How to support the mental health and well-being of Irish children

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Published: Irishcentral.com
Author: Frances Mulraney
Interviewee: Dr. Malie Coyne

“October 9 – 14 marks Mental Health Awareness Week in Ireland and so, IrishCentral is this week highlighting various groups and individuals doing extraordinary work in Ireland and Irish America, ending stigma and offering crucial help and resources.

Today we hear from Dr. Malie Coyne, a Clinical Psychologist, and NUIG Lecturer, who is also the Mental Health Lead on A Lust for Life’s Board of Directors. Dr. Coyne speaks to IrishCentral about the effects of immigration on your mental health and wellbeing, the current problems with mental health services in Ireland, her work with A Lust for Life, and how we can support the emotional wellbeing of our children.” 

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Walk In My Shoes Radio 2017

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Together with Pat O’Mahony, I had the pleasure of presenting the final show of ‘Walk In My Shoes’ radio 2017.  (Friday 13th October 2017 – 7pm to 9pm)

Click on the image and scroll down to listen to the podcast

It’s #Timetotalk this World Mental Health Day 2017

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To mark World Mental Health Day in Ireland this year, iRadio’s ‘The Hub’ with Dave Duke teamed up with Pieta House for a live broadcast at 56 Central, 5 Shop Street, Galway City on October 10th.

Read more here.

Click on the image to listen to me being interviewed.

 

 

 

 

Burnout is nothing to be ashamed of: Mental health in the workplace

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Published: alustforlife.com
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne
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To mark the importance of ‘Mental Health in the Workplace’, which is the theme of World Mental Health Day 2017, here is my podcast with the amazing Ciara Plunkett on KFM’s Kildare Focus show in August 2017. In it, I speak about how we need to change the conversation about mental health in the workplace, in terms of employers prioritizing proactive strategies to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, which will enable employees to feel more valued, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity in the long-term.

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Are holidays becoming a time to show off rather than switch off?

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Published: The Irish Times
Author: Leonie Corcoran
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Are you more interested in showing off or switching off on holidays? In a recent travel trends survey, almost half of the respondents (47 per cent) said social media is driving up the need to experience “more” on holidays, with almost a third (30 per cent) booking trips based on whether they think the destination or activity will impress on social media. The survey, carried out by online travel company Travelzoo, also found that travellers are conflicted about whether to show off or switch off while on holidays, with many desiring to be disconnected from the digital world.”

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Drug & Alcohol Task Force seminar

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Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force seminar 'Alcohol & Pregnancy' 26th September 2017 Galway. This was a ground-breaking event to be a part of where I raised awareness of 'Alcohol in pregnancy and it's impact on Infant Mental Health'. Watch my presentation back here..

Also, here is a review of the seminar by the U.S. mental health website Mental Daily: Alcohol & Pregnancy: Ireland Looks Towards The Future of Infant Mental Health

For every troll or road rager there are countless more ‘sounders’

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Published: The Irish Times
Author: Tanya Sweeney
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“Is it just me, or have people become a bit more combative with each other than before? Perhaps it’s the affect of call-out culture on social media, where minor infractions and differences of opinion get amplified into full-blown spats. It could be that we’ve become apathetic towards others in a world brimful of hate, violence and tragedy. Or maybe it’s just that we’re a little more protective of, what little personal physical space we have in the world. Either way, it’s made for a tense and occasionally defensive atmosphere, both online and off.”

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The Science of Sound

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Published: alustforlife.com
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne

In the context of an alarming increase in mental ill health in Ireland and urgency around how we are going to tackle the real pain faced by many, we need to focus our energies on “being sound” and promoting overall wellbeing, which is at the core of positive mental health.

Why does negativity stick so damn much? There is a very good evolutionary reason for this called the “negativity bias”, which 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 deal with them. 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.

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Me and my mentor: Celebs on the importance of role models

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

“PJ GALLAGHER is a household name: His TV performances have made him one of Ireland’s best-known comedians and he’s been described by Ryan Tubridy as “an inspiration”.

Yet, says Gallagher, had it not been for the influence of his role model, mentor, and fellow comedian Jason Byrne, he’d probably never have stepped inside the doors of a comedy club.

Role models are an important source of inspiration and guidance for children and young people.”

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Is your child starting primary school this year?

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Published: layahealthcare.ie
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne

It’s that time of year again when the days are getting shorter and there are whisperings of an autumn breeze marking the closing weeks of summer. Back to school will be upon us soon, and for parents of children beginning primary school there will certainly be a lot of mixed emotion. On one hand, you are delighted that your child is making such an important transition in their lives, one which will bring with it so many enriching learning and social opportunities. But on the other, you may experience this transition with some trepidation as it marks the end of an era and brings with it the reality that your little one is growing up.

