The connection between improved mental health, wellbeing and horses isn’t an obvious one but there is growing evidence that equine psychotherapy is helping people with mental health conditions.

In this episode, host Wayne Schwass chats to Dean Migehll from the ‘Path of the Horse’ who explains what equine therapy is, what horses can teach us, how these herd animals help people heal and the benefits this form therapy can provide.

In this episode we discuss:

? Equine therapy explained.
? The connection between horses and mental health
? Horses help us to calm
? Benefits of equine therapy

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The impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is significant for many people living in our communities - especially people working in emergency services.

Understanding what causes PTSD, the warning signs, the cumulative effect of trauma and why it’s so important to get the right diagnosis in order to receive the correct treatment, is paramount.

In this episode, host Wayne Schwass sits down with PTSD & Stress expert Dr Peter Cotton to discuss this important topic that affects a significant number of people every day.

In this episode we discuss:

? PTSD explained
? The impacts of PTSD
? The warning signs of PTSD
? Advice for family, friends and colleagues

Reference Lifeline 13 11 14 – we mention suicide

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Some stress in our lives can have a positive effect on our wellbeing. But an overwhelming sense of stress can become distress and cause significant challenges.

Understanding what causes stress, the warning signs, the negative thinking patterns that can contribute to feelings of stress and how stress is a risk factor for mental health conditions empowers us to be able to identify when stress is impacting our lives and importantly begin to make positive decisions to address the underlying issues.

In this episode, host Wayne Schwass sits down with Stress & PTSD expert Dr. Peter Cotton to discuss this important topic that affects a significant number of people every day.

In this episode we discuss:

? Stress, what is it
? What causes stress
? The warning signs of stress
? Negative thinking patterns
? Stress is a risk factor for mental health conditions

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Providing all women with opportunities that encourage them to begin to focus on their physical, emotional, spiritual and environmental health is both empowering and important.

In this episode, host Wayne Schwass sits down with Nat Kringoudis to discuss women’s health, the unique and sometime complex challenges many women face and why it’s never been more important for all women to start putting themselves first without it being seen as selfish.

In this episode we discuss:

? Women’s health
? Is it possible for women to have it all, work, family, marriage & career
? What women struggle with the most in this day and age
? How women can bring their bodies back into balance
? 3 simple things you can do today to help you prioritise your health

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Gratitude allows us to appreciate the things in our lives we may fail to see. It shifts our focus away from what we don’t have to what we do have.

Empathy allows us to develop kindness and kindness has been proven to have a positive effect on our mental health and emotional wellbeing, and Mindfulness teaches us to be calmer and more present so we can enjoy the things we do have.

In this episode, host Wayne Schwass sits down with the founding director and facilitator of the Resilience Project Hugh van Cuylenburg.

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, sports clubs and businesses, providing practical, evidenced-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness.

In this episode we discuss:

? Why gratitude, empathy & mindfulness are important skills
? Practising gratitude for 21 consecutive days can have a profound impact on your wellbeing
? 6 weeks of practising gratitude, research suggests you are less likely to get sick
? Empathy helps develop kindness
? Mindfulness teaches us to be calmer and more present
? 3 simple things to help you start practising gratitude

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The Christmas holiday period can be a wonderful time spent celebrating with family and friends. It is also a stressful and difficult time for many people within our families and communities.

What do we do during these challenging times if we feel overwhelmed, stressed, emotional or living with mental health conditions? Equally, it can also be difficult to know what to do if we are concerned about a family member or friend.  

In this special Christmas episode, Wayne sits down with psychiatrist and former Australian of the Year Pat McGorry to discuss some of the early warning signs of stress and potential mental health conditions, what to do if we identify with any signs, what strategies we can use to help cope with stressful situations or emotions. 

Pat also offers some important advice for anyone who might be suicidal as well as advice for family and friends who are trying to support a loved one who is suicidal. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Early warning signs of stress and potential mental health conditions

• What to do if we identify with any warning signs or symptoms

• Types of behaviours, decisions that are not helpful 

• Strategies that we can use to help ourselves

• Strategies that family and friends can use to help a loved one

• What to do if we are feeling suicidal

• What to do if we are concerned about a loved one who is suicidal

Getting Help

Emergency support 000
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyondblue 1300 22 46 36
Sane 1800 18 72 63
Panda 1300 72 63 06
Mind Australia 1300 28 64 63
Mensline 1300 78 99 78
Kids Help Line 1800 55 18 00
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 65 94 67
Qlife 1800 18 45 27

PukaUp

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Host Wayne Schwass introduces season two of Puka Up

In this bonus episode, host Wayne Schwass sits down with good friend Danny Frawley. A former captain of his beloved St Kilda Football Club, former coach of the Richmond Football Club, previous CEO of the AFL Coaches Association and a fun loving wise cracking larger than life AFL media performer and identity Spud talks openly about how the Essendon Supplements saga tipped him over the edge, the day he rang his wife from the carpark of the MCG unable to remember how to get home, his nervous breakdown while juggling multiple responsibilities during a tumultuous period in his life, locking himself inside his house and being unable to answer the door when concerned friends visited and eventually his long road to recovery and how his conditions have given him a new perspective on life.

