How Well Designed are our Brains?
Anxiety has a purpose. So does depression. How well designed is the human brain? If we were starting from scratch, what improvements could w...
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
Health
Minding Your Mind
Mental health expert Prof Ian Hickie and author & broadcaster James O’Loghlin explore all aspects of mental health; the different types of mental health issues we can experience, their cause...
Episodes
20 of 300 episodesCan we be Born Melancholic?
Can we be born with a depressive or anxious temperament? If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at ...
Is Technology Making Us Intellectually Lazy?
Is AI and social media turning our brains to mush? Or helping us achieve more in less time? Feels like the former, but what does the evidenc...
Should We Chat to AI About Our Mental Health?
What are the pros and cons of chatting to AI about our mental health? Are some AIs better than others? If you have any questions or comments...
How Real is the Generation Gap?
How real is the Generation Gap? Is it inevitable that people of differing ages will sometimes struggle to communicate? How can the Generatio...
Are We Over-Medicating Young People?
What is the difference between an anxiety disorder and normal, everyday worry? Or between depression and appropriate sadness? Where is the l...
Does Melatonin Burn Fat?
Is Melatonin a fat-burning wonder drug? We separate fact from fiction. If you have any questions or comments, email Ian and James at ...
Sharing Mental Health Experiences Online
We debate the merits of sharing your own mental health experiences online. You may pick up some useful advice, and help others going through...
How Do You Deal with Periods of Less Sleep?
Sleep is vital for good mental health, so what do we do during periods when our sleep is challenged, like when studying for exams, or with a...
Is Pride a Barrier to Change?
Why do we get stuck in unhelpful ways of looking at the world and reacting to others? When we identify our flaws, why can it be so hard to c...
MYM — Nature
What’s so special about trees? Why does being in nature so often have a positive effect on our mental health? If you have any questions or c...
MYM – Blood Sugar, Glucose and Mental Health
We often think our mood is dependent on what’s happening at work, the person we live with not doing the washing up, or being stuck in traffi...
MYM – Sport
We know playing sport is good for us, but is barracking for a team good for mental health? Why do we get so passionate, when ultimately, who...
MYM – Surviving Rejection
No one likes being rejected – by a partner, when going for a promotion, or not being invited to a party. It stings. How can we best deal wit...
MYM - Assertiveness
How much assertiveness is too much? Sure, we want to stand up for ourselves, but no one wants to be that guy overreacting to every perceived...
MYM – Mental Health Achievements
We often hear bad news stories about mental health. What about some of the great achievements of the Australian mental health system – how A...
MYM – Ozempic and Mental Health
Can new weight loss drugs like Ozempic have an effect on our mood and how much we enjoy things? If you have any questions or comments, email...
MYM – The Far Right
What explains the rise of the far right? Who do its’ ideas appeal to? Is social media a cause? COVID? What does the increasing popularity of...
MYM – Evil
Good and evil are concepts as old as humankind. Are some people evil, or do they just do evil things? Are we all a mixture of good and bad?...
MYM – AI and Therapy
How can AI change therapy? Can it provide cheap, accessible, accurate and helpful advice for those with depression or anxiety? Or do the ris...