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Student Wellbeing During Exams – Laya Healthcare – Facebook live Q&A

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Live streaming Q&A on Laya Healthcare Facebook page on wellbeing during exams for exam students and their parents.

Click to read my blog: How to Strengthen Your Child’s Endurance During Exams

Laya Live with Dr. Malie Coyne

Dr. Malie Coyne is now live, answering your questions about stress and anxiety during the Junior and Leaving Certificate exams, don't forget to tune in!

Posted by Laya Healthcare on Friday, June 16, 2017

How to Strengthen Your Child’s Endurance During Exams

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Published: layahealthcare.ie
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne

For many parents, having a child who is sitting the Junior or Leaving Cert can be quite a daunting experience and a difficult one to navigate. Similar to a marathon, exams are an endurance test of body and mind, where teenagers can often hit a ‘wall’ mid-way through. This is when things go from being a bit challenging to being really, really challenging. It is the exact point where their bodies and minds are simultaneously tested, the perfect intersection of fatigue and diminished brain functioning. How teenagers handle ‘the exam wall’ can make or break their performance, which is where your role as parent comes in.

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How to deal with student exam stress

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Published: Irish Independent
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne

“If an exam goes badly…

If your teenager seems unhappy about how an exam has gone, it is important to meet them where they are at by acknowledging and reflecting their feelings back to them. You could say something like “I notice that you aren’t so happy with your English paper today, how did you feel it went?””

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Website provides outlet for people with stories of abusive parents

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

They f*** you up, your mum and dad/They may not mean to, but they do/ They fill you with the faults they had/And add some extra, just for you.

THIS extract from the famous Philip Larkin poem is what the controversial new website, myhorridparent.com, is about.

However, unlike the poem, the website also offers hope and help to the children of “horrid” parents. It provides different techniques for dealing with toxic mums and dads, whose faults, it emphasises, are most definitely not caused by their offspring.

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Kids and Trauma – Newstalk interview with Ciara Kelly

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Following Geoffrey Shannon's audit into An Garda Siochana's handling of removal of children from their homes in cases of emergency, I emphasise why child protection should be the government's top priority, as children rely solely on adults to keep them safe. I also discuss how parents can respond to a child who has suffered a traumatic event.

Newstalk with Dr. Ciara Kelly

Following Geoffrey Shannon's audit into An Garda Siochana's handling of removal of children from their homes in cases of emergency, I emphasise why child protection should be the government's top priority, as children rely solely on adults to keep them safe. I also discuss how parents can respond to a child who has suffered a traumatic event.

Posted by Dr. Malie Coyne on Saturday, June 3, 2017

Should we tell children about terrorism?

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Published: newstalk.com
Author: Jack Quann
Expert Opinion: Dr. Malie Coyne

“London, Paris, Berlin, Nice and Manchester – just some of the terror attacks that have hit Europe in recent times.

The Manchester attack has again catapulted terrorism to the top of the news agenda and our social media feeds.

With all the uncertainty and unpredictability, should parents be explaining terrorism to their children?”

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Top 10 Tips for Helping your Child to Cope with a Traumatic Event

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Published: alustforlife.com
Author: Dr. Malie Coyne

It is with great sadness that I write this piece on the aftermath of an event as tragic and devastating as that which occurred in Manchester Arena on Monday night. I have two young daughters of my own and no doubt they will be asking me in years to come to accompany them to one of their favourite teenage pop stars in concert. I will relish in their joy as so many parents did on Monday night watching their kids in awe of their pop idols.

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Think twice before having a one-night stand with a stranger

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

“WHEN it broadcasts next week, the new series about the disastrous consequences for a young teacher of a one-night stand with a sexy but dangerous stranger is expected to attract large audiences.

Paula, which is Olivier and Tony-award winning Conor McPherson’s first original television series, focuses on how one instant spark of attraction can take a terrifying toll.”

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Those ‘fitspiration’ photos make me feel inadequate

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

“Unless you’ve been living under a rock with no wifi, you may have heard of the term “#Fitspo”. It’s like “inspo” – that’s “inspiration” for us millennials who are too busy to bother using the full word – but with a different theme: fitness.

Most pertinent across the social media platforms of Instagram and Snapchat, fitspo is a relatively new culture of instant, image-based fitness motivation, but one that for many, should be consumed with caution.”

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