A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Cutting — using a sharp object like a razorblade, knife, or scissors to make marks, cuts, or scratches on one's own body — is a form of self-injury. For most, cutting is an attempt to interrupt strong emotions and pressures that seem impossible to tolerate. It can be related to broader emotional issues that need [...]
Here are 10 useful pieces of advice that you can give a young person who might be concerned about their weight 1. Don't be fooled by the fad Weight-loss diets can trick many of us with their 'quick fix' solutions. However, in the long term, most people end up regaining the weight they lost on the diet...and [...]
Dr. Karen Kochel, an assistant research professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social and Family Dynamics, performed a longitudinal study examining rates of bullying and depression in children grades 4 through 6. In the study, children were monitored by parents and teachers for behavioral indicators of depression. Parents and teachers were also keeping track [...]
Antidepressant drugs such as Prozac do not raise suicide risk in young people, a new study says. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered a “black box warning” for Prozac (generic name fluoxetine) after data from 25 clinical trials suggested the medications increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and [...]
The proportion of the population aged 14 years or older who consumed alcohol daily declined between 2007 8.1% and 2010 7.2%. However, there was little change in the proportion of people drinking alcohol at levels that put them at risk of harm over their lifetime 20.3% in 2007 and 20.1% in 2010, or from a [...]
In recent months, there has been much interest in Australia about problematic internet use (PIU), or internet addiction as it is more commonly termed. 6 common signs to look out for: Spending more and more time online Losing track of the time spent online Constantly thinking about getting online when away from the computer Edgy [...]
A person with psychosis 'loses touch with reality': they may have disorganised thoughts, hallucinations or delusions and find it difficult to interact with others. In young people a psychotic illness many occur as a result of depression or experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Here are some early warning signs to watch out for. Behavioural Odd/agitated [...]
THE health of thousands of children may be at risk from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals from artificial turf that has become a popular replacement for grass on sporting ovals and school playgrounds around the country. Australian scientists have raised the alarm over the potential dangers of the fake grass, and called for a moratorium [...]
In 2007 "The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child" was published and has since sold more than 40,000 copies. The book includes an "Alternative Vaccine Schedule” advising parents on how to delay, withhold, separate, or space out vaccines. This article examines the reasons for the popularity of the book, deconstructs the logic and rationale behind its recommendations and [...]
A new study has linked the size of the pituitary gland to the onset of early puberty and depression in young people. Orygen Youth Health (OYH) is Australia’s largest youth-focused mental health organisation. They carried out research on 155 adolescents over a three year period. All participants were Melbourne high school students. The findings of [...]
