Advertise on podcast: Mental Health in Practice

With mental health care and drug and alcohol support closely related areas of practice, we might expect professionals in these spaces to be well acquainted with one another’s work.  But like all of us, health practitioners are susceptible to bias or misconception – about alcohol and drug use, and about mental ill-health. In this episode, guests Lisa Fyfield and Lee Ann Jemson explore how a practitioner’s own views can create barriers between mental health and alcohol and other drug services, seeing people turned away because of their substance use history.  Lee Ann shares her experience of mental ill-health and alcohol use disorder, and together they look at why integrated person-centred care matters, exploring practical ways to recognise and challenge practitioner stigma in mental health practice.  Explore resources on challenging stigma on the MHPN website. Featured presenters: Lisa Fyfield, Quality Improvement Lead at Hamilton Centre, and Lee Ann Jemson, Peer Worker and Peer Educator at Hamilton Centre. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

This episode looks at mental health practice from a different angle, and explores how stronger, more supportive workplaces can result in better outcomes for clients.  In this episode, Carla Jones and Den Abreu share how trauma-informed principles such as safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, choice, and an understanding of cultural and historical impacts can shape workplaces. Drawing on their experiences as both employer and employee, they explore how these principles can be applied to everyday work and leadership.  Tune in to hear their practical ideas for creating workplaces where people feel safe, supported and able to contribute.  Explore resources on trauma-informed approaches on the MHPN website.  Featured presenters: Carla Jones, psychologist and psychosexual therapist and Den Abreu, psychologist and psychosexual therapist  Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice for more practice insights.  Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

Bias and assumptions shape the quality and safety of health care, sometimes without practitioners realising it.   Drawing on extensive experience working alongside LGBTQ+ communities, Georgina Bell and Glenn Noble explore how to notice, name and reflect on our assumptions in a way that helps to build genuine trust with clients, particularly those who have experienced stigma or marginalisation elsewhere.  Explore resources on bias and cultural safety on the MHPN website.  Featured presenters: Georgina Bell (Social Worker) and Glenn Noble (Counsellor).  Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice for more practice insights.  Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

What distinguishes trauma-responsive care from trauma-informed care, and how can it be applied in practice to support children and families affected by disaster? In this episode, Michelle Roberts (Psychologist) and Sarah Eagland (Social Worker) explore what it looks like to account for and effectively respond to trauma in the context of disaster. Highlighting the important role of trauma-responsive care in translating knowledge and awareness into action and adaptation, they discuss how practitioners can contribute to positive outcomes for children, families and communities.   Equally prioritising practitioner wellbeing, they explore how a culture of psychological safety can support multidisciplinary teams working in disaster recovery and resilience. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

How can practitioners work safely and collaboratively to support children and families impacted by disaster? Michelle Roberts (Psychologist) and Sarah Eagland (Social Worker) unpack the role of trauma-informed care in addressing the diverse and often-overlooked needs of children in the context of disaster. Focusing on strengths-based approaches, they explore opportunities to build skills that promote feelings of safety, calm, control and agency for children and families. The episode encourages practitioners across health, mental health and community settings to nurture their own wellbeing when working in challenging contexts. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

This episode was originally released in 2024 as part of MHPN's three-part series, Health in all its Complexity. This three-part series features academic General Practitioners, Dr Wei-May Su and Professor Louise Stone, in conversation with various GPs about the complexities of providing meaningful primary health care. In the final episode, they chat with GP and addiction medicine specialist, Dr Hester Wilson, about the challenges they face when patients talk or behave in ways that don’t align with their personal and professional values. Throughout their discussion, they share stories and strategies about how they balance their ‘rational’ and ‘emotional’ selves in clinical settings where patients may ‘push their buttons’. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

This episode was originally released in 2024 as part of MHPN's three-part series, Health in all its Complexity. This three-part series features academic General Practitioners, Dr Wei-May Su and Professor Louise Stone, in conversation about the complexities of providing meaningful primary health care. In episode two, they explore the challenges of providing primary health care when treating the rare, the unknown, the complex, the not learned about, and the different. They reflect on the changes to the health system over the years and that currently primary care is dealing with more uncertainty than ever. They touch on issues of patient representation in medical research, accessibility and equity of care, the oversimplification of diagnostic processes, and how multidisciplinary care and collaboration can support practitioners. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

This episode was originally released in 2024 as part of MHPN's three-part series, Health in all its Complexity. This three-part series features academic General Practitioners, Dr Wei-May Su and Professor Louise Stone, in conversation with various GPs about the complexities of providing meaningful primary health care.  In episode one, May and Louise sit down with General Practitioner and researcher Professor Michael Kidd to explore the complexities of providing mental health care in a range of settings, from top-down health systems to working directly with patients.  They discuss the challenges GPs face in providing mental health care within restricted systems and how they deal with moral injury in their work. They speak to the importance of showing humanness in person-centred care and the benefits of multidisciplinary support and collaboration.    Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.  Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

