A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
The role of parents and adults in talking to young people through this time is crucial. As the situation progresses the types of challenges we will face will change as will the general reaction of most people. This will most likely follow some fairly predictable stages. I will release a series of statements over the [...]
Every disease outbreak brings an accompanying outbreak of fear. Already we’re seeing coverage on the spread of coronavirus fear which leads to misinformation, an effect on the economy and, perhaps the most alarming, xenophobia . Social stigmatisation and xenophobia are, unfortunately, well known features of disease outbreaks. And there is potential for xenophobic sentiment to [...]
In recent months, we have been confronted by events that make the world seem unsafe. Among these are the horrific stories of child sexual abuse, the rise in Aboriginal youth suicide and the tragedy of mass killings at the hands of an Australian terrorist in Christchurch. Many of us feel anger, despair, hopelessness and grief [...]
Are you afraid of spiders? You aren't alone. (Well, except when it's just you and the spider.) Across the world, somewhere between 3% and 15% of the population is afraid of something. That's the headline finding in a new review published in The Lancet Psychiatry. But they found so much more. The authors, led by [...]
In an age of endless possibilities and major FOMO, it’s no surprise that so many millennials experience career anxiety. You may be wondering if you’re in the right job, if you’re doing enough, or even if you’re good enough. (Imposter syndrome anyone?) Maybe your boss is seriously stressing you out, or you just wish you [...]
There was a time when the most popular Halloween costumes were confined to the folk lore of vampire bats and ghosts. This was undoubtedly the popular culture at a time when "horror literature" was based on novels such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula. Although much of this is still with us in the Trick of Treating of today, [...]
Raise your hand if this scenario sounds familiar at all: You’re supposed to meet a friend for coffee at one, let’s say. It’s now 1:10 and she’s not there, and she hasn’t answered your text, either. You know, objectively, that she’s probably just stuck on the subway or something, but you still can’t help running [...]
People with anxiety disorders often face a sense of worry or dread and spend hours ruminating over worst case scenarios, which can get in the way of professional goals, personal relationships and a good quality of life. But there are ways to cope. Here, experts offer their best techniques to work through situations that might [...]
Anxious kids are brave kids. They are creative, thoughtful and have the potential to light the world on fire, every one of them, often in unexpected ways. When anxiety takes hold though, it’s overwhelming. It can shut down their potential, their engagement with the world and their self-belief. It feels awful and life becomes more about [...]
Fear is a survival tactic that is built into our species. You are all familiar with the fight or flight syndrome, and that is where your fear originates. In the early days of mankind, the human body's fight or flight syndrome was meant to protect you from the dangers in your environment. Today, however, your [...]
