Depression – Interview on Newstalk – Ciara Kelly

Discussing a heartbreaking email written by a lady suffering from major depression who needed advice on recovery, I contacted a dear friend of mine who shared her hugely difficult experience: “Recovery needs the help of many people, but the person who leads and drives it must be YOU. Only you know how ready you are to re-enter the world”. There are some amazing contributions by those who have experienced depression on this podcast so it is well worth a listen”.

Life hacks to help stay positive

Published: Irish Examiner
Author: Geraldine Walsh
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“’Negativity bias’ refers to the way in which negative experiences weigh more heavily on the brain than others. We’ve evolved to be fearful and heavily attuned to the strong possibility of a threat, in order to sustain our survival, whilst underestimating our resources to manage.

Left unchecked, the negativity bias can become a serious impediment to good mental health, as it has been found to be synonymous with anxiety and depression. Studies in psychology and neuroscience have shown that for every upsetting thing that happens, we need five positives to balance it. Knowing that not all emotions are equal gives us a sense of control over what we can do to counterbalance negativity, and this is where making a conscious effort to be compassionate towards ourselves and others comes into play.”

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Is extended breastfeeding really best?

Published: Irish Independent
Author: Danielle Baron
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“The release of oxytocin in both mother and baby is one of the main psychological benefits of breastfeeding”

“Close skin-to-skin body contact, post-natally and beyond, significantly improves the physical and mental health and wellbeing for both mother and baby. Oxytocin acts like a fertiliser for their growing brain, helping them to be happier and more confident as they grow older.”

“It also naturally helps to build the attachment bond and ensures plenty of mother and baby time”

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Sibling rivalry – RTE Today Show

"I wish my sibling had never been born" can be a common sentiment among siblings who have a natural desire for the exclusive love of their parents and compete for their attention. Here I talk about the the impact of sibling rivalry, why it exists and how parents can best manage the inevitable squabbles. After all, the unconditional love of a sibling with a shared upbringing can really serve children throughout their lives.

RTE Today Show - Sibling Rivalry

Posted by Dr. Malie Coyne on Thursday, May 2, 2019

Screen time – Newstalk – Pat Kenny Show

I loved chatting to Pat Kenny about the new World Health Organisation Guidelines on limiting screen use in under 5 year old's. It was a really relaxed interview where I got to mention my passion for the importance of early attachment and free play for young children's developing minds.

A Cúl way for kids to exercise this summer

Published: Irish Examiner
Author: Helen O’Callaghan
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

Cúl camps enhances children’s self-confidence and self-esteem. It fosters strong relationships with peers where they join together in working for a common goal. They make new friends and feel a sense of belonging.

Physical activity reduces stress, says Coyne, adding that children who participate in sport are less likely to struggle with emotional and behavioural issues. “Sport gives an opportunity to channel their energy into something positive.”

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How to politely leave a WhatsApp group, and other social media conundrums

Published: The Irish Times
Author: Fiona Hyde
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“For professional or personal reasons, many of us can’t just simply opt out of using social media altogether, but for mental resilience”

“An easy way to cut down on our social media use, and our anxiety around it, is to remove ourselves from certain group chats, and limit or block our interaction with particular people. But doing so requires a certain etiquette to avoid causing offence, or coming across as plain rude.”

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A third of parents too busy to take children to sports training

Published: The Irish Times
Author: Conor Pope
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

Almost a third (31 per cent) of Irish parents say they are too busy to take their children to sports training sessions or games, a new survey suggests.

It also finds one in five parents say the cost of getting their children involved in sports is too high.

It also suggests the vast majority of parents believe an excessive interest in technology is responsible for their children’s lack of sportiness although almost two-thirds admitted to not knowing what the recommended amount of exercise children should get a day was.

The survey of 1000 parents of children aged six to 13 was published on Tuesday on behalf of Kellogg’s to promote its involvement with GAA summer Cúl camps.

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Keeping kids active

Published: Irish Mirror
Author: Saoirse McGarrigle
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

Clinical child psychologist, Dr Malie Coyne, has called on families to look for cheap and free activities. “I know there are parents out there who really struggle financially, there’s a lot of disadvantage.”

She was speaking at the launch in Croke Park of the Kellogg’s Gaelic and hurling summer Cul camps.

“The reason I got behind this campaign, I have two kids of my own, I would try to encourage parents to get their kids involved in any type of activity.

“Even going out on to the green and kicking a football. Sport is available to people regardless of money. It is quite a sad statistic.”

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Social Fabric Podcast

What an experience to bare my soul on this podcast, from my childhood experience of anxiety, to what drew me to Psychology, to my parenting f*ck ups and repairs, to my upcoming book, to my deeply confused feelings about Michael Jackson after my amazing day spent in Neverland. I am all about being REAL in my work and in my life as I believe this is what connects us all.

Galway Volunteer Podcast

"Making a commitment to getting to know yourself within as a parent is one of the best gifts you can give your child. It literally changes the background music which plays when you respond to your child's need".