Unsure what to listen to next? We've got you covered. Over the next six weeks, we'll be re-releasing three episodes from our archive and invite you to revisit them with us. Whether you're new to Mental Health in Practice or have been listening for a while, these episodes provide an opportunity to reflect on some of the realities of practice: from recognising when care requires more than diagnosis and treatment, to why uncertainty exists in practice, and how we continue providing compassionate care while looking after ourselves. Episode 1 will be re-released on Wednesday 8 July. Stay tuned for new episodes of Mental Health in Practice, returning from 19 August.

How can mental health practitioners build trust and create meaningful connections when people's experiences, expectations and understanding of care differ from their own?  Drawing on extensive experience working alongside migrant communities, people seeking asylum and refugee communities, this episode explores practical ways to build meaningful therapeutic relationships and creating a space that is flexible and curious. The insights shared are relevant across a wide range of communities, offering opportunities to reflect on how curiosity, flexibility and cultural humility can support stronger connections. The conversation offers valuable reflections for practitioners across health, mental health and community settings. Featured presenters: Quan Nguyen (Accredited Mental Health Social Worker) and Dr Raj Ramanathapillai (Senior Practitioner Counsellor Advocate). Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice for more practice insights. Explore resources on culturally safe practice on the MHPN website. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

How is AI already being used in mental health practice, and what does it mean for you as a practitioner?  In this episode, our presenters discuss the growing role of AI across healthcare and mental health settings, including where it is already being used in clinical and service settings. They discuss the practical opportunities AI may offer for communication, accessibility and support while also examining the challenges it raises around privacy, consent, professional judgement and trust. The conversation encourages mental health practitioners to critically reflect on how emerging technologies may influence care, therapeutic relationships and the future of practice.  Explore resources on AI in mental health practice on the MHPN website. Featured presenters: Angela Batra-Mariani (Occupational Therapist, Co-founder of Everbility), David Lopis (Psychologist, AI Consultant), and Mani Batra (Software Engineer, Co-founder of Everbility). Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice for more practice insights. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

How can reflective practice repair therapeutic relationships? Lenice Murray (Mental Health Social Worker) and Lee Crothers (Mental Health Occupational Therapist) explore how ruptures to relationships are common with a focus on how these can show up when working with consumers, carers and teams. They explore why avoiding communication breakdowns can damage trust and care, and how honest conversations, shared responsibility, and strong supervision can help repair relationships and support safer practice. Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice for more practice insights. Explore resources on therapeutic relationships and trauma-informed care on the MHPN website. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

How can peer-led digital spaces support LGBTIQA+ young people? Hamish Czygan (Online Peer Work Team Lead at headspace National) is joined by Kevin Tran (Peer Worker) and Jack Ebacioni (Senior Mental Health Clinician). Together, they highlight the increasingly valuable role that peer-led digital spaces play in strengthening engagement and connection for young people in the LGBTIQA+ community. The episode explores how spaces led by peer-workers create opportunities for connection and self-expression. Young people looking for connection, role models or support accessing mental health care can benefit from inclusive online communities. Liked this episode? Share with others and subscribe to Mental Health in Practice. Explore resources on mental health support for young people identifying as part of the LGBTIQA+ community on the MHPN website. Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

What does engagement-focused care for young people with school attendance challenges look like in multidisciplinary practice?  Join Paige Davey (School Re-engagement Specialist and Trainer) and Richard Crawshaw (Founder of Can’t Face School) as they explore the increasing complexities of school attendance challenges. Together, they unpack the practical barriers and enablers to system-wide collaboration, underscoring the value of curiosity, building trust and person-centredness in supporting sustainable re-engagement.   Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Explore resources on youth mental health and school attendance challenges on the MHPN website.  Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

What does effective conflict management in multidisciplinary teams look like?  Host Radhika Santhanam-Martin (Clinical Psychologist) is joined by guests Aly Butchers (Manager of Legal Practice for the Family Violence Program at Youthlaw), Kate Raseta (National Manager, Strategic Initiatives at headspace) and Dr Kirsten Meyer (Dramatherapist). Together, they explore how relational repairs within multidisciplinary teams impact client and family outcomes. Equally committed to supporting multidisciplinary team cohesion, they share practical approaches to strengthening therapeutic alliances in youth mental health care. Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice. Explore resources on youth mental health and multidisciplinary team leadership on the MHPN website.  Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.