You've more than likely heard of birth doulas. But nowadays, death doulas are providing support at the end of life. How they fit into existing structures of care remains to be understood.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
Not all terrorist incidents have mental illness as a causal factor, and most violent acts are committed by people without a mental illness.
Life on the street is no place to recover from a stay in hospital, but that's what happens to many people who are homeless. But there's a proven model to provide care that also cuts healthcare costs.
Japanese encephalitis virus is rare and doesn't usually cause symptoms. But in a small proportion of cases it can result in long-term neurological impairment and death.
Adenomyosis is a different condition to endometriosis, though many women who have one will have the other.
Probiotics might avert a case of diarrhoea, or they could mean your gut takes longer to return to normal.
Many foods that seem healthy contain various hidden fats, sugars and salts. If you're trying to lose weight, it pays to know where they're hiding.
Could you treat depression, anxiety and other disorders by training people to be better at dealing with uncertainty? Scientists are trying to find out.
Half of Australians feel lonely for at least one day a week, while one in four feel lonely for three or more days. This can impact on sleep, heart health and levels of anxiety.
It's easy to get excited about the potential for robots to help care for the sick, injured and elderly, but we need the right regulations in place to deal with issues as they emerge.
People who use painkillers for non-medical reasons often justify it as a form of self-medication for legitimate medical diagnoses such as depression, anxiety and stress.
Smoking rates are high among Australians with a mental illness. Quitting is likely to improve their physical and mental health; supporting them to do so should be part of mental health care.
Knowing what your attachment style is can help you navigate life's ups and downs a bit better.
Quetiapine is an antipsychotic drug to treat severe mental illness, but it makes people feel sleepy, so has also been used as a sleeping pill – by prescription and illicitly.
Five experts were divided on whether or not we should choose the "light"dairy option.
According to new research, individuals who take small regular doses of psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms score higher on mental health, well-being and creativity.
Stressful events can permanently damage your heart and increase your risk of death. Scientists have been discovering more about it.
I'm a molecular biologist and study of the origins of motor neurone disease. I have also had the disease for a little over two years.
Research shows unprofessional behaviour and poor communication among doctors and other clinical staff contributes to medical errors. This flows on to worse patient outcomes.
Today, human populations carry heavy genetic marks from the war with malaria. And it is the red blood cell (erythrocyte) that mostly bears the scars.
Thanks to successful vaccination programs, Australia has just been declared free of rubella. Continued vigilance is important to make sure it doesn't come back.
In the near future, your doctor might prescribe electricity for what ails you.
A new study shows that as the father’s age increases, so too the chances of the baby being born prematurely, having a low birth weight, or requiring medical intervention after delivery.
Aged care crisis
The Conversation asked readers how they would want a loved one to be cared for in a residential aged care facility. What they said was similar to what surveys around the world have consistently found.
The biggest system failure in aged care is staffing. We don't need to wait until the royal commission is over to fix it – this can be done now.
NDIS two years on
The NDIS aims to help people with disability live more independently. It was hoped this would reduce carers' responsibilities and allow them more time to work. But evidence shows this hasn't happened.
Hay fever
Three million Australian adults – 15% of the population – struggle through spring and summer with watery eyes, running nose, itchy throat and the hallmark hay fever symptom, sneezing. When people with…
It’s now late spring, with summer just around the corner, and many people with hay fever suffer at this time of year in Australia. Although the cause of this suffering is invisible to us, it is actually…
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is cut or vaporised with an electric current or laser. It ranges from a simple, 20 minute operation to complex surgery involving important organs such as the bowel and bladder.
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Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Psychedelics
According to new research, individuals who take small regular doses of psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms score higher on mental health, well-being and creativity.
Male fertility
The release of TV program The Handmaid's Tale and a study on male sperm numbers have left some worried about the future of human fertility.
Meningitis
Meningococcal is a rare but very serious infection that can lead to blood poisoning and brain infection. But no single vaccine protects against all the strains.
Disability
I'm a molecular biologist and study of the origins of motor neurone disease. I have also had the disease for a little over two years.
Poo
Around 75% of our faeces is made up of water. The other 25% is the good stuff, including bacteria, viruses and undigested food.
Pregnancy
Your body has been changing over nine months, so naturally it will take a little while to change back. But there are some things you can do to achieve a healthy weight after having a baby.
Legionnaires'
The risk of bacterial or fungal infection from potting mix is very low. Wearing gloves and washing your hands will keep it even lower.
Mental health
The key challenge in mental health is finding the political will and the financial and community resources to do what has already been described in thousands of pages and hundreds of recommendations.
Allergy
What you should be doing this thunderstorm asthma season.
Autism
Current rules about who meets the eligibility criteria for autism support services are patchy and inconsistent, meaning those with the greatest need don't necessarily have the greatest access.
Cancer
We have no reliable way of knowing which patients' cancer will return after surgery, so often chemotherapy is given to mop up any remaining cancer cells that may have gone undetected.
Keytruda
Immunotherapy drugs work by increasing the patient's own immune response. The most successful examples of immunotherapies are drugs that act as antibodies, of which Keytruda is one.
Mould
Exposure to harmful agents inside the home can have profound effects on our health. After all, we spend an average of 16 hours a day at home – and even more when aged under seven and over 64.
Halloween
Halloween is upon us. Why do we seek out experiences that we know will expose us to dread, disgust and terror?
Gene therapy
Once genetic lesions for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and haemophilia were identified, the idea of replacing or correcting defective genes grew into what we now call "gene therapy".
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