The rural health crisis in Australia has reached a point of no return. In the vast expanses of Australia’s outback, hidden beneath the rugged beauty and distinctive Australian drinking culture, lies a growing crisis of alcohol and drug challenges, often overshadowed by the urban-centric gaze of public health initiatives. This pressing issue not only underscores … Read more
The prescribing of psychotropic medications like benzodiazepines and stimulants for children has been on the rise, with these drugs being used as first-line treatments for various mental health disorders despite limited information on their efficacy in this age group. These medications work by altering levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in the brain, … Read more
An Australian Government key reform has consistently been to peruse a “National Evidence-Based Policy for Service Planning and Delivery” (Australian Government Response to Contributing Lives, Thriving Communities: Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services, 2015). In the past, general practitioners predominately prescribed psychotropic medications to treat mental health disorders, while pharmaceutical companies sponsor directly or … Read more