A social enterprise providing education and information to protect and enhance the mental health of young people
Mara Violato, University of Oxford; Jack Pollard, University of Oxford, and Tessa Reardon, University of Oxford Anxiety rates have been rising in recent years among children and young people, with the situation partially exacerbated by the pandemic. Occasional feelings of anxiety are normal, even in childhood – for example, a child may feel anxious about [...]
Vivienne Lewis, University of Canberra Season two of the series Heartstopper on Netflix brings out an issue that is often hidden – male eating disorders. Centred on two teenage boys in love, the show helps bust the common perception that eating disorders are only seen in girls and women. In one episode of the series, [...]
Emily Setty, University of Surrey Parents, teachers and politicians are worried about the appeal of so-called “online misogyny influencers” to boys and young men. These influencers post content to thousands of followers in videos and podcasts, offering advice about relationships, mental health and wellbeing, and achieving material success and status. They are believed to be [...]
Alexe Bernier, McMaster University An article in the Washington Post recently declared “a crisis in American girlhood.” Girls in the United States are experiencing alarmingly higher rates of sexual assault, mental health issues and suicidality than ever before. Data collected in 2021 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) demonstrates how dire the circumstances of [...]
Alison Poulton, University of Sydney “Cassie” is an anxious adult. She stresses and puts off tasks that should be simple. Seeing others succeed makes her feel inadequate. It’s easier to avoid challenges than risk failing again. She has taken anxiety medication but it didn’t help much. This hypothetical example illustrates a situation many people have [...]
Netta Weinstein, University of Reading Important conversations with teenagers are among the biggest challenges of parenting. They can feel like walking a tightrope. Lean too much – or too little – into commands and restrictions and you’re likely to tip over. In preparation for writing this article, I asked my daughter for her advice to [...]
Elizabeth Stratton, University of Sydney and Nick Glozier, University of Sydney Whether you know about it or not, it’s likely someone you work with or manage has a mental illness. One in five Australians have experienced a mental illness in the last 12 months. Many people stay silent about their mental illness at work. [...]
Brian Moore, Charles Sturt University and Sarah Redshaw, Charles Sturt University Schools are an obvious place to do mental health work with young people. This is important, as about one in seven young Australians are diagnosed with a mental illness. This includes issues like psychological distress, anxiety, depression, school refusal, and complex trauma. However, [...]
David John Hallford, Deakin University Many people at risk of suicide are going undetected and unsupported in our community, our research suggests. Our recently published study found under half of people tell anyone they’re thinking of suicide, making plans or had attempted suicide. Here are some of the reasons why people don’t often talk about [...]
Kristin Naragon-Gainey, The University of Western Australia Financial stress is affecting us in many different ways. Some people are struggling to pay bills, feed the family, or maintain a place to live. Others are meeting their basic needs but are dipping into their savings for extras. Financial stress is increasing and, understandably, is causing some [...]
