Breaking Taboos: Older Australians talk about mental health

Some people go through life without ever experiencing any mental health conditions. But what happens when you suddenly find yourself in your late 80s feeling depressed and anxious for the first time. 

In this episode, 'First time depression as an octogenarian', we learn how physical changes can lead to big emotions. How do you make sense of these overwhelming feelings? Who do you talk to? What actions do you take? 

This hap...

In this episode - Don’t want to be a burden - we hear from two women, one almost  90-year-old and the other is in her late 70s. The women have chosen to use a pseudonym for this podcast, and so we are calling them Kay and Eva.

Kay and Eva have both experienced their fair share of hardships throughout their lives, but have chosen to keep these experiences to themselves, so as not to burden others with what they’re going through.

The w...

In this episode we are taken to a choir rehearsal and fishing club meeting in Hervey Bay Queensland. And an exercise class at a village hub in Perth, Western Australia.

The two women we’ll be hearing from value social connection and staying active as they get older. Both are in their 60s.

Anne from Hervey Bay, not her real name, has joined fishing and singing groups. These give her a sense of belonging and keep her life varied and fu...

In some cultures, men are socially encouraged and trained to not to talk openly about what they are feeling and experiencing, seeing any kind of vulnerability as a weakness. This has been the case for the two men who feature in this episode: Crying doesn’t make you soft it makes you human.

Keith Smith is from a rural setting in southern Tasmania. Peter Grumley was raised in regional Queensland. Keith and Peter talk about how they gr...

Transgender woman Kathy Mansfield shares her experience of depression at the age of 62, right at the cusp of her gender journey. We learn through Kathy’s living experience that as well as feeling liberated from living authentically, there are unique challenges some older adults face when transitioning.

Kathy is from rural Victoria, and she’s now in her late 70s. She lives with her wife who she’s been married to for just over 50 year...

Throughout his life Fred has always been the captain of his own ship. As a business owner he had a lot of confidence in his abilities and was regarded as an upstanding citizen in his local community. 

When he was in his mid-50s, Fred found himself in a situation where a business partnership soured and he was forced to retire early.

He describes his retirement as going from “the boss to the feather duster”. Fred felt he’d lost his sen...

In this episode - Intergenerational Living - our producer Helene Thomas visits a mother-and-daughter sharehouse.

It was eight years ago that Elizabeth’s daughter was looking for a housemate. Elizabeth was in her mid 50s, and she was also looking for a place to live, so they moved in together. Turns out they are the best of housemates. They live in a rental in inner-city Perth, Western Australia.

When Elizabeth isn’t working as a casu...

Grief is a common and yet unique experience for all of us. Listening to people share their experiences - the various ways they’ve responded - can deepen our understanding of the grieving process. 

This episode - Dealing with Grief - is the story of Linda, a woman whose journey through unimaginable loss speaks to the power of creativity, resilience, and healing. 

This episode contains discussions of difficult subject matter. Please ta...

David Menadue is one of the longest surviving people with AIDS in Australia. David has overcome many AIDS-related illnesses since he was positively diagnosed with HIV in 1984. He was 32 years old at the time.

David has lived a much longer life than many expected him to. He puts this down to a few things, but what he believes has had the biggest impact on him, is the unwavering and ongoing support he received from his family and frie...

Breaking Taboos: Older Australians Talk About Mental Health is a ten-part conversational podcast series that brings raw, heartfelt stories into the spotlight, offering an unfiltered look at the mental health journeys of Australians aged 60 and over. 

From navigating grief, retirement, and aged care transitions to living with HIV/AIDS or undergoing gender transition later in life, the series covers ground rarely explored in public co...