Dr Sophie Jayamaha

The convicted driver who was ploughing people in a car, across a pedestrianised area in Melbourne is of Afghan origin. His action may well be a deliberate act of revenge and a protest, against recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or any other reason. However not every Muslim would protest this way by harming innocent people. It is the mental state of a person which determines his or her behaviour. What is the difference between a mindset of a violent man with a mental illness and a terrorist? Anyone who inflicts harm on innocent people are mentally ill. An act of terrorism is also an act of an untreated mental illness. Mental illness is a more common than terrorism and when untreated it becomes a threat to our peace than terrorism.  People who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol are in mentally distorted states. Other mentally distorted states when people behave violently are anxiety, depression, anger and overwhelming psychological stress.  Substance abuse

Many of you heard the news of a man who injured more than a dozen of people driving along a crowded pedestrian area in Melbourne, yesterday afternoon. Did you also see his mother being a victim when she was getting harassed by those who wanted to capture her in their cameras? I was moved by the distress of this mother as much as the distress of the innocent people who got injured. The mother became a target of the media when she was coming to courts to support his son.  I do not think she was proud of her son's behaviour, yet she had to be there for her son. That's what mothers do. She was covering her face with her scarf in shame. She had only her handbag to defend her when she was harassed by inconsiderate and insensitive people. Even a mother of a criminal feels motherly instinct to protect and care for her son and she deserves some privacy and the same respect as another citizen of this country. She should not be a victim of being a mother. She must have been torn

Sensing  I wish I could describe in words exactly my experience of this moment. I feel I am one of the most fortunate few on the planet to be in a place that I am right now. The view I see of calm waters of Morten Bay while I am sitting on the front deck of my residence in this early morning with the cool sea breeze caressing me one could forget all worries in the world. The temperature is just right for the skin. The sky is blue but crowded with fluffy grey clouds with tell tales of rain later in the day. The scene is continuously changing but each one is sensational. The sounds are also pleasing to the ear in general except the domination this morning by a bird’s loud call coming from the tree in front of my house. It is a bit annoying, but I am managing to maintain my peace nevertheless. At the back ground I also hear the soothing sound of the water fountain on the deck. I am sipping my raspberry and blueberry smoothie I made as usual before my breakfast. It is cooling and