General

‘Smiling depression’: it’s possible to be depressed while appearing happy – here’s why that’s particularly dangerous

The term “smiling depression” – appearing happy to others while internally suffering depressive symptoms – has become increasingly popular. Articles on the topic have crept up in the popular literature, and the number of Google searches [...]

Exercise seems to help alleviate depression, but not for everybody

I hear it often: A friend swears that her running practice staves off bouts of low spirits. Another says going to the gym before work keeps him mentally steady. Perhaps you’ve heard similar stories; perhaps you [...]

Could daydreaming be the path to greater creativity and mental health?

When we were growing up, my brother, sister and I regularly played a game we had invented called the “Swiss Machine”, which involved us spinning around for approximately 30 seconds while saying “Swiss! Swiss! Swiss!” and [...]

How mindfulness meditation works — and changes the brain’s architecture

It’s touted to relieve pain, lower stress and anxiety, and bolster cognitive performance, but does the practice of mindfulness physically change the brain — and if so, how do we know? Key points: Meditation practices that [...]

‘If it wasn’t for pole I don’t think I’d be here’: Mother explains how pole dancing saved her life after her daughter’s suicide

When Jenny Green watched her daughter, Jacalyn Williams, pole dancing, she never imagined it would one day be her up on stage. But, all that changed less than two years ago, when Jacalyn took her own [...]

‘Pill shaming’ and stigma causes regional Australians to battle mental illness for longer

A new awareness of the impacts of ‘pill shaming’, which can prevent people from purchasing medication to help treat their mental illness, has emerged in online forums. The movement has been shared across various social media [...]

‘It was a feeling of defeat’: the real signs of workplace burnout

When Melbourne veterinarian Dr Nicola* told her boss she was struggling in the face of an unrelenting caseload, she said her concerns weren’t taken seriously. Dr Nicola said overtime was frequent and expected. The constant pressure [...]

This is what happens to your body when you hate your job

A toxic job can make you sick in a multitude of ways. Everyone has bad days at work, but there are signs that employees need to watch out for before a bad week at the office [...]

Trauma teddies an antidote for family anxiety while waiting in hospital ward

Sitting in a hospital waiting room for hours on end can be emotional and draining, but a Queensland woman has found a unique way to make the most of her time during her husband’s cancer treatment. [...]

AFL steps up focus on players’ mental health

The AFL’s hiring of a head of mental health for the league follows a year-long review, conducted by an independent committee and involving all 18 clubs and their players as the industry strives towards ‘‘utopia’’ for [...]