Category Archives: Youth health

Introducing a new watchdog for alcohol marketing

March 19, 2012 – 10:41 am

Relying on the alcohol industry to regulate alcohol marketing does not work. It’s time for a new approach, writes Rebecca Johnson, policy advisor with Cancer Council Western Australia. She invites Croakey readers to contribute to the Alcohol Advertising Review Board (AARB), which was launched last week. *** Alcohol marketers now face scrutiny by an independent [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, health & medical marketing, health regulation, public health | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

How can technology be harnessed to help young people & “mental wealth”?

August 22, 2011 – 2:48 am

Here’s a thought: if you’re over 30, you belong to the last generation to know a world without computers. It’s not surprising that efforts to harness technology for youth health are using young people as the teachers and experts, as was outlined in an event at the National Press Club last week. Below is an [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in e-health, health and medical research, Media-related issues, mental health, social determinants of health, Uncategorized, Web 2.0 | Tagged , , , , | Comments (7)

Beyond the alarming headlines about bowel cancer in young people

June 1, 2011 – 9:17 pm

Today we’ve heard a lot of noise about an “alarming” increase in bowel cancer in young people. But it’s been very difficult to make much sense of it all. The ABC reported that: Australian oncologists are warning that young people are developing bowel cancer at alarming rates. Figures collated by Bowel Cancer Australia over the [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in cancer, Media-related issues, public health | Tagged , | Comments (10)

The movies and memoirs of mental health

May 30, 2011 – 7:17 pm

In keeping with the cultural theme of recent posts, below is an article about mental health at the movies (first published at the Cinetology blog), as well as a list compiled in the US of the 20 greatest memoirs of mental illness (which omits some of my favourites). *** What are Australian film-makers telling us [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, illicit drugs, Indigenous health, men's health, mental health, rural and remote health | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Mental health and the budget: some positive steps, but plenty of sorry gaps too

May 24, 2011 – 7:54 pm

Dr Lesley Russell from the Menzies Centre for Health Policy at the University of Sydney, has had a close look at the budget’s mental health papers, and prepared a 12-page analysis which can be downloaded here. She has also provided an abridged version for Croakey readers. It seems that all is not quite what it [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, Federal Budget 2011, illicit drugs, mental health | Comments (8)

Want to contribute to law reform for disadvantaged youth?

January 13, 2011 – 1:44 pm

The operations of the criminal justice system have an important bearing on the health and wellbeing of many people, particularly those who are disadvantaged. The piece below, by two authors from the NSW Law Reform Commission, suggests there is room to improve the system’s interactions with young people with cognitive and mental health problems. If [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in disabilities, legal issues, mental health | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Health policy: who is on the best-read list?

December 22, 2010 – 8:41 pm

Australian Policy Online has just published a list of its five most read reports and commentary pieces in the health area for 2010. 1. Primary health care reform in Australia Department of Health and Ageing 2. Black Saturday: the immediate impact of the February 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia Peter A. Cameron, and others | [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in health reform, Hospitals, primary health care | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Can Victorians expect action on the supply of alcohol to minors?

December 20, 2010 – 8:28 am

Will the change of government in Victoria mean some good news on the alcohol front? Sarah Jaggard, Community Mobilisation Policy Officer of the Australian Drug Foundation, has  written previously at Croakey about Victoria’s laggardly tendencies when it comes to enacting legislation targeting the the secondary supply of alcohol to minors. (Under such laws, an adult [...]

By Melissa Sweet | Also posted in alcohol, public health | Tagged , , | Comments (0)