Author Archives: Inner South

Turning Point Free Seminar Series

 

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has shown promising safety and efficacy in treating depression, substance use disorders, and end-of-life distress. Although many trials report reductions in anxiety symptoms, no study to date has directly tested psilocybin’s effectiveness in treating a primary anxiety disorder. Relatedly, while both psychedelic therapists often claim that prior personal experience with psychedelics is crucial for developing therapeutic competence, no study has assessed this before.
We conducted two world-first studies with psilocybin: one focused on therapist training and the other on treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). In the therapist training study, 14 therapist volunteers underwent a structured protocol involving preparation, psilocybin dosing (25 mg), and integration, with changes in self-reported professional competencies assessed. The GAD trial was a randomized active-placebo-controlled study with 73 participants, assessing the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a brief treatment protocol involving nine psychotherapy sessions and two psilocybin sessions (25 mg and 30 mg). Additional measures included quality of life, depression, and substance use.
This talk will provide an overview of the rationale, design, key outcomes, and lessons learned from both studies, and flag new and innovative research on psilocybin from our group.
Dr Paul Liknaitzky is Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab, and Senior Research Fellow within the Dept of Psychiatry at Monash University. He has played a central role in establishing the field of clinical psychedelic research in Australia, and is the Principal Investigator on a program of psychedelic trials.
Liknaitzky leads the country’s largest and most experienced group of psychedelic researchers and clinicians, and collaborates with numerous psychedelic groups nationally and internationally. In Australia, Liknaitzky established the first psychedelic lab, coordinated the first applied psychedelic therapist training program, obtained the first industry funding for psychedelic research, and co-convenes the Australasian Research Group on Psychedelic Science. Liknaitzky’s work is focused on investigating novel applications for psychedelic therapies, translating evidence into best clinical practice, exploring under-examined risks, delivering next-generation therapist training, and improving access and affordability.
Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
Venue: Online
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm AEST
Cost: Free
Register: click here to register
If you have enquiries regarding registration please call (03) 8413 8413.

Urgent Care Clinics

Urgent Care during the holiday season 

If your patients require urgent but non-life-threatening care during the holiday closure period, direct them to Victoria’s Urgent Care Services for faster help.

Patients can get the right care at the right time with Victorian’s range of Urgent Care Services, which are available across Victoria.

Benefits

  • Free and open to all, no Medicare card needed
  • No appointment or GP referral required
  • Staffed by urgent care doctors and nurses
  • Faster care with no waiting in a hospital emergency department

Available services

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theMHS Envisioning 2050

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Submit an abstract for a chance to present at TheMHS Conference 2025 ‘Envisioning 2050: Towards a better Mental Health System’

What will the world be like in 2050 and what will the impact of these changes be on our mental health. This conference will explore how the world might evolve and what we need to do to consolidate the things we already do, and the new things we need to do to reach towards this utopian vision of an ideal mental health system. We invite you to consider this theme when submitting your abstract.

Click here to read the full vision statement for TheMHS Conference 2025.

The abstract submission process through our online portal is simple and easy. Please visit our website for more information about the abstract submission process and requirements or submit directly through the link below.

Abstract submissions close Friday February 28, 2025.

Let’s engage with the bold and improbable ideas needed to move us to action.
SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT HERE

CO-HOST

EVENT SPONSOR

News from Heidi Everett

Northcote Library Author Talk – Thursday 9 January 6PM
My Friend Fox talk/music about mental health, creativity, recovery, disability, optimism in the reality of the mental health system.
Footscray Library Author Talk  – Wednesday 19 February 6PM
(same vibe as Northcote – Footscray Library will add to their What’s On soon)
Bendigo Arts & Lived Experience Collective.
Monthly optimistic creative and advocacy meetup at Bendigo Library with Forest Keegal.
Mojo Festival of Arts 2025! First off the blocks is Rad Cactus comedy. Callout for people with c-MH for creative development workshops and new neurodivergent comedian performances starting soon in Melbourne (free).

Schizy Inc – www.schizy.org

Lost Women film project – callout
Seeking women aged 50+ with schizophrenia in the public mental health system who are re-identifying as autistic to be part of this documentary.
EOI: skybeanz@gmail.com

Mental Health Emergency added to 000.
With over 36,000 signatories from across Australia, we’re not letting this go.

PETITION HERE

Due to a disability affecting my working memory (Apple would say my CPU is ‘vintage’), feel free to hustle me through the year to stay connected and receive invites to more opportunities like these.

Please share with anyone you know in the world of c-MH (complex mental health) who would be interested in this stuff.
Happy new year,
Heidi E
Author, Producer, Creative, Advocate.

Inner South Family and Friends end of year Christmas Dinner

End of Year Christmas Dinner 6.30pm Tuesday 10 December 2024 at Cusina, 130 Erskine Street Middle Park

Bookings close 5 pm Wednesday 4 December.  Free parking is available in Erskine Street.

