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News.com.au
6 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Falling apart': Huge issue 1 in 6 Australians are battling
Many women expect that bringing a child into the world will be one of the happiest times of their entire lives. While that might be true for some, the pivotal life experience can illicit a whole range of unexpected emotions that go against the norm of what society says new parents are meant to feel. For mum Jaimi, while she was over the moon to become a mother, she never anticipated the psychological rollercoaster she was about to embark on. The 31-year-old from Sydney explained that for as long as she could remember, she had felt like she was simply an 'anxious person' and did not realise it could be a mental health issue. Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needs to have the most important conversation of their life. Diagnosed with anxiety and depression at 16, she went on medication for a while which helped, but was re-diagnosed when she 22 and living in London. Despite these low points, Jaimi never felt like it was taking over her entire life. That is, until she fell pregnant. What was once something that came in waves and she felt she could manage soon transformed into a debilitating illness that impacted every facet of her life. 'While pregnant with my son, I was hospitalised twice due to anxiety around my pregnancy.' the small business owner told 'I was incredibly scared that he wasn't okay and kept having intrusive thoughts that I had miscarried. 'It was traumatising and incredibly scary. I had panic attacks and was so overwhelmed with fear that I couldn't shake the feelings I had or try to calm myself. 'It certainly didn't help that we were in lockdown at the time.' After giving birth to her son in 2022, the feelings only intensified, and she was diagnosed with postnatal depression and anxiety. 'I was incredibly overwhelmed and worried about my son,' she recalled. 'Checking on him constantly to see if he was breathing, completely consumed by how much he was eating and constantly stressed to the point of tears that he wasn't eating enough. 'I was really struggling and having a baby made my anxiety so much worse than it had ever been. 'I could no longer ignore it or pass it off as fears of a new mother. It was debilitating and affecting my relationship with my husband and son. 'It was prolonged and didn't go away or get better. My son's eating was a really big part of my anxiety as I was incredibly stressed about him putting on weight and being healthy. 'I had a lot of issues with breastfeeding and this was a massive trigger for me and definitely contributed to my anxiety. 'I was an emotional wreck and so consumed with guilt and worry that I was just falling apart.' The experience of being a new mum paired with crippling anxiety and postnatal depression was one of the most difficult times of Jaimi's life. She explained that it felt like a constant 'heavy weight' that she just could not shake. 'For me, it just felt like a heavy weight, weighing me down constantly,' she revealed. 'I couldn't get rid of this really heavy feeling. It is so debilitating and you feel like no one else around you understands. 'I couldn't explain my fears or feelings properly which only made things more difficult. I didn't know what I was feeling as this was a totally overwhelming situation that I hadn't ever faced. 'I just felt like everything was dark and heavy, even when people were there, the world around me felt isolating and dark.' Thankfully, Jaimi's GP caught on that something wasn't quite right when she went in for her newborn's immunisations and requested a follow up appointment. It was then she was officially diagnosed with postnatal depression and anxiety. Thanks to her doctor picking up on the signs, she was able to get the help she needed. 'I was put on medication which was a tremendous help,' she said. 'I've been medicated ever since and it is an incredible help and relief. I later saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD, which often has depression and anxiety attached as symptoms. 'This is something I didn't know and wish more people understood.' The mum is currently pregnant with her second child and thankfully, it has been smooth-sailing. 'The medication helped tremendously and I feel like I have my symptoms under control, even now while I'm pregnant,' she said. 'Pregnancy was a huge source of anxiety for me and this pregnancy has been so much better in terms of my anxiety. 'I feel a lot lighter, I'm more calm and I am feeling excited about it this time around.' Jaimi is sharing her story to help raise awareness for PND and anxiety and hopes that it can help others feel less alone in their struggles. 'People think of mental health as a 'buzzword' rather than a debilitating disease that affects far more people than it seems,' she added. 'Anxiety can be completely overwhelming and consuming and can seriously affect a person and their loved ones lives. 'I want people to understand that they're not alone. There is support and you can find a community of people who will help you, even when others won't. 'You shouldn't live in a constant state of anxiety, worry and isolation.'
