Wellbeing | The Runway

Wellbeing is essential to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as it directly impacts operational readiness, performance, and overall morale. When ADF personnel are physically fit, mentally resilient, and emotionally balanced, they can fulfil their duties effectively, make sound decisions, and enhance team dynamics. Prioritizing wellbeing creates a supportive environment, recognizes the sacrifices of personnel, and improves job satisfaction and retention. It also proactively addresses mental health challenges, reduces stress, and promotes psychological resilience among ADF members. By investing in the wellbeing of its personnel, the ADF ensures readiness, cohesion, and the overall success of military missions.

The Resilience Paradox: Why Adapting Too Well Can Break You

Organisations that prioritize rapid adaptation without recovery accumulate psychological debt, eroding resilience. Sustainable growth requires structured pauses, peer support, and recovery infrastructure; because resilience is built through regeneration—not endless acceleration or ‘fail fast’ cycles.

Structured gardening programs can effectively reduce mental health symptoms

Structured Social and Therapeutic Horticulture programs reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults. Benefits occur across indoor and outdoor settings, for mild to severe cases, and support mental health alongside physical and social rehabilitation.

Study finds age-dependent cognitive benefits from probiotic consumption

Probiotic supplementation improves cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults, enhancing memory, processing speed, and spatial reasoning. Benefits are narrower in children and young adults, suggesting age-dependent effects along the gut-brain axis.

Study links anxiety and poor sleep to heart and kidney disease progression

Healthy sleep reduces the risk of heart, kidney, and metabolic disease and slows progression to multimorbidity. Anxiety and depression partially mediate this effect, highlighting the interplay between sleep, mental health, and chronic disease prevention.

How to manage feelings of distress, fear and anxiety after the Bondi attack

Exposure to violent events can unsettle entire communities—experts explain why distress is normal, how repeated media exposure intensifies it, and what practical steps help people regain a sense of safety and emotional balance.

More women are using steroids – and many don’t know the risks

Women are increasingly using anabolic steroids, driven by strength sports, social media, and peer influence; yet face unique health risks and stigma. Experts call for tailored education, online outreach, and nonjudgmental healthcare engagement.

The Limited Presence of Male Mentors in the Lives of Boys and Young Men

Many boys face severe academic, social, and mental health challenges. Male mentorship improves outcomes, but is scarce—especially in low-income families—with most mentors being women, despite evidence boys benefit more from male role models.

‘If you aren’t lying, you aren’t flying.’ Airline pilots hide mental health struggles

US Commercial airline pilots often conceal mental health conditions for fear that disclosing could mean having their license pulled. This is an unnecessary risk to passengers, themselves and others and is a timely reminder that there are numerous avenues of help available.

Playing pickleball at least three times a week linked to better mental health

Frequent pickleball play is linked to higher mental wellbeing. A recent study shows a clear dose-response effect: playing three or more times weekly, or for longer sessions, correlates with significantly better mental health.

Study finds gratitude mediates the impact of support in long-term relationships

Support in long-term relationships boosts satisfaction only when the helper perceives genuine gratitude, making appreciation—not the support itself—the key link that strengthens the bond.