Hello again ;

to our wonderful readers.

From all of our team to each and every one of you, we want to reach out and check in.

It likely goes without saying that so many of us are feeling the weight of the world at the moment. We know that at times like these it can feel hard to hold on to the moments of optimism.

We write this newsletter from our base in Sydney, Australia, where many of our readers are also based. Following recent events across Sydney, we’ve been saddened, shaken, and deeply affected.

While words can feel futile in times like these, we believe that silence only breeds isolation. In times of collective trauma, it's natural to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and uncertain. Remember, you are not alone in these feelings.

We are also acutely aware of how lucky we are that these horrific events are so rare in Australia, a feeling which only amplifies the tragedies that are currently happening beyond our borders. To those who have had their homes and lives destroyed by war, words will simply never be enough.

In our own small way, we wanted to dedicate this edition to those who have been affected by the events at Bondi Junction, and across the globe.

Wherever you are in the world, we wanted to bring you some evidence based tools to support your brain health and wellbeing. In this volume, you'll find insights on the neurobiology of PTSD, as well as tools for processing grief, and cultivating post-traumatic growth.

While taking care of your mental health and wellbeing often isn’t easy, be assured you don't have to take that journey alone. Reach out to loved ones, lean on your community, and treat yourself with kindness at every opportunity.

The MM Team 🕊️

That’s all ;

for this edition of Melon Mag.

We hope this has given you some food for thought, and maybe even some tools to help navigate rough waters.

We can never have too many reminders to be kind to yourself, and try to make space for quiet reflection where you can.

As always, we would love to hear from you - you can always drop us a line by responding to this email.

The MM Team

REFERENCES

• Fisher, J. E., Zhou, J., Zuleta, R. F., Fullerton, C. S., Ursano, R. J., & Cozza, S. J. (2020). Coping strategies and considering the possibility of death in those bereaved by sudden and violent deaths: grief severity, depression, and posttraumatic growth. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00749

• Scott, H., Pitman, A., Kozhuharova, P., & Lloyd‐Evans, B. (2020). A systematic review of studies describing the influence of informal social support on psychological wellbeing in people bereaved by sudden or violent causes of death. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02639-4

• Vinkers, C. H., Geuze, E., Van Rooij, S. J., Kennis, M., Schür, R. R., Nispeling, D. M., Smith, A. K., Nievergelt, C. M., Uddin, M., Rutten, B. P. F., Vermetten, E., & Boks, M. P. (2019). Successful treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder reverses DNA methylation marks. Molecular Psychiatry, 26(4), 1264–1271. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-019-0549-3