Mental Health & Wellbeing

More Time In The Womb May Lead To Better Grades In School

New study reveals that babies born earlier tend to do more poorly in school when compared to their later-born counterparts. The new research shows that infants could benefit from that extra time spent in the womb, and that more time spent in utero can lead to increased brain development. The difference was true even of [...]

Weighed down by excess worry

A survey by the Dietitians Association of Australia reveals 42 per cent of young women are resolved to lose weight this year. Nothing new here. They had the same resolution last year. Around the developed world, the situation is the same. One study found 95 per cent of 16- to 21-year-olds in Britain want to [...]

A stunning map of depression rates around the world

The Middle East and North Africa suffer the world’s highest depression rates, according to a new study by researchers at Australia’s University of Queensland -- and it’s costing people in the region years off their lives. via A stunning map of depression rates around the world.

Empowering The Student Voice

I recently heard Student Voice being described as the ‘latest trendy term in education.’ That may be so, but I’d argue it’s a pretty important concept to understand if we are serious about reaching every kid. Research indicates that disengagement from school rises with age, to the point that nearly half the kids sitting in [...]

The Blast Of Sound That Could Help Beat Depression By Stimulating Cells Governing Mood

Treating the brain with sound waves could be a radical new treatment for depression. New research shows short bursts of ultrasound (sound waves above the range of human hearing), at just 30 seconds a time, appear to boost mood and ease anxiety. Volunteers reported significant improvements in mental wellbeing within ten minutes of a single [...]

Meditation, mindfulness and mind-emptiness

Ever been unable to sleep because you can’t switch off that stream of thoughts that seems to flow incessantly, mercilessly through your head? When your mental noise distracts you from the task at hand, makes you forget why you walked into a room, or keeps you awake at night, you’re a victim of what is [...]

Optimism associated with lower risk of heart failure

Optimistic older adults who see the glass as half full appear to have a reduced risk of developing heart failure. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Harvard University found that optimism—an expectation that good things will happen—among people age 50 and older significantly reduced their risk of heart failure. Compared to the least optimistic [...]

From learning in infancy to planning ahead in adulthood: Sleep’s vital role for memory

Babies and young children make giant developmental leaps all of the time. Sometimes, it seems, even overnight they figure out how to recognize certain shapes or what the word "no" means no matter who says it. It turns out that making those leaps could be a nap away: New research finds that infants who nap [...]

Commissioner Opens Generation Next Seminar To Support Youth

On Friday 30 May, NSW Mental Health Commissioner, John Feneley addressed teachers, nurses, social workers, police and mental health professionals as he officially opened the Sydney Generation Next seminar. Held at the Sydney Town Hall, the Generation Next seminar saw more than 1000 professionals from across multiple disciplines come together to learn how to support [...]

Kids’ Earliest Memories Might Be Earlier Than They Think

The very earliest childhood memories might begin even earlier than anyone realized – including the rememberer, his or her parents and memory researchers. Four- to 13-year-olds in upstate New York and Newfoundland, Canada, probed their memories when researchers asked: "You know, some kids can remember things that happened to them when they were very little. [...]

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