Clinical Psychologist and Consultant Psychiatrist discuss the Mental Health Crisis in Australia. The most common types of mental illness, the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, and programs for coping strategies and mental health service delivery. Hear from Dr Whittington as he explains depression using metaphors and how to apply practical strategies for those who are suffering with this crippling mental illness.
Prof Philip Morris
Dr Morris has medical qualifications MBBS (Hons), BSc(med) (Hons), and PhD. He is qualified in psychiatry and addiction medicine in Australia and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP). He is a Fellow of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age and a Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry. Dr Morris is a Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine (FAChAM) of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
He is qualified in general adult psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry in both Australia and the USA and is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). Dr Morris is a member of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age and the Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry of the RANZCP. He has been a Certified Independent Medical Examiner (CIME) with the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (AmBIME). Prof Morris is a Distinguished Fellow and Board Director of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatry.Dr Morris is Executive Director of the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association. He is Medical Director of the Gold Coast Memory Disorders Clinic. He is President of the Gold Coast Medical Association. He has a private psychiatric, psychogeriatric, addiction medicine, and medico-legal practice on the Gold Coast. He is a member of the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Reference Committee and is Senior Medical Advisor to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Dr Morris is Psychogeriatric Advisor to the Northern Territory Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service.
Dr Morris is Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University. Dr Morris has held professor positions in psychiatry at the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland, and at the School of Health Sciences at Bond University.
He has been Medical Superintendent of Macquarie Psychiatric Hospital, North Ryde NSW, and Director of Mental Health for the Gold Coast District Health Service. He was the Foundation Director of the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. He was medical director of Mirikai, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre on the Gold Coast. He has been a member of the Queensland Compensation Commission (Q-Comp) Medical Assessment Tribunal – Psychiatric, and was chairman of the RANZCP Continuing Professional Development Subcommittee.
His clinical and research interests include the psychiatric care of older adult patients, medical and surgical patients (consultation–liaison psychiatry), neuropsychiatry/psychogeriatrics, post-trauma syndromes, clinical drug trials, and co morbid drug and alcohol and psychiatric conditions. Dr Morris undertook post-graduate research and clinical training in the USA. He has published many scientific articles and reports and has won a number of competitive government research grants as well as pharmaceutical industry support for drug trials. He has conducted clinical drug trials in Australia since 1995. He is an external assessor for the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Dr Morris has extensive experience in medico-legal assessment for a range of legal jurisdictions. Dr Morris is trained in the application of the American Medical Association Guides for the Assessment of Permanent Impairment, the Psychiatric Impairment Rating Scale (PIRS), the Comcare Permanent Impairment Guides, and the Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veteran Pensions (GARP).
Dr Mark Whittington
Dr Whittington has worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist for more than 30 years. During this period, he has had over 150,000 consultations and has acquired a wealth of experience dealing with mental illness at the clinical coalface. Driven by a desire to help more than one patient at a time he has condensed and crystallised his interventions in a complete system of mental health education called Metaphorical Therapy.
Metaphorical Therapy employs the power of specifically chosen metaphors to explain abstract psychological concepts in concrete digestible small pieces. Each metaphor is linked to create a “frame of understanding” upon which a substantial, simple, yet deceptive comprehensive education occurs that is aimed at prevention of mental illness.
Metaphorical Therapy has the capacity to reach the world in desperate need of practical mental health education and help.
About the author
Metaphorical Therapy
Metaphorical Therapy is an innovative new way to deliver essential psychological education, support psychological wellness, and prevent mental illness.
Over-prescription, a widespread issue in the healthcare industry, refers to the excessive use of medications by healthcare providers. This practice not only leads to unnecessary costs but also poses serious risks to patients’ health.
Cognitive Distortions are irrational thoughts and perceptions that influence our emotions. We all experience cognitive distortions at some time or another and, while this is perfectly normal, in their more extreme forms these distortions can be extremely harmful. Here is a quick overview of common forms of cognitive distortion viewed through the revealing lens of visual metaphor.
People invest a lot of emotion in holding on to their beliefs. And they have a tendency to defend those beliefs very fiercely indeed. Sadly, the first casualties in a confrontation are all too often facts and logic. In fact, they frequently become quite irrelevant. When someone wishes to impress upon you the righteousness of their opinion; passion and volume are often their first weapons of choice.
“AGAINST THE ASSAULT OF LAUGHTER NOTHING CAN STAND.”
-MARK TWAIN
Laughing not only helps improve physical and mental health, but it also strengthens relationships and enhances creativity. Best of all, laughing is a “medicine” that is free (and lots of fun to take). The old saying, “Laughter is the best medicine” isn’t a metaphor. It’s a precious human truth.
