The SANE Blog

Meet Jenni, a dynamic individual whose life is defined not by her challenges, but by her incredible strength and resilience.  

Jenni lives with Schizophrenia and is legally blind, navigating life with the help of her guide dog, Gretel. Despite facing multiple medical conditions, Jenni's spirit remains unbroken. 

Did you know that Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) impacts between 2% and 5% of Australians? Despite its prevalence, BPD still faces significant stigma and misunderstanding. In this post, we're diving into BPD to help shed light on this often-misunderstood condition. We'll explore what BPD is, what triggers its symptoms, debunk some common myths, and offer insights into managing and finding support for those affected.

As humans, we’re driven to seek answers.

When the unthinkable happens, our natural instinct is to try to make sense of it.

But in our rush to process the horror that unfolded in Bondi, we must resist the urge to draw simplistic conclusions.

While we grieve with the loved ones of those who lost their lives, the truth is, we may never know what drove this man to commit these terrible acts.

Despite this, many in the media and on social media, have drawn a straight line between his diagnosis of schizophrenia and his actions on that day. For some, this provides a neat explanation for what happened.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness and promoting acceptance and understanding for those living with autism.

At just 44 years old Arlene suffered from a stroke. From that moment, everything changed … including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.  

Dov was 19 years old when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but that hasn't stopped him from living a successful and accomplished life.  

Every year on March 30, World Bipolar Day is observed to raise awareness about Bipolar Disorder and to eliminate stigma surrounding this complex mental health condition. It's a day to educate, support, and advocate for those living with Bipolar Disorder, as well as their loved ones. This blog post delves into a general overview of what Bipolar Disorder is, how to differentiate between its subtypes, signs to watch for, common misconceptions, treatment options, and resources for support and management. 

Introducing Dr Carissa Coulston-Parkinson - the brains behind SANE’s latest series of blog posts, including topics on the Power of Psychology, International Men’s Day and Women’s Day, Human Rights Day, Challenges of the Festive Season, Adapting to the New Year, and Returning to School (just to name a few). 

Dr Coulston-Parkinson is a compassionate and dedicated Clinical Psychologist with a profound understanding of complex mental health conditions. She has specialist knowledge in the areas of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, personality disorders, traumatic brain injury, and neurological conditions. Her research publications can be viewed here, and her expertise and insights into some of these conditions will continue on the SANE Blog this year.

International Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March, highlighting the achievements and hurdles faced by women across the globe. A critical aspect of any challenges is mental health, influenced by the distinct biological, social, and emotional shifts that women navigate through various stages of life. This post delves into these stages, the mental health issues they may entail, signs to watch for, and strategies and resources for support and management.

The return to school is a challenging time for most families, but for kids with mental health struggles, the social and academic pressures can be especially difficult. Here are some ideas for a more balanced and supportive experience for yourself and your child.