Generation Next Blog

July 2014

What’s Happening Online?

By |2014-07-28T00:58:43+10:00July 28th, 2014|Categories: Cybersafety|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about some of the places to access advice on helping kids (and/or yourselves) with regard to being online. Last week, the ACMA blog published the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research, providing the latest findings around how Aussie teens are using the internet. Whether or not the findings [...]

Five Myths About HIV In Australia‏

By |2014-07-28T00:41:09+10:00July 28th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Science & Research|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Australia had a quick and effective response to HIV at the start of the epidemic. Some 30 years later, however, there’s a tendency to underestimate the sheer effort involved in maintaining HIV prevention responses. Misinformation and lazy assumptions about quick fixes can mar sustained and effective HIV prevention. The nation’s initial response was multifaceted. On [...]

10 Ways To Support Someone With Mental Health Challenges

By |2014-07-28T00:23:59+10:00July 28th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , |

Millions of people with mental health issues lead happy, productive, and extremely normal lives. Many people with mental health conditions never tell their loved ones, and their behavior may be no different from people without mental health conditions. Indeed, more than 25% of Americans receive a mental health diagnosis at least once. But this doesn’t [...]

A Biology of Mind

By |2014-07-27T21:59:20+10:00July 27th, 2014|Categories: Uncategorized|

I expected that within 10 years we would have found the major genes that contribute to schizophrenia, depression, and autism. Since then, there has been a lot of enthusiasm about genes and mental illness and some false starts, but surprisingly little progress. via Eric Kandel: A Biology of Mind.

Human friendships based on genetic similarities

By |2014-07-26T14:05:32+10:00July 26th, 2014|Categories: Science & Research|Tags: , , , , , |

The tendency of people to forge friendships with people of a similar appearance has been noted since the time of Plato. But now there is research suggesting that, to a striking degree, we tend to pick friends who are genetically similar to us in ways that go beyond superficial features. For example, you and your [...]

Teenagers more anxious and depressed

By |2014-07-26T13:59:54+10:00July 26th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , |

Teenagers are experiencing more depression and anxiety than they did a decade or more ago, with doctors reporting an increase in the most serious and difficult cases. A review of 19 studies conducted across 12 countries has found the majority showed a deterioration in the mental health of teenage girls when it came to depressive and [...]

Anger over Australian campervan firm’s misogynistic slogans

By |2014-07-28T12:40:27+10:00July 26th, 2014|Categories: Society & Culture, Technology|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Paula Orbea started the online petition on Friday after her 11-year-old daughter saw the message on a van in the scenic Blue Mountains west of Sydney during the school holidays. It has so far been signed by nearly 25,000 people. "I agree with free speech, but where is the line? At what point do we [...]

Genetics may be Key to a Nation’s Level of Happiness

By |2014-07-28T12:41:17+10:00July 26th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , , |

Countries are gradually giving up the goal of high GDP and trying to find a better measure of human well-being. Science will help us to do that. I reckon that over the next few decades we will see biomarker measures come to be used in a systematic way, and genetic markers are in that spirit." [...]

What Is The Impact Of Too Much Caffeine?

By |2014-07-21T22:01:02+10:00July 21st, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When entering a school to present our Safe Partying seminars, I am usually greeted by a teacher on a ‘break’ (a questionable term) from lesson with a cup of coffee in hand. For most, I know this is not the first cup of coffee, with many more pours throughout the day for that extra burst [...]

Dr Donnelly

By |2014-07-21T01:12:07+10:00July 21st, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , |

My article last week that discussed whether of not particular school discipline procedures were a breach of students’ human rights, I didn’t even think to comment on corporal punishment. Why would I? It’s not relevant these days is it? So what to make of the fact that last week, Dr Kevin Donnelly stated that, as [...]

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