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Something has to give': Warning Australia can't ignore any longer
There is a deeply concerning phenomenon on the rise across the country and, as Australians, unless we make a real change, it is only going to get worse. New research has found money and financial concerns have the most significant impact on the mental wellbeing of all Australians, affecting 48 per cent of the population, followed by stress and anxiety. New research by News Corp's Growth Distillery with Medibank has painted a worrying picture of how Aussies are coping with everyday stressors like work and their finances. Researchers surveyed more than 2500 people aged 18 and over, finding the most commonly experienced, frequent and impactful stressor is feeling financially behind or guilty about spending money, with over 60 per cent of respondents indicating it happens most frequently and has the most significant impact on their mental wellbeing. When it comes to the workplace, deadlines and intense workloads were identified by one in give as major sources of stress. The pressure felt when it comes to work stressors also increases with income level, with 28 per cent of higher income respondents saying they lack downtime and feel overburdened, compared to 12 per cent of those on lower incomes. Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needs to have the most important conversation of their life. 'Something has to give' Mindset Consulting Psychology clinical psychologist Dr Aileen Alegado told unaddressed workplace and financial stress can have serious long-term consequences, both on individuals and the wider Australian community. 'When we don't address workplace and financial stress, we're essentially asking our bodies and minds to run a marathon while carrying heavy backpacks - eventually, something has to give,' she said. 'From a neurobiological perspective, chronic stress keeps our amygdala - our brain's alarm system - constantly activated, while simultaneously suppressing our prefrontal cortex, which handles decision-making and emotional regulation.' This then leads to what Dr Alegado described as a 'cascade effect' as chronic stress hormones like cortisol go further than just impacting mood, they can compromise immune function, disrupt sleep architecture, and shrink our brain's memory centre, known as the hippocampus. This can manifest as an array of issues, such as increased rates of anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease and cognitive difficulties - all of which can persist even after the initial stressor is removed. But there is a big reason this is so concerning for Australia has a whole. Stress is contagious, according to Dr Alegado. 'When individuals are chronically stressed, it ripples through families, communities, and workplaces,' she said. 'We're seeing increased domestic violence rates, children developing anxiety disorders at younger ages, and what researchers call 'secondary trauma' in healthcare and social service workers who are supporting increasingly distressed populations.' Looking at it from an economic through an economic lens, these impacts can lead to a vicious cycle. A stressed-out worker is more likely to be absent from their job and be less productive. Dr Alegado noted Australian businesses are reporting unprecedented turnover rates, warning 'we're losing institutional knowledge faster than we can rebuild it.' 'It's like trying to fill a bucket with holes in it - the economic cost of not addressing mental health is far greater than the investment required to support it,' she said. 'Taboo' topic widening generational rifts When we look further into the impact of financial and work stressors on Australians, it is clear there is also a deeper generational divide that needs to be considered. For Baby Boomers and pre-Boomers, the biggest reported stressors relate to health declines and loss, along with worrying about their loved ones' wellbeing. Gen X are burdened by peak financial responsibilities, such as mortgages and retirement planning, while also managing health issues that can come with ageing. Millennials are grappling with the financial strain of housing and childcare costs, while also juggling their family and work lives. One in four in this generation said they feel overburdened daily due to career demands, family responsibilities and social expectations, citing a distinct lack of downtime. Gen Z face intense stress of academic and early career pressures, all of which are heighten by social media and societal expectation. The research found that close to 40 per cent of Gen Zers surveyed reported feeling behind financially or guilty about spending money. When it comes to Gen Zers, Enriching Lives Psychology principal psychologist and owner Carly Dober said they are in the difficult position of being 'far worse off' than previous generations when it comes to many financial security measures. 