Festive season blues

Not everyone in your community may be enjoying the holiday/festive season.  For some people, especially those with a mental illness, this can be a time of loneliness and social isolation.  Samuel Watson from BIMA Projects spoke to Murri psychologist, Dr Leda Barnett.

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Media Release: Sane Australia

 Stigma hurtful and common for people with mental illness  

The distress and discrimination many people with a mental illness experience because of stigma associated with their illness is just as widespread as it was five years ago, according to new research by SANE Australia.

Three quarters (73%) of the 400+ people recently surveyed by the national mental health charity said they had experienced stigma or discrimination in the last 12 months because of their mental illness. A survey by SANE in 2006 found that 74% of respondents said they had personal experience of stigma.

‘Damaging stereotypes associated with mental illness cause enormous distress and it is really unacceptable that as we approach 2012 so many people still have to combat stigma and discrimination which stops them from living full and satisfying lives,’ says the Executive Director of SANE Australia, Barbara Hocking.

Encouragingly, says Ms Hocking, more than three in four (77%) people described media coverage of depression in the last two years as ‘good’ or ‘fair’.

However, the majority of respondents described coverage of less common mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder during the same period, as ‘poor’.

‘The more responsible media reporting of depression has encouraged people to start talking about it, to seek help and to feel less excluded,’ Ms Hocking explains.

‘Most people get their information about mental illness from the media and so the way the media portrays these complex issues is important in shaping community understanding and acceptance of people affected,‘ explains the Executive Director.

Stigma is hurtful and harmful – it stops people with a mental illness from seeking help. It can lead to discrimination when people with a mental illness seek housing, education and even work. It can also lead to feelings of hopelessness and suicide.

‘Many people report that the stigma they experience is as distressing as the symptoms of their illness,’ says Ms Hocking.

‘We must increase our efforts to educate Australians about illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and support and encourage the media to report responsibly. We also need to hear personal stories directly from people who are affected.

‘Mental illness is common. With one in five of us affected every year, reducing stigma is an important issue for everyone,’ Ms Hocking adds.

SANE Australia offers a wide range of resources to assist people diagnosed with mental illness and their families.  Call the SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263) or visit sane.org for more information.

Syndrome X

Have you heard the term metabolic syndrome or syndrome X?  If you or someone you know has high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high cholesterol or overweight, this may be of interest to you.

Lizzie Orley asked dietian, Annalie Houston from the Inala Indigenous Health Service about metabolic syndrome.  Listen to the interview below.

Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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What you need to know about cholesterol

BIMA Projects has regular chats with the Heart Foundation to inform our listeners about the issues related to heart disease.  In this interview, Sara Spindler speaks to Deanne Wooden, the nutrition manager at the Queensland branch about cholesterol.

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Gilly talks healthy living

Aussie Rules legend, Gilbert McAdam, is the newest member of 98.9fm joining Jamie Dunn and Ian Calder for Breakfast.  Samuel Watson interviewed “Gilly” to find out about his sporting career, his thoughts on today’s game and his lifestyle post-retirement.

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Snakes in the burbs

The services of snake catchers like Matt Harley are in high demand around south-east Queensland at the moment.  Matt runs his own business and has been catching and relocating an average of three venomous snakes per day.  Because of this he urges locals to call an experienced snake catcher when they encounter reptiles at home.  Listen to the full interview with Samuel Watson below.

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Elder champions healthy living after brush with death

Uncle Clarence Bowen, a Cooktown elder has taken to promoting healthy lifestyles after a recent brush with death.  He spoke to Samuel Watson about his ordeal.

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New report – weight loss surgery patients experience nutritional deficiencies

A new report has found obese people experience nutritional deficiencies after weight loss surgery.  The author and spokesperson for Dietitians Association of Australia, Melody McGrice,  says deficiences in nutrients like protein, iron, folate and calcium are more common in people who have had gastric banding, than those who haven’t had surgery to lose weight.   She says while obesity surgery is  a safe and effective tool to help with weight loss in morbidly obese people it doesn’t teach them how to eat well to stay healthy.

The report has prompted the Dietitians Association of Australia to urge Medicare to include dietary management of obesity as a rebate.

Melody McGrice spoke to Lizzie Orley about the study.

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