Episode 570: Work, Mental Health and Finding Balance with Professor Eóin Killackey (Clinical Psychologist)

·1 hr·5 clips

A clinical psychologist reveals the three simple things human happiness actually boils down to.

["The episode is an interview format where host Fiona Killackey speaks with her brother, Professor E\u00f3in Killackey, a clinical psychologist, researcher, and professor.", "Fiona introduces the episode by explaining her personal reliance on E\u00f3in for mental health advice over the years and his relevant expertise for small business owners.", "E\u00f3in describes his career path, starting with a science degree, discovering psychology, and eventually focusing on helping young people with mental illness return to school and work.", "He discusses the inherent uncertainty in academic research funding, drawing parallels to the uncertainty faced by small business owners.", "A central theme is the psychological importance of work, which E\u00f3in illustrates with a story of a man who developed psychosis after job loss, showing how work ties into identity.", "E\u00f3in outlines models for a mentally healthy job, involving control, creativity, and workload, but distills it to three core human needs: shelter, connection, and purpose.", "Fiona asks about switching off from work, and E\u00f3in shares a personal practice of reminding himself that middle-of-the-night worries can wait until morning.", "He emphasizes the importance of boundaries, rest for creativity, and developing interests outside of work to prepare for eventual retirement.", "The conversation addresses comparison on social media, with E\u00f3in advising listeners to view online content as curated marketing, not reality.", "He cites positive psychology research showing that feeling joy for others' success can expand one's own network and opportunities.", "E\u00f3in provides advice for exhausted business owners, focusing energy only on controllable factors and being solution-focused rather than ruminating on problems.", "He discusses the fluctuation of mental health as a normal part of life, akin to physical health, and the myth of a binary between illness and wellness.", "Fiona asks how to differentiate between a tough period and a condition requiring help; E\u00f3in says key indicators are persistence over weeks and interference with daily functioning.", "He offers guidance on discussing medication with a doctor, including questions about dosage, duration, side effects, and review schedules.", "E\u00f3in gives practical scripts for employers concerned about an employee's mental health, suggesting approaches based on workplace culture.", "When asked about philanthropy, he states mental health research is severely underfunded, receiving only 6% of medical research funding despite causing 20% of the health burden.", "He highlights youth mental health as a critical area, as 75% of mental illness onset occurs before age 25.", "The episode includes a quickfire round where E\u00f3in names sleep as his non-negotiable self-care and defines success as leaving the world a little better.", "Fiona concludes by summarizing two main takeaways: the three pillars of happiness and the practiced skill of focusing only on controllable worries.", "She encourages listeners to prioritize connection and seek help if needed, mentioning resources like Beyond Blue in Australia."]

As heard by us

A clear, humane conversation about work, rest, and building a life where purpose is not left to the job alone.

Work lands here less as a productivity puzzle than as a mental-health condition shaped by workload, control, and room to create. The episode draws a clean line from a healthy job to basic human needs: shelter that feels safe, real connection, and a sense of purpose.

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Why you'd press play

You want work to support your life, especially when being available to customers makes switching off feel hard.

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