A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Recent research has show that we are naturally born with very strong altruistic tendencies. These feelings can be nurtured in young children to help them develop their sense of empathy towards others and the world around them. Felix Warneken, a doctoral student in the department of developmental and comparative psychology at the Max [...]
Fascinating documentary featuring many incisive ideas and interviews with leading thinkers including Richard Eckersley, who spoke at a number of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Seminars in 2011. Trailer and exclusive interview with Pria Viswalingam here Decadence: The Decline of the Western World. Movie website here: http://www.decadencedocumentary.com No showing!
Once again, the Mission Australia Survey of Australian Young People has shown that body image is a major cause of concern for young people. Amongst females it was the highest concern, reflecting our society's extreme emphasis on physical attractiveness defined by the media, fashion and entertainment industries. It's an indication that marketing, advertising and consumerism continue to be a [...]
Stress is having a major impact on every sector of the community. Amongst those in affluent jobs, it is a combination of overwork and loss of "work life balance". Those who are less affluent are often stressed by the high cost of living compared to low incomes. Lack of social support and an emphasis on consumerism are major [...]
A recent survey of school children in NSW showed that young people are spending on average 3 hours per day in front of a screen (computer or tv), the majority of which is computer time. On weekdays about 44% of primary school and 61% of secondary school children spend more than the recommended 2 hours [...]
A recent study in the USA suggests links between junk food consumption and negative behaviours greater consumption of carbonated non-diet soft drinks was associated with an increased likelihood of carrying weapons or being violent towards others. Solnick SJ and Hemenway D. The ‘Twinkie Defense': The relationship between carbonated non-diet soft drinks and violence perpetration among [...]
10% of girls self harm* Image Source: Youthbeyondblue A recent study published in The Lancet, The natural history of self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood: a population-based cohort study, took a group of 1,943 young people from 44 schools in Victoria and documented their lives from the age of 14 to 29 years old. During [...]
In America the University of California, Berkeley has carried out a study (Thin-slicing study of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and the evaluation and expression of the prosocial disposition) on the body's receptor gene oxytocin; a gene commonly associated with bonding, empathy expressions of love. They found that we are hardwired to recognise empathetic strangers [...]
A recent study on schoolies behaviour patterns confirms general perceptions about what young people do during the week long "celebration" at the Gold Coast. However it also revealed that many young people don't regard it as a positive experience but do it because it is considered the social norm and there are no other alternatives. Chief executive [...]
It's well known that alcohol consumption, especially excessive consumption, predisposes to mental illness. It's also known that women are more vulnerable to this risk than men. Experts are also concerned about the growing rates of alcohol abuse in teenagers as well as working age women who might feel that their consumption patterns are "normal" when in [...]
