A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
40.2% of 5 to 8 year old girls desired to be thinner A study The Contribution of Peer and Media Influences to the Development of Body Satisfaction and Self-Esteem in Young Girls: A Prospective Study explores how young girls feel about their bodies when viewed through the influences of the media and their friends. It [...]
46,000 confirmed cases of child abuse in Australia in 2010. The ACT for Kids website was set up by the Australian charity Abused Child Trust and is based in Queensland. Their philosophy is that “Protecting children is everyone’s business.” Their aim is to treat and prevent child abuse. They want the whole community to join [...]
In today's society school age children are at risk from excessive screen time. Here are some interesting but alarming facts gathered by an American organisation; Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. Research shows the negative impact of time spend by young people in front of the "box". Including multitasking, children ages 8 to18 years old spend [...]
“Exposure to pornography among young children may be disturbing or upsetting. It helps to sustain young people's adherence to sexist and unhealthy notions of sex and relationships. And, especially among boys and young men who are frequent consumers of pornography, including of more violent materials, consumption intensifies attitudes supportive of sexual coercion and increases their [...]
In a survey of youth aged 8-18, nearly 1 in 4 said they felt “addicted” to video games.* In The USA the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood (CCFC) recently organised Screen-Free week. It was designed to get young people away from the influences of commercialism and back to enjoying life ‘brand’ free. Here are some tips [...]
Presented by Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) with Supporting Partner the Ted Noffs Foundation. When: 2 - 4 May 2011 Where: Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Victoria. Who should go: Anyone concerned with the health and welfare of young people and the impact of alcohol and drug use on them. The United Nations is adding their support [...]
We have all seen them; the 'Porn T Shirts’ that depict semi naked women and equally offensive slogans. The men who wear them seem oblivious to the fact that they are not only offensive but also objectify women. So what can be done about them? We have the technology and today that gives everyone a [...]
It would seem that today society is so keen to be seen as ‘politically correct’ that we have backed ourselves into a corner. We no longer have the freedom to play, educate, learn or relax as we would like for fear of ‘upsetting’ or ‘offending’ somebody, anybody. Tom Hodgkinson from The Independent (UK) recently wrote [...]
A recent study considered the longitudinal effects of exposing children to violence and aggressive behaviour. It found that the more violence children are exposed to at a young age, the more they consider it to be normal behaviour and what’s more they are more likely to engage in aggressive behaviour towards others. The study said [...]
84% of Pro-ana sites feature thinspiration: images or video montages of slim women, often celebrities, who may be anything from naturally slim to emaciated with visibly-protruding bones.* People, especially young people, who suffer from any sort of eating disorder, are extremely vulnerable. They are not only physically weakened by malnutrition but they are also mentally [...]
