A recent article in The Spectator magazine posed an intriguing question: “Is losing God making America miserable?”. The percentage of Americans believing in God has dropped from more than 90% in the period between 1944 and 2011, to 81% as of May 2022. The article further noted that depression and anxiety rates were at all-time highs. Association is not causation, but where do religion and our belief systems fit in to our lives… and are they necessary to live a fulfilled life? Dr Ian Westmore...

The role of 'companion animals' in providing comfort for those living with mental health problems has been studied, with positive benefits demonstrated. Dogs are the most commonly used in these situations, but what about horses? In this episode, we’ll be focusing on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) - with guests Sarah Garland and Fiona Bromfield, both certified Equine Assisted Therapy facilitators.

The role of 'companion animals' in providing comfort for those living with mental health problems has been studied, with positive benefits demonstrated. Dogs are the most commonly used in these situations, but what about horses? In this episode, we’ll be focusing on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) - with guests Sarah Garland and Fiona Bromfield, both certified Equine Assisted Therapy facilitators.

We live in a world of distractions. Does one need to be an adherent of a specific philosophical approach to find inner peace? Or can one access it by adopting a way of being that might contribute to improved emotional health? Could 'mindfulness' be that way? On this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr Ella Brent and Dr Pete Milligan.

We live in a world of distractions. Does one need to be an adherent of a specific philosophical approach to find inner peace? Or can one access it by adopting a way of being that might contribute to improved emotional health? Could 'mindfulness' be that way? On this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr Ella Brent and Dr Pete Milligan.

A successful business has many components. Increasingly, organisations are focusing on employee wellness, understanding that a healthy workforce is a fundamental requirement for organisational health. Whilst physical health has been an obvious priority, the importance of mental health is now more clearly understood to impact significantly on employee performance… and the health of any business. Professors Renata Schoeman and Karen Milner join the discussion.

A successful business has many components. Increasingly, organisations are focusing on employee wellness, understanding that a healthy workforce is a fundamental requirement for organisational health. Whilst physical health has been an obvious priority, the importance of mental health is now more clearly understood to impact significantly on employee performance… and the health of any business. Professors Renata Schoeman and Karen Milner join the discussion.

Healers are expected to heal, always. Patients (and their families) have expectations of being healed, always. Expectations. But what if the healer is depleted emotionally, physically, burnt out, incapable of giving what is expected - compassion, as part of the healing. Who heals the healer... and what happens to the patient? On this episode we are joined by Elmarié Du Plessis and Prof. Stoffel Grobler.

Healers are expected to heal, always. Patients (and their families) have expectations of being healed, always. Expectations. But what if the healer is depleted emotionally, physically, burnt out, incapable of giving what is expected - compassion, as part of the healing. Who heals the healer... and what happens to the patient? On this episode we are joined by Elmarié Du Plessis and Prof. Stoffel Grobler.

The gut and the brain are linked, and that link may be more than the gut simply sending a message to the brain after a meal to signal satisfaction. What if the gut was a brain, of sorts? What if your mental health potentially depended on your gut health… could the gut be the next frontier of major advances in neuroscience? We speak to Professors Sian Hemmings and Anwar Mall to find out.

The gut and the brain are linked, and that link may be more than the gut simply sending a message to the brain after a meal to signal satisfaction. What if the gut was a brain, of sorts? What if your mental health potentially depended on your gut health… could the gut be the next frontier of major advances in neuroscience? We speak to Professors Sian Hemmings and Anwar Mall to find out.

Is depression caused by a 'chemical imbalance'? Is the serotonin theory of depression valid? How do antidepressant medications work? Does 'Big Pharma' influence narratives that serve their interests... and what about the patient? We speak to Prof. Michael Berk and Prof. Colleen Aldous to find out. Plus - we learn more about the Independent Community Pharmacy Association with their founding director and CEO, Jackie Maimin.