'We have societal expectations and markers of adulthood now that are so much more difficult to achieve - or impossible for some Gen Zers,' she told 'This combined with shame and resentment about this, plus a certain percentage of the population telling them incorrectly that they 'just need to work harder' or other falsehoods show a lack of understanding of contemporary economic basics.' This can also lead to intergenerational conflict and resentment. The report also found there is a perceived hierarchy of struggles when it comes to discussing mental wellbeing topics, with tangible or 'universal' issues such as physical health problems or work viewed as more socially acceptable to discuss. Australians find silent struggles, such as feelings of loneliness or lack of purpose, much harder to openly address, with people often looking to internalise and manage these stressors alone. This conversation gap widens when it comes to discussing sensitive topics across generations. For example, even though the majority of respondents said they generally feel comfortable discussing work-related stress, the level of discomfort increases, going from 27 per cent to 39 per cent when a person is talking to someone from a different generation, Dr Alegado said this communication gap exists because each generation has developed different 'stress languages' based off their formative workplace experiences. Baby Boomers and Gen X were taught to compartmentalise work stress as their 'neural patterns were shaped in environments where bringing personal struggles to work was taboo'. They developed strong mindsets of the back of this, which is why when they hear younger generations discussing things like anxiety around work-life balance it can 'trigger' a strong response, as these coping mechanisms are so different from their own. 'Conversely, Gen Z and younger Millennials have grown up with psychological literacy - they have vocabulary for mental health concepts that older generations may never have learned,' Dr Alegado said. 'When they say 'I'm having anxiety about this project', they're often seeking understanding and support. But older colleagues might interpret this as inability to handle responsibility or professional weakness.' Biggest challenges we need to address - now There isn't just one thing that needs to be done or achieved to change Australia's attitude towards mental health, particularly around workplace and financial stress. Being able to change the systems that allow these stressors to grow and fester is one of the key challenges Ms Dober says she faces. In order to try mitigate this, she and her colleagues our outspoken advocates for policies and initiatives that can be adopted at a business and a government level to help improve the lives of workers. This includes things like maintaining flexible work, increasing wages and having 'mentally healthy' and competent managers. 'On an individual level, it's about working with the person to try to support their stress levels in practical ways such as focusing on movement, sleep, good enough nutrition, connecting to friends and family, communication and sustainable boundaries in the workplace,' Ms Dober said. Overall, Dr Alegado believes we need to start treating workplace and financial stress not as just individual problem, but something that is intertwined. 'We need to recognise that psychological wellbeing is infrastructure, just like roads or telecommunications,' she said. 'When we invest in mental health support systems, we're not just helping individuals - we're building the foundation for a more resilient and productive society.'
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
On The Punt: Caulfield best bets for Saturday May 31, 2025
News Corp form analyst Chris Vernuccio takes a look at the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET NIANCE (R8 No.7): Niance won both starts last spring, including the Group 3 How Now Stakes over subsequent Group 1 placegetter She's Bulletproof. The five-year-old mare missed the autumn after a paddock accident but has looked sharp in her trials. She has the talent to measure up in better races. NEXT BEST JIMMY THE BEAR (R6 No.3: Jimmy The Bear made a great return at Caulfield when he chased home War Machine, who has since won again and is now the favourite for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. The Patrick and Michelle Payne gelding has excellent second-up form with two wins and two seconds from four runs, and he has three wins at 1600m. BIG SWINGER (R3 No.1): Three-year-old Big Swinger thrashed his rivals first-up in a Benchmark 64 at Pakenham before stepping up to the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint where he finished a close fifth as favourite.
