Generation Next Blog

April 2011

Smoking pot can lead to mental health issues

By |2012-08-17T17:04:33+10:00April 7th, 2011|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Many people, including regular cannabis users, argue that there is no link between using cannabis and the onset of mental health issues later in life. However a longitudinal study spanning 10 years has now shown that new users of cannabis, especially young people, are more likely to develop psychotic symptoms than those who never used [...]

Cybersmart: Teaching kids to be smart and safe online

By |2012-08-17T17:08:37+10:00April 5th, 2011|Categories: Cybersafety|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

To young people in Australia, the online world is a place where the virtual and the real collide. For many teenagers, the internet and mobile phone are their social lifeline. Online technologies are so important to them that teens’ online and offline friendships may be lost if they are not able to text or post [...]

Sitting in front of a screen can lead to heart problems later

By |2012-08-17T19:46:30+10:00April 5th, 2011|Categories: Cybersafety, Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

A recent study carried out by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, looked at the link between screen-based entertainment time and cardiovascular events later in life. It seems that sitting in front of a screen (TV, computer games, internet etc) and viewing screen based entertainment for long periods of time can [...]

Protect our kids: Say No to child beauty pageants in Australia

By |2012-08-17T19:46:39+10:00April 4th, 2011|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Child beauty pageant company Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant is planning to hold a 'Child Beauty Pageant' in Melbourne, Australia, in July. Many psychologists and child development authorities agree that child beauty pageants are not in the best interest of healthy child development. A study conducted by Anna Wonderlich et.al (2005) in the Journal of Treatment [...]

Alcohol at school fund raisers is a bad example

By |2012-08-17T19:46:48+10:00April 2nd, 2011|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) recently sent out an open letter to all principals, urging alcohol NOT TO be included at school fund raisers. Dear Principal I am writing to you as Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) to formally seek your assistance and co-operation in not permitting the use, [...]

Does DrinkWise have the welfare of our young at heart?

By |2012-08-17T19:46:57+10:00April 1st, 2011|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Leading health organisations have criticised the alcohol industry’s DrinkWise organisation for involving young people in what appears to be largely a promotional exercise.  It seems that although DrinkWise claims to be ‘independent', they are in fact heavily involved with the alcohol industry.  DrinkWise is funded by the alcohol industry, and according to its website many [...]

How to safeguard your child’s childhood

By |2012-08-17T19:47:11+10:00April 1st, 2011|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Julie Gale, the founder of Kids Free 2B Kids, a website dedicated to letting children develop to their full potential; without exposure to sexualised imagery before they are developmentally ready to process it, recently spoke to the TODAY program on Channel 9 about the battle many parents face when trying to protect their children from [...]

March 2011

Presssure to be perfect makes women drink before sex

By |2011-03-31T14:57:06+11:00March 31st, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

75% of women link to drink before sex with their partners 25% of women ‘tipsy’ first time they slept with their partner 6% have never had sex when sober* Concerns about lack of self esteem and poor body image are driving many women to drink before they engage in sex with their partners. It is [...]

Movie Ratings: do they give parents an adequate guide to film content?

By |2011-03-18T06:48:22+11:00March 18th, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

A recent study in the USA, The effectiveness of the motion picture association of America's rating system in screening explicit violence and sex in top-ranked movies from 1950 to 2006, has revealed that the Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system does not reflect the level of violence and sexual imagery contained in a film. [...]

Want to live longer? Keep your cup half full

By |2011-03-17T06:31:10+11:00March 17th, 2011|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |

A review recently undertaken by psychology Professor Ed Diener of the University of Illinois in America, has reported that people with a more relaxed disposition and who see their cup as 'half full' rather than half empty, are more likely to live longer, happier and less stressed lives. The review of more than 160 studies [...]

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