This is Sarah

Most recently, I decided to look at the language used in relation to the individuals I meet and work with every day. What I found was a tendency to label people as victims or sufferers.

Give the gift of...

Recently, I spent hours searching for the perfect gift for a good friend only to discover it was right in front of me the whole time.

Man's best friend - a treatment option?

Always looking for new ways to provide treatment and support to those with physical and mental health issues, I undertook some research recently into the use of assistance animals, including the circumstances in which they are currently being used and the potential for their use in the treatment of workplace injuries.

How do video games influence mental health in adolescents?

A sign of great training is when it raises questions from participants. How do video games influence the mental health of adolescents in that diagnosed conditions result from exposure to video games (aged 12–17)?

Authenticity - Innate, learned or fake?

A comment from a client recently got me thinking about authenticity - what is it, does everyone have it, can you fake it.

Leave your values at the door please

Our values are at the centre of our character and define who we are as a person. Would you compromise your values for a job?

Positive effects of prevention

Employing preventative treatment strategies can potentially cease, stall or aid in management of the negative effects of poor health, disability or injury, supporting a healthier population and community. To do this, it is vital to understand what health is in order to appreciate what happens when individuals are not healthy.

A question of change

Looking back at the article published on Influencing Return to Work (October 2015), we explored asking great questions and the reasons why this is important. We also acknowledge that, as leaders and managers, we are developing and assisting people to be the best they can be in their practice to achieve return to work outcomes. Our position is often underpinned by the habits and patterns of behaviour we adopt, where sometimes we associate our success with habits that don’t necessarily work well. We become very comfortable with what we know and do in practice. At times, this prevents us from driving our own continuous improvement and assisting others to do the same, and compromises our potential.

Bradman, Boulder Dam and, of course, Bidomak

Many years ago my dad asked me to hold onto a box for safe keeping. It contained old newspapers. ... Rummaging through the box, I came across a copy of The Centenary Chronicle of 5 October 1936. Opening the front cover, I am presented with an advertorial for Bidomak titled ‘Nerve Troubles – Positive Relief for Sufferers – Nervy Women and Children’. Obviously, men were not nervy back in 1936.

Not all reindeer are the same

It’s so easy to get caught up in the festive season excitement and celebration that is tradition at this time of year but it is important to recognise that, for some people, the season can also be very difficult. Remember the classic story of Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (R. May, 1939). An unhappy and lonely reindeer, Rudolf had a deep sense of worthlessness. He tried to mask his difference by putting mud on his bright red nose. Rudolf never imaged he would be chosen to help Santa. After all, what could he possibly offer? Then one foggy Christmas Eve…

A little bit unbalanced

How often do you catch up with a friend or colleague and ask the question, ‘How are you?’ only to hear the answer, ‘So busy!’ If it’s a close relationship, this may even be followed by the subtle cry, ‘I’m exhausted.’ Here are a few lessons on how to manage your wellbeing, particularly in the current 'silly season'. >Article by Laura Yazbeck, Registered Psychologist. Published via LinkedIn, 29 November 2016

And the winner is...

Wikipedia informs me The Tortoise and the Hare (Aesop) was first published in 1668. One reviewer of Carol Jones’ retelling in The Hare and the Tortoise (1996) provides 'The hare is the biggest braggart in the forest. He exercises every day; he can outrun anyone and everyone's just plain sick of him. When he rashly challenges the tortoise to a race, the tortoise decides to teach him a lesson. The old fable is spiced up with psychological details and tied into a bustling social setting.' - Kirkus Reviews.

The whole person

I was in Big W before Christmas looking at the array of books and saw Rosie Batty's story. Four words on the front cover grabbed my attention: Heartache, Grief, Passion and Purpose. I looked at the book title, A Mother's Story, and I purchased the book.

Forced or choice - change is inevitable

Forced change, no matter what area of your life it involves, is stressful. Some individuals embrace it while others become bitter at their circumstances. I believe there are three fundamental needs in achieving an outcome when change is required.

Getting out of the model

Dr Paul Pers (FORE) provided some interesting thoughts to staff at our professional development session last week. In 'Getting the worker out of the medical model - how is this so?', Paul discussed how some injuries require a medical model, such as fractured/broken bones, paraplegia and severe depression (hospital admission).

To sit or not to sit. There's really no question.

If you are reading this, there's a good chance you're sitting down. There's also a good chance that you are one of the 11 million Australians who spend up to 15 hours of their day sitting down. Can't be right? Well, it is actually quite easy to clock up sitting hours when we consider the various things we do each day and the type of postures in which we typically do them.

Influencing return to work

The reality is we all want the same thing–to be able to do the things we enjoy, the solution. Yet, at times, we get caught up in the system and it made me think that we need to look for another way. Sometimes we need to look for solutions outside of the normal system.

We can do better following Mental Health Week

Between home and work today you may have caught the bus or train, came in your car, perhaps rode your bike or even walked. Between home and work today you may have noticed people around you – talking, smiling, laughing, chatting, working or reading the paper, or perhaps they may have been on a coffee break. From the groups of people you may have noticed, one in five adults will experience mental illness this year – one in five – that’s 20% this year, 20% last year and 20% next year.