According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 2 in 5 Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced a mental health disorder at some time in their life. At the time this data was collected, that was 8.5 million Australians.
Across the country, people are working towards decreasing these statistics. At Embrace, we are devoted to investigating the mental health of infants, children and young people, including through our mental health podcast, Embracing the Mind.
The series examines different aspects of mental health through the lens of lived experience, interviewing people from all walks of life and telling stories that are profoundly human.
Hosted by Dr Karen Lombardi and Jack Boronovskis, the newly released fourth season takes a more colourful approach than its predecessors, exploring the connection between creativity and mental health. There are stories ranging from putting brush to canvas, to engaging a captive audience, and to using creativity as a tool for research.
Guests include authors and illustrators such as Shaun Tan and James Foley, and performance artists including Ernie Dingo and Ben Mortley. You can also expect interviews with researchers and service providers who have made creativity a staple in their work, such as Dr Katherine Boydell from the Black Dog Institute, and Madeleine Griffiths, the creative director of Satellite Foundation.
Tune into the latest season, and you may feel inspired to pick up a pen, build the courage to step out on stage, or even refine your palette and cook up a storm in the kitchen.
Listen to episodes wherever you get your podcasts or follow the link.
First published Tuesday 21 July 2026.
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