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International collaboration awarded $US8 million to design world-first diagnostic tool for acute rheumatic feverResearchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia are joining forces with international experts in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) to transform the diagnosis of these diseases thanks to an $US8 million grant from the Leducq Foundation.
Research
Mental health outcomes for teenage boys and girls following a youth sports development program including a mental health programYouth sports programs provide an opportunity to embed mental health and wellbeing programs to reach young people with mental health support. The aims of this study were to (a) examine mental health outcomes from a youth sports program including a mental health program (Life-Fit-Learning) in adolescent boys and girls, and (b) among the larger cohort of adolescent boys, to examine whether partial or full completion of Life-Fit-Learning yielded different outcomes for boys within healthy and high-risk ranges for anxiety, depression and behavioral concerns.
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Sexuality and Gender Diversity Among Adolescents in Australia, 2019-2021Sexuality- and gender-diverse (SGD) young people experience substantial health disparities relative to cisgender heterosexual peers. Little is known about SGD adolescents younger than 15 years.
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Association between mental health workforce supply and clusters of high and low rates of youth suicide: An Australian study using suicide mortality data from 2016 to 2020Abstract: To examine the association between mental health workforce supply and spatial clusters of high versus low incidence of youth suicide.
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The perinatal and childhood outcomes of children born to Indigenous women with mental health problems: A scoping reviewMaternal mental health problems are common during the perinatal period and have been associated with several negative outcomes in children. However, few studies have examined the associations between maternal mental health problems and offspring outcomes among Indigenous people, and the findings across these studies have been inconsistent. This scoping review examined the birth and childhood (≤12 years) health and development outcomes of the children of Indigenous women with mental health problems.
News & Events
Welcome boost to medical research and innovation in WAThe Kids Research Institute Australia has welcomed the State Government’s additional investment into the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI), which supports key medical research, innovation and commercialisation in Western Australia.
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Support needs and experiences of young people living in families with mental illnessChildren and adolescents living in families affected by mental illness are at elevated risk of developing mental health problems. A range of interventions have been designed to help these young people; however, the effectiveness of these programs is, in some cases, mixed. Our aim was to understand in detail the support needs and experiences of a group of Australian children and adolescents living in families with mental illness.
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School-based depression and anxiety prevention programs: An updated systematic review and meta-analysisDepression and anxiety are often first experienced during childhood and adolescence, and interest in the prevention of these disorders is growing. The focus of this review was to assess the effectiveness of psychological prevention programs delivered in schools, and to provide an update to our previous review from five years ago (Werner-Seidler, Perry, Calear, Newby, & Christensen, 2017).
News & Events
World-first clinical trial in ‘man’s best friend’ could unlock treatment breakthrough for kids with cancerThe Kids Research Institute Australia is leading a unique clinical trial in pet dogs that could pave the way for a new immunotherapy treatment for one of the most common childhood cancers, Sarcoma.
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Basic epidemiology of wellbeing among children and adolescents: A cross-sectional population level studyWellbeing and mental health are fundamental rights of children and adolescents essential for sustainable development. Understanding the epidemiology of child and adolescent wellbeing is essential to informing population health approaches to improving wellbeing and preventing mental illness.
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Don't Get Lost in Translation: Integrating Developmental and Implementation Sciences to Accelerate Real-World Impact on Children's Development, Health, and WellbeingTranslation of developmental science discoveries is impeded by numerous barriers at different stages of the research-to-practice pipeline. Actualization of the vast potential of the developmental sciences to improve children's health and development in the real world is imperative but has not yet been fully realized.
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Climate change, activism, and supporting the mental health of children and young people: Perspectives from Western AustraliaThe climate crisis has detrimental impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Psychological effects include feelings of fear, overwhelm, worry, distress, hopelessness and anger; PTSD; depression; anxiety; phobias; panic disorder; sleep disturbances; attachment disorders; learning difficulties; substance abuse; shock and trauma symptoms; adjustment problems; behavioural problems; and, suicidal thinking.
News & Events
Youth mental health researcher named joint Shell Aboriginal STEM Student of the YearYouth mental health researcher named joint winner of the Shell Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year category at the 2022 Western Australian Premier’s Science Awards.
News & Events
More pedestrians, less cars: Researchers call for shopping strip overhaulResearchers have identified 10 Australian shopping strips where the removal of on-street parking would transform the area’s liveability.
News & Events
World Breastfeeding Week: Q&AIn celebration of World Breastfeeding Week (1 – 7 August), we sat down with Professor Valerie Verhasselt to ask her some of the top questions about breastfeeding and immunology.