With Christmas rapidly approaching some of you may be starting to feel a little trepidation at the thought of spending extra time with the extended family.

As we approach the end of the year many of us can feel a build up of pressures at work and at home. 

You’ve probably heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD. But what’s less well-known is the unique causes and treatment needs in cases of PTSD in women – and if you are a woman, your risk of PTSD is doubled.

It’s easy to think of trauma as something purely psychological – but treating only the mind can miss a whole raft of symptoms and concerns.

Women are disproportionately affected by trauma-related mental health conditions. That’s why women’s only spaces are essential to treat them in safety and peace.

The end of a calendar year and Christmas often arrives like a crescendo – a build-up of work to be completed before a break, a peak of school stress, seasonal parties and events to juggle, gifts to buy, holidays to organise and not enough time in the week to do it all.

As inflation increases and interest rates rise, more and more Australians are at risk of experiencing financial stress. While it may seem like it’s all about the money, financial stress has significant mental and physical health risks as well.

While psychologists and psychiatrists both specialise in caring for people with mental health concerns, there are some major differences between the two fields. The most significant difference is that a psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialised in psychiatry, and a psychologist is not a doctor.

Knowing the signs can help you identify a substance abuse issue in yourself or someone you care about.

Under Medicare, people experiencing mental health issues can access a Mental Health Treatment Plan from their GP, which helps with the cost of therapy or other services.

After a couple of ‘unprecedented’ years, including dramatic changes in how we live, work and interact, it’s natural that stress has become a greater factor in many people’s lives. Here’s how to understand the signs, effects and ways of managing stress and burnout.

The term ‘mental illness’ refers to a group of conditions that affects mental health and wellbeing.  Mental illnesses affect how a person interacts with the world and with other people. This can include how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. A mental illness diagnosis is made by a professional using specific criteria.

Panic attacks can be scary, but , with the right tools, they can be managed effectively. Here are the signs, symptoms, and common treatment options.

If you’re wondering, it might be time to reach out for help. Learn the signs, symptoms, and common treatment approaches of depression.

Did you know that after an acute cardiac event such as a heart attack or cardiac surgery half of patients are anxious or depressed?

Often find yourself ‘down the rabbithole’, scrolling through negative stories, articles and posts for hours on end? If the news is making you feel anxious, it might be time to unplug from your phone for a while.

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons Australians see their doctor. If you’re feeling anxious and want some tools to help you reframe and refocus, meditation and mindfulness exercises could help.

Sleep is linked to our mental health and wellbeing in so many ways: mental health concerns or challenging times can cause us to over- or under-sleep, and sleep issues can also exacerbate mental health conditions such as anxiety.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is much more common than many people may think. It affects approximately 25% of people who are exposed to traumatic events, and can prolong trauma for many years after the initial trauma. But there is hope for recovery with the right help.

Depression affects one in six people at some point in their lifetime, yet fewer than half those affected ever access treatment. Here is how to identify symptoms and connect yourself or a loved one with the right support.

With end of year celebrations coming up and many of us coming out of lockdowns, social anxiety, the fear of social situations, can be very common -- even if you've never experienced it before.

They tell us the holidays should be a time filled with joy, happiness, and connection. Although, for a lot of people it doesn’t always feel this way, and with COVID case numbers continuing to rise nationwide, so do the levels of stress and anxiety a lot of us are already feeling.

Alcohol affects everyone in different ways. The way it affects you can be impacted by your age, size, how much you drink usually and your health, but no matter who you are, overuse of alcohol can cause issues.

Anxiety is a normal emotion that helps protect humans from danger. When you sense you are in danger, your body releases of large amounts of the hormone adrenaline to make you more alert, increases your heart rate to help you move blood to the large muscles of your body, and increases your breathing rate to help you take in more oxygen.

If addiction is affecting your family, you’re not alone. In fact, one in 20 Australian deaths last year was caused by alcohol or illicit drugs. Addictions are often undetectable until the addicted person has reached crisis point, causing untold suffering for both the addicted person and their loved ones.

Teens are using their smartphones and other devices more than ever. Melbourne mental health experts are now treating teenagers who show signs of addiction to technology.

Being pregnant leaves women at risk of increased anxiety and other mental health complications, but this has become more common as a result of the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.