Even before COVID-19 lockdowns, school closures and strict social distancing, depression was on the rise in children and teenagers around the globe, report Sarah Hetrick, Joanne McKenzie, Nick Meader, and Sally Merry By the age of 19, around 25% of adolescents are estimated to have experienced...
When her daughter was eventually diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Sue McLachlan finally understood the reason for her daughter’s many rituals. When my daughter was about four years old, I was impressed that she had a genuine concern for hygiene. She loved to have her bath each...
Sarah Hayden discovers the challenges and beauty of her daughter’s diagnosis. Looking back, I could see all the signs – now that I know what they are. From a very young age, we always just referred to our daughter as ‘quirky’. Being young, inexperienced parents, and...
More kids are being diagnosed with ADHD for borderline (yet challenging) behaviours. Luise Kazda reports that her new research shows why that’s a worry. During my daughter’s challenging first year of school, we discovered how much effort it took her to sit and learn. She was the...
One potential hurdle to vaccine acceptance is needle fear. Needles are nothing to fear, writes Therese O'Sullivan The COVID vaccine rollout has placed the issue of vaccination firmly in the spotlight. A successful rollout will depend on a variety of factors, one of which is vaccine...
AFLW West Coast Eagles player, Kate Orme, is urging parents to check that children with asthma have a healthy and safe start to the school year and avoid the February “back-to-school asthma spike”. Kate, the new Ambassador for the National Asthma Council Australia said that as...
Researchers call for a policy shift on bullying that will focus on years 3 -8 of schooling. Remote learning and physical distancing during COVID-19 may have a disproportionate effect on students during this critical developmental phase News in brief: A significant number of students in the...
“Stupid coronavirus!” I heard my six-year-old mumble while talking in her sleep. “Stupid coronavirus indeed!” Hearing this reminded me these are strange and worrying times for young children. While we need to look after ourselves and others, we also need to consider how all this is affecting...
Beatrix Hooper* looks at the years of anxiety and tears her family spent, searching to get the correct diagnosis for her son's behaviour. Part one: The Years of Frustration ‘Yes, your child has autism,’ the psychologist told us. I couldn’t help it. I burst into tears. Even though I...
By following a strict diet, children and adults with coeliac disease can live a normal, healthy life, writes Lucinda Bertram. The only treatment for coeliac disease is to remove gluten completely from the diet… When eight-year-old Gabi Thomas complained of feeling sick every morning, the adults in...
