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What’s the difference between anxiety and depression?While depression and anxiety can have similar signs and symptoms, they also have some distinct features.
The Youth Mental Health team's mission to improve the mental health of young people in Western Australia and beyond.
Research
Plasma testosterone concentration is correlated with circulating immune cell abundance in transgender young people on gender-affirming hormone treatmentSex hormones, such as oestrogen and testosterone, display significant immune modulatory properties. This is highly relevant for transgender (trans) people who undergo gender-affirming hormone (GAH) treatment. However, only a limited number of studies have evaluated the immunological impact of GAH treatments, and almost none have assessed the impact in trans young people.
Research
The impact of parental mental health problems on the educational outcomes of their offspring: Findings from the Raine StudyThere is limited evidence on the impact of parental mental health problems on offspring’s educational outcomes. We investigated the impact of maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as paternal emotional problems on the educational outcomes of their adolescent and young adult offspring.
Research
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).
Research
Children's views on outdoor advertising of unhealthy food and beverages near schoolsChildren are often exposed to unhealthy outdoor food advertisements during the school commute. This exposure can have negative public health consequences given childhood weight gain has been linked to the marketing of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This study aimed to explore schoolchildren's lived experiences and attitudes towards outdoor advertising surrounding their schools.
Research
Mental health assessment of transgender youth - Should standardised psychological measures be scored by norms of birth-registered sex?Standardised psychometric measures are used in mental health care and research settings to identify risk, assist diagnosis, and assess symptom severity. Standardised scoring of these measures involves transforming respondents' raw scores using binary sex norms. However, scoring manuals offer no guidance as to appropriate scoring methods for trans and non-binary respondents.
Research
E-cigarette use among gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA+) adolescents in Australia: The case for LGBTQA+ affirmative harm reductionThis study aimed to provide a first-ever comprehensive epidemiology of vaping behaviours among Australian gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQA+) youth.
Research
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.
Research
Intellectual disability and psychotic disorders in children: Association with maternal severe mental illness and exposure to obstetric complicationsMaternal severe mental illness and exposure to obstetric complications contribute separately to the risk of intellectual disability