Generation Next Blog

January 2019

How Love Drives Extremism

By |2019-01-21T15:16:24+11:00January 21st, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |

The human need for connection leads young people to be especially vulnerable to extremist groups who promise deep connection, comradeship, brotherhood and belonging. Even a cursory glance at recent books on extremism makes clear the kinds of emotions that most scholars and policymakers see as central to the appeal of the radical right. Titles like [...]

New Drug MDPV, or ‘Monkey Dust’, Found in Australia. What Is It and What Are the Harms?

By |2019-01-21T15:00:36+11:00January 21st, 2019|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol|Tags: , , , |

Recent media reports have suggested a rise in a dangerous new party drug known as “monkey dust”. This is a slang name for the drug MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), as well as other members of the chemical class known as “synthetic cathinones”, or “bath salts”. The effects of monkey dust are similar to other stimulants such as [...]

Can PTSD Be Passed Down to Kids? Emerging Research Looks at Intergenerational Trauma

By |2019-01-21T14:25:39+11:00January 21st, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |

The Invictus Games has highlighted the plight of veterans who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But how does it impact their families and children? Veteran and co-founder of Soldier On, John Bale, said while the veteran community had become much more open about PTSD, families were still suffering from associated anxiety and depression [...]

Students Find ‘Workarounds’ for School Phone Bans

By |2021-02-24T16:52:52+11:00January 21st, 2019|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Technology|Tags: , , , |

A Department of Education review of smartphone policies around the world has found that students manage to find "workarounds" when devices are banned at school - yet the NSW government has prohibited phones in primary schools. The Department's review of the evidence on phones in classrooms notes that schools across Australia and around the world [...]

Want to be happier? Try getting to know yourself

By |2019-01-22T09:45:48+11:00January 21st, 2019|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , |

The unexamined life is not worth living, said the Greek philosopher Socrates. He was reflecting on the expression “Know Thyself” – an aphorism inscribed on the temple of Apollo at Delphi and one of the ultimate achievements in ancient Greece. While we walk around the world more or less successful in our endeavours, many of [...]

Porn making teen boys ‘impotent’

By |2021-02-24T16:52:17+11:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Society & Culture, Technology, Uncategorized|

Teenage boys as young as 16 are experiencing symptoms of erectile dysfunction due to excessively viewing violent and hardcore pornography, an expert has revealed. And the ready access to porn on every device at any time of the day is teaching dangerous lessons about what healthy sexual relationships should be like. Psychologist and writer Collett [...]

How Physical Activity in Australian Schools Can Help Prevent Depression in Young People

By |2021-03-03T15:49:30+11:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Depression|Tags: , , , |

Adolescence is a critical time for the development of mental health problems. In fact, depression is most likely to occur during adolescence and young adulthood. It’s the leading cause of disability in young people worldwide. At least one‐quarter of young people will experience an episode of depression before 19 years of age. By year 9, [...]

Government Tackles Youth Anxiety and Depression with $110m Package

By |2021-03-03T15:49:03+11:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Anxiety|Tags: , , , |

The federal government has announced a $110m package targeting youth anxiety and depression, including $46m in funding to a beyondblue program to teach students about good mental health in early learning, primary and secondary schools. Online and phone support services including Kids Helpline and ReachOut will share an extra $1.8m in funding over two years, [...]

Logan Teens with Disabilities Band Together to Make Themselves Heard by Recording Own Album

By |2019-02-11T11:55:14+11:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |

They call themselves the King Stones after their home suburb in Logan — Kingston. Get it? Like all teenagers, they love listening to music. But these teens from Logan, south of Brisbane, face a whole lot more than just the usual adolescent angst. Aged from 17 to 19, the members of the King Stones all [...]

Memes are Taking the Alt-Right’s Message of Hate Mainstream

By |2021-02-24T16:48:39+11:00January 14th, 2019|Categories: Society & Culture, Technology|Tags: , , , |

Think of an internet meme and you’ll probably smile. The most memorable viral images are usually funny, from Distracted Boyfriend to classics like Grumpy Cat. But some memes have a much more sinister meaning. They might look as innocuous as a frog, but are in fact symbols of hate. And as memes have become more [...]

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