Sydney Ideas

It's a natural, human response to fear disease. Yet we've seen this fear heightened with the outbreak of COVID-19. After all, the disease has reached into virtually all corners of life: public health, security, jobs, businesses, our culture and communities. It's an uncertain time. People are anxious. So, how do we communicate and channel our anxiety to respond productively? We're taking a look at mental health in Australia and how it's being impacted on by COVID-19. We speak with Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of the Brain and Mind Centre and a leading health expert. WHAT WE COVER – The drivers of good mental health: personal autonomy and social connection – How we can give people the information and agency to take productive actions – The conversations we should be having to enable and empower communities – Mental health in the face of an economic crisis – The importance of social cohesion: while we're physically isolated, the more we're connected socially and emotionally, it will have profound