Tag: mental health

The Frontline Mental Health Conference.

Today’s post is about the 2024 National Frontline Mental Health Conference.

On Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th of March, I was privileged to attend this mental health conference. This annual conference is hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association.

About –

Frontline workers are heroes of our community with specific and special requirements when it comes to psychological safety, seeking help when it’s needed and challenging systemic stigma, harassment and bullying.

This conference was all about sharing research, innovations and treatment techniques from mental health experts. It was an opportunity to meet with fellow sector workers and hear from sector leaders about improving the mental health care and wellbeing of people on the frontline, the first responders – during training, whilst serving and in post-service.

Personal highlights –

There were many great speakers sharing the latest research, case studies and industry policies. For me, the two standout presenters were Dr Nikki Jamieson and Derrick McManus.

Listening to Dr Nikki was heart breaking. She told us about her son, who was in the military, took his own life out of frustration over his poor treatment in the Army. This experience led her to become a suicidologist for the Australian Defence Force. A suicidologist is someone who studies suicide, suicidal and life-threatening behaviours, as well as suicide prevention.

Dr Nikki spoke about her passion, which is “moral trauma/ injury”. This is when a person is forced, due to circumstances, to do something that breaches their internal moral code. These kinds of injuries happen every day, but for some, there are injuries that are longer lasting than others.

Moral injury is thought to be closely related to burnout and may even be the same condition. Neither of these conditions are yet recognised in this country. However, Nikki is very hopeful one or both will be added to the next versions of the ICD (international classification of diseases) and the DSM (diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders). This will mean that organisations will have to recognise that these mental injuries are real and begin taking steps to reduce their incidence, as they do with any other W.H & S process.

Derrick McManus’s story was from the other side of the spectrum. He was a counter terrorist operator in the South Australian Special Tasks and Rescue Group. In 1994, he was shot 14 times in less than 10 seconds by an offender using an automatic rifle. An ambulance finally got to him after 3 hours and the bullets were still flying around. The paramedic thought he was dead, only stopping to check him just in case. Amazingly he survived against all odds and is now sharing his mental well-being methodology with others. He spoke very strongly about post traumatic growth and how his planning for the worst before it happened, helped him get through when the worst happened.

Derrick has since founded the Australian Center for Human Durability – The Ability to go Beyond Resilience to Sustainable Optimal Performance.  He works with police, the Army and the RAAF, including fighter pilots, with great success. His methodologies apply equally to the general public too.

 Overall, I found this conference to be inspirational. It was great to speak with like-minded people who are so invested in the mental well being of our society’s frontline, first responders.

Till the next post,

 Live clean n Prosper

End of a Degree

We are going to be taking a break from writing for this blog for a month or so, to celebrate the end of a degree.

For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you will be aware that Scott has been studying. For the past 6 ½ years he has been completing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science. Today he completed his last class and in 2 months there will be a graduation ceremony.

To celebrate his achievement, we are taking a break and going on a road trip. A few weeks of fresh air, beaches and national parks.

Scott first undertook this degree as something to keep him occupied on his days off. As he got more involved, he realised that this knowledge would enable him to do something for others.

Helping people overcome mental health issues, particularly first responders, is an area that Scott is very passionate about. As a Naturopath, he is looking forward to being able to help these people in a holistic way.

A new challenge

Over the coming months we will be transforming this blog into a business platform, as well as a place of information. This will become the site for Live Clean n Prosper Health Services.

Thank you all for your support over the years and as we move into a new future, we look forward to meeting some of you and helping many.

 Till the next post,

Live clean n prosper

Is Change as good as a Holiday?

Todays post is about Change or Holidays, a continuation on the topic of mental health.

We have all heard or used the saying ‘ a change is as good as a holiday’, or as Winston Churchill said, ‘a change is as good as a rest’.

Well is it? I decided to do some research and see if there is any scientific basis for this theory.

It turns out that a couple of studies have been conducted and a few scientific papers have been written on the subject.

So I have put together some of the facts for you.

First there is stress

Now stress is actually a process, not a diagnosis. We all experience stress when there is an imbalance between the demands being made on us and whether we are able to cope with those demands.

The level and extent of stress a person may feel depends a lot on their attitude to a particular situation. An event that may be extremely stressful for one person can be a mere hiccup for another person.

Stress is not always a bad thing. Some people thrive on stress and even need it to get things done. When the term ‘stress’ is used in a clinical sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for a person and can lead to other mental health problems,

Generally, continuing stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people’s health. It is well recognised that sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract negative stress reactions.

Is a holiday the answer?

One study concluded that a holiday for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy. Another study conducted in 2017, supports this theory. The results indicated that one single short-term holiday, has a large, positive and immediate effect on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being. Interestingly, escaping daily routines and the usual environment do not seem to be crucial for recovery.

For the study participants, the effects were still detected at 30 days (recovery) and 45 days (wellbeing and stress) post-holiday.

Or is change the answer?

Research conducted by New York University; found that daily variability in physical location, along with new and diverse experiences is linked to enhanced happiness. The results suggest that people feel happier when they experience variety in their daily routines.

However simple the change, there’s a neurological reason why variety makes us happy.

Two parts of our brain, essential for mood, are stimulated by change.

The hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that is involved in forming new memories, emotions and learning, is also sensitive to the novelty of new environments.

Another part of the brain, called the striatum, helps us to evaluate our environment and processes reward.

The activity in these areas of the brain tends to be more synchronised in people who explore new things daily. This has a stronger influence on their mood.

Something as simple as introducing a little bit of variety into our day may be enough to increase our sense of well being.

So, it seems that a far as our physical reaction to stress is concerned, science does support the adage that a change is as good as a holiday. Either option has the ability to improve our mental health.

I hope you found this information interesting.

Till the next post,

 

Live clean n prosper.

(Sources – National Library of Medicine –New York University publications– CNBC Make It – )