Is sex central to our existence? Consider what your life might be like without sex. Sex is also political… and political ideology impacts health behaviours. What has sex and sexuality got to do with psychiatry? Joining us to discuss this are Dr Elna Rudolph and Dr Franco Colin. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

The role of the news media in reporting events and reflecting social opinion serves to inform consumers. The question is how to balance reporting – providing facts without undue sensation. To discuss the media within the context of suicide reporting, we’re joined by Dr Frans Korb and Prof. Lizette Rabe. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

Poverty is both a cause of mental health problems, and a consequence” (Knifton & Inglis, 2020). Prof Crick Lund, Dr John Parker and Danny Diliberto join us for this episode. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

The term ‘trauma’ is very widely used, and the experience of trauma is cited as underlying a host of psychiatric conditions. On this episode, we are joined by Dr Kerry-Ann Louw, along with “Alice” from the @aliceandtheprof Instagram account, who shares her personal experiences. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

As a parent, one of the more difficult and challenging scenarios would be to discover that your child is being bullied, or is a bully. The stereotypical image of a brute harassing your child remains, but in reality the phenomenon of bullying extends beyond childhood, and certainly beyond the playground. This episode features psychiatrist Dr Sandra Fernandes, and author Marion Scher. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

It has been said that South Africa has a mental health crisis and that the solution starts with “educating ourselves”, specifically about mental health and various illnesses. That sounds like ‘self-help’… but what does it really mean? Prof. Dan Stein and Dr David Webb are our guests for this episode. Plus, we speak to Jackie Maimin from the Independent Community Pharmacy Association about the work they do. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

‘Assisted dying’ involves patients with incurable illnesses, whose condition is not amenable to meaningful relief, such that their lives are – in their opinion – not worth living, and from which they seek an end. One of the arguments against legalising assisted dying in South Africa was that patients had access to palliative care. On this week’s episode we explore the specialised field of Palliative Medicine, and the psychological approach of seeking meaning in assistance with dying. Joining us to discuss this topic are Dr Julia Riley and Prof. Paul Wong. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

We are living through times where terms like ‘gender incongruence’ and ‘gender dysphoria’ constitute – for some – the beginning of a journey of ‘gender-affirming’ care, with all that it entails. In this episode, we go on a journey of exploration with Dr Wendy Duncan and Dr Elna Rudolph. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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 and Dr Lennart Eriksson weigh in on this week’s discussion. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

: 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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

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 grief and struggle to understand why it happened. Our guests this week are psychiatrist Prof Mark Goldblatt, and grief counsellor Mariska Nel. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

What is the societal fascination for serial killers all about? Who are these people who live amongst us, undetected, going about their crimes? What does it take to track them down, identify and apprehend them? This week we speak to Dr Gérard Labuschagne – a Clinical Psychologist, Criminologist, and an Advocate of the High Court with an interest in forensic and investigative psychology. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

Why should a perfectly good parent inside a marriage be potentially less so, outside of the marriage? Custody seems to
equate with ownership of the child or children… is this true? It often seems that the terms “child custody” and “dispute” go hand in hand. Forensic psychologists Anthony Townsend and Giada del Fabbro weigh in on how to navigate this challenging issue. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

Pregnancy can and should be a special time – not without challenges and discomfort, but ultimately a life giving and life
affirming experience where the birth of a child should add value and meaning. But what if it doesn’t? What if things go wrong for the mother emotionally? What if the pregnancy occurs in childhood or adolescence? This week our guests are Dr Carina Marsay and Dr Alexandra Maisto. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

Have you ever wondered what it must be like to earn your living covering war as an embedded correspondent or photographer? What happens psychologically to journalists and photographers who experience combat, without being combatants? We speak to neuropsychiatrist, Professor Anthony Feinstein, and UK-based filmmaker and photojournalist, James Brabazon, to find out.
WARNING: Sensitive listeners might find this episode disturbing. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

When one thinks of those who struggle with eating disorders, the sufferer comes to mind. But what about their family –parents, siblings, spouses… those closest to them? How are they affected, and what role is there for them in the recovery process? This week our guests are Dr Felicity Marcus and Dr D (Dorianne Weil). In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave.

Psychiatry is moving towards the possibility of therapeutic usage of what would currently be deemed illicit substances. In this episode, we speak to Prof David Nutt and Prof Christer Allgulander, about the emerging research and evidence for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression

How do we understand alcohol addiction and recovery? This week’s guest, Dr David Webb, is a medical doctor who works
as a rehabilitation counsellor – and he also shares his personal experience of alcohol abuse.

Dr Allers and Dr Pillay join us to discuss the importance of understanding the significance of pain as an issue for your
emotional well-being

Dr Alan Howard and a patient join us to chat about Ketamine, and its emerging place as a treatment in psychiatry for
depression.

Well-known clinical psychologist Dr D (Dorianne Weil) joins us in studio to discuss eating disorders, and the impact that such
conditions have on sufferers.

 In 2020, Dr Sean Baumann published a book entitled ‘Madness: Stories of Uncertainty and Hope’. In this episode, we chat about the book, and his reflections on contemporary psychiatry and patient care.

Dr Kobus Roux and Dr Leigh Janet join us to discuss the role of our genes in influencing the emergence of different mental
disorders. For example, is schizophrenia caused by a single gene?

Our special guests Prof Seedat and Dr Fernandes join us to discuss the impact of the current pandemic on our mental health, and mental health resources. Has mental illness increased, or are we simply seeing understandable levels of distress to an abnormal situation?

Dr John Parker is our special guest on this episode to explain the relevance of human rights in the practice of psychiatry,
which has relevance for broader society. The human right to participate in a functional democracy is a basic right, and this is discussed within the context of mental illness.

Prof. Sean Kaliski joins us to discuss the dilemmas confronting forensic psychiatrists when dealing with sexual offenders…and whether or not to ascribe their offence to disorders of their personalities, or mental illness. The consequences of this decision has profound implications for the offender – namely whether to be treated or jailed.