The 8th Annual Gum Ball Music and Arts Festival was held in April at the Hunter Valley. This year, the generous crowd raised over $2,350 for the Black Dog Institute, by raffling off a brand new Fender Sonoran guitar signed by all the performing artists at the event, including Ash Grunwald, Custard, Jinja Safari and Kim Churchill. The weekend festival hosted music acts from all around Australia and attracted over 1,300 people. Gum Ball would like to give a big thanks to all who donated, and an even bigger thank you to Fender Australia for not only loaning the awesome guitar amps for the stages, but for kindly donating the beautiful Sonoran guitar.
Pictured: Jess Hartigan from Gum Ball and Kate Hille from Black Dog Institute
Otherwise known as one of the straight talking trainers onThe Biggest Loser, Michelle Bridges is one of Australia’s most influential personal trainers and will be racing it out for her second time in the 2012 Sun Herald City2Surf.
Michelle is a strong believer that 'exercising your mood' can make a big difference to not just your physical wellbeing but also to your mental health.
Michelle is looking forward to this year's challenge and is proud to be representing the Black Dog Institute and raising her game by helping to raise much needed funds for the Institute which will go towards helping provide community education programs and carrying out more research into effective diagnosis, treatment and early intervention of mood disorders.
You can support Michelle in her challenge by donating here
Join Michelle in this Challenge!
Registrations for the City2Surf will open in late May, however places are still available for the Black Dog Golden Charity Team. The Golden team is a fundraising focused team which also gets you ahead of the pack, just behind the red start zone.
Find out more
Parramatta Eels players Nathan and Ben Smith have seen firsthand the devastating effects of depression and bipolar disorder, which is why this week they decided to do something to help.
The two players completed a Black Dog Institute training course this week which now gives them the ability to deliver workshops on behalf of the organisation, and to help raise awareness of the illnesses through being 2012 ambassadors.
70 people attended the recent ‘Navigating Teenage Depression’ community education seminar delivered in Taree. Attendees included parents, teenagers, teachers, youth workers, a soccer coach, scout master, police officer, and mental health service providers. The Black Dog Institute received the support of Taree High School P & C and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to deliver this free event.
'Navigating Teenage Depression' is a seminar that helps people identify early warning signs, with a focus on the importance of early intervention. It also looks at mental health problems within the context of normal teenage development and associated pressures.
Read more about our youth programs
The Black Dog Institute has farewelled 11 overseas Fellows who attended its international program aimed at increasing expertise and leadership around mood disorders in the Asia Pacific region.
This was the fourth year that the Institute has hosted this program which was part funded by AusAID through their Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship scheme. Project partners also include the ministries of health in each country and the World Health Organisation Pacific Islands Mental Health Network (WHO PIMHnet). Our 11 Fellows came from Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Soloman Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and the Maldives.
The training they received here will be used to improve the identification and management of mood disorders in their respective countries and to build institutional capacity by increasing collaborative linkages.
Mosman Council’s “Beat the Blues” free community concert is back again on Sunday 25 March 2012 to raise awareness of youth mental health. “Let’s Celebrate Life” is the tagline, taking a positive approach to celebrate life through performance and creativity.
From 2pm - 5pm the Astra Theatre at Queenwood Senior School, 47 Mandalong Road, Mosman, will showcase a range of young, creative performers. The headline act is Timomatic, the amazing grand finalist from Australia’s Got Talent 2011, who has just released his new single/video “If Looks Could Kill”. He will be joined onstage by local talents including School’s Out, Sambalouco, the Special Olympics Dance Performance Group, Abbey and Hannah Stewart, and Ellie Clubb. Nic from the BITE BACK team (the Black Dog Institute’s youth website) will be MC of the event. The Black Dog Institute and other health service providers will have information stalls for young people, youth workers and mental health professionals.
Free tickets are going fast and must be booked online from Mosman Council’s event page.
The Black Dog Institute continues to set new benchmarks as shown in its 2011 Annual Report which has just been published. A highlight is the fact that the Institute is celebrating its 10th anniversary while at the same time sees the opportunity for an exciting future with the message ‘We’re going places’.
Read the Black Dog Institute Annual Report online
The latest book from the Black Dog Institute "Managing Depression Growing Older: A Guide for Professionals and Carers" has been launched. Depression in older people is easily missed and this practical guide shows how to identify depression in an older person and provide support to enable the best possible quality of life.
“Above all, it makes it clear that depression is not a ‘symptom’ of ageing. Depression – experienced at any age – needs to be treated. [The book] also helps older people and those who care about (or for) them understand how depression can be recognised and addressed. Highly recommended.”
