A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
You may have heard of play. It’s that thing children do – the diverse range of unstructured, spontaneous activities and behaviours. Children play in many ways, including by exploring movements, constructing with equipment, creating games, using imagination and chasing others around a playground. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises play as [...]
Professionals in the education, community and health sectors flocked to The University of Queensland on Friday to attend the Brisbane Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People not-for-profit educational seminar from Generation Next. The annual circuit visits six states, and for some Brisbane attendees, it was their eighth time attending the seminar, which aims to [...]
This longer read relates how Sesame Street is tackling tough issues that impact kids, such as foster care and family homelessness. Some are aware that the show has been starting to cover difficult real-world issues recently, but not many realise just how much research and consultation goes into making these topics kid-friendly while still conveying [...]
The concept of schizophrenia is dying. Harried for decades by psychology, it now appears to have been fatally wounded by psychiatry, the very profession that once sustained it. Its passing will not be mourned. Today, having a diagnosis of schizophrenia is associated with a life-expectancy reduction of nearly two decades. By some criteria, only one [...]
As the global climate crisis accelerates, early childhood teachers and researchers are considering whether and how to approach the issue with children. Should we talk openly about the crisis and encourage children to change their daily practices? Or is there a risk that in doing so, we are inflicting anxiety on young minds, still in [...]
A recent study has found that over one quarter of regular practitioners of meditation have experienced unpleasant psychological experiences as a result, indicating a need for further research into the potential negative effects of meditation. The study, led by University College of London researchers and published in PLOS One, asked participants if they had experienced [...]
Many parents have difficulty when their kids hit preadolescence, as this is a major period of physical and cognitive change. In particular, a child's increased independence and need for distance from their parents can be a real struggle to adapt to. This is also a time when children need a good relationship with their parents [...]
This article features advice from Emma Goodall on how parents can ensure their autistic child has the best possible experience at school. As a person with autism as well as a teacher who specialises in teaching autistic children, Emma's experience is invaluable in this area. The basis of Emma's message is to be constructive rather [...]
School bullying can have serious consequences for victims including depression, psychosis, self-harm and suicide. With increasing evidence of harm, a groundswell of school anti-bullying programs and campaigns in Australia and internationally have vowed to stamp out bullying. The schools’ intentions are good, but often these programs have not been properly evaluated for effectiveness, and studies [...]
The more we persevere and sticks to life goals, the lower our risk of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression in the decades that follow, a new study suggests. In the study, which was published recently in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, researchers focused on three things in particular: goal persistence, self-mastery, and [...]