In this candid and raw episode, Kate McLoughlin talks to host Wayne Schwass about the impact and grief that comes with suicide. Kate lost her then 19-year-old middle son Zach to suicide twenty months ago, a day that changed her life forever. Kate's honesty and candour is both heart breaking and inspiring. A single mum to three young men, Kate talks about her pride in her middle son: his cheeky, infectious personality that meant people gravitated to him, how he had a wonderful support network of friends and family, a good job, new car and a promising future. Kate speaks about the conversations she shared with Zach when two of his friends chose suicide instead of life, how angry he was about their decisions which gave her a level of comfort that suicide wasn't something Zach would ever consider. Tragically, it was a decision Zach chose and by choosing suicide he simply passed the pain and suffering onto family and friends. Kate also explains why she chose to speak about suicide and its devastating effects in front of a large audience at Zach's funeral, how she sees it as a gift and responsibility to talk about suicide with the aim of helping prevent other people from making the same irreversible mistake her fun-loving son made.

Kate McLoughlin is an inspiring, courageous and brave person who continues to work through the grief, pain and loss that accompanies suicide. Kate's refusal to remain quiet on the issue of suicide has and will continue to save lives across the world. This is a compelling, heartfelt and emotional episode.

Today, the 27th November, 2017 would have been Zach's 21st birthday #RIP Zach

Brendan Fevola played 204 AFL games with the Carlton and Brisbane Lions football clubs over a twelve year period. His career included 623 goals, two Coleman Medals, being a three time All Australian and leading goal scorer with the Carlton Football Club for seven consecutive years. In this episode 'Fev' explains why he has no regrets choosing to accept that things happened for a reason and that he needed to go through difficult times to get to where he is today, and why he struggled to open up and tell people what he was going through.

'Fev' talks candidly to host Wayne Schwass about how his way of dealing with boredom was to use alcohol and gambling, openly admitting he gambled away an entire year's salary. This larger than life personality still can't explain why he would spend hours reading on-line football forums every night for years looking for approval without recognising the significantly negative impact this was having on his health, wellbeing and importantly his ability to perform as an AFL athlete. A 68 day stay in a mental health facility whilst still being a contracted AFL player with the Brisbane Lions Football Club, going on to win "I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here" and his eventual move to Yarrawonga to play local football were key decisions that helped him change his life. Brendan also speaks about the influence his ex-wife now fiancee, Alex has had on his life.

Heidi Anderson is now part of the successful Perth breakfast radio show on hit92.9. Heidi has a successful radio career, was a former contestant on Big Brother in 2013, is a columnist for Perth Now and Mamamia, a blogger, podcaster and a proud ambassador for Fearless Activewear. But behind the smile and bubbly and infectious personality is a strong woman who has bravely battled anxiety for as long as she can remember, has overcome crippling body image issues, self-esteem and eating disorder challenges which contributed to her constant search for approval and acceptance from others. She talks to host Wayne Schwass about her turning point and deciding to speak openly for the first time about her anxiety on air in 2016. It was a defining moment in this inspiring story of self-development, acceptance and learning to love herself as a whole person. Heidi Anderson is an energetic, enthusiastic, passionate crusader for other people living with mental health conditions.

In this episode host Wayne Schwass talks with Australian Diamonds Netballer, Caitlin Thwaites. In this candid interview, Caitlin talks about her long journey with depression and anxiety, how her eventual diagnosis was a huge relief that helped explain why she felt the way she was feeling, that there was a name for the feelings and emotions she was experiencing. She also explains why she refused to follow the advice she was given to have time away from her sport to allow her to deal with her conditions and how she has learnt to manage her mental health through this experience. A revealing, thoughtful and honest conversation with one of Australian Netball's most accurate goal scorers.

Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw are part of the successful Perth breakfast radio show on hit92.9, "Heidi, Will & Woody". Will & Woody are best mates; the strength of their relationship was captured in a raw and powerful video earlier this year which saw them sit down and talk openly about Will's struggles with mental health conditions and the challenges Woody faced trying to understand what depression was when he became aware of the seriousness of what his best friend was going through. It's a great story of friendship host Wayne Schwass talks about how these men were able to support each other in a loving and caring way and how both have grown and developed as a result of this journey.

Pat McGorry has dedicated much of his professional life to the early intervention of mental health conditions for young Australians. Named as the Australian of the Year and awarded the Order of Australia in 2010, Pat continues to advocate for better services and outcomes for young people living with mental health conditions. In this episode Pat explains to host Wayne Schwass why he believes lives lost to suicide are not valued as much as they should be, why talking to family and friends is not enough, why hope is absolutely vital, how stigma is pure discrimination and why every person needs to fight to get the help they deserve to live a fulfilling life.

Three years after making his NRL debut, Preston Campbell was awarded the Dally M Player of the Year after a stunning season with the Cronulla Sharks. But twelve months after winning the game's highest individual honour his life almost ended. In this raw, candid and honest episode, Preston talks to host Wayne Schwass about the rage, anger and isolation he felt that led to that fateful day as well as the need to keep up appearances, how he stayed down in an NRL game and the importance of asking for help and why we need to support one another. It's a powerful story of one man's struggle and ultimate triumph.

Wayne Schwass talks with former teammate, friend and now senior coach of the Sydney Swans, John Longmire. They talk about: the influence of Paul Roos, the importance of creating an environment for young men to be able to talk, finding the balance between driving high performance and supporting the player as a person, knowing when to step forward and when to step back, accepting that the coach isn't always the best person for the situation and trusting the people you have around you, how he looks after his own mental health. Wayne also asks if John knew that he lived with mental health conditions during their time as teammates and what he thought once he found it.