Demand for mental health practitioners in rural and remote areas is the highest it's ever been
AAPi Director Dr Bronwyn Milkins spoke with ABC Great Southern this week in relation to the significant challenges around getting mental health support in rural and remote areas of Western Australia, stating that it is becoming more difficult amid growing demand and worker shortages, and that increasingly regional people are heading to the city for support.
Psychologists say West Coast Eagles fans could be experiencing feelings similar to grief from horror losses
Bronwyn was also featured in an article in The West Australian this week confirming that sports fans such as the current West Coast Eagles supporters, may experience emotions similar to the stages of grief, when their team performs poorly or suffers a particularly distressing defeat.
Psychologists say therapy via phone, video is helping regional Australians with their mental health
Special thanks to AAPi member Phillipa Brown for offering her expertise in this Courier article on the benefits of telehealth, highlighting how this mode of therapy eliminates barriers such as geographical limitations, transport issues and time constraints, overall increasing accessibility to mental health support.
When psychologists are unable to discuss voluntary assisted dying, patients suffer
AAPi member Fiona Carberry has written an excellent article for Croakey, discussing the restrictions imposed on psychologists regarding the discussion of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) with their clients in Western Australia. Fiona highlights that currently psychologists are prohibited from informing eligible clients about the legality of VAD unless the client raises the topic first, and argues that psychologists should instead have the freedom to discuss VAD as an option with their clients, as it may serve as a suicide prevention measure, and provide relief from ongoing psychological anguish.