A Sense of Hope Podcast
'A Sense of Hope' is a podcast dedicated to inspiring resilience and fostering mental well-being. Join us as we explore the struggles we experience and uncover pathways to overcome adversity. Through insightful conversations and uplifting stories, we aim to break boundaries and instil a sense of hope in every listener.
Episode 12
Julia Rucklidge
Mental Health Nurse to Life Coach - An interview with Audrey from Pivot Path
In a captivating episode of the Sense of Hope podcast, hosted by Helen Duyvestyn, RN, Professor Dr. Julia Rucklidge, director of the Te Puna Toi Ora Mental Health and Nutrition Research Lab at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, shared groundbreaking insights into the role of micronutrients in mental health.
From her extensive research to real-world applications, Dr. Rucklidge delved into topics like ADHD, PTSD, prenatal depression, and more.
She became interested in the impact of micronutrients on mental health after hearing about Canadian families who were using nutrients to treat their children with Bipolar Disorder.
So far - she has investigated micronutrients in the treatment of: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adults, anxiety and stress in adults and children following the Christchurch earthquakes, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, depression, addictions, emotion dysregulation and perinatal depression.
Join us for this discussion on the remarkable impact that nutrients can have on mental health & well-being.
Episode 11
Helen Duyvestyn
Mental Health Nurse to Life Coach - An interview with Audrey from Pivot Path
Discover how Helen Duyvestyn transformed her psychiatric nursing career by challenging traditional mental health treatment approaches. This episode is perfect for nurses exploring non-bedside nursing jobs or interested in holistic health. Helen shares her journey from conventional psychiatric care to developing an evidence-based model centered on nutrition, sleep, and movement.
✨ Key Insights:
-The limitations of traditional mental health treatments
-How nutrition impacts mental wellbeing
-Building a holistic approach to patient care -Transitioning from clinical to wellness-focused practice
This time, I'm at the end of the questions!
We discuss:
- the issues and challenges of mainstream psychiatry
- why I'm so passionate about 'a different approach' to mental health
- why focusing on wellness is such an important part of creating a healthy human.
- how diet, lifestyle and many other factors are so important when creating spaces for healing.
If you are a mental health professional or someone who receives mental health care - you will love this episode!
You can also listen and watch via PivotPath at:
Episode 10
Aaron
Trauma on the frontline - NZ Police
Aaron is a New Zealand police officer who after two years working in the front line began to notice changes in his mood, behaviour & sleep patterns.
He also started to experience flashbacks on his daily commute to and from work.
According to statistics - symptoms like depression and PTSD affect up to 35% of New Zealand police - however recent statistics suggest that the number of police officers suffering from PTSD alone is up to 42%.
Join us in the conversation about what it's like to be a police officer, the onset and symptoms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), the treatment Aaron used to reduce his symptoms and well as the day-to-day self-care that helps build resilience and foster well-being.
Episode 9
Sonya English
ICU nurse to health coach - moving the needle on chronic disease
Sonya is a Registered Nurse who spent most of her career working in ICU (Intensive Care Unit).
Noticing the decreasing age at which people were being admitted to hospital with preventative chronic disease - she decided she wanted to focus on a more preventative model and trained to be a health coach.
Sonya is now a PREKURE master holistic health coach and transformative life coach. She also continues to work as a critical care patient at-risk nurse specialist. She holds a master's in health practice and her vast health experience affords a holistic approach to championing her client’s wellness.
As a health coach, she believes working with her client’s vision and values to support their movement from where they are now to their desired goal is paramount. Her focus is on her clients’ strengths, their lifeworld and untapped awareness to move forward positively and sustainably.
She specialises in mental fitness and metabolic health.
You can find Sonya here:
Website: https://www.sehealthcoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonya-english-acc-icf-1b7652180/?originalSubdomain=nz
Episode 8
Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith
This might make you flinch.
In this podcast, we speak with Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith. Ainsley is a New Zealand-born photographer, writer, activist and ancient history buff with a passion for travel and cultural exploration.
Her work often focuses on underrepresented stories and global issues, and she is currently a finalist in the New Zealand Geographic Photography Awards.
In 2019 Ainsley experienced several health events which led her to experience significant mental and physical health challenges. Over a number of years, Ainsley had frequent admissions to hospital, saw numerous health specialists, had surgery for endometriosis and experienced depression and chronic fatigue.
This podcast is about her experience in the New Zealand health system, what helped her recover and how this has motivated her to change how women receive gynaecology care in New Zealand.
You can find out more about Ainsley here: https://www.ainsleydscreative.com/
https://www.instagram.com/you.might.feel.a.pinch/
https://www.instagram.com/we.deserve.better.nz/
Episode 7
Helen Gibbs - A Trauma informed approach to dietetics
Helen is one of a few New Zealand registered dietitians who practices privately. She is also one of the few dieticians who acknowledges, understands and practices trauma-informed care.
The impact of trauma around food (being 'forced' to eat vegetables as a child for example) can impact a person's food choices into adulthood.
Other non-food related trauma - can also impact a person's eating behaviours - especially if the person chooses food as a form of 'self-soothing'.
Episode 6
Kate Berridge - Understanding Obesity
Join Kate Berridge on the Sense of Hope podcast, where we delve into the delicate space of bariatric (or weight loss surgery), the hope it gives to people who experience metabolic syndrome and why it's not just about weight loss
Kate also explains why - once we are in a bigger body - it's not simply about 'eating less and moving more' - and that obesity is a complex condition involving mental, physical, whanau, emotional and environmental health.
Episode 5
Bronwyn Hudson - Walking alongside depression
Bronwyn Hudson experienced her talented rugby-playing husband go from a professional outgoing sportsman to experiencing chronic fatigue and debilitating life-altering depression.
Join us as she tells her experience as someone walking alongside a partner who is struggling with their health and how this led her to build a business as a health coach focusing on how food and mood are so intricately connected.
This is a powerful and personal story as part of the Sense of Hope series - sharing stories and promoting resilience in mental health
Episode 4
Dr Davin Tan - Reimagining Psychiatry
Dr Davin Tan is a dedicated dad and youth forensic psychiatrist with a passion for empowering parents to help their anxious and sensitive children navigate the complexities of modern life.
With over a decade of experience, Dr. Tan has become a trusted voice in the field, known for his empathetic approach and practical advice.
Join us as we discuss the challenges with modern-day psychiatry and how we can approach mental health differently.
Episode 3
Donna Stichbury - Peaceful Beginnings
Donna Stichbury is the founder of Peaceful Beginnings.
Peaceful Beginnings supports children to be the very best version of their authentic selves and adults to find their inner wisdom so that they can walk alongside their children.
Join us in this insightful conversation about parenting, trauma and the understanding that as parents you can't give, what you haven't had.
Episode 2
Zoe McLaren - You’re having a stroke’
Our special Guest on ‘A Sense of Hope’ is Zoe McLaren.
For 24 years Zoe McLaren was a doctor, a paediatrician who worked at Starship Hospital.
Zoe was only 42 years old when she had a serious stroke.
Join us as we hear Zoe's journey from pre-stroke to post-stroke. Hear her experience of recovery, her learnings about true health and well-being,
Episode 1
Anne Bulley - Finding Hope in Despair
Join us with our special guest on September 1st as we launch ‘A Sense of Hope’.
Anne Bulley is the Communications Director for ReliefAid - an organisation providing aid for those in war-torn countries.
Join us to hear Anne's story and how simple things done by us on the other side of the world give those in war zones a sense of hope.
