http://overcomingdepressionblog.com Helping people bounce back and thrive from life's challenges Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:50:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Nobody doubts the benefits of exercise for physical health. What isn’t as widely known or discussed is how essential moderate exercise is to our mental wellbeing.  I created an online survey which sought to find out what health strategies helped people who have experienced an episode of depression or anxiety ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2012/01/30/exercise-the-foundation-stone-for-robust-mental-health/ In research undertaken for my book BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO, people who had been through a severe bout of depression told me that if they had their time over, they would seek expert help much earlier. How do you access that expertise? Alarmingly, during a doctor’s initial six year university ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2012/01/13/finding-a-mental-health-savvy-gp/ Theoretically Christmas is a joyous occasion but let’s face it, it can stress us out. Lots of presents to buy, too much food and alcohol consumed, and exercise ignored. For some it represents seeing people that have been avoided all year. Not surprisingly, calls to helplines and charities go through the roof ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/12/16/3-proven-strategies-to-thrive-despite-christmas/ There are proven things that leaders can do to create and enhance robust work cultures in challenging times. It is also very easy to be distracted and have practices that destroy organisational energy. Many people confuse busyness with effectiveness, and hours worked, as a measure of productivity. Multi-tasking is standard practice. ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/11/28/5-things-science-tells-us-about-robust-cultures-that-thrive/ For mental health week I think it is essential to celebrate our uniqueness. I am convinced that honouring our uniqueness in the key to a thriving life. At conception, we won the race from 500 million other sperm. It was the ultimate survival of the fittest. The more we strive ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/10/12/celebrate-your-strengths-in-mental-health-week/ When “BACK FROM THE BRINK: Australians tell their story of overcoming depression” was launched in 2007, I was fortunate that it generated a lot of publicity and I found myself having contact with the general public through talk back radio, book signings, and talks. What truly surprised me was that ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/08/25/partners-with-depression/ In an alarming indictment of Australian risk management procedures, over 50% of employees don't believe that there are systems and management practices in place to stop little problems turning into big ones, or in providing clear guidance for handling a crisis, an RU OK? at Work survey revealed. It also showed ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/08/08/head-in-sand-management-not-working/ In 2000 I was the Joint Managing Director of a Management Consulting Firm. It was also the year I crashed and burned and descended into unimaginable 5 years of hell which my psychiatrist described as the worst depressive episode he had ever treated. It’s hard to imagine that over that ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/08/04/stopping-little-mental-health-problems-becoming-big-ones/ In the lead up to ANZAC  Day this year I had the opportunity to speak with a couple of veterans – one from WWII and one from the conflict in Afghanistan. Both confirmed that they had experienced a lot of stress when returning to Australia yet both said they found ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/05/02/why-men-need-help-to-ask-for-help/ Provocative title? Can I ask you to invest 20 minutes of your time to answer a survey that will send loud shockwaves through the mental health policy world. If you can’t spare 20 minutes now, please schedule a time in your diary when you can complete the Holistic Depression Treatment Effectiveness ... http://overcomingdepressionblog.com/2011/03/19/it%e2%80%99s-time-for-us-lunatics-to-take-over-the-asylum/