For more on this and my passion for infant mental health, Galway Parent Network, compassion-focused therapy, and my upcoming anxiety book, listen into my contribution to the Volunteer Galway podcast with the amazing Ruth Fagan.

Click to play podcast

The dark side of our cleaning obsession

Published: Irish Independent
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Many people find that cleaning can be quite a therapeutic activity, as can ordering our environments for our well-being. As long as cleaning does not begin to interfere in a significant way with your personal, social or work life, then each to their own.”

“Excessive cleaning is one of five subtypes for OCD and is also known as contamination obsession with washing/cleaning compulsion.”

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How would you rate your stress levels?

Published: thejournal.ie
The Health Check with Irish Life Health
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Stress can have a significant impact on relationships as the person suffering can isolate themselves from others or react defensively when under significant pressure.”

For Dr Coyne, the impact of these social connections can have an immediate impact on the very symptoms that make us feel stressed:

“A meeting of the minds or a good laugh with the right person can activate optimal levels of our ‘feel good’ brain chemicals and drastically lower stress by relaxing heart rate and blood pressure.”

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Sleeping with the enemy: What is coercive control?

Published: Irish Independent
Author: Áilín Quinlan
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Because coercive control doesn’t relate to a single incident, but is rather a purposeful and sustained pattern of controlling behaviour where one person seeks to exert power, control or coercion over another in a relationship day in day out, the damage can often be deep and cumulative.”

“From an attack on a partner’s liberty and human rights, to isolating them from sources of crucial social support, to exploitation of their financial and emotional resources, to depriving them of the means needed for independence and overall well-being – the impact is far-reaching.”

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Infant Mental Health – RTE Today Show

Babies are hardwired to develop a social connection with their primary caregiver, usually their mum or their dad. Without this relationship they would not survive. It is within the sacred crucible of the most important first relationship, the parent-infant bond, that our sense of self and the world develops.

Positive infant mental health is synonymous with a child’s ability to form secure relationships, to regulate their emotions, to explore their environment and to learn and develop cognitive capacities across the lifespan.

The quality of the child-parent attachment bond is the foundation for a child’s emotional regulation, which will provide them with a "psychological immune system" for dealing with stressful situations in the future and promote emotional wellbeing and future resilience.

Research points to a critical window of opportunity that exists in the first three years of life, where the brain develops as much as 90% of its wiring, which is impacted significantly by the baby's experience of everyday interactions with their caregiver.

Originally derived from Unicef and the W.H.O. Baby Friendly Initiative, Galway Parent Network alongside the Galway City Early Years Committee, created 4 posters containing simple evidence-based messages positively framed to emphasise human's innate abilities to look after their babies, to promote the child-parent attachment and to dispel common parenting myths. Our aim was to show how everyday parenting moments provide us with precious opportunities to build connection and strengthen our children's resilience.

For copies of the posters see:
https://www.cypsc.ie/…/Galway/GPN-Building-Baby-A4Crops-011…

For my RTE Brainstorm piece on "How to Build a Happy Baby" see:
https://www.rte.ie/…/03…/945352-how-to-build-a-happy-baby/--

RTE Today Show - Infant mental health

Posted by Dr. Malie Coyne on Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Walk in my shoes radio, Bressie, Malie Coyne, Colman Noctor

Children’s Mental Health – Walk In My Shoes Radio 2018

Colman Noctor, myself and Bressie talking about children's mental health and sharing top tips for managing worries.

Podcast was part of World Mental Health Day School Special Programme broadcast on 'Walk In My Shoes' Radio to all primary schools around Ireland on 10th October 2018

Podcast 1:  50.30 mins - 59.30 mins.
Podcast 2: 0 - 3.53 mins & 25.16 mins - 36.51

 

Why I dumped my toxic friends (and keep my real ones closer)

Published: The Irish Times
Author: Geraldine Walsh
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Being with warm people is the ultimate mood-changer and the answer is found in your brain. A meeting of the minds, or a good laugh with the right person, can activate optimal levels of your ‘feel-good’ brain chemicals and drastically lower your stress levels, by relaxing your heart rate and blood pressure. The endorphins can act as a natural pain reliever, whilst the serotonin release can serve as an antidepressant or mood lifter without the side effects.”

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Ageing with confidence

Published: Irish Independent
Author: Caroline Foran
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Getting older is a time of great change with both losses and gains. Facing menopause and the end of your fertility as you know it is not an easy prospect, not to mention the really tough physical symptoms which accompany it. This could be particularly difficult for women who may have dreamed of having a child, but didn’t or couldn’t, or those wanting more children. For women who have had children, the physical changes to their bodies can really impact on self-confidence.”

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The rise of steroid use: Irish men are feeling pressure to get a ripped Love Island body

Published: Irish Independent
Author: Áilín Quinlan
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

News that a physically fit, sporty adolescent, had died from severe brain-swelling, triggered by a muscle-building steroid, sent shock waves across the country.

Earlier this month, the Coroner for the case said he was satisfied that that the cause of the death of 17-year-old Luke O’Brien-May from Kilmallock, Co Limerick, was linked to the ingestion of the steroid, Stanozolol.

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