Today, we are excited to launch a new podcast, On the Same Wavelength.
We know that people living with complex mental health conditions experience a disproportionate amount of stigma and discrimination. This co-designed podcast builds on SANE’s long history of innovative stigma reduction activity, working towards our goal of eliminating mental health stigma.
The podcast asks the question: how can we improve outcomes for people living with complex mental health conditions in Australia, and smash the stigma?
Across six episodes, hear from real people, who share their raw experiences – what goes right, and what goes wrong – helping us get on the same wavelength. Their stories are honest, confronting, but hopeful.
The first two episodes are available today, and the remaining episodes will be released every two weeks.
Episodes talk about the impact of stigma in domains including relationships and communities, educational settings, media, healthcare training, workplaces, and the mental health system.
Meet the host
The podcast is hosted by Elise Carrotte. Elise has been producing this podcast as part of her PhD studies, in collaboration between the University of Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and SANE, with the support of the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
Elise is a psychologist and researcher, and currently works at SANE as Clinical, Quality and Evaluation Advisor. She is passionate about stigma reduction, storytelling, and valuing lived experience.
Meet the guests
Each episode focuses on the unique stories of a SANE Peer Ambassador, who speaks about their experience of stigma and discrimination in a particular life domain. It also includes interviews from people working in the stigma reduction space.
The first two episodes, launched today, feature Peer Ambassadors Evan and Jeanette:
Evan
How can we effectively support others with their mental health? Through his story, Evan (he/him) explores how intimate partners, friends, family, and multicultural communities react to complex mental health conditions.
Mental Health Advocacy has been Evan’s line of work for four decades around Australia, including work as a Mental Health Advocate, a Mental Health Researcher, a Community Educator, a Lived Experience Narrator and a Peer Support Worker.
Evan has primarily worked for the Victorian Transcultural Mental Health for 17 years, advocating for the many multicultural communities around the mental health space, tirelessly engaging, encouraging, empowering and promoting the need for better services around Australia.
Jeanette
Are schools and universities effectively supporting their students? Jeanette (she/they) speaks about the journey through high school and university, while navigating severe anxiety and an emerging eating disorder.
Jeanette is a young, queer, disabled, and migrant person of colour driven to achieving social and economic inclusion through their work with government and not-for-profits. Their diagnoses of Complex PTSD, anxiety, depression and an eating disorder have followed them from adolescence to the workplace, as they developed strategies to navigate their changing environment and complex mental health issues.
As such, they are intimately familiar with the role intersectionality can play in the willingness to seek help and access mental health services. Jeanette strives to elevate the perspectives of marginalised folks in mental health policy and research, and counter stigma and other systemic barriers to accessing services. In their free time, they enjoy indulging their creative endeavours, from writing music to the visual arts.
How to listen
You can listen to On the Same Wavelength via podcast streaming apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Click here to listen and subscribe and join in the conversation via #OTSWpodcast.
If this podcast brings up any challenges for you, please consider reaching out to Lifeline via 13 11 14 or contact the SANE Support Line via 1800 187 263