TO BOOK

  1. Deposit $14 for pensioners or $28 for non-pensioners to ISFAF Community Account, BSB 033169   A/c No:  258307  to reach ISFAF account by Wednesday 4 December

Please ensure that your deposit shows your name and names of any others in your booking.

  1. Email confirmation to burstyner@gmail.com

In your email, include

  • Name, phone number and email of each individual attending (pref. mobile phone no.)
  • Choice of main course for each person and their special dietary needs, if any.

Cusina is a gourmet restaurant with a highly regarded chef. The 2024 ISFAF dinner at the same venue was reported last year as having been ‘the best ever’. Food will be cooked specifically for us on the night. We are a big group. To assist the chef, we must advise the restaurant of main courses by the previous Wednesday night.

Accordingly please let us know in your email which ONE of the following main courses you wish to have:

  • any ONE pizza shown on  the menu. The list of pizzas is shown below at: https://www.opentable.com.au/r/cusina-middle-park
  • ONE of the following pasta dishes:
    • beef ragu pappardelle (pappardelle pasta with slow cooked beef brisket in red wine and paprika sauce ),
    • spaghetti with prawns in lobster bisque,
    • gnocchi with pumpkin and gorgonzola
  • chicken cacciatore : boned chicken thighs with roasted capsicum olives and onion with a touch of Napoli sauce served with roasted potatoes  (GF)
  • fish of the day: wild caught barramundi fillet roasted tomatoes, potatoes ,olives and caramelised red onion (GF)

If anyone in your booking has special dietary needs you must also let us know the specific needs in your email.

All of the above pastas and pizzas can be made GF if you advise ahead.

Please note that the meal is highly subsidised by AMAH.  Drinks other than tap water are not included in the above cost. Any drinks other than tap water are to be ordered and paid for individually at the bar upon order.

Confirmation of booking will be emailed to individuals whose deposits show up in the above account AND who have emailed isfaf@alfred.org.au  with their choice of main course (and any special dietary needs)

Extracts from Mental Health Australia CEO Weekly Update 13 November 2024

Take the survey

Inner South Family and Friends Support Group Meeting and Social Events

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING:  7pm Tuesday 12 November 2024

GUEST SPEAKER:  Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, Programme Director, Alfred Mental and Addiction Health (AMAH)

TOPIC:  Continuing Implementation of the Royal Commission into Mental Health. Growth of AMAH services and what it means to you  

All carers, family and friends of individuals are welcome to attend, as are members of Staff (Team AMAH).  A light supper provided by our committee is served from 7.05 pm, enabling mingling among individuals. No need to book for our monthly meetings. They are free, however, a small contribution is always extremely welcome.

VENUE:  Level 4, 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, a little to the city side of Wesley College, 549 is easily recognisable by white umbrellas in the forecourt. Lots of free parking in the centre lanes of St Kilda Road, with trams stopping at the door. If you are having trouble with transport, seek further information or just need a chat, about ISFAF and/or issues faced by carers please phone Judi on 0425 723 746 or Eleni on 0412 018 722.  For security, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building.

Sunday 24 November (subsidised) Lunch and Theatre: 11.30am at Parkers Café 79 Parkers Rd Parkdale (110m from station, free street parking nearby)

DAHLIN! IT’S THE JEANNE LITTLE SHOW at Shirley Burke Theatre, 64 Parkers Rd Parkdale

Dahlin! It’s the Jeanne Little Show moves seamlessly between story and song. Jeanne’s humble beginnings, her years in London, successful marriage the many famous people she met along the way and her attempts to be both mother and TV star are all delightfully covered. With a fantastic batch of hit songs from many eras. Shirley Bassey, Marlene Dietrich, Anne Murray, Lulu, the stories are wrapped in warmth and Jeanne’s own brand of zany, irrepressible humour.

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KIERAN CARROLL   Kieren, son of our beloved member Frank is a prestigious playwright with many international and local productions to his credit:  https://kierancarroll.com/    Starring Caroline Ferguson.

Booking Details: Booking includes the theatre and your choice of up to $25 from the menu of Parkers Café on the day. There will be an ‘honesty jar’ for choices above $25. There is no need to make your menu choice ahead but you must arrive 11.30am sharp to enable the kitchen to have meals ready in time for you to enjoy the food before the show.  The menu is available at: https://parkerscafe.com.au/menu-2

The theatre is small, already heavily booked. Book asap to ensure your seat.

To Book

  1. Deposit donation $18 pensioners, $30 non-pensioners to Westpac ISFAF Community One Account BSB 033-169  A/c No: 258307. 

2.  Make sure your deposit shows your name

3.  Email  judi.burstyner@gmail.com  with proof of booking and names of all individuals in your booking

  1. expect a confirmation via email on Wednesday 20 November. If you don’t receive a confirmation by 8pm please email  judi.burstyner@gmail.com urgently.

Bookings will close when sold out or by 5pm Tuesday 19 November, whichever occurs first.  Seating IS limited.

*We are very grateful to Alfred Mental and Addiction Health for their financial support, making this and other heavily subsidised ISFAF events possible.