Mr Ian Day, Chief Executive of the Council on Ageing
Read the news release [PDF, 322KB]
See the full selection of Black Dog books
Dr Caryl Barnes, Black Dog Institute Consultant Psychiatrist for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing, was recently quoted in The Weekend Australian.
Depression in the workplace is a huge and growing problem - and its effects are exacerbated by widespread fear, ignorance and denial. Dr Barnes said, “Fifty per cent of managers don’t believe anyone in their workplace will present with a mental health issue, which is in stark contrast to the one in five Australian adults who will have some sort of mental health problem, including depression, in any given year,” she explains. Through its Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs, the Black Dog Institute aims to increase the awareness to signs and symptoms of common mental health disorders and help prevent the onset of such problems by increasing skills in all staff in stress management and building resilience. Its book Tackling Depression At Work (Allen & Unwin, 2010), sets out to support workers with depression, and to educate managers about their responsibilities.
Find out more about our Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing Programs
Find out more about ‘Tackling Depression At Work’ and other Black Dog books
A $500,000 grant from nib Foundation will enable the rollout of a Black Dog Institute national education program, HeadStrong, to address mental health issues in high schools.
HeadStrong is a powerful presentation for Years 11-12 which raises awareness about mental
health, wellbeing and resilience. It emphasises wellbeing strategies, help-seeking
avenues, intervention benefits, and works to dispel stigma.
Read the news release [PDF, 52KB]
Find out more about HeadStrong
The latest book from the Black Dog Institute "Managing Depression Growing Older: A Guide for Professionals and Carers" is about to be launched. Depression in older people is easily missed. This practical guide shows how to identify depression in an older person and provide support to enable best possible quality of life.
Read a media alert [PDF, 320KB]
See the full selection of Black Dog books
Sunday the 11th of March will see the 11th Annual Ord Minnett Sydney Harbour Swim Classic welcome over 1,000 swimmers taking the plunge from the Sydney Opera House Man O’War steps. In its iconic location, the Sydney Harbour Swim Classic gives participants the chance to challenge their personal best, race against team mates or simply join in while being surrounded by one of Australia’s most remarkable swimming settings by the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.
Past and current sporting heroes will be taking part in the annual Ord Minnett Charity Sprint race; an invitational dash for cash with participants racing for their charity of choice. The event has previously attracted the support of sporting heroes such as Eamon Sullivan and the Black Dog Institute’s own ambassador Geoff Huegill.
Read the news release [PDF, 101KB]
Black Dog Institute Executive Director, Professor Helen Christensen is encouraging people with depression to seek help online or with a health professional. Professor Christensen was interviewed on community radio program The Wire as part of a story concerning Nick Punal, a singer-songwriter who lost his brother-in-law to suicide 10 years ago, leaving many questions unanswered. Nick has combined his musical talents with a desire to raise awareness, hosting unique gigs around Sydney.
The study compared group-administered MBCT (mindfulness-based cognitive behaviour therapy) against group-administered CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) as a treatment for non-melancholic depression. It found that both were equally effective at 8-week post treatment assessments, however patients who had experienced 4 or more previous episodes of depression derived more benefits from CBT. No such differences were observed in the MBCT condition i.e. MBCT was equally effective for those with a history of greater than 4 or less than 4 episodes of depression.
Read the article
Note:"Mood state effects of chocolate" is another article that is listed on the "hottest" list in JAD.
About 80 per cent of bipolar disorder is hereditary.
About 10 per cent of people with bipolar take their lives.
In Australia, about 10 per cent of bipolar sufferers make one suicide attempt every year.
And about half of bipolar sufferers do not take or do not regularly take their medication.
But Professor Philip Mitchell, Director of the Bipolar Disorder Clinic at the Black Dog Institute and Head of the School of Psychiatry at the UNSW, said that while statistics showed how lethal the condition was, he was optimistic that treatment - through medication and cognitive behavioural therapy - could help bipolar sufferers manage the illness.
Read the full article that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald
Bipolar Kids n Sibs study
The Bipolar Disorders Unit at the School of Psychiatry of UNSW and the
Black Dog Institute are now inviting people to participate in a study
aiming to identify what makes people more or less likely to develop
bipolar disorder. Find out more
Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute, Professor Helen Christensen, is supporting a plan for children as young as 11 to be screened for mental illness and given preventive therapy in schools.
Read the article in The Courier-Mail
Acclaimed author, illustrator and creative director at the Black Dog Institute, Matthew Johnstone, will be delivering several important education events about depression, wellbeing and building personal resilience in Moree and Narrabri.
