A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Andrew J. Martin, UNSW Sydney; Emma Burns, Macquarie University; Joel Pearson, UNSW Sydney; Rebecca J. Collie, UNSW Sydney, and Roger Kennett, UNSW Sydney If you had to do a test, how would you respond? Would you relish the chance to demonstrate your knowledge? Or worry you were about to fall short of the mark and [...]
Gemma Sharp, Monash University Following a particular diet or exercising a great deal are common and even encouraged in our health and image-conscious culture. With increased awareness of food allergies and other dietary requirements, it’s also not uncommon for someone to restrict or eliminate certain foods. But these behaviours may also be the sign of [...]
Alan Pearce, Swinburne University of Technology Concussion in sport continues to make headlines, whether it be class actions, young men flocking to the highly violent “RunIt” activity or debate about whether Australian rules football should remove the “bump” once and for all. Bringing this weighty issue to greater prominence are the former athletes who [...]
In addressing the critical concern of mental health in adolescents, the role of school belonging has emerged as a focal point of contemporary research. Despite the increasing recognition of its importance, a comprehensive understanding of how school belonging impacts long-term mental wellbeing has remained elusive. Our new study investigating school belonging and mental health outcomes [...]
Elizabeth Westrupp, Deakin University Hearing about child abuse in trusted places such as childcare centres is every parent’s worst nightmare. So, how can we talk to our kids about it and help them stay safe? While it’s not always possible to prevent abuse – and it’s never the victim’s responsibility – there are practical, age-appropriate [...]
Brendon Hyndman, Charles Sturt University Children spend thousands of hours in playgrounds at school. A lot of this time does not have the same levels of teacher preparation and supervision as classrooms do. Research shows school playgrounds are one of the main locations where bullying occurs. The federal government is doing a rapid review [...]
Scarlett Smout, University of Sydney and Katrina Champion, University of Sydney We know young people in Australia and worldwide are experiencing growing mental health challenges. The most recent national survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found nearly two in five (38.8%) 16- to 24-year-olds experienced symptoms of a mental disorder in the previous [...]
Annabel Hoare, Anglia Ruskin University The success of Netflix drama Adolescence, along with concerns about misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, has brought the “manosphere” into public discussion. Many parents, particularly of young boys, may fear they don’t know enough about what their children are exposed to online. I research radical misogyny online, and the [...]
Brian N. Chin, Trinity College “Avoid screens before bed” is one of the most common pieces of sleep advice. But what if the real problem isn’t screen time − it’s the way we use social media at night? Sleep deprivation is one of the most widespread yet overlooked public health issues, especially among young adults [...]
Michael Freeman, Bond University Social media is full of claims that everyday habits can harm your skin. It’s also full of recommendations or advertisements for products that can protect you. Now social media has blue light from our devices in its sights. So can scrolling on our phones really damage your skin? And will applying [...]
