Show Notes
It Can't Hurt To Ask is back! This season we're taking a deep dive into menopause with leading menopause experts and everyday Queenslanders. We're starting with the first stage of the journey – perimenopause. You'll hear from Brisbane-based endocrinologist and president-elect of the Australasian Menopause Society, Dr Christina Jang who takes us through what perimenopause is, the varying physical or mental health symptoms and how difficult it can often be to get a diagnosis. Dr Jang will be with us for the whole season sharing her expert knowledge and advice. You'll also hear from Nic, who shares what her early perimenopause symptoms were like and her experience with getting a diagnosis. What is perimenopause? What are the symptoms? What age can you go into perimenopause? Listen to find out. If you'd like to learn more about menopause, we have a whole season lined up. Make sure you listen to our next episode, where we explore how diet and lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms. We’ll also discuss how hormonal changes can affect mental health and wellbeing. Feel free to leave us a review too — we'd love to hear your thoughts. Episode Resources: Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) The AMS is a not-for-profit member-based society aiming to improve the quality of life for women during and after the menopause. The AMS helps women and their health professionals better understand the transition through this stage of life by providing accurate, evidence-based information about premature menopause, perimenopause, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and alternatives, osteoporosis and how to locate a doctor interested in women's health. Visit the AMS website for more information. Jean Hailes for Women's Health Jean Hailes for Women's Health is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving women's health across Australia through every life stage. They work in public health, research, clinical services and policy. Their website has practical and easy-to-understand information for women and for health professionals. Visit the Jean Hailes website for more information. Lifeline Lifeline provides free, 24-hour telephone crisis support service in Australia. Counsellors are available to provide mental health support and emotional assistance, not only via telephone but face-to-face and online. Visit the Lifeline website or call them on 13 11 14. Beyond Blue Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation. They offer free, qualified mental health support via chat or phone. Visit the Beyond Blue website or call them on 1300 22 4636.
More from It Can't Hurt To Ask
What's involved in caring for someone at the end of their life? What kind of support is available for people wanting to die at home? How can people provide care for loved ones while they are in hospital?
While it may feel uncomfortable, we can't talk about Death and Dying, without answering this one—what actually happens when someone is dying? Lauren tackles this question head on to find out more—what are the different stages of dying, how long does it take and what do the movies get right (if anything)? We also learn more about the importance of advance care planning as we age and how voluntary assisted dying works from Karen, a clinical nurse consultant from Toowoomba. In this episode, we'll hear from clinical nurse consultant Jacinta and palliative care specialist Dr Sheryl from Caboolture Hospital's palliative care service, who explain what to expect as people come to the end of their lives. Remember, death may feel scary, but talking about it shouldn't. After all, it can't hurt to ask! Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
There can be a lot of people involved in end-of-life care, so in this episode, we're finding out who's who and what they do. In this episode, Lauren meets with staff from across the state who help care for people who are dying, to find out what their jobs are and what they love about their work. From the role of doctors and nurses in palliative care settings, to allied health professionals and a geriatrician, we're finding out how many different disciplines can come together to support a person's quality of life in their final months, weeks and days. What's the most common request a palliative care music therapist gets? Why might an occupational therapist talk to a patient's neighbours? How does a geriatrician explain ageing? Come along for the journey to find out! Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
What if we told you that palliative care is less about death and dying, and more about living? In Episode 2 about Death and Dying, Lauren heads to different services across the state to find out what palliative care is, how it works and the many different ways you can access care. We start with a history lesson from Dr Graham, the director of the Specialist Rural Telehealth Service, who explains what palliative care is and who it's for. We will also hear from clinical nurse consultant Jacinta about how a hospital palliative care ward works, meet community palliative care specialist Dr Erin who explains what in-community care looks like, and find out how the Specialist Rural Telehealth Service delivers care to people in rural and remote areas from Dr Graham. Hit play to find out how palliative care services are evolving to meet the needs of people right across the state. Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).
Death is one of life's few guarantees. It's natural and will happen to all of us—so why are we so afraid to talk about it? In Episode 1 of It Can’t Hurt to Ask ... about Death and Dying, our host Lauren kicks off the season by asking what seems like an obvious question: what are death and dying? The answer, however, is a little more complex. We're joined by Dr Christian, a palliative care specialist from Rockhampton Base Hospital and Laurelle, a social worker from our statewide Specialist Palliative Rural Telehealth Service based out of Gold Coast University Hospital. They help us explore the clinical definitions of death and dying (and how they differ from what we understand as death), share what we do and don't know about death, and help us understand what a "good death" really means. It may seem scary, but this episode is just the start of tackling the silence and stigma that surrounds death. Because talking about it can help us feel more prepared, more informed and help us live our lives to their fullest. Resources: Talking about death and dying can bring up challenging emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental wellbeing, support is available: Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24 hours a day) if you are experiencing a personal crisis or chat to a counsellor online. Beyond Blue: call 1300 22 463 for broad mental wellbeing support or speak to a counsellor online. Griefline: call 1300 845 745 (9am–6pm, Monday - Friday, 12 noon–6pm weekends). PalAssist has general information and advice about palliative care services in Queensland. Call 1800 772 273 (free for Queensland residents) or chat online (from 7am to 7pm, 7 days). In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).