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Horse racing tips: Caulfield betting strategy and quaddie analysis
News Corp racing reporter Gilbert Gardiner gives his $200 betting strategy and quaddie analysis for the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FOUR-PLAY: $200 BETTING STRATEGY RACE 2: BENCHMARK 78 FILLIES AND MARES (1200m) $25 each-way EXCESS (2) at $7.50/$2.60 Deep in campaign but raced consistently with runs nicely spaced. Won a similar race last start at The Valley, travelled on speed and kicked to hold a margin on the runner-up. Drawn to low here and should get a similar map, albeit tougher to lead all the way here. Placed in two of three starts at Caulfield, only blemish came three runs back when crossed from wide draw to travel on speed and faded late. Fitness edge on key rivals. RACE 3: 3YO OPEN HANDICAP (1200m) $50 win BIG SWINGER (1) at $2.50 Smart three-year-old gelding with still untapped potential. Drawn to be prominent in barrier two and should be extremely hard to hold out. Completely luckless last start in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint and yet only beaten 1¼ lengths at Randwick. Six weeks between runs a slight concern but Big Swinger looks well placed in this company. Include JUST FOR SHOW (3) in any exotics. A model of consistency and should once again be around the mark. RACE 7: BENCHMARK 84 HANDICAP (2000m) $50 win BOARDRIDER (13) at $4.40 Well up in grade but weighted to be very competitive with only 51kg on his back. Drawn low and has the benefit of rising star apprentice jockey Logan Bates in the saddle. Boardrider should be ready to fire now third-up after two solid performances at Bendigo and Cranbourne respectively. Opened $6 in the market but straight into $4.40 rock solid since. First time at Caulfield and 2000m but pedigree suggests the distance should be no issue. RACE 8: LISTED BEL ESPRIT STAKES (1100m) $50 win NIANCE (7) at $2.40 Graduated to stakes grade last campaign with back-to-back Listed and Group 3 successes to build a record of six wins and a second from only 10 starts. Upside galore still and in most astute hands of trainer Grahame Begg. Drawn out but has speed to land in a good spot and should be too classy first-up despite a number rivals being race fit. RECOMMENDATION (1), also fresh, a track and trip specialist more than capable here. QUADZILLA LEG 1 – RACE 6 JIMMY THE BEAR (3) motored late first-up at Caulfield to run second behind the in-form War Machine. A repeat performance has the consistent performer, an eight-time winner from 34 starts, right in the frame here. Ticks every box. VERDAD (7) has won two of his past three and should again be up in the firing line somewhere. Singapore expat LIM'S SALTORO (4) should benefit from a solid fifth placing in his Australian debut behind War Machine last start. Include MILFORD (6) to cause a boil over. 1ST LEG: 3, 4, 6, 7 LEG 2 – RACE 7 BOARDRIDER (13) has been set a task, well up in grade and distance, but with no weight on his back should more than competitive. The Clinton McDonald-trained Preferment gelding has two solid runs under the belt and pedigree to handle the 2000m test. WONDER KID (4) won a similar race last start and must be respected again. MIRZANN (12) should be better for the run first-up and suited at 2000m. Include DUBLIN JOURNAL (6). 2ND LEG: 4, 6, 12, 13 LEG 3 – RACE 8 NIANCE (7) has won six of 10 starts to date, including Listed and Group 3 fillies and mares-restricted sprints last campaign. Up against the boys here but more than capable and should be able to improve her win record again. RECOMMENDATION (1) is a definite threat, with strong stats across the board – track, distance, class, conditions and first-up. AVIATRESS (4) raced well last start in similar company at Flemington and has won at Caulfield before. 3RD LEG: 1, 4, 7 LEG 4 – RACE 9 HEARCOMESTHESTAR (13) drawn poorly raced in great heart the past two starts at Caulfield and Flemington. Will need luck but more than capable. DIRTY GRIN (16) has won three of his past four starts and should somewhere in the finish again. PRANCING SPIRIT (5) has the right form, held on to beat the progressive Winnasedge last start, to go back-to-back at Caulfield. 4TH LEG: 5, 13, 16 COST $100 FOR 69% SKINNY QUADDIE Start with JIMMY THE BEAR (3), LIM'S SALTORO (4) and MILFORD (6). In the second leg take WONDER KID (4) and BOARDRIDER (13). Then in the third leg take RECOMMENDATION (1) and NIANCE (7). Come home with PRANCING SPIRIT (5), HEARCOMESTHESTAR (13) and DIRTY GRIN (16). 1ST LEG: 3, 4, 6 2ND LEG: 4, 13 3RD LEG: 1, 7 4TH LEG: 5, 13, 16 COST $100 FOR 277% Originally published as Quadzilla, Four-Play: $200 betting strategy for Caulfield May 31, 2025
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
ACCC announces investigation into REA Group
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has announced it is in the early stages of an investigation into REA Group, the 33 billion-dollar operator of over concerns about competition in the real estate industry. The investigation comes as the News Corp-controlled real estate advertising service has told customers it would increase subscription prices for real estate agents by as much as 78 per cent from July 1. Guest: Tim McKibbin, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales Producer: Grace Stranger The REA Group released the following statement: "REA is committed to providing choice, value and flexibility to its customers and consumers, and remains focussed on delivering products and services that improve the property experience of buyers, sellers and renters. "REA is cooperating fully with the ACCC and is unable to comment further for confidentiality reasons."
