Mental Health & Wellbeing

Researchers claim that sleep detoxes the brain

“Why do we sleep? To clean our brains, say US scientists,” The Guardian reports. A US research team, studying mice, has suggested sleep helps clear the brain of 'waste products’. Although sleep is an intrinsic part of our lives, scientists are still uncertain why a good night’s sleep makes us feel better or why lack [...]

Neuroplasticity Primer

With subjective experience new cells are incorporated into the brain and new circuits are created, altered, strengthened or weakened. The static view of the brain has been disproven and it is now known that the brain is very active—constantly changing connections and growing circuits, thought-by-thought, minute-by-minute and day-by-day. Many different brain mechanisms alter neuronal connections—in [...]

Teenagers Are Still Developing Empathy Skills

The teen years are often fraught with door-slamming, eye-rolling and seeming insensitivity, even by kids who behaved kindly before. Some parents worry that they're doing something wrong, or that their children will never think of anyone but themselves. New research shows that biology, not parenting, is to blame. In adolescence, critical social skills that are [...]

Autistic girls may be going undetected

LARGE numbers of girls with high-functioning autism may be going undiagnosed because they have taught themselves superficial social skills, such as making eye-contact and smiling at the right time. Deakin University research psychologist, Alexandra Head, yesterday said data indicating four times as many boys as girls had high-functioning autism - such as Asperger syndrome - [...]

Apple juice as sugary as Coca-Cola, experts warn

Apple juice has as much sugar as soft drinks, and health experts are warning consumers to limit consumption or risk gaining weight. Often selected as the healthier option over soft drinks or energy drinks, apple juice is no more than a ''sugar syrup'', nutritionists say. ''It's just like drinking Cola-Cola, it's no different,'' Dietitians Association [...]

Being Bored is Good for the Brain!

Recently, my 5 year-old son has started proclaiming, “I’m booooorrrrred.”   My reaction?   Good. When I was a kid I distinctly remember my gran telling me that, “Only boring people get bored.”   She never really elaborated, and I’m still not too sure what she meant, but I like it. And I’ve started saying [...]

Depression in pregnancy may affect children’s mental health

The children of women who are depressed during their pregnancy may be more likely to succumb to depression themselves by the age of 18, according to new research. A large study from Bristol University, published in a leading medical journal, suggests that levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which are raised in depression, may affect [...]

Suicide Rates Up By 5,000 Because Of 2008 Global Recession

The recent global financial crisis led some 5,000 people in 54 countries to commit suicide, according to findings in the British Medical Journal released Thursday. via Suicide Rates Up By 5,000 Because Of 2008 Global Recession: British Medical Journal.

Dolly October 2013

Dolly Doctor and Oral Sex: is advice to girls clear? Melinda Tankard Reist Dolly Doctor this issue deals with oral sex. Parents with younger Dolly readers in the family may want to be aware of that and be prepared to talk about it with them (Dolly has featured’ Readers of the month’ who are 11). [...]

Go to Top