Here's the evidence why breast is best
07 October, 2015 by Sharon SmithIt’s a mantra repeated by health providers Australia-wide: breast is best. And while we’ve always known that there is something about mother’s breast milk that causes a baby to thrive, it has taken until 2015 to discover why that is.
Online Mental Health Conference
28 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithThe Mental Health Academy is offering 20 hours of CPD training through their 2015 Mental Health Super Summit, which will be held online from 29 October - 6 November.
Dementia support and prevention
24 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithCurrently in Australia, over 322,000 people suffer from dementia, with one in ten of Australians over the age of 65 affected by the condition. However, the Australian population is rapidly aging: the number of Australians aged 65 is expected to increase from 2.5 million in 2002 to 6.2 million in 2042, with only 2.5 people of working age supporting each person aged over 65 as opposed to 5 people in 2002. With this increase in the aging population, based on projections from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of people with dementia will reach almost 400,000 by 2020, and around 900,000 by 2050. According to Jon Kontopos, CEO of Dementia Caring, as the population in Australia ages, there will be an increasing pressure on the healthcare system to cater for those needing aged care, especially those who will be affected by conditions like dementia which require a high level of care.
A World View on Patient-Centred Care Design
15 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithJill Joseph is a leading healthcare planner and designer, having worked across the US, Europe and the Middle East as a consultant for Herman Miller Healthcare. This year she visited Australia to educate architecture and design firms on patient-centred care and evidence-based design for the healthcare industry.
RUOK? How to respond to someone who isn't OK
10 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithWorld Suicide Prevention Day prompts people from all walks of life to ask their loved ones what could be a life-saving question: are you ok?
Mental health care spending saves money - The Conversation
07 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithMental health has become the awakening giant of health care, as Australians realise how ubiquitous mental illness really is in their everyday lives. But there’s a growing disconnect between this grassroots awareness and decisive action towards providing the full spectrum of care for those in need.
The Conversation - The link between smoking and mental health
07 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithA recent study suggested a causal association between smoking tobacco and developing psychosis or schizophrenia, building on research about the relationship between the use of substances and the risk of psychosis. While cannabis is one of the usual suspects, a potential link with tobacco will have come as a surprise to many.
Elderly Men have the Highest Suicide Rate - The Conversation
07 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithThe most recent Australian suicide statistics from 2013 show that, out of the whole population, men aged 85 years and over have the highest suicide rates. While the attention these figures have garnered is a positive sign, this is hardly a new phenomenon.
Bullying in the Workplace: The Conversation
07 September, 2015 by Sharon SmithOver a decade ago now, I read a research article that called bullying the “cancer” of the workplace. I’ve been wondering since then whether bullying is really serious enough to warrant that language - and what can be done about it.
The Conversation on Federally-Funded Youth Mental Health
31 August, 2015 by Sharon SmithMental health problems are common in young people and often have their first onset during this period of life. But many affected youth either don’t seek or delay seeking professional help.
Yoga for Stroke Rehabilitation: The Conversation
31 August, 2015 by Sharon SmithOne in six Australians will have a stroke in their lifetime. That’s about 51,000 strokes per year, or one every ten minutes. Worldwide, stroke is the second most common cause of premature death, after heart disease, and is the leading cause of disability among adults.
Eureka! We've Found a Use for the Appendix!
28 August, 2015 by Sharon SmithAt this year's Australia Museum Eureka Prizes, a ninth-grader stole the show with her myth-busting video explain just exactly why we have an appendix. Her diagnosis of the misunderstood organ's crucial role in gut health saw Paige Bebee from Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School in Victoria awarded the University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize – Secondary category for her video, The Secret of the Appendix.
Cancer Drugs Will Become Terminal for Health Systems
28 August, 2015 by Sharon SmithNarcyz Ghinea, University of Sydney; Ian Kerridge, University of Sydney, and Wendy Lipworth, University of Sydney
Meningococcal B Vaccine Rejected From PBS
24 August, 2015 by Sharon SmithThe vaccine, which is currently recommended for infants at six weeks old plus two boosters, and 12 months old, and again at 15-19 years can cost up to $500 for a full dose including boosters. The government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has again rejected subsidising the vaccine on the PBS despite leaders in the field calling for the vaccine for the disease to be accessble to Australian families at a low price.
