A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Spending time in outdoors, taking time out of the everyday to surround yourself with greenery and living things can be one of life’s great joys – and recent research also suggest it’s good for your body and your brain. Scientists have found that spending two hours a week in nature is linked to better health [...]
Digital conflict and military action are increasingly intertwined, and civilian targets – private businesses and everyday internet users alike – are vulnerable in the digital crossfire. But there are forces at work trying to promote peace online. It will be a tough challenge: In May 2019, Israel responded to unspecified cyberattacks by Hamas with an [...]
Nighttime sleep is important of course, but daytime naps matter just as much. New research emerging from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Irvine, published in the journal Sleep reinforces the benefits of naps for children. This comprehensive study found children who took naps not only experienced positive changes in mood and [...]
Parents and caregivers often wait until their children are older to talk about sexual consent. And many parents often leave “the sex talk” altogether – hoping that schools will do it instead. The most recent guidance for teaching consent under the relationship and sex education curriculum simply advises that lessons should be provided before the [...]
Children do best when life is on an even keel and their parents have the support they need. By being kind to parents, supporting family-friendly policies, and building connected communities, we’re all helping to give Australia’s children the best start in life. National Child Protection Week is all about celebrating the many ways – big [...]
Over 950 parents, professionals and Victorians of all walks of life flocked to Melbourne last Friday to take part in our Melbourne Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People seminar. The all-day event included presentations on a diverse range of topics that are currently critical to youth wellbeing. A new addition for the Melbourne seminar [...]
Many teenagers use mobile phones and social media almost constantly. And children are gaining access to these devices and platforms at increasingly younger ages. This is a challenge for parents who need to keep up with their children’s use, the evolution of devices, and how this changes how they have to parent. Studies show parents [...]
When you think of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kid, or in fact any kid, imagine what’s possible. Don’t define us through the lens of disadvantage […] Expect the best of us. – Excerpt from the Imagination Declaration, August 2019. A group of school students from across Australia have just shown what real leadership [...]
Children who care for a family member with a disability, mental illness or dependence on alcohol or other drugs are less likely to complete, or do well in, secondary school compared with young people without caring responsibilities. Our study, published in the journal Child Indicators Research, compared the levels of school engagement among children who [...]
In 2019, headspace is promoting a number of ‘Self-Care September’ strategies and approaches for Australian school staff. These activities are aimed at strengthening wellbeing, resilience, engagement, connection, help seeking, and early access to support. Download the resource here>>
