Singapore study finds mental illness more prevalent in young adults
Young Singaporean adults aged 18-34 are most at risk of developing a mental health illness, a Singapore Mental Health Study has found. A report on the findings, released on Tuesday this week, showed individuals in that age group were most likely to have experienced bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, and obsessive compulsive disorder.…
Renewed call for a sugar tax aligned with Obesity Epidemic committee recommendations
The Select Committee into the Obesity Epidemic has this week published a report featuring 22 recommendations to address Australia’s weight crisis. Among them, a tax on sugary drinks, mandating the Health Star Ratings, and banning junk food ads on TV until 9pm. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending the taxing of sugary drinks, Australia…
Funding injection into the mental health of small business owners
More than $3.1million of federal funding has been invested into a program to aid the mental health of our nation’s small business owners, particularly those living in rural areas. Those grappling with long hours, ongoing stress and cashflow concerns Australia-wide will soon have access to an online portal called Ahead for Business, which is currently…
Federal Government declares $4 million commitment for development of Australia’s first research & translation hub for eating disorders
InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders thanked the Federal Government yesterday (Sunday, December 9, 2018) for its $4 million commitment over the ensuing 3.5 years for development of the nation’s first research and translation hub for eating disorders. Yesterday’s announcement marks an historical turning point for the more than one million Australians living with eating disorders. …
Minister for Health calls Health Technology Assessment Roundtable
Federal Health Minister, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, has called for a Health Technology Assessment roundtable following discussions with the research-based life sciences sector earlier this year. According to Health Dispatch, former chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom, will be the master of ceremonies, and the agenda will include…
Telum Talks To… Emma Thompson, Managing Partner, Spurwing Communications & Kirsten Bruce, Principal, VIVA! Communications
Telum recently chatted with Emma Thompson from Spurwing Communications in Singapore and Kirsten Bruce from Australia’s VIVA! Communications about their agencies and being part of global agency partnership GLOBALHealthPR. Can you tell us more about GLOBALHealthPR and how the network operates? Kirsten: GLOBALHealthPR (GHPR) is the world’s largest partnership of independently owned health and science communication agencies. Our global network…
Infections raise risk of mental disorders in kids
Infections like bronchitis in children and adolescents have been linked with an increased risk of developing a mental illness later in life, a study has shown. In the Jama Psychiarty study, researchers found being hospitalised for a serious infection increased the risk of hospital contact due to mental disorders by 84 per cent. The risk…
Flu vaccine prevents one in five deaths and ICU admissions, study finds
People vaccinated against influenza experience less serious flu symptoms and are less likely to end up in the Intensive Care Unit or die from the illness, compared to those who are not vaccinated, a study has revealed. According to the study out of the University of Barcelona, 30 per cent of patients who were admitted…
Launch of multidisciplinary alliance aiming to curb Asia Pacific’s fragility fractures
A ground-breaking multi-stakeholder alliance charged with countering fragility fractures threatening the world’s most populated, and fastest ageing region, will be unveiled in Sydney, Australia today. Formation of the Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance coincides with an article published in MJA Insight calling for an urgent, cross-disciplinary, multi-sector response to the mounting medical emergency facing Asia’s…
Cracking the genetic code of bipolar disorder
Today, November 20, 2018, VIVA! had the pleasure of partnering with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute to launch the Australian Genetics of Bipolar Disorder Study. The study comprises the Australian arm of the world’s largest of its kind to date. The ground-breaking study hopes to identify the genes that predispose people to bipolar disorder, a…