Generation Next Blog

September 2010

Is the internet killing our ability to think?

By |2012-08-17T17:02:56+10:00September 23rd, 2010|Categories: Science & Research, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |

On average web browsers spend less than 10 seconds looking at a page. There is a new body of scientific evidence emerging that shows the dangers of over exposure to the internet and ‘instant’ information, especially in adolescents. The attention span and ability to focus and concentrate seems to be diminished in those who spend [...]

A game of chase in the playground with sex thrown in

By |2010-09-22T20:33:55+10:00September 22nd, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Brightly coloured jelly bracelets have been around since the 1980’s and used to be worn by the youth of that generation. However, today in many playgrounds around the country they are now taking on a more sinister nature as they grow in popularity with primary school children. With a new name and meaning; ‘shag bands’ [...]

New teaching aid DVD Your Shout discusses the harms of teenage drinking

By |2012-08-17T17:05:14+10:00September 22nd, 2010|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

90% of teenagers have tried alcohol by 15 years of age 20% of teenagers regularly drink at harmful levels A new DVD Your Shout will shortly be introduced into schools around Australia as a teaching aid to help staff discuss the impact drinking has on young people. The DVD features teenagers talking about their experiences [...]

Weight gained in teenage years is harder to shift later

By |2010-09-17T06:21:56+10:00September 17th, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

A new study recently published online by the Journal of Adolescent Health, has spent 10 years following a group of 1,520 adolescents from the age of 14 to 24 years old. Their aim was to investigate the shift in weight between adolescence and young adulthood. The study Overweight and Obesity between Adolescence and Young Adulthood: [...]

Big tobacco companies behind resistance to plain packaging

By |2010-09-16T09:42:04+10:00September 16th, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

By 2012 the government intends to ensure that all cigarettes sold in Australia are in plain packaging. However the tobacco industry is fighting back in an attempt to block their plans. The big tobacco companies are bank rolling a series of newspaper and television ads for an alliance of small retailers and have hired Melbourne [...]

Primary school students on Facebook leads to cyber abuse

By |2010-09-14T06:50:40+10:00September 14th, 2010|Categories: Cybersafety|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

Officially Facebook does not allow anyone under the age of 13 to have an account; however this does not seem to be stopping an increasing number of primary school students from joining the social networking site. The consequences of children who are too young to fully understand the implications of sharing information in cyber space [...]

youthbeyondblue talks: what really works for young people with depression?

By |2010-09-13T20:58:23+10:00September 13th, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , |

beyondblue: the national depression initiative and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre at The University of Melbourne have joined forces to produce a booklet to help young people find which treatments for depression work and which don’t. What Works for Depression in Young People reviews more than 30 treatment options and rates each one against the [...]

Models are off the agenda for Essentials magazine

By |2010-09-10T06:26:05+10:00September 10th, 2010|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

In a bold move, backed by readers who suggested they preferred to see “real women”, the UK monthly magazine Essentials will no longer feature models or celebrities on its front cover. Published by IPC Media, the October issue runs with the theme “Celebrating women like you” and contains no models or celebrities at all. Stories [...]

Alcohol and pregnancy – International FASD Awareness Day

By |2012-08-17T17:05:14+10:00September 9th, 2010|Categories: Drugs & Alcohol, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , |

The dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy are highlighted by International FASD Awareness day (September 9th). Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a term that describes a range of disabilities, birth defects and brain damage that may be caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. It has been estimated that the prevalence of FASD in Australia [...]

Net Savvy: headspace – National Youth Mental Health Foundation

By |2012-08-17T17:05:14+10:00September 8th, 2010|Categories: Cybersafety, Drugs & Alcohol|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

The headspace website is designed for parents, carers, teachers and professionals who work with young people. It deals with a range of issues that affect the youth of today including: Mental Health Drugs and Alcohol Cyberbullying Health and Wellbeing Research and useful links Parents and carers Getting Help Videos The site also features several videos [...]

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