Generation Next Blog

June 2014

Study finds association between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides and autism

By |2014-06-29T15:04:18+10:00June 29th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , |

Quinn, an autistic boy, and the line of toys he made before falling asleep. Repeatedly stacking or lining up objects is a behavior commonly associated with autism. Credit: Wikipedia. Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a [...]

Action needed to protect kids from alcohol ads

By |2020-11-16T11:32:33+11:00June 29th, 2014|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The AMA Vice President, Dr Stephen Parnis, this week launched the second annual report of the Alcohol Advertising Review Board at Parliament House in Canberra. The reported provides further evidence that self-regulation of alcohol advertising is ineffective and many alcohol companies are ignoring concerns about young people’s exposure to ads through sport, TV and online. [...]

Empathy May Be Genetic

By |2014-06-29T14:52:18+10:00June 29th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Science & Research|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Do you jump to help the less fortunate, cry during sad movie scenes or tweet and post the latest topics and photos that excite or move you? If yes, you may be among the 20 percent of our population that is genetically predisposed to empathy. - Stony Brook Univ. via Empathy May Be Genetic.

How Do You Talk To Youth About Drug Education?

By |2014-06-23T15:01:57+10:00June 23rd, 2014|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

In conversations with many teachers and parents, the opinion is divided about whether to focus on the positive behavior or negative choices youth make surrounding drugs. There are those who believe most young people will try drugs at some stage, so we should shock students by telling true stories of disaster parties & those who [...]

Students Having A Voice And Taking Action

By |2014-06-23T09:34:06+10:00June 23rd, 2014|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

I’m really exploring the concept of Student Voice at the moment. Both in my writing and in my work with schools. Last week I was invited back to the school where I last taught in 2012. I was part of a panel for an evening that the Year 12s had put on to discuss some [...]

There’s No ‘Rushing Women’s Syndrome’ But Hormones Affect Mental Health

By |2014-06-23T00:16:44+10:00June 23rd, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Political controversies often use the suffix “gate“ to embellish their significance. In pop psychology, the equivalent is the made-up “syndrome”, which involves a combination of symptoms and circumstances to explain behaviours and reactions. The latest is “rushing women’s syndrome”, which former swimmer Lisa Curry used to explain her hormonal shifts leading to her divorce. But [...]

Australian children and adolescents increasingly use psychotropic drugs

By |2020-11-16T11:34:08+11:00June 21st, 2014|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

"This is a major concern. Antipsychotics are strong drugs with serious side effects such as obesity, diabetes and sedation, and these tend to be worse in young people. Despite this, these drugs are increasingly used in situations where other treatments may be safer and more appropriate," said Karanges. Use of the main ADHD medication Ritalin [...]

Botox…..For Depression?

By |2014-06-21T22:03:32+10:00June 20th, 2014|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Science & Research|Tags: , , , , , , , |

A single injection of Botox, which is typically used to improve the appearance of facial wrinkles, may be an effective treatment for depression. Investigators at the Hannover Medical School in Germany found that treating the facial muscles involved in emotion with Botox eases symptoms of depression."Our emotions are expressed by facial muscles, which in turn [...]

Father wins High Court challenge on federal funding of school chaplains program

By |2014-06-21T22:12:27+10:00June 19th, 2014|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The decision could undermine the federal government's recent decision to allocate $245.3 million to continue running the chaplaincy program for another five years. That funding was intended specifically for schools to hire faith-based chaplains rather than social workers. Under the program, 3700 schools are eligible for up to $72,000 funding to employ chaplains. In a [...]

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