The Stigma Shift | Uncovering Mental Health with St John of God University Hospital

To mark International Nurses Day, this episode of The Stigma Shift focuses on the people learning, growing and preparing to shape the future of mental health care.
Shona Giles, Clinical Placement Coordinator at St John of God University Hospital, joins the podcast to discuss her role in supporting mental health nursing students during their clinical placements. She reflects on the importance of a positive learning environment, the value of mentorship, and how clinical experience helps students build confidence, compassion and professional identity.
This year’s International Nurses Day theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives., offers a timely opportunity to recognise not only the vital contribution of nurses today, but also the importance of investing in the nurses of tomorrow.
Through this conversation with Elaine, Shona explores what it means to support students in a specialist mental health setting, the role of education in high-quality patient care, and why empowered nurses are essential to the future of healthcare.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Student placements are deeply immersive
Therapeutic relationships are built on communication
Manage shift work and feedback pressures
Weekly reflective practice builds self-awareness
The immense commitment of nurse training
GUEST DETAILS
Shona Giles is a Clinical Placement Coordinator and registered mental health nurse at St John of God University Hospital. She is a core member of the Nurse Practice Development unit. 
Her key skills include overseeing student clinical placements, ensuring quality learning environments, and supporting students from the academic to the clinical setting
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ie
QUOTES
Students are straight in. They're getting involved in anything that's happening on the wards, and they're very much supervised, of course, you know, from stage one onwards. - Shona Giles
The student nurse will be involved in that documentation of the patient's presentation and really like building on their own communication skills and their therapeutic relationships… -  Shona Giles
If you can just be the person that listens. You're actually That's huge. That's really powerful. -  Shona Giles
KEYWORDS #MentalHealth #NursingStudent #ClinicalPlacement #ReflectivePractice #NurseTraining

The rise in workplace mental health awareness has not translated into meaningful, day-to-day change for employees. Policies and awareness days are common, but a significant gap persists between organisational intention and lived reality. This failure to act often leaves staff reliant on reactive support when issues reach a crisis point.
This episode unpacks the disconnect between language and behaviour, exploring what is missing from current approaches. The solution is moving beyond campaigns to prevention, focusing on continuous support, shared understanding, and practical frameworks. We focus on the 'Working Mind' programme, an evidence-based approach brought to Ireland to enable earlier recognition of mental health shifts.
Host Elaine McDonald is joined by Jacqui Mulligan, Project Coordinator with Mental Health First Aid Ireland. Jacqui has spent over six years developing mental health literacy programmes. She has led large-scale training rollouts for organisations, including the Irish Defence Forces.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Awareness has not shifted staff behaviour
Policies look great but trust breaks down
The Working Mind builds shared language
Understanding the mental health continuum
Leaders must prioritise a healthy workforce

GUEST DETAILS

Jacqui Mulligan is a Project Coordinator with Mental Health First Aid Ireland. She has over six years experience in mental health literacy and programme development. Jacqui led efforts to localise and introduce the evidence-based 'Working Mind' programme to Ireland. 
Her expertise includes supporting large-scale training rollouts for organisations like An Garda Síochána.
MORE INFORMATION

To find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ie
QUOTES

We've normalised talking about mental health, but what we haven't normalised is then responding to it. - Jacqui Mulligan
Prevention requires culture, not campaigns. - Jacqui Mulligan
I always believe that if my intention is to care, I can't get it wrong, because that is genuine. - Jacqui Mulligan
KEYWORDS #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellness #PsychologicalSafety #MentalContinuum #BehaviourChange

What does addiction look like when it hides behind success? In this episode, Professor O’Gara joins Elaine to unpack the often-overlooked reality of addiction among high-achieving individuals. 
From burnout and insomnia to the rise of process addictions like online gaming, gambling, and phone overuse, the conversation explores how performance-driven environments can mask — and even fuel — addictive behaviours. 
Professor O’Gara shares insights from over two decades on the frontline of addiction treatment, highlighting the stigma that delays help-seeking, the role of workplace culture in either supporting or failing employees, and the compassionate, non-confrontational approach his team takes to treatment. 
At its core, this discussion is a reminder that recovery is possible — and that addiction can affect anyone, regardless of success or status.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Addiction expands beyond drugs and alcohol.
High achievers vulnerable to burnout, poor coping.
Personality traits link success and addiction risk.
Workplace culture affects employees' addiction recovery.
Compassionate treatment offers hope for recovery.
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Colin O'Gara is a recognised Consultant Psychiatrist with 23 years of clinical experience, specialising in addiction medicine. He serves as the Head of Addiction Services at St John of God University Hospital and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at University College Dublin (UCD). 
For over 18 years, Professor O'Gara has led the development of holistic, non-confrontational detoxification and rehabilitation services at St John of God University Hospital. The hospital's addiction services treat a wide range of substance addictions, including alcohol, stimulants, opioids, sedatives, cannabis, and digital addictions such as gambling disorder and internet gaming disorder.   
Dedicated to research, Professor O'Gara leads a group at UCD's School of Medicine investigating areas such as gambling, over-the-counter pill addiction, and alcohol rehabilitation. He actively works to destigmatise addiction through public engagement and media interactions.  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-colin-o-gara-13834859
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ie

