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Teens of fathers with clinical depression at heightened risk of mental health problems
Teenagers who have a father living with clinical depression are at heightened risk of developing a mental health problem. This is according to the world’s first study of its kind linking clinical depression with fathers, instead of only with mothers as previously believed, published in the Lancet Psychiatry on November 15, 2017. In the first…
Read MoreNew data reveals common brain abnormalities in people with clinical depression & social anxiety
People living with major depressive disorder (MDD) (or clinical depression), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) share common, specific structural brain abnormalities that can be identified by imaging scans, according to new data presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago this week Chinese researchers compared high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging…
Read MoreDiscovery of genes that cause clinical depression could help ease GP medication concerns
The discovery of the genes that cause clinical depression could help GPs and other healthcare professionals to more accurately prescribe medication as a result of individual genetic profiling. The use of antidepressants to treat clinical depression tends to be a complex process riddled with guesswork. Our own interim data from the Australian Genetics of Depression…
Read MoreMedia’s unrealistic portrayal of parenthood driving increase in anxiety & depression among perinatal mums
Media images of the “perfect family” are driving an increase in new mums seeking professional help for anxiety and perinatal depression, Australian experts have warned. According to research commissioned by PANDA, the Australian perinatal depression helpline, the number of calls to their national helpline has increased by 38 per cent from July 2017 following additional…
Read MoreReid brothers complete herculean global ride in sister’s honour to raise funds for mental illness
Queensland brothers, Dylan and Lawson Reid have completed a 938 day-long, 100,000 kilometre global motorbike trek today (October 10, 2017), finishing at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane. The sole purpose of their extraordinary ride was to raise much-needed funds to support further research into clinical depression – an insidious illness to which they lost…
Read MoreTailoring medicines through DNA sequencing
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but scientists and health researchers believe genetic testing should lead to the personalisation of medicine to an individual’s DNA – a practice that will be the norm within 15 years. Breakthroughs in DNA sequencing have already led to the development of cancer vaccines for melanoma skin cancer,…
Read MoreMel, 43 – Single mother-of-four, business owner & Reiki practitioner who lived with clinical depression, IPSWICH
At 16 years of age, Mel, now 43, a single mother-of-four and business owner from Ipswich, experienced an extremely traumatic year. Off the back of several major, life-impacting events, Mel was diagnosed with clinical depression, and spent the ensuing 26 years battling the devastating mental illness. Throughout her protracted battle with clinical depression, Mel…
Read MoreMegan, 29 – Registered nurse, midwife & science fiction fan living with clinical depression, BRISBANE
After completing university and commencing full-time work as a registered nurse in 2008, Megan, then aged 20, Brisbane was finding it hard to cope with her professional career. After seeking advice from her GP, Megan was diagnosed with clinical depression, and prescribed antidepressant medication. Over time, Megan, who has a strong family history of…
Read MoreJane, 50 – Fitness model, author, health & lifestyle coach & payroll manager who beat clinical depression, SYDNEY
At 16 years of age, Jane, now 50, Sydney, turned to her school counsellor for help because she was rebelling against life, and couldn’t get along with her mother. No matter what she did or said, Jane battled negative thoughts and emotions. A couple of years later, Jane left school, moved out of home, and…
Read MoreMitch Wallis, 27 – Mental health advocate & founder of the ‘Heart on My Sleeve’ Movement living with mental illness, SYDNEY
Mitch, 27, Sydney, has battled multiple mental health demons since childhood. At nine years of age, Mitch was diagnosed with OCD. A decade later, he received yet another diagnosis of severe anxiety, combined with PTSD and clinical depression. Last year, aged 26, having plunged even deeper into mental illness, Mitch was confronted by two…
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