Category: Kids Mental Health

National Commissioner Calls on Government to Create Federal Minister for Children

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s national children’s commissioner, Anne Hollonds, has called on the federal government to create a minister for children to help fight against problems in the sector of child welfare services. Speaking to ABC Radio National’s Breakfast programme on Feb. 13, Hollonds said that she believed the reason Australia was struggling to handle…


Link Between Adolescent Screen Time, Aggression and Emotional Problems: Study

Canadian researchers have found “weak but significant” associations between screen time and behavioural problems such as aggression, as well as emotional and mood disturbances in children after analysing 87 studies published from 1960 to 2021. The team analysed 87 eligible studies from 595 articles, totalling over 159,000 participants aged 12 or younger and found that there…


‘Generation-Defining Disruption’: Research on Harmful Impact of Lockdowns on Australian Children

Research is emerging on the significant impact that lockdowns have had on Australian children, including physical and mental wellbeing, academic and learning development, socialisation, and more. Research conducted by SFI Health with over 2,000 Australians revealed that the majority of parents (66 percent) indicated that their children spent too much time on screens during lockdowns,…


Use of Mental Health Services by Young Australians Surged After 2020 Lockdown: Study

A surge of young Australians in New South Wales sought out mental health services following the first wave of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 compared to the prior years. A joint study between the University of New South Wales and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network observed the number of children’s admission to hospital services and emergency departments…


Australian Children and Teens Allowed Friendship Bubbles in New South Wales

Australian children and teenagers under the age of 18 in New South Wales (NSW) will now be allowed to go to their friend’s houses and play. The NSW crisis cabinet agreed on Sept. 20 to allow children to form a “friend bubble” group of three from Sept. 21. The trios in each bubble must stay…


Most Ontario Youth Experienced Depression During Pandemic, Early Data Suggests

TORONTO—Preliminary research suggests the COVID-19 crisis is having a sustained and significant impact on youth mental health in Ontario. Researchers at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children released initial findings Thursday indicating that the majority of children and teenagers saw their mental health decline during the pandemic’s second wave. The early data, which has not been…