Media
Work Together to get more Mental Health care for kids
See my letter ‘Work Together’ Melbourne’s Sunday Age today – we need united voice to increase mental health budget:
Work together
I PRESCRIBE a strong dose of collaboration for the psychiatrists, psychologists and patients who accuse Patrick McGorry of self-interest and criticise the federal government’s mental health reforms. As someone who developed a mental illness at age 11 in the 1960s, I applaud the call for early intervention.
McGorry’s untiring work in establishing headspace centres and early psychosis prevention and intervention centres is a step in the right direction. He has helped lift the stigma from mental illness. He has worked wonders in placing mental health on the budget agenda. Learn from him. Be inspired by him.
The link to the article which inspired my letter to the editor: McGorry Accused of Conflict of Interest, The Age, August 7th.
Survivor’s Message of Hope
Barwon Health (Geelong) is the latest region in Victoria to hold a two-day training workshop for health professionals in the delivery of Family-Based Treatment. The roll-out of FBT training is being offered across the State by the Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders. FBToffers the best hope for a successful outcome for early intervention in treating anorexia.
Survivor’s Message of Hope – Geelong Advertiser June 27th P. 14
Unfortunately this treatment was not around when I was a child in the 1960s and my parents had no idea how to help fight my AN. I shared the impact of the illness on my life at the BarwonHealth event. My message to parents and clinicians alike is: Act today.
The story behind writing a memoir about a mental illness
See Pages Four to Eight in the July 1st, 2011 edition of Buzz Words.Buzz Words Issue July 2011
Recovery from Anxiety and Food disorders
Listen: Download In June, 2011, Greg McHenry who runs the Roads to Recovery Program on 94.7 The Pulse Radio in Geelong and district, invited Reid Maxwell from Geelong’s Mood Support Group, and me along to discuss A Girl Called Tim, my road through to the joys of ongoing recovery, and of the importance of early intervention. The Geelong Mood Support Group is at 284 Latrobe Tce., Newtown, VIC 3220, or phone (03) 5222 5999.
Inspire with ‘Where Are They Now?’
Fifty years on, the one room primary school that I attended in my childhood still stands, surrounded by irrigated pastures and crops in the fertile Lindenow Valley of East Gippsland, Victoria. Its doors were closed to students some years ago but if the walls could talk, I am sure they would be pleased at the article that appears on Pages 32 and 33 in the June edition of Inspire, a monthly magazine for Victorian government school teachers and early childhood professionals.
Getting in the Mood (to kick ED’s butt)
A big thank you to co-ordinator of Geelong Mood Support Group, Reid Maxwell, for inviting me to share my story at the group’s May meeting. I was deeply inspired by the warm welcome by everyone present and of interest shown in issues raised in A Girl Called Tim. In particular, anorexia and bulimia, anxiety and depression.
Getting in the Mood (to kick ED’s butt)
A big thank you to co-ordinator of Geelong Mood Support Group, Reid Maxwell, for inviting me to share my story at the group’s May meeting. I was deeply inspired by the warm welcome by everyone present and of interest shown in issues raised in A Girl Called Tim. In particular, anorexia and bulimia, anxiety and depression.
Go to femail.com.au
Re-living a childhood that has been fraught with an eating disorder — how do you do it? In this interview with Brooke Hunter, June describes how she went about writing her memoir A Girl Called Tim.
Geelong Advertiser GT Magazine: A Life Interrupted
‘It was like someone had taken over my brain, telling me what to do, and punishing me if I disobeyed.’
GeelongAdvertiserGTmagMarch19-2011
GeelongAdvertiserGTmagMarch19-2011a
Making waves on radio
Listen to Paula Konetjl and Hayden Miller, The Morning Crew on Geelong BayFM 93.9, interview June about eating disorders and the important messages in My Kid Is Back and A Girl Called Tim.
Geelong 93.9BayFM — Making waves in the fight against eating disorders
Genevieve Jacobs on 666 ABC Canberra in discussion with June Alexander about A Girl Called Tim:
ABC_Canberra-A_Girl_Called_Tim-2011
Finally June …
Ruby magazine, March 2011.
Physical Activity and Eating Disorders
Get Ahead Kids magazine, March 2011
Spreading the word – via Rotary
Belmont Rotary Club, Geelong, learnt about Family-Based Treatment and the impact of eating disorders this week when they invited me along to talk about my life journey. The members gave a warm welcome and president Joan Watson (pictured) said my talk was inspiring. Every time I speak to groups — even when the audience is predominantly male and aged 60-plus — people approach afterwards to share their experiences. This makes everything worthwhile! (I am a member of the Rotary Club of Drysdale, which is very supportive in allowing me time to advocate greater awareness of mental health). I think the Four-Way Test in Rotary should equally apply in consideration of care to people with mental illness!
What the media says
A Girl with Three Names
Journalist Eleanor Venables, of The Gippsland Times newspaper, Sale, writes about the girl with three names — Tim, Toby and June. Edition February 18, 2011.
The story behind A Girl Called Tim
Author June Alexander’s journey is reviewed by senior journalist, Jane Ross, of the Great Southern Star newspaper, Leongatha, edition February 8, 2011.The Star – Feb 2011
NEDA takes on Pepsi
National Eating Disorders Association president and CEO, Lynn Grefe, has a great post on the Wall Street Journal Health Blog – about the Diet Pepsi Skinny Can media campaign. The advertising campaign for the new Skinny Can promotes skinny body image — to represent confident, stylish and sassy women. “We are encouraging everyone to blog back to support our position. If you get a chance, please join in and spread the word,” Lynn says. “NEDA is telling Pepsi to can the campaign, keep the can!” Go to:
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2011/02/15/diet-pepsis-skinny-can-campaign-riles-eating-disorders-group/
As founder of The Diary Healer my prime motivation is to connect with people who have experienced an eating disorder, trauma or other mental health challenge, and provide inspiration through the narrative, to live a full and meaningful life. My nine books about eating disorders focus on learning through story-sharing. Prior to writing books, which include my memoir, I had a long career in print journalism. In 2017, I graduated as a Doctor of Philosophy (Creative Writing), researching the usefulness of journaling and writing when recovering from an eating disorder or other traumatic experience.
Today I combine my writing expertise with life experience to help others self-heal. Clients receive mentoring in narrative techniques and guidance in memoir-writing. I also share my editing expertise with people who are writing their story and wish to prepare it to publication standard. I encourage everyone to write their story. Your story counts!
Contact me: Email june@junealexander.com and on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.