Following the release of the WHO guidelines on physical activity the ABC Health Report did a podcast on What dose of physical activity is best for you? Dr Norman Swan interviews Dr Melody Ding Associate Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney Podcast 30 November: length 8.5 minutesContinue reading “Exercise – Podcast”
New Guidelines – Physical Activity
Comment: In reading these new WHO guidelines on amount of daily recommended physical activity we should be undertaking, it may be challenging to consider how will I achieve this goal as “I do not have the time”. Often the answer is not easy and involves a restructuring of how we undertake our daily activities. ToContinue reading “New Guidelines – Physical Activity”
E-Health options for mental health
Comment: There is evidence for the effectiveness of online courses to support mental health. The recent Productivity Commission Report on mental health highlighted that online treatment can provide a convenient, clinically effective, low-cost way … to manage their mental illness. Information on various options can be found at the Health Direct website – see below.Continue reading “E-Health options for mental health”
Private Lives – Survey on health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia
Comment: This report from Latrobe University is a comprehensive survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia. In total, 6,835 participants completed the PL3 survey Over half (54.4%) of participants were in a committed romantic relationship/s, of whom almost half (48.1%) had been in this relationship/s for five or more years. AlmostContinue reading “Private Lives – Survey on health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia”
Ideology and Health Outcomes
Comment: If you subscribe to the idea (I do not) that most welfare recipients use the money the government provides on drugs and pornography and neglect basic needs then utilising a cash card that restricts what can be brought with them might seem a logical decision. Indeed this appears to have driven an Australian FederalContinue reading “Ideology and Health Outcomes”
Sexual Health – Betty Dodson Dies
Comment: I just read this article in The New York Times on the death of Betty Dodson (a feminist sexologist and evangelist of self-pleasure) had a major influence on a generation of women in terms of the ability to self-pleasure. Betty Dodson strove to teach women the power of self-pleasure in a society that negativelyContinue reading “Sexual Health – Betty Dodson Dies”
Mindfulness
Comment: The Harvard Review of Psychiatry has just published a review related to mindfulness and behavioral change. This article from MedicalXpress discusses the paper. I have also provided a link to the original research paper. Mindfulness approaches can help patients with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions to initiate and sustain changesContinue reading “Mindfulness”
Exercise and Cancer
Comment: Article highlights the usefulness of exercise as part of the overall approach to cancer treatment and the challenges and differences as to how the Medicare system treats funding for exercise programs for cancer in comparison to other diseases. Orthopaedic surgeon Jonathan Herald says he sees how much quicker patients recover with structured exercise rehabilitation.Continue reading “Exercise and Cancer”
Drug Use and Covid-19
Comment: The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) has released a summary report of a study – Australians’ Drug Use: Adapting to Panademic Threats (ADAPT) study. This study examines the experience of Australians who use illicit drugs. The reference to Wave 1 and 2 reflect two different time periods the survey was conducted. TheContinue reading “Drug Use and Covid-19”
Chronic Pain in Adults
Comment: As part of the Psychology Week 2020 the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has released a series of resources related to managing chronic pain. There is strong evidence that engaging with a psychologist with experience in treating pain early in treatment can help recovery. Getting timely access to the right treatment for pain is importanttoContinue reading “Chronic Pain in Adults”