Maternal Depression Most Common at Four Years After Birth of First Child
The number of first-time mothers suffering from depression peaks fours years after giving birth, finds a new study published in BJOG:An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This new research from Murdoch Children's Research Institute, shines a spotlight on the mental health and wellbeing of mothers of pre-school aged children, and calls for policy and practice in primary health care to safeguard the mental health of mothers beyond the immediate post partum period. Read full article
Teens Learn Their Model of Romantic Relationships from Parents
A new study from University of Alberta relationship researchers, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, found the quality of the relationship between an adolescent and their parents was directly related to the quality of the teen’s intimate relationship 15 years later. Described as a small but noteworthy association, the researchers say their findings match previous evidence that children learn their model of close relationships from their family of origin. Read full article
Supporting the Mental Health of Caregiving Grandparents
study of grandmothers in the United States has revealed that grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren experience more depression and family strain than grandparents who are not primary caregivers. A growing number of families are now classified as ‘grand-families’ – over six million U.S. households have a grandparent living in the house. What helps them deal with the stress of caregiving? Read full article
Junk Food Linked to Young Children’s Mental Health Problems
Researchers at Deakin University recently published research linking poor diet in pregnant women and in their young children, with children’s higher levels of behavioural and emotional problems. The investigators studied the diets of over 23,000 pregnant women and their children, and concluded after a five year follow-up, that early exposure to what is commonly known as ‘junk food’, increases the risk of poor mental health. Read full article
Mindfulness - If I Could Wind Back Time for Our Children
If I could rewind time with our kids, teaching them more mindfulness-based habits is one thing I would do...This month, the British Journal of Psychiatry has published research showing that after a nine week mindfulness program at school, teens experienced fewer depressive symptoms, lower stress and greater overall wellbeing. Read full article
Mindfulness Training at School Reduces Depression in Teenagers
A study published last month in the Mindfulness Journal, found that a mindfulness program integrated into school hours, can prevent and reduce symptoms of clinical depression in high school students...The researchers found that six months after the study, the mindfulness students with clinical depression symptoms showed significantly greater reductions in depression compared to their control group peers. Read full article
Reducing Aggression by Teaching Teens that People Can Change
When adults see media coverage of teens reacting aggressively to minor provocation, they often assume this behaviour is influenced by a teenager’s family background and experiences. And although a hostile family and school environment can contribute to aggressive behaviour, new research shows that the tendency of teens to act aggressively also depends on their belief about people’s ability or inability to change. This finding may help adults create education programs aimed at reducing violence and aggressive behaviour, and give parents important ideas on how to talk to children about people’s potential for change. Three key ideas for parents and teachers are included in this article. Read full article
Effective Strategies to Prevent Teen Depression and Suicide
Untreated depression is one of the leading causes of teen suicide, and signs of depression can also be a warning that a teenager is contemplating suicide. In an article published this week in the quarterly journal, The Prevention Researcher, University of Cincinnati researchers described how positive connections can help offset these tragedies...The authors state that teen suicidal warning signs encompass three specific categories ... Read full article
I am a SAHM - My Experience of Depression
I found Yvette’s blog post last week about stay-at-home mothers and depression thought provoking. I am a stay-at-home mum and last year I was diagnosed with depression. It never occurred to me to link the two, however in the past few days I have given quite a bit of thought to the connection and the different pressures and expectations experienced by stay-at-home mothers compared with women who work outside the home. Read full article
How Supportive Parenting Impacts Your Child's Brain
The importance of parental love and warmth to children’s emotional wellbeing is widely accepted. It makes sense that a loving childhood may protect children from developing mental illnesses later in life. A recent study by experts at Washington University illustrates why good parenting skills and parent wellbeing is so important that it can even affect the size of an important part of our brain – the hippocampus. Read full article
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