As a society, we are chronically fatigued. And a lack of sleep has become a perceived necessity for many — a marker of modern life and symbol of success, even — in a vain attempt to squeeze more hours into the day.

I boarded a flight this week — a red-eye — heading east. It was hectic. The rabble of people queuing at check-in, a three-hour delay in the middle of the night, gate changes, broken baggage loading equipment, and being stuck on the tarmac sent many passengers into a tailspin. Some people were outright rude, but mostly everyone understood.

Have you ever felt like a fraud at work? It’s thought that imposter syndrome — a feeling of professional incompetence — affects up to 80 per cent of adults. Though it’s often high achievers, and women, who feel it most. The term “imposter phenomenon” was coined by psychologists in the 1970s to explain the unrelenting sense of doubt…

Physical touch plays an important role in our lives, right from the time we’re born. And when we’re deprived of it, negative feelings of isolation, loneliness or even existential longing can arise. Socially, touch affirms a sense of connection and belonging in the world. It also influences cognitive function, emotional regulation, communication and decision making.

Growing up my parents owned an antique shop. We spent many weekends treasure hunting, visiting auction houses, dingy haunts and other people’s stores. Our house was filled with antiques, too. And because we lived in the country with few distractions around home, we were put to work. Weekend chores often comprised dusting and polishing the cedar and mahogany furniture, bric-a-brac and silverware. It was tedious and not always fun. But it taught me many valuable lessons.

It’s international men’s health week and this year’s theme is all about “building healthy environments for men and boys”. Home, work and social environments play a huge role in male health, and the cultural environment that is shaped between men and boys does, too. Maintaining a connection to the natural world is also crucial, according to Chris, a father, business owner and nature-lover.

Stress and anxiety are a common feature of uni student life. Yet the mental health of tertiary students is somewhat of a missing piece in youth mental health policy and resourcing in Australia. Stepping into a new and unfamiliar environment with different rules and requirements can be daunting.

Youth mental health services are experiencing exponential demand increases in WA. While it’s encouraging that people are reaching out, the rising need for support paints a poignant picture of the very real mental, emotional and social struggles young West Aussies are facing.

Last week, our nation chose to hit reset on our political identity. It voted in a new government and, in doing so, signalled an appetite to aim higher in the spirit of active and inclusive citizenship. When the incoming Albanese Labor Government announced victory, it affirmed its full commitment to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

As more people seek alternative approaches to managing their health — both mentally and physically — energy healing is gaining ground. One of the most common modalities is reiki, a form of therapeutic touch therapy. Reiki was founded in 1922 by Mikao Usui, a Japanese spiritual scholar who received “divine guidance” for developing a healing system while fasting during a retreat at Mt Kurama, outside Kyoto.

Modern life is riddled with complexity and the amount of information we’re consuming on a daily basis is mind-bending. Scientists have estimated that as much as 74 gigabytes of data is being filtered through our brains each day. That’s like watching 16 movies over 18 hours.

Motherhood is an initiation. It’s one of the most sacred passages a woman can take. But many women aren’t adequately prepared or supported socially, emotionally or mentally during the transition into motherhood. Giving birth can feel terrifying. It’s highly clinical and full of unknowns.

Indigenous youth are overrepresented in juvenile detention, accounting for more than 70 per cent of detainees in WA. Yet, Aboriginal people make up just 4 per cent of the State’s population. They are 30 times more likely to be arrested than their non-Indigenous peers, and 53 times more likely to be detained. It’s an indictment of the covert systemic racism, and entrenched poverty, that exists in this country.

Buddhist monks, incense or the shrink’s couch probably come to mind when you hear the words “mindfulness meditation” — and all of those thoughts are reasonable, to a degree. With ancient ties to eastern mysticism, including Buddhism and Hinduism, mindfulness has been part of Asian cultures for thousands of years.

Nature is medicine for the soul. It’s good for the body, and mind, and can revive even the most withered of spirits. It’s the ultimate defibrillator for a sad or worn out heart, too. American biologist Edward Wilson coined the term “biophilia” to describe the genetically influenced love of nature that humans have.

We spend our lives in pursuit of happiness. When we lose it, we yearn to get it back. When we have it, we usually want more. But the search for happiness, and a desire for “more”, is often what creates the very thing we’re running from — unhappiness.

Addiction to work is real. I witnessed it growing up, I’ve experienced it myself and I’ve seen friends, colleagues and clients impacted by it, too. It cuts across industries and overwork is particularly pervasive in the start-up world, small to medium business, corporate and non-government sectors, and in academia.

Traumatic events take a toll. They leave a wound, and sometimes a physical scar, too. But the hardest wounds to heal are always invisible. We often think of trauma in the context of extreme or catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, violent attacks and torture, sexual abuse or rape, serious injuries and accidents, or war. But these kinds of shocking events are only part of the trauma puzzle.

Relationships can be hard. We don’t always get them right. Healthy, long-lasting personal and romantic relationships take work. They require mutual respect, open communication, intimacy and trust to thrive. If any of these ingredients are missing things can fall apart, fast.

Things feel pretty weird at the moment. The intense sandwiching of extreme events is having a significant emotional impact on many people. For one, we’re finally facing our viral fears in Western Australia, as the now relatively mild-to-moderate COVID bug is making itself known.