Is depression caused by a 'chemical imbalance'? Is the serotonin theory of depression valid? How do antidepressant medications work? Does 'Big Pharma' influence narratives that serve their interests... and what about the patient? We speak to Prof. Michael Berk and Prof. Colleen Aldous to find out. Plus - we learn more about the Independent Community Pharmacy Association with their founding director and CEO, Jackie Maimin.

What motivates someone to seek out cosmetic procedures? Vanity? Perceived need? Or actual need? Is feeling uncomfortable with one’s appearance not legitimate reason enough? What are the benefits, and the risks? To explore these and other issues, on this week’s episode we welcome Dr Gereth Edwards and Dorianne Weil.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world. We speak to the father of a victim about the tragic event, and the criminal justice system. We discuss the issue of parole for perpetrators, the 'victim offender dialogue' component of the rehabilitation process, and the impact on the victim or their family. Our guests are Rob Matthews and Dr Gerard Labuschagne.

The WHO reports that 121 million pregnancies annually are unintended, further noting that 6 out of 10 unintended pregnancies end in abortion. The WHO further notes that 45% of abortions are unsafe, with a maternal death rate of unsafe abortion being between 4.7% to 13.2%. Aside from physical consequences, there may be psychological ones too. For this discussion, we welcome Professors Ugash Subramaney and Franco Guidozzi.

Traditional healers... who are they, what do they do, and how are they involved in the lives of many South Africans - as healers - outside of the formal medical setting? To dissect this, we are joined by Prof. Solly Rataemane and Dr Lerato Dikobe-Kalane.

Does women’s mental health differ from men’s mental health? Is gender a critical variable, and does it play a role in how mental illness expresses itself? These questions form part of our conversation for this episode, where we are joined by two psychiatrists - Prof. Soraya Seedat and Prof. Solly Rataemane.

Depression is a debilitating condition, and medication can take weeks to provide relief. Suicide is a risk, and potential consequence. Psychiatry, as a discipline, has long sought a drug that might provide rapid resolution of both depressive symptoms, as well as suicidal thoughts. Could an anaesthetic agent, ketamine, be that drug? This week, Prof. Bonga Chiliza, a psychiatrist, and Dr Alan Howard, an emergency care physician, provide some answers.

Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, and Richard Branson – what do they have in common? Success, fame… and dyslexia – a specific learning disorder. Learning disorders affect many people, with the specific problem often undiagnosed, and the person misunderstood, potentially marginalised. Joining us for this episode are Dr Wendy Duncan, a sub-specialist child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Natalie Solomon, a clinical psychologist.

Have you ever woken up, profoundly disturbed by a dream and wondered what it meant? Maybe nothing... but the images linger. Maybe dreams don’t mean anything, but if they occur as part of regular sleep, surely they serve a purpose as part of normal bodily functioning? To address these questions this week’s episode features Dr Alison Bentley and Prof Mark Solms.

Have you ever had a loved one or friend with a chronic condition, suffering, with no prospect of recovery – and they spoke of wanting to die... wishing for an end to their suffering? What if it were legally possible to assist them, to grant their wish? To discuss the controversial issue of 'assisted dying', we are joined by Prof. Willem Landman, Dr Chris Verster and Prof. Sean Davison.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition associated primarily with children, but is increasingly being diagnosed in adults too. The sufferer has their own challenges to face... but what about the parents, siblings, family, spouses, partners, colleagues, peers, and teachers? How do they live or cope with the sufferer? What role can parents play when a child has ADHD? Our guests this week are psychiatrist Prof Renata Schoeman, and educational psychologist Jessica Cheesman.

The loss of a loved one, friend, or even a colleague is never easy. Whether the loss is directly personal or not, it generally gives pause to reflect... for thought about that person, their life, and of course our own mortality. What if the loss was a decision taken by the person in question - to end their own life, with their own hand? Every one of these deaths leaves an estimated six or more 'suicide survivors' - people who've lost someone they care about deeply, and are left with their...