Welcome to Mental Health Matters: Voices of Change, the podcast where we explore the stories, insights, and practices that help us build emotionally safe and empowering lives. I’m your host, Susan Day, and today we’re diving into a timely conversation about the holiday season.

Christmas can be a season of joy, but it can also bring stress, pressure, and emotional challenges. To help us unpack the mental health impacts of this time of year, I’m joined by psychologist Jordan Whitehead. Together, we’ll explore why it’s so important to slow down, take it easy, and embrace gratitude as a grounding practice.

This episode is all about finding balance—recognizing the pressures we face, while also creating space for kindness, reflection, and self-care. Jordan brings thoughtful expertise and practical strategies that can help us navigate the holidays with more peace and presence.

So settle in, and let’s begin this conversation on how we can care for our mental health during Christmas, and discover the power of gratitude in shaping a gentler, more joyful season.

Discover more about Jordan's work here:

https://www.jordanwhiteheadpsych.com.au/

Be My Guest

If you’re interested in being a guest on Mental Health Matters: Voices of Change, please comment and Susan will be in touch.

About Mindful Arts Therapy

Mindful Arts Therapy creates safe, empowering spaces where creativity becomes a pathway to healing. Through art, reflection, and trauma‑informed practice, it supports mental health by helping people of all ages build resilience, express emotions, and reconnect with their inner strength.

For more information:

⁠⁠https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/⁠⁠

🛑 Disclaimer: This episode does not replace professional mental or physical health care. Please consult a qualified therapist or medical practitioner for personalized support.

In today’s episode, we step into the paddock — both literally and emotionally — with Natasha Whitwell, founder of Seen and Herd Equine Assisted Therapy. Natasha shares how horses, with their intuitive presence and gentle strength, can guide us toward healing, emotional regulation, and personal growth.

From her tranquil base in Kulnura, NSW, Natasha offers a unique therapeutic approach that blends counselling with the wisdom of horses. She creates safe spaces for people of all ages to reconnect with themselves and discover new pathways to wellbeing.

Discover more:Website: https://www.seenandherd.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seenandherdaustralia

Be My Guest

If you’re interested in being a guest on Mental HealthMatters: Voices of Change, please comment and Susan will be in touch.

About Mindful Arts Therapy

Mindful Arts Therapy creates safe, empowering spaces wherecreativity becomes a pathway to healing. Through art, reflection, and trauma‑informed practice, it supports mental health by helping people of all ages build resilience, express emotions, and reconnect with their inner strength.

For more information:

⁠https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/⁠

🛑 Disclaimer: This episode does not replace professional mental or physical health care. Please consult a qualified therapist or medical practitioner for personalized support.

Today we share a heartfelt conversation with Amanda Cops from Mental Health Foundation Australia. Amanda’s lived experience brings depth and authenticity to her advocacy, and her leadership in coordinating peer support groups across the country is extraordinary.

With lived experience of bipolar disorder, Amanda shows the power of community care. She leads 34 online peer support groups nationwide, creating safe, supportive spaces for Australians to connect, heal, and thrive.

Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) was founded in 1930 and is the oldest community-based mental health organisation in the country. For 94 years, MHFA has provided vital education and support services to Australians from all walks of life.

To learn more or get involved: Website: https://www.mhfa.org.au Phone: 1300 643 287

Want to be a guest on Mental Health Matters: Voices of Change?

Please reach out or leave a comment. Susan will be in touch.

Discover more about Mindful Arts Therapy: https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/

In this episode, Susan speaks with Jackie Lindsay — widely known as Anxiety Girl — about her journey through severe anxiety and panic attacks, and how she found peace, resilience, and a voice of change in mental health advocacy.

Jackie brings a powerful and relatable voice to conversations about mental health. After years of living with intense anxiety and panic — episodes so overwhelming they impacted every part of her life — she now shares her story to help others feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Discover more:
Website: https://www.anxietygirl.com
Instagram: @anxietygirl

Be My Guest

If you’re interested in being a guest on Mental HealthMatters: Voices of Change, please comment and Susan will be in touch.

About Mindful Arts Therapy

Mindful Arts Therapy creates safe, empowering spaces wherecreativity becomes a pathway to healing. Through art, reflection, and trauma‑informedpractice, it supports mental health by helping people of all ages buildresilience, express emotions, and reconnect with their inner strength.

For more information:

⁠https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/⁠

🛑 Disclaimer: Thisvideo does not replace professional mental or physical health care. Pleaseconsult a qualified therapist or medical practitioner for personalized support.

Lou Chalmer is a former Environmental Scientist who, after facing her own mental and physical health challenges, found a new path as an Integrative Natural Medicine Practitioner and Counsellor. Today, she works with people from all walks of life, supporting those with complex trauma and chronic illness to reclaim their health and wellbeing. She also shares her knowledge and passion through writing — in online and print publications, as well as in her book — making complex health topics accessible and inspiring for everyone.

In this episode, Lou explores how stress and trauma are deeply connected to physical health, often contributing to issues that extend beyond emotional wellbeing. Symptoms of stress, trauma, and burnout can manifest not only in mood and energy levels but also in physical signs such as fatigue, inflammation, and changes detectable in bloodwork. Current research highlights the role genetics can play in shaping vulnerability to chronic mental and physical health conditions, showing that inherited factors may influence how our bodies respond to stress.

Discover more

Website: https://www.ecological-nutrition.com/

Follow: @louchalmer

Be My guest

If you’re interested in being a guest on Mental Health Matters: Voices of Change, please comment and Susan will be in touch.

About Mindful Arts Therapy
Mindful Arts Therapy creates safe, empowering spaces where creativity becomes a pathway to healing. Through art, reflection, and trauma‑informed practice, it supports mental health by helping people of all ages build resilience, express emotions, and reconnect with their inner strength.

For more information:

https://mindfulartstherapy.com.au/

🛑 Disclaimer: Thisvideo does not replace professional mental or physical health care. Pleaseconsult a qualified therapist or medical practitioner for personalized support.