Mental Health in Practice

How can mental health practitioners build trust and create meaningful connections when people's experiences, expectations and understanding of care differ from their own? 
Drawing on extensive experience working alongside migrant communities, people seeking asylum and refugee communities, this episode explores practical ways to build meaningful therapeutic relationships and creating a space that is flexible and curious. The insights shared are relevant across a wide range of communities, offering opportunities to reflect on how curiosity, flexibility and cultural humility can support stronger connections.
The conversation offers valuable reflections for practitioners across health, mental health and community settings.
Featured presenters: Quan Nguyen (Accredited Mental Health Social Worker) and Dr Raj Ramanathapillai (Senior Practitioner Counsellor Advocate).
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Explore resources on culturally safe practice on the MHPN website.
Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/

How is AI already being used in mental health practice, and what does it mean for you as a practitioner? 
In this episode, our presenters discuss the growing role of AI across healthcare and mental health settings, including where it is already being used in clinical and service settings. They discuss the practical opportunities AI may offer for communication, accessibility and support while also examining the challenges it raises around privacy, consent, professional judgement and trust.
The conversation encourages mental health practitioners to critically reflect on how emerging technologies may influence care, therapeutic relationships and the future of practice. 
Explore resources on AI in mental health practice on the MHPN website.
Featured presenters: Angela Batra-Mariani (Occupational Therapist, Co-founder of Everbility), David Lopis (Psychologist, AI Consultant), and Mani Batra (Software Engineer, Co-founder of Everbility).
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Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

How can reflective practice repair therapeutic relationships?
Lenice Murray (Mental Health Social Worker) and Lee Crothers (Mental Health Occupational Therapist) explore how ruptures to relationships are common with a focus on how these can show up when working with consumers, carers and teams.
They explore why avoiding communication breakdowns can damage trust and care, and how honest conversations, shared responsibility, and strong supervision can help repair relationships and support safer practice.
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Explore resources on therapeutic relationships and trauma-informed care on the MHPN website.
Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

How can peer-led digital spaces support LGBTIQA+ young people?
Hamish Czygan (Online Peer Work Team Lead at headspace National) is joined by Kevin Tran (Peer Worker) and Jack Ebacioni (Senior Mental Health Clinician). Together, they highlight the increasingly valuable role that peer-led digital spaces play in strengthening engagement and connection for young people in the LGBTIQA+ community. The episode explores how spaces led by peer-workers create opportunities for connection and self-expression. Young people looking for connection, role models or support accessing mental health care can benefit from inclusive online communities.
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Explore resources on mental health support for young people identifying as part of the LGBTIQA+ community on the MHPN website.
Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.

What does engagement-focused care for young people with school attendance challenges look like in multidisciplinary practice? 
Join Paige Davey (School Re-engagement Specialist and Trainer) and Richard Crawshaw (Founder of Can’t Face School) as they explore the increasing complexities of school attendance challenges. Together, they unpack the practical barriers and enablers to system-wide collaboration, underscoring the value of curiosity, building trust and person-centredness in supporting sustainable re-engagement.  
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Explore resources on youth mental health and school attendance challenges on the MHPN website. 
Share your comments, questions and feedback about Mental Health in Practice: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.