,  and Dr Ian Soosay. They cover the deterioration of youth mental health in high-income countries, the impact of the pandemic, along with the need for increased funding and research in mental health care, and the challenges of accessing mental health services in rural and remote areas. They emphasize the importance of co-designing services with young people and their families, as well as the need for culturally sensitive care.

Dr Astha Tomar is the President-Elect 2023-2025 for RANZCP and will step into the role of President RANZCP from June 2025 to June 2027. She is the Director Clinical Services at Orygen Youth Specialist Program. She also works as a private psychiatrist

Prof Patrick McGorry is a psychiatrist known world-wide for his development and scaling up of early intervention and youth mental health services and for mental health innovation, advocacy, and reform. He is a Professor of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and founding editor of the journal of Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

Dr Iain Macmillan has been a consultant psychiatrist since 1995. He has worked as a consultant in early intervention in psychosis, and youth mental health since 2003, and has a particular interest in the treatment of the affective psychoses including bipolar disorder and depression with psychosis.

Dr Daniel Pellen has been the chair of the RANZCP Binational Section of Youth Mental Health Committee since 2020 and is currently leading a group whose aim is to develop a sub-specialty in Youth Psychiatry. He is Clinical Lead of the Early Psychosis Intervention team in Western Sydney, works in private rooms in Sydney and has provided a specialist referral service at Headspace Bondi Junction. Daniel has also provided general Psychiatric outreach services to the rural New South Wales town of Armidale for the past six years.

Dr Leonardo Sauaia is a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, originally trained in Brazil, moved to New Zealand in 2014, and currently with Orygen Youth Health to work in early intervention for Personality Disorders.

Dr Ian Soosay is the clinical director for Mental Health at Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau. He was the deputy director of mental health at the ministry of Health New Zealand and been involved in many initiatives promoting Mental Health.

Topic suggestion:
If you have a topic suggestion or would like to participate in a future episode of Psych Matters, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact us by email at: [email protected]

Disclaimer:
This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.