Caring Between Minds: Mental Health Advocacy in Action

Mental Health Carers NSW
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This podcast is brought to you by MHCN and hosted by Patty Kikos. Through honest conversations, our guests share the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and how these experiences continue to shape their lives. By sharing these stories, we hope to create a space where mental health carers feel understood, connected and less alone. If you’re a carer, a health professional, or someone interested in mental health advocacy, we’d love it if you joined us.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    Consumer, Clinician, Carer — But First, Luke

    Luke became the capable one long before he learned how to let others care for him. Growing up as a young carer, he learned independence, responsibility and resilience early, but also the weight of carrying more than most people could see. Luke speaks with Patty Kikos about living through multiple lenses—as a consumer, carer and clinician—while exploring neurodivergence, identity, boundaries and the challenge of separating who he is from what he does for others. He reflects on learning to accept support, setting boundaries without losing compassion, and why the person behind the roles has always mattered more than the roles themselves. Content warning: This episode discusses mental illness and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. Disclaimer: The views, language, experiences and opinions shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) as an organisation. More from MHCN: Website: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/ ⁠ Instagram:⁠ @mentalhealthcarersnsw⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW ⁠ More from Patty Kikos: Website: ⁠https://pattykikos.com/ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@pattykikos⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Patty Kikos ⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Patty Kikos Become a MHCN member here, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CWMVYD Sign up to our e-newsletter here: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/subscribe/ If this episode raises anything for you, support is available: Helpful carer services: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/resources-for-carers/helpful-supports-and-services/ Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 13YARN: 13 92 76 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe and share to help more carers find this space.

    Consumer, Clinician, Carer — But First, Luke

  2. Aug 30

    Caring for the Parent Who Couldn't Care for Me

    After losing her mum as a teenager, Nikkie found herself losing her dad in a different way—to homelessness, addiction and mental illness. Years later, she became his carer, supporting him through schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and a complex mental health system while trying to rebuild a relationship shaped by grief, distance and love. Patty Kikos speaks with Nikkie about caring for a parent who couldn't always care for her, the challenge of setting boundaries without losing compassion, and how becoming a mother changed the way she understands vulnerability, forgiveness and what it means to break generational cycles. Content note: This episode discusses mental illness and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. Disclaimer: The views, language, experiences and opinions shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) as an organisation. More from MHCN: Website: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/ ⁠ Instagram:⁠ @mentalhealthcarersnsw⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW ⁠ More from Patty Kikos: Website: ⁠https://pattykikos.com/ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@pattykikos⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Patty Kikos ⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Patty Kikos Become a MHCN member here, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CWMVYD Sign up to our e-newsletter here: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/subscribe/ If this episode raises anything for you, support is available: Helpful carer services: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/resources-for-carers/helpful-supports-and-services/ Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 13YARN: 13 92 76 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe and share to help more carers find this space.

    Caring for the Parent Who Couldn't Care for Me

  3. Aug 16

    Am I a Husband Today or a Carer?

    Shaun spent years seeing himself as Joel's husband, not his carer. Supporting his partner through PTSD challenged not only their relationship, but Shaun's understanding of love, responsibility and where caring ends and control begins. Shaun speaks with Patty Kikos about navigating hospital admissions, balancing his own ADHD and anxiety, learning to step out of "fixer mode," and discovering that sometimes the greatest act of care isn't rescuing someone—it's staying beside them through the hardest moments. Content note: This episode discusses mental illness and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. Disclaimer: The views, language, experiences and opinions shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) as an organisation. More from MHCN: Website: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/ ⁠ Instagram:⁠ @mentalhealthcarersnsw⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW ⁠ More from Patty Kikos: Website: ⁠https://pattykikos.com/ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@pattykikos⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Patty Kikos ⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Patty Kikos Become a MHCN member here, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CWMVYD Sign up to our e-newsletter here: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/subscribe/ If this episode raises anything for you, support is available: Helpful carer services: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/resources-for-carers/helpful-supports-and-services/ Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 13YARN: 13 92 76 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe and share to help more carers find this space.

    Am I a Husband Today or a Carer?

  4. Aug 2

    I Love Her... But It's Hard To Like Her

    Growing up with a mother living with schizophrenia, Laura's childhood was shaped by trauma, unpredictability and responsibilities far beyond her years. Laura speaks with Patty Kikos about the emotional complexity of caring for someone who has also caused deep pain, exploring people-pleasing, guilt, boundaries and the reality that love, resentment and compassion can exist at the same time. She also reflects on protecting her own wellbeing, building a life beyond caring, and why relationships, and caring itself, are rarely black and white. Content note: This episode discusses mental illness and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. Disclaimer: The views, language, experiences and opinions shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Mental Health Carers NSW (MHCN) as an organisation. More from MHCN: Website: ⁠https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/ ⁠ Instagram:⁠ @mentalhealthcarersnsw⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Mental Health Carers NSW ⁠ More from Patty Kikos: Website: ⁠https://pattykikos.com/ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@pattykikos⁠ Facebook: ⁠@Patty Kikos ⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠@Patty Kikos ⁠ Become a MHCN member here, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CWMVYD Sign up to our e-newsletter here: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/subscribe/ If this episode raises anything for you, support is available: Helpful carer services: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/resources-for-carers/helpful-supports-and-services/ Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 13YARN: 13 92 76 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe and share to help more carers find this space.

    I Love Her... But It's Hard To Like Her

  5. Season 1, Episode 1 Trailer

    Caring Between Minds - Mental Health Advocacy In Action

    This podcast is brought to you by MHCN and hosted by Patty Kikos. Through honest conversations, our guests share the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and how these experiences continue to shape their lives. By sharing these stories, we hope to create a space where mental health carers feel understood, connected and less alone. If you’re a carer, a health professional, or someone interested in mental health advocacy, we’d love it if you joined us.   Content note: This podcast series discusses mental illness and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. This podcast is for general informational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional mental health advice or treatment. More from MHCN: Website: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/ Instagram: @mentalhealthcarersnsw Facebook: @Mental Health Carers NSW LinkedIn: @Mental Health Carers NSW More from Patty Kikos: Website: https://pattykikos.com/ Instagram: @pattykikos Facebook: @Patty Kikos LinkedIn: @Patty Kikos Become a MHCN member here, it’s free and takes about 5 minutes to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CWMVYD Sign up to our e-newsletter here: https://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/subscribe/ If you think this podcast series will resonate with you, please like, subscribe and share to help more carers find this space.

Trailer

About

This podcast is brought to you by MHCN and hosted by Patty Kikos. Through honest conversations, our guests share the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and how these experiences continue to shape their lives. By sharing these stories, we hope to create a space where mental health carers feel understood, connected and less alone. If you’re a carer, a health professional, or someone interested in mental health advocacy, we’d love it if you joined us.

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