Childhood stress, trauma and synapse loss

A new book release from Professor (Emeritus) Maxwell Bennett AO, Chair of TBMH Board of Directors, shows how our children are in jeopardy of growing up with mental illness and the consequences of this for their adult lives.

Max Bennett is an internationally-recognised expert in the field of neuroscience, having authored over 300 papers concerned with research on synaptic connections between nerve cells in the brain, and has written 14 books on synapses as well as on the philosophy of mind and brain.

His new book begins with the story of a child growing up in Australia, and this narrative forms the backbone of the book. Through subsequent chapters, the story of his development reveals to the reader just how much the environment we grow up in as children determines our capacity to enjoy life as we mature.

“I wrote this book in order to show how our children are in jeopardy of growing up with mental illness and the consequences of this for their adult lives. This can also help parents to understand and appreciate the extent of their responsibilities for the future happiness of their children.”

Prof Bennett’s extensive experience and credentials in this field include tenure as President of the Australian Neuroscience Society as well as of the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience, the leading world group for the study of the nervous system associated with our emotional life.

Over the past 20 years he has driven the initiation and establishment of Institutes and foundations devoted to achieving the best outcomes in mental health for the Australian community. These include the Brain & Mind Research Institute (now Centre) at Sydney University as well as the Mind & Neuroscience Thompson Institute (now Thompson Institute) at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

He has brought synergy to the areas of brain and mind research and between disciplines in psychiatry, neurology and neuroscience, ensuring that they are embedded in outreach programs to the community.

“One of the key takeaways I hope to impart with this book is underscoring the extent to which our organisations, TBMH and BaMH, are equipped with the knowledge and methodology to ameliorate mental illness of both children and adults.”

Our team of mental health specialists is dedicated to the relentless pursuit of excellence in mental healthcare and implementing the latest research and understanding into our approaches to deliver world-leading care for those who seek support.

This website does not provide mental health services.

If you are having an emergency, dial 000.

If you are feeling distressed and need help now, the below services are available 24 hours a day.

1300 MH CALL

Mental Health (after hours) – support, advice and referral, mental health emergency

Lifeline

24/7 phone and online chat

13 11 14

Suicide callback service

24/7 counselling to people affected by suicide and online chat 1300 659 467

13YARN

Mental Health (after hours) – support, advice and referral, mental health emergency

Beyond Blue

24/7 support service for counselling and online chat

We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Land where we learn, live and work, the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people and Jinibara people. We acknowledge the Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise that they have been living and healing their communities on this land for many thousands of years. In particular, we note the leading role of First Nations women who are the custodians of sophisticated knowledge, community organisers and beacons of wisdom. We recognise the spiritual connection the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) and Jinibara have with the land, water, sky and sea and we extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

TBMH welcomes and supports people from the LGBTQIA+ community and those who identify beyond the binary.

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Thompson Brain & Mind Healthcare

Brain & Mind Hub

We’re turning purple for PTSD Dogs Australia

and Queensland Mental Health Week!

Team BaMH has joined PTSD Dogs Australia’s PTSD Face Off campaign to help raise funds for this amazing organisation and their work training and providing support dogs for veterans and first responders.

World Mental Health Day 2024 on October 10th falls during Queensland Mental Health Week, and as it is our first WMHD since opening Brain & Mind Hub Sunshine Coast, we wanted to do something a bit special.

Continuing our support of PTSD Dogs Australia, we’ve jumped on board as a team to take part in their PTSD Face Off Campaign.

The brave among us will be dying our hair (or in Bernie’s case, beard!) purple to help raise awareness and funds for this wonderful team and their work rescuing dogs who rescue veterans and first responders. What can we say, we’ve got a soft spot for cute pups doing important work!

We’ll be using our new looks to start conversations about the organisation, their incredible and important work and mental health in general.

You can read more about why each of us have decided to take part and show your support for our efforts by visiting our donation pages via the links next to our pictures.

We’ll be joining other participants and the PTSD Dogs Australia team on World Mental Health Day at their event in Noosa – if he reaches his funding goal Bernie will be shaving his beard on the night (which his daughters have never seen him without!), Tora will be unveiling her new look (a big chop and full purple colour!), and Jim and Tara will be accepting compliments on their makeovers!

Click the image below to view the event details and don’t forget to book your free event ticket for October 10th!

Donate to Team TBMH:

Jim Lagopoulos

CEO & Director

Help support Jim’s fundraising effort! Click below to visit his PTSD Face Off page and make a donation.

Bernie Clarke

Compliance, Risk & Governance

“I have seen first-hand, the value of Assistance Dogs in the management of individuals with PTSD and am throwing my support behind PTSD Dogs Australia for their annual Face-off.”

Tara Mueller

Psychologist

Help support Tara’s fundraising effort! Click below to visit her PTSD Face Off page and make a donation.

Tora Kemp

Comms & Marketing

Help support Tora’s fundraising effort! Click below to visit her PTSD Face Off page and make a donation.

This website does not provide mental health services.

If you are having an emergency, dial 000.

If you are feeling distressed and need help now, the below services are available 24 hours a day.

1300 MH CALL

Mental Health (after hours) – support, advice and referral, mental health emergency

Lifeline

24/7 phone and online chat

13 11 14

Suicide callback service

24/7 counselling to people affected by suicide and online chat 1300 659 467

13YARN

Mental Health (after hours) – support, advice and referral, mental health emergency

Beyond Blue

24/7 support service for counselling and online chat

We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Land where we learn, live and work, the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people and Jinibara people. We acknowledge the Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise that they have been living and healing their communities on this land for many thousands of years. In particular, we note the leading role of First Nations women who are the custodians of sophisticated knowledge, community organisers and beacons of wisdom. We recognise the spiritual connection the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) and Jinibara have with the land, water, sky and sea and we extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

TBMH welcomes and supports people from the LGBTQIA+ community and those who identify beyond the binary.

Follow us on social media


Thompson Brain & Mind Healthcare

Brain & Mind Hub