For most of us, writes Peter A. Heslin, 2020 was an exhausting year. The COVID-19 pandemic heralded draining physical health concerns, social isolation, job dislocation, uncertainty about the future and related mental health issues. Although some of us have enjoyed changes such as less commuting,...
How do you cope as a family when a parent dies? One dad shares his story, plus advice on how to help a grieving child. “Nobody knows how I feel, Dad,” my teary-eyed little girl uttered to me as I put her to bed one evening. Amelia’s...
What's the best way to keep cool in extreme temperatures? George Dodd reports on work being done at Sydney University. The hottest place on the planet on January 4, 2020 was in Australia. But it wasn’t Alice Springs or Coober Pedy. It was Penrith, an outer...
Parents have faced unprecedented stress during the pandemic as they care for children while juggling paid work from home. However, very little research so far has focused on family well-being during the pandemic. Subhadra Evans, Antonina Mikocka-Walu and Elizabeth Westrupp investigate. We asked more than 2,000...
Kristine Whorlow warns of hidden festive-season asthma triggers. It’s time to drag out the Christmas decorations, put up the tree and get into the spirit of the festive season, but people with asthma can find themselves short of breath during the holiday season for a range...
Which 'milk' is best for the environment? Dora Marinova and Diana Bogueva compared dairy, nut, soy, hemp and grain milks Making eco-conscious choices at the shops can be tricky when we’re presented with so many options, especially when it comes to milk. Should we buy plant-based milk,...
Dana Kerford, Canadian born teacher and founder of the URSTRONG friendship programs, shares her insights on friendships, with Natalie Richie How are girls' relationships different to boys’? Little conflicts may not faze boys. Girls, however, can turn the tiniest rift into a major issue by avoiding...
Lockdown doesn’t change the important health checks we should all have, even when we are healthy, writes Andria Aird. Regular health checks can quickly identify health issues for prompt treatment. This includes getting appropriate vaccinations, checking blood pressure, cholesterol and addressing any lifestyle factors. Some...
The amount of conflicting advice and information expecting parents get can be overwhelming – our experts sort the factual from the less factual, writes Erin Munro, University of Melbourne For women, couples and families, pregnancy is one of life’s most important experiences, but it can also...
The concept of a dog as "man’s best friend" is nothing new. Sigmund Freud wrote about personal accounts with his pet dog, a red chow named Jofi, who became his late-life and therapy companion. On account of a series of mouth operations he endured, he said...
