Varuna, the house, was previously owned by writers Eleanor Dark and Dr Eric Dark, a medical practitioner, hence Varuna’s interest in the link between medicine and writing – an area that I too am very interested in.

I found out about this website through a post on Twitter announcing a creative writing competition for medical students and doctors hosted by the MJA and Varuna. You can read more about this competition here, but if you want to enter, be quick as the closing date is soon. I’ve sent an entry in, even though short stories are not usually my strongest form of writing, but I need to keep sending my work out there.

There are links on the ‘Doctors Who…’ website to doctors who combine their medical work with other interests including advocacy, creativity, innovation and creativity. There are some big name writers on there, including Peter Goldsworthy and Nick Earls – worth a look.

Traitor by Stephen Daisley

The Family Law by Benjamin Law

Bereft by Chris Womersley

Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett

Rocks in the Belly by Jon Bauer

Caribou Island by David Vann (this is probably my favourite book of last year)

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Now I’m clearing out the 2011 books and starting a new list for 2012…

Have a great Christmas and I’ll be back in the New Year.

You can find lots of information there, including an article that I wrote, The Internet and Creative Writing: Opportunities and Challenges.

I’ve been very quiet here recently, that’s because there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes. I’m thrilled to announce at last that my novel (provisionally titled ‘That Day’, but it may well change) will be published by Hachette Australia in early 2013.

I found out a couple of weeks ago that Hachette Australia wanted to make an offer, and the discussions around accepting that offer were taking place between myself, the publisher, and my agent while I was at — of all places — the zoo! So, in between the noises of lions roaring (literally – they were being fed or something) and monkeys hooting, I verbally accepted the offer and in the last couple of weeks the contract was drawn up and signed.

I’m very excited, even about the prospect of working on the novel again with professional editors, and seeing every stage of the process that turns a manuscript into a real book on the shelves. I’m also anxious about the fact that it is really happening, and that people will read and have an opinion on my novel. 2013 seems like a long way away, but I’m sure the time will go very quickly and I’ll be very busy.

For the moment though, I’m just enjoying the champagne…

It will be hard with work and children to fit in, but I’ll give it a go. I am still waiting for news about my first novel, and getting stuck into the second novel is a good way to distract myself from the waiting and jumping every time the phone rings.
And if I don’t manage 50000 words in November…it doesn’t matter. Even to get half of that would be brilliant.

Good luck to any others taking part!

In this memoir, Rebecca describes her mental illness beginning in her teens, and how it was eventually diagnosed in her early adulthood. It not only includes vivid descriptions of how it feels to her to be hypomanic and manic, but also shows glimpses of her experience of the medical system: her psychiatrist, hospitalisation, and being both on and off medication. She writes beautifully, and given that she wrote at least some of it in a hypomanic state, the writing at times reflects the thought disorder and pressure of someone whose mood is elevated.

This is the best piece of writing I’ve come across that helps to capture the experience of mania and you can read it online here, or in print in GriffthREVIEW33 ‘Such is Life’.

The ACCC has released a safety warning here if you use/are considering using a baby sling, and this contains advice on safer usage. Of course, consult a health professional if you have any other concerns.

“For many parents, worrying about their children, especially when they move away from home for the first time, it is natural. Of course, there are many specific things that parents worry about concerning their college-bound students, but perhaps the most worrisome for those who have a family history of mental health disorders is that big changes—moving away to experience a lack of structure for the first time–could cause stresses that later manifest into full-blown disorders. This was my experience with one of my children, who was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder but had shown no signs of the disorder prior to college. Here are a few of my tips for maintaining your child’s mental health when he or she no longer lives with you.

1.     Be communicative without being overbearing.

When I first began attending college, my parents called me every day, but we never had substantive conversations. It was more of an exercise in “checking up” on me and a way to assuage their empty nest syndrome. Of course, you will want to call all the time, but it is much more effective to call your child every few days and have longer, more substantive conversations in which you can extract how they are really managing the transition. Since your child is experiencing independence for the first time, she will likely be less receptive to your communication if you call too often.

2.     Get to know your child’s friends.

Of course, this won’t happen right away, but it is important to know and have contact information of those who actually live and study with your child. It is very easy for your own child to say “I’m fine, don’t worry.” Close friends who have your child’s interests in mind will be more open to talking honestly if a serious problem begins to arise. Whenever I came to visit my child in college, I would always invite her closest friends to dinner. Being close with your child’s support group is absolutely essential if your child later struggles with mental health issues.

3.     Watch for small signs of anomalous behavior.

Most of the time, it is very easy for a burgeoning mental health problem to slip completely under the radar until it becomes an obvious problem. In my experience, especially if you already know about mental health disorders from relatives who may have them, it’s most important to look for very small changes in behavior. Even seemingly positive behaviors can be a sign. For example, when my child began calling me bubbling over with enthusiasm about a thesis project, I was excited for her. When the calls became more frequent and the enthusiasm turned into obsession, I knew that there was a problem.

4.     Emphasize the importance of consistent sleep and overall balance.

Eventually, my child’s friends and I were able to convince my child to seek professional help. And one thing that parents should know from the very beginning is that professional help is an absolute necessity if mental health problems come up. I have known far too many young men and women whose lives were ruined by mental health disorders because they or their parents were in denial and delayed seeking help. But after seeing an appropriate doctor, the most important aspect of maintaining mental health is sleep and leading a balanced life. Make sure to emphasize this when talking to your child.

It goes without saying that there is much less that you, as a parent can do when your child moves away from home, and it can be extremely stressful. Being as loving and supportive in any way you can be, while trusting your child to grow into independence, is the most effective way to ensure a stable transition from home to adulthood.”

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

Having worked with refugees who were survivors of torture and trauma, I have heard some of the horrific stories that were literally about life and death. I was left in absolutely no doubt that if I was in their shoes, I would sell everything I had and pay whatever it took to get out of that country immediately to save the lives of my family. When we think about trauma in refugees, it is overwhelming: the pre-migration factors that led to them having to flee (persecution, violence, war), the migration factors (journeying on a small, overcrowded boat with no idea how long it will last or whether you’ll survive) and post-migration factors – such as being held in detention and the difficulties of settling in a foreign country.

It is these post-migration traumas that we can help with. It is awful enough for adults, but children are especially vulnerable. Detention increases the exposure of these children to trauma, robs them of developmental opportunities, and increases their risk of mental health disorders.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (of which I am a member) has a position statement on the detention of children that summarises the issues. The High Court’s decision is encouraging, but we still have a way to go in this country in making sure we contribute in a positive way to the mental  health of children and families who seek asylum.