When things go low, I get high

You may remember Joey Brogden on the podcast mid-last year (listen here if you haven't already⁠: https://apple.co/3TeiVt9), discussing the BHP Foundation's Right care, first time, where you live program with Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) for Canberra. Joey and Elian discuss core learnings that have come from this research program, the increasing youth involvement, and what their newly appointed positions on the National Youth Reference Group means.

You may remember Andrew Shim appearing on the podcast mid-last year (listen here if you haven't already⁠: https://apple.co/40gU2OS⁠), breaking down the history of advocacy over the years with fellow Brain and Mind Centre (BMC) Lived Experience Working Group member Rachel Laidler. Andrew returned to open our consciousness to the prevalent interrelationship of mental health and autism. Andrew proudly identifies as a queer autistic person of colour who uses their voice to share and normalise the experiences they had. Intertwined with this identity are Andrew's experiences of mental ill-health and service access– which you will hear about in the episode. If you're like me, my knowledge surfaces in the statistics, lives of individuals, and adversities faced by those with autism. When it comes to the prevalent mental health diagnoses among autistic people, I was horrified to hear the stark facts and figures faced by people with autism in our communities. Some readings on the strategy: – Developing the National Autism Strategy's Discussion paper: https://bit.ly/3tUT2UK – National Autism Strategy: https://bit.ly/3MnaDee – Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub: https://bit.ly/3QmhBBg

Smart tech is forever improving, more accurate, intuitive, personalised, and accessible. However, evidence of the helpfulness this technology can be to the individual is scarce. These improvements mean clinicians can better deliver and support you and your mental health. Particular smart tech can track/ record core health aspects like sleep, activity and exercise, overall movement, light exposure (natural and digital), and menstrual cycles. Dr Frank Iorfino’s research interests are in youth mental health and early intervention, specifically focusing on how digital health can change how services assess, manage and treat youth mental health problems. Frank is head of the Digital Mental Health research program for the Youth Mental Health and Technology team at The Brain and Mind Centre. This program focuses on building sophisticated digital technologies through co-design that permit young people, their families and carers to be at the centre of clinical care and equal partners with clinicians in crucial treatment decisions.

Professor Ian Hickie is co-director of the University's multidisciplinary initiative, the Brain and Mind Centre. He is an internationally renowned researcher in clinical psychiatry, particularly regarding medical aspects of common mood disorders, depression and bipolar disorder in young people, early intervention, new and emerging technologies and suicide prevention. He is a dual winner of the 2021 Australian Mental Health Prize, recognising his contributions to the mental health sector. Ian and I go way back in the sector, notably serving as National Mental Health Commissioners to Australia.

Professor Ian Hickie is co-director of the University's multidisciplinary initiative, the Brain and Mind Centre. He is an internationally renowned researcher in clinical psychiatry, particularly regarding medical aspects of common mood disorders, depression and bipolar disorder in young people, early intervention, new and emerging technologies and suicide prevention. He is a dual winner of the 2021 Australian Mental Health Prize, recognising his contributions to the mental health sector. Ian and I go way back in the sector, notably serving as National Mental Health Commissioners to Australia.

I chat with Brisbane youth mental health advocate Jordan van Rusmalen and director of Strategy and Service Development at Metro South Health Wendy Hawkins about their community of the Brisbane South Primary Health Network participating in the BHP Foundation and Brain and Mind Centre program Right Care, first time, where you live. Jordan and Wendy both speak from their expertise within the community, noting the current challenges, service provisions, and where and what needs to be addressed to better support young people in intuitive and personable care. With the program’s workshop 1 down we get to open up the thoughts, feelings, and revelations in the room.

I wanted to provide an update on where I have been, how I have been feeling, and why I have been AWOL. I have mentioned sleep/wake cycles before so thought I would finally chat about what it is, its nuances, and how I experience it. S

This week I spoke with Dr Haley LaMonica on the Minderoo Foundation’s project Thrive By Five. The Brain and Mind Centre has been working closely with the foundation to change the lives of so many families by employing the proverb that "it takes a village to raise a child" through evidence-based research in early childhood development. This program aims to give every child a chance to reach their full potential and thrive by age five– ensuring they meet every neurodevelopmental and emotional marker. Thrive By Five has been rolled out in 9 countries, working closely with each country's, community's, and leader's local requirements and laws to ensure the program has the best possible outcomes. This has included the translation/vehicle of the delivery of the program.

On this podcast I speak about my experience taking ketamine—don’t fret, in a clinical setting—for my mental health. I try to briefly explain how it works, why I am doing it, and my experience. It has been an episode I have recorded many times as I have wanted to get it right. However, I figured that this episode is an opener; therefore I am open to record and discuss more. Biting the bullet, here it is. Also, check my Instagram, @samueljhockey, to see a carousel of me on it—just for fun.

This week on the pod, I got to sit down with Brain and Mind Centre’s new Youth Lived Experience Research Stream’s clinical head, Dr Sarah McKenna. Sarah is a clinical psychologist interested in the dynamics of the parent-young person relationship and how qual. and quant. data can shed light onto the nuances within those relationships and further inform the young person’s developmental outcomes. Sarah breaks down the new stream of research, its context with the broader Brain and Mind Centre Youth Mental Health Technology Team, and why it’s needed now. Mentioned links: Youth Mental Health and Technology Team; Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disturbances and depression in young people: implications for prevention and early intervention.