The first of these activities will see Matthew deliver the Black Dog Institute’s HeadStrong youth presentation to 350 students from Moree Secondary College and Bingara and Warialda High Schools on Tuesday 21 February. HeadStrong will also be presented to Years 10, 11 and 12 students at Narrabri High School on Wednesday 22 February. Delivered as a series of illustrated slides developed by Matthew, HeadStrong is a highly visual and creative presentation for young people which raises awareness of mental health and wellbeing, mood disorders particularly depression and bipolar disorder, and resilience.
There will also be an evening presentation in Moree on the Tuesday and one in Narrabri on Wednesday. Both evening seminars are free and open to the general public. For more information or to register, visit the Black Dog Institute website events calendar. Alternatively, contact Chris Rule, Black Dog Institute, Rural Initiatives Project Manager on 02 9382 8203 or at c.rule@blackdog.org.au. RSVP: 20 February 2012.
The Black Dog Institute and the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) have teamed up to deliver these free events.
Read the news release [PDF, 222KB]
The premiere of the documentary "Geoff Huegill: Be Your Best - Hunt for Gold" will be shown on Foxtel's Bio program on February 15 at 7.30pm. The documentary tells the story of Geoff Huegill, a Black Dog Institute Ambassador, and one of the greatest comebacks in Australian sports history.
"Geoff Huegill: Be Your Best- Hunt For Gold" Premieres Wednesday, February 15 at 7.30pm AEDT exclusively on Bio
Read more about Geoff and other Black Dog Institute Ambassadors
Read the Bio news release [PDF, 63KB]
Nearly 150 entries have now been received in the 2012 Black Dog Institute writing competition that throws the spotlight on people caring for someone with depression or bipolar disorder. With entries now closed, the Institute is to appoint three independent judges who will have the difficult task of selecting the first three placegetters who will share a total of $2,500 in prize money. The winners will be announced in coming weeks and their essays will be published on the Black Dog Institute website. Good luck to all the participants!
Read more about the writing competition
Professor Gordon Parker, who recently stepped down as Black Dog Institute Executive Director, has released his autobiography, ‘A Piece of My Mind’. The book tells the inspiring story of a man driven by the desire to advance better diagnosis and management of mood disorders. It is an aspirational and worthy aim, and consonant with the aims of all who work in the profession of psychiatry.
"His own action-oriented style, and time spent considering surgery as a career, instilled in him a sense of urgency and an attitude of ‘never giving up’ on people. He talks of the resilience he observes in everyday practice and the honour of being ‘a privileged guest’ in people’s lives.
This book is not about setting the record straight, but about encouraging and entrusting others with these life altering, and life preserving, responsibilities."
Stephanie Webster, Consumer Educator.
Read the Pan Macmillan preview [PDF, 285KB]
Read a review [PDF, 47KB]
Read an article in the NZ Herald
The Body Science Great Australian Swim Series in support of the Black Dog Institute returns to Sydney Harbour on Australia Day, next Thursday 26th January for a morning of elite and amateur races for swimmers of all levels.
The inaugural event in 2011 was a highlight of the celebratory calendar and saw Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott racing alongside Geoff Huegill, Ky Hurst, and hundreds of swimmers young and old. This year, World Iron Man Craig 'Crowie' Alexander will be leading the races alongside Swim Series founder and Olympic contender Ky Hurst and fellow pro swimmer Melissa Gorman
The swim serieshas already seen three successful warm-up events staged on the East Coast to gear up for the Grand Finale event under Sydney’s iconic Opera House.
The competition which starts from the Man O War steps features a 750m Swim, the 2.2km Swim, and an Elite Swim event. This year, long-standing supporter of Ky Hurst Kellogg’s has sponsored the popular Junior Kids 300m Swim; the first race of the day and a chance for young swimmers to hit the water alongside the professional sporting legends supporting the event.
Valued supporters of the Swim Series include Surf Life Saving Australia and Australia Day Council of New South Wales, with one dollar from every entry across the Series being donated to the Black Dog Institute’s 'Exercise your Mood' program.
Swim and raise funds for the Black Dog Institute!
Registrations for the 2012 Canberra-Dubbo Zoo2Zoo bike ride are now open. The Zoo2Zoo rides continue to support and promote the work of the Black Dog Institute and this latest event departs Canberra on Friday 9 March, stopping overnight in Young and Molong before finishing in Dubbo on Sunday 11 March 2012.
Click here for registration details
The closing date for the 2012 Black Dog Institute Writing Competition has been extended by a week to Monday 6th February. This year the spotlight is on people caring for someone with depression or bipolar disorder. Carers are often the unsung heroes in helping people with mood disorders while at the same time exposing themselves to an increased risk of facing a similar fate, according to the Black Dog Institute.
Visit our writing competition page for more information
Read the news release
Depression and Bipolar Disorder Information Australia - Black Dog Institute.Copyright © 2012 Black Dog Institute
Page last updated: 18-May-2012