News from Australia

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Article in The Coversation. Note, also posted up thread here.

Title is
It’s not just ‘chronic fatigue’: ME/CFS is much more than being tired

Published: June 19, 2025 6.09am BST
By Sarah Annesley, La Trobe University

theconversation.com

It’s not just ‘chronic fatigue’: ME/CFS is much more than being tired

A growing body of scientific evidence shows myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome – or ME/CFS – is a biological illness, not a psychological one.
theconversation.com theconversation.com

Eta

I came across it in a ME Research Facebook post. It's from an Australian perspective.

I don't think it's especially effective . It's says it's making the point that it's not just fatigue but then only really emphasises "two core symptoms" - fatigue and pem so for me it fails to get across the whole gamut of immunological and neurological (and often other systemic) symptoms pwme experience.

Then it gets into the psychological debate which it seems is always a minefield...
 
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Hutan said:
He's an odd character, Andrew Lloyd. It's hard to work him out. I think possibly he started out genuinely wanting to find the answer to CFS, and, when it wasn't easy to find, he fell into BPS - although I don't know. David Tuller has interviewed him once or twice I think. Perhaps Lloyd is seeing which way the wind is blowing and is re-making his legacy?
Click to expand...
A odd character is an understatement. The shocking 2002 Australian GP guidelines did enormous damage to ME/CFS patients down under which basically cast us aside from medical treatment. The 2006 Dubbo study was published and made a big impact but soon after he was referencing Peter White and Simon Wessely studies. The last year he has been presenting more on a physiological sickness response being the likely cause. I have never been able to get my head around him.

Professor Andrew Lloyd | Better Together 2024 – Australian POTS Foundation

potsfoundation.org.au potsfoundation.org.au
 
An excellent statement from some of the participants on SBS Insight's Invisible Illness program mentioned above:


SBS Insight Invisible Illness – Statement by 4 Studio Participants​

Published: 23 June 2025

Invisible, Misrepresented, and Harmed: ME/CFS Voices Demand Accountability from SBS
A Joint Statement from Participants and Advocates in Response to the 20 May 2025 Episode of Insight
This statement has been prepared by a group of individuals who participated in the recent SBS Insight episode on invisible illness. We are united in our deep concern over how the episode was produced, edited, and presented and the serious harm it caused by misrepresenting Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) and its impact on the wider chronic illness community.
We believe this broadcast represents a clear breach of SBS’s own Code of Practice. The program:
  • Failed to uphold editorial integrity by platforming a participant with undisclosed commercial interests (Section 3.1: Editorial Independence and Integrity);
  • Presented medically inaccurate and misleading portrayals of ME/CFS (Section 3.2: Accuracy);
  • Minimised the diversity of lived experiences in favour of a single recovery narrative (Section 3.3: Diversity of Views and Perspectives);
  • Caused emotional harm to participants and viewers alike (Section 4.1: Harm and Offence);

    As a public broadcaster, SBS has a duty to ensure ethical, accurate, and inclusive storytelling, especially when dealing with marginalised communities.
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  • (More at the link)
 
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