#39: Prof. Ian Hickie - How do We Build a Healthier Society?
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Have you ever gone through a difficult moment in your life? Depression, abuse, loss — these are awful and unfortunate things some of us have to deal with. In these cases, it’s not easy to know what to do to regain control of our emotions and reactions. Remember that you’re not alone on this journey. Know that things can and will get better.
In this episode, Prof. Ian Hickie focuses on connection and its impact on our mental health. He talks in detail about what we can learn from indigenous cultures, balancing collective and personal well-being and the significant role of technology in the future of mental health services.
Here are 3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn why community and connection are important for our mental health.
Understand why we should embrace our sensitive natures and not ignore them for the benefit of our mental health.
Learn how we can use technology to positively affect our mental health.
5 Powerful Quotes from This Episode
“Humans are social animals. We don’t survive on our own, we are actually quite fragile compared to the rest of the world. But we have been very successful when we survive in functional social groups.”
“Environmental sensitivity is not a weakness in regard to mental health, it is a strength. ”
“Individually you need to pay attention to your mental health and find out what works for you because we all will be thrown.”
“Social disconnection is one of the most challenging problems we face but one of the best ways of dealing with that for the foreseeable future is using technology.”
“Online technologies help collect all the relevant data we feel is necessary to know that often gets unsaid at the doctor’s office”
Episode Highlights
Sensitivity is a Strength
● Prof. Hickie Explains how emotional and environmental sensitivity is actually a strength that has allowed us to prosper in groups.
Community is the Core
● Prof. Hickie explains how we are constantly sold the idea of personal improvement be that mental, physical or otherwise and people have commercialised this idea. But that extreme form of individualism can make us retreat from our community and worsen our mental health.
● Prof. Hickie gives examples of indigenous cultures that prioritise the group above all else and argues that we can learn from these cultures and incorporate some of their customs and belief to improve our mental health.
● Building social connections outside of the family network are tremendously important for our mental health as you can carefully choose who to form relationships with.
Technology can be beneficial for mental health.
● Technology has shrunk the world so we can now maintain relationships that would previously be lost because of the distance that separates you.
● You have the ability to connect with experts and find information that would otherwise be hard to come by.
● Despite the common belief that we need face to face communication, sometimes people prefer connection without being face to face.
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To removing stigma,
Jim and Seb
