Welcome
Hello and welcome to the Healthy Minds podcast with with Dr Rita Hitching, where we explore the science behind mental health and wellbeing
Barrier to Better Health: Racism and Cultural Safety in Healthcare
In this episode we discuss how racism within healthcare affects the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and why past encounters with discrimination can influence whether people seek care, trust healthcare professionals, and engage with treatment.
The conversation explores racism as a public health issue, examining how it contributes to ongoing health inequities and shapes health outcomes beyond individual clinical encounters.
We discuss the concept of cultural safety, what it means in practice, how it differs from cultural awareness and cultural competence, and the growing efforts to improve the delivery of culturally safe care.
We end by exploring practical pathways to reducing racism in healthcare, strengthening trust, and creating health systems that support equitable, respectful, and culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Culturally safe healthcare is critical to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Zenadh woman, Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practice (RACGP), and Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle’s Thurru Indigenous Health Unit.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Newcastle. PhD and BA and BA (Hons) from the University of Newcastle
Previous Shows
Each episode examines the evidence shaping how we understand, prevent, and respond to mental health challenges, bridging research and real life to promote understanding, connection, and hope.
Menopause: Symptoms, Hormone Therapy and Individualised Care
In this episode we discuss the physical, mental, and emotional impact that menopause can have, along with the potential benefits and risks of hormone therapy.
We explore the wide range of symptoms associated with menopause, why experiences vary so greatly from one woman to another, and the challenges this can create for women seeking support and symptom relief from their healthcare provider.
The conversation also touches on the evolving evidence surrounding hormone therapy, the factors that have contributed to confusion and uncertainty about its use, and how this has shaped both public understanding and clinical practice.
Throughout the episode, we highlight the importance of evidence-based information, individualised care, and shared decision-making to help women navigate menopause with confidence.
Help navigating the confusing, isolating and at times overwhelming journey of menopause
Registered nurse, midwife, child and family health nurse, menopause educator, and Founder of Menopause Nurse Out, offering evidence-informed support to women experiencing perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
A Lived Experience Perspective of Borderline Personality Disorder
In this episode, we dive into the topic of borderline personality disorder (BPD) with someone who has lived experience and can offer insight into what it feels like to navigate the world with BPD.
The conversation touches on some of the misconceptions and stigma that commonly accompany a diagnosis of BPD. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding, compassion, and the need for more information for help friends and families support those with lived experience of BPD
We end with discussion on the importance of finding support through connection and community alongside practical tips and coping strategies to manage the intense emotions that often accompany BPD.
Not knowing why one minute, I’m on top of the world, and the next, I’m completely lost in despair
Founder of the Mindful Wildflower and woman with lived experience of BPD with a goal to continue creating a life worth living while also helping others do the same by sharing tools and resources
Understanding Adult Autism
In this episode we discuss how autism is currently understood and why many people reach adulthood without a diagnosis. We go on to discuss how autism presents in adults and ways in which it differs from childhood.
The conversation touches on common myths about autism, the changing diagnostic criteria, and the cultural factors that shape who is recognised and who is overlooked.
We discuss emotional wellbeing, masking, co-occurring conditions, and the impact of misunderstanding and exclusion. The episode highlights how diagnosis, or the absence of one, can shape identity, self-understanding, and mental health across the lifespan.
We end on pathways to support, acceptance, and hope, including the role of community, workplace inclusion, and affirming approaches that centre dignity, agency, and meaningful participation for autistic adults.
The changing face of autism and why so many reach adulthood without receiving a dignosis
Associate Lecturer, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Newcastle. PhD (Psychology), Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), Bachelor of Music, University
of Newcastle
Lecturer in Psychology and Placement Coordinator at the School of Psychology, Deakin University. PhD (Psychology) University of Newcastle and a BSc. Psychology, University of Queensland.
Long-Term Antidepressant Use and the Increased Risk of Osteoporosis
In this episode we discuss growing evidence linking long-term antidepressant use to reduced bone mineral density and increased osteoporosis risk.
We look at the clinical implications of this evidence, including how to balance effective treatment of depression and anxiety with bone health monitoring, informed risk–benefit discussions, and integrated care.
The conversation includes a discussion on the impact of hormonal changes during and after menopause, including declining oestrogen levels, contribute to both mood symptoms and bone loss, and how lifestyle and clinical factors may further shape risk.
New evidence linking antidepressant use and poor bone health
Associate Lecturer School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle.
Bachelor of Medicine, University of Dhaka, PhD (Epidemiology) University of Newcastle
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Pathways to Healing for Families and Communities After Suicide
In this episode we discuss why death by suicide happens, drawing on biological, psychological, and social perspectives, and how these interact across individual, relational, and systems levels. The conversation also examines population-level disparities, shifts in how suicide has been understood over time, and the distinction between suicidal behaviour and non-suicidal self-injury.
We look into established risk and protective factors, common myths about suicide, and the limitations of risk prediction, alongside the importance of open, compassionate conversations. The epidose ends with a look at recovery and support following non-fatal suicide attempts, including how clinicians, families, and communities can respond in ways that promote safety, dignity, and hope.
Factors that contribute to death by suicide and why talking is not one of them
Lecturer, School of Nursing and Mid Midwifery, University of Newcastle University. PhD (Nursing), University
of Bedforshire, Diploma Higher Educationin Pre-registration Nursing, University of Luton
Understanding the Why of Death by Suicide
In this episode, we discuss some of the ways in which suicide loss can impact families, friends, colleagues, and communities, and how people can be supported in coping with the death of a loved one. We also look at the complex emotional responses commonly experienced following suicide and how they can differ from other forms of bereavement and grief. The conversation goes on to explore how cultural, spiritual, and social contexts shape the ways in which we can find meaning after loss. The episode ends with suggestions for ways in which families, workplaces, schools, and communities can respond with sensitivity, balancing openness with care to address the stigma and silence that often surround suicide loss.
Practical tips to manage the grief, stigma, and silence of death by suicide.
Lecturer, School of Nursing and Mid Midwifery, University of Newcastle University. PhD (Nursing), University
of Bedforshire, Diploma Higher Educationin Pre-registration Nursing, University of Luton
