The number of Australians using medicinal cannabis has surged over the past five years. Around 700,000 Australians have used cannabis for their health in the past year. And since 2022, medicinal cannabis sales have increased four-fold. But the majority of products prescribed in the Australian market are not registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This means they have not been […] … learn more→

University can be a time of great opportunities, but it can also be very stressful. Many students need to support themselves financially and may be living away from home. Students are also under constant deadlines and, if in their final years, need to prepare for life and work after uni. My colleagues and I research […] … learn more→

Imagine you live in a village in the Pyrenees of Lleida. The only way to contact the nearest doctor, who makes daily rounds in the regional capital, is by phone or through an online consultation . However, the health center’s switchboard is overwhelmed. You have a mobile phone that allows you to make video calls with your […] … learn more→

For years, the narrative surrounding teenagers’ use of digital technology has been one of alarm. Time spent scrolling through TikTok or playing video games is widely seen to be driving the current crisis in youth mental health, fuelling rising rates of anxiety and depression. But our recent study suggests that this simple story of cause and effect is […] … learn more→

Anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, cyberbullying, poor self-image, alcohol, cannabis and other psychoactive substance use… social networks exploit the vulnerabilities of young people and thus contribute to amplifying certain disorders of which they are victims. This is the conclusion of a major report by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety […] … learn more→

The festive season can throw our exercise routines out the window. You might be staying somewhere different, with no access to a gym. Maybe your yoga studio is closed or social sport is on a break. Or you might just be too flat out with social events to find the time. For some people, a […] … learn more→

Dr. R. E. Search, PhD Professor and Specialist in Academic Wellbeing & Sustainable Scholarship The Institute for Sensible Research Practices Date: December 2024 To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that I have examined the patient group known collectively as “Researchers and Doctoral Candidates” and have diagnosed the following acute conditions requiring immediate intervention: […] … learn more→

In the past decade, AI’s success has led to uncurbed enthusiasm and bold claims – even though users frequently experience errors that AI makes. An AI-powered digital assistant can misunderstand someone’s speech in embarrassing ways, a chatbot could hallucinate facts, or, as I experienced, an AI-based navigation tool might even guide drivers through a corn field – all without […] … learn more→

● Research findings on the effects of brain rot are still inconsistent and their significance is questionable. ● Brain rot could be a reflection of changes in human thinking. ● The impact of social media on cognition and mental health tends to be small and unstable. Brain rot is a metaphor to describe the negative impact of consuming too much […] … learn more→

What does it look like to have an “athletic body?” What does artificial intelligence think it looks like to have one? A recent study we conducted at the University of Toronto analyzed appearance-related traits of AI-generated images of male and female athletes and non-athletes. We found that we’re being fed exaggerated — and likely impossible — body standards. Even […] … learn more→