Laughing has been proven to reduce stress, promote happiness, and provide other physical health benefits. Think of how you feel after watching your favourite comedy or after spending a few hours with a hilarious friend. There’s nothing like a full-belly laugh.
Learn how to inject more humour into your life and it will almost certainly benefit both your mental and physical health.
THE BIG BENENFITS OF A GOOD BELLY LAUGH
Who doesn’t love a good laugh? Laughing has been shown to relieve tension and stress with the benefits lasting long after your chuckle. In fact, a good belly laugh can relax the body for up to 45 minutes!
WHY LAUGHTER IS LITERALLY “THE BEST MEDICINE”
Gets your heart pumping
Burns a few calories
Decreases stress hormones
Improves immunity
Releases pain-reducing endorphins
Overall, laughing will make you happier and even a bit healthier if you do it often enough. Plus, it’s free and is a perfect therapy for any time of day.
MENTAL BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER
If you’re in a bad mood, laughter can recalibrate your mindset in an instant. We’ve all experienced that moment when we suddenly see humour inherent in a particular situation and succumb to it. Rage to raucous laughter in an instant. Whether it’s stress from too many deadlines piling up or problems with a relationship, taking a moment to laugh it off can do wonders for the mind. Laughter is a form of surrender. It literally opens us up. Try it right now. Even just pretending laugh changes our posture. You straighten up and push back your shoulders. You lift your head and tilt your head back opening your airways. The positive effects are long lasting. And you don’t even have to think of a joke. It is virtually impossible to think about laughing without a ghost of smile creeping onto your face. If we’ve a had a great evening when we’ve gone out “for a couple of laughs” and have had a wonderful time, just remembering it will bring a chuckle to your chest and a smile to your face.
Aside from reducing stress and minimizing negative feelings like anger and anxiety, laughing can help you be more creative, too. One study found that boosting your mood through laugher can lead to successful brainstorming and creative output.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of laughing is the activation of both sides of the brain. LPerhaps the biggest benefit of laughter is that, like music, it stimulates the whole brain. EEG’s show that laughter causes flares of activity in both the left and right frontal lobes of the brain. There is also evidence that suggests that laughter stimulates limbic system. Imaging studies suggest that “the happiness response” originates partly in the limbic cortex In simple terms: This is why laughing feels so good. What’s more, it stimulates creativity and enhances learning. So when if you are brainstorming and trying to come up with creative solutions, start with something that cracks you up.
LAUGHTER MAKES YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE
It doesn’t hurt to have a good time while also getting work done. Happier, livelier workplaces tend to be high-energy but also output excellent products and services, too. If you can make light of challenging work projects and have fun while doing it, do so! Benefit in the workplace include;
Raises energy levels and increases focus
Alleviates stress during high-pressure projects
Builds trust and stronger team relationships
Encourages thinking “outside of the box”
Meetings that are more “fun” tend to be more effective
Studies have found that humour at work is associated with an overall better work environment. Employees tend to perform better and are more satisfied overall. In addition, there is less reported stress and burnout. The quintessential win-win situation
LEAD WITH LAUGHTER
Some of the greatest orators and leaders of our time were known not just for their wisdom but for their wit. When a woman told Churchill, he was drunk he responded, “Yes. And you madam are ugly, and tomorrow I shall be sober.” Paul Keating, Former Australian Prime Minister said of an opposition Member, “He is a chill looking for a spine to run up.” Leaders with a good sense of humour are regarded as more trustworthy.
Humour is great medicine. And I’m not Joking.
Dr Mark Whittington.
About the author
Dr. Mark Whittington
Founder
A graduate of the distinguished Otago Medical School, Dr Mark Whittington has more than 30 years’ experience working at the clinical coalface as a Consultant Psychiatrist.
Over-prescription, a widespread issue in the healthcare industry, refers to the excessive use of medications by healthcare providers. This practice not only leads to unnecessary costs but also poses serious risks to patients’ health.
Cognitive Distortions are irrational thoughts and perceptions that influence our emotions. We all experience cognitive distortions at some time or another and, while this is perfectly normal, in their more extreme forms these distortions can be extremely harmful. Here is a quick overview of common forms of cognitive distortion viewed through the revealing lens of visual metaphor.
People invest a lot of emotion in holding on to their beliefs. And they have a tendency to defend those beliefs very fiercely indeed. Sadly, the first casualties in a confrontation are all too often facts and logic. In fact, they frequently become quite irrelevant. When someone wishes to impress upon you the righteousness of their opinion; passion and volume are often their first weapons of choice.