QUOTES
Addiction doesn’t discriminate by status or success — its roots are often in exhaustion and burnout. — Professor Colin O’Gara
High achievers tend to push themselves to extremes, driven by conscientiousness, self-criticism, and guilt, which can fuel addictive behaviours. — Professor Colin O’Gara
Some workplaces genuinely support mental health and vulnerability, while others only pay lip service — and that difference can make or break recovery. — Professor Colin O’Gara
Addictions are diagnosable brain disorders, with clear biological markers, just like physical illnesses — yet society still struggles to accept this. — Professor Colin O’Gara
Recovery is possible, and I’ve seen people not only get well but go on to become ambassadors for others starting their journey. — Professor Colin O’Gara
KEYWORDS
#AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Burnout #WorkplaceWellbeing #HighAchievers #AddictionAwareness #Stigma #CompassionateCare #ProcessAddictions #RecoveryIsPossible

This internal and external isolation often causes people to disconnect from the relationships, social activities, and inner self that truly sustain them.
Recovery is supported by community, connection, and innovative clinical care. This episode explores how clinical services and community organisations work together to support people and families who are transitioning out of the eating disorder's black-and-white control.
Host Elaine McDonald is joined by two experts marking three decades of crucial service in Ireland's eating disorder landscape. Jane O’Riordan is an Occupational Therapist at the Eating Disorders Programme at St John of God University Hospital. Harriet Parsons is the CEO of Bodywhys, Ireland’s National Eating Disorder Association.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Occupational therapy supports life functioning.
Eating disorders develop as coping mechanisms.
Loneliness and isolation compound struggle.
Groups provide hope and universality.
Continuity of connection supports transition.
GUEST DETAILS
Jane O'Riordan is an Occupational Therapist on the Eating Disorders Programme at St John of God University Hospital. With nearly two decades of experience across adult and adolescent mental health, she specialises in activity-led approaches, including meal preparation and therapeutic practices. Her expertise focuses on the mind-body connection in recovery and the intersection of neurodiversity and eating disorders.
Harriet Parsons is the CEO of Bodywhys, Ireland's National Eating Disorder Association. A fully accredited psychotherapist who has been with the organisation for almost 20 years, she led the development of crucial support services, including family programmes. She also played a key role in delivering the community support component of the HSE's National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ie
QUOTES
Having an eating disorder is really exhausting and really time consuming, so it's very difficult to be present or have energy for doing things or people's self esteem and body image are affected. - Jane O'Riordan
Eating disorders develop as a way of coping with difficult experiences or a difficult kind of internal world. So we want to try and support people to develop other skills and outlets for that. - Jane O'Riordan
The eating disorder is a way of coping, and because it's a way of coping, they're very counter intuitive illnesses. - Harriet Parsons
It takes great courage to kind of reach out and make that first connection with somebody who's focused on how this person might be able to live their life without the eating disorder. - Harriet Parsons
KEYWORDS: #EatingDisorders #MentalHealthRecovery #GroupSupport #StigmaShift #Bodywhys

In this episode, we’re joined by Carol Keegan, Clinical Nurse Specialist at St John of God University Hospital, to explore the realities of living with anxiety. 
Carol breaks down the difference between everyday stress and clinical anxiety, challenges common misconceptions, and explains why anxiety isn’t always the enemy—it can sometimes be protective and even useful.
From practical coping tools like breathing techniques and self-care habits, to the role of social supports, therapy, and medication, Carol offers clear, compassionate insights that make anxiety feel less overwhelming and more manageable. Whether you’re supporting a loved one or navigating anxiety yourself, this conversation is full of reassurance, hope, and strategies you can put into practice.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Why anxiety isn’t always the enemy — and how it can sometimes help us
The difference between everyday stress and clinical anxiety
Common physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety
Practical coping tools: breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and self-care basics
How to support a loved one and challenge the myth that you can “snap out of it”
GUEST DETAILS
Carol Keegan is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at St John of God University Hospital. She works on the psychosis team as part of a multidisciplinary effort. Carol is also a registered nurse prescriber. Her experience involves providing assessment, education, and emotional support to patients and their families. She focuses on helping patients understand their anxiety and develop coping strategies. 
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about the work of the St John of God University Hospital visit stjohnofgodhospital.ie
QUOTES
Anxiety is one of our primary emotions, a basic function designed to protect us. – Carol Keegan
Everyday stress is temporary and manageable, but clinical anxiety lingers, intensifies, and interferes with daily life. – Carol Keegan
Breathing techniques are the most effective way to manage anxiety in the moment because they reset the body’s stress response. – Carol Keegan
Self-care may sound basic, but sleep, nutrition, exercise, and connection are crucial to building resilience against anxiety. – Carol Keegan
Anxiety isn’t something you can just snap out of — if people could, they absolutely would. – Carol Keegan
KEYWORDS
#AnxietyAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #CopingStrategies #SelfCare #Resilience #Wellbeing #Mindfulness #CBT #StigmaFree #Podcast