Media Release

30 August 2010: Bravehearts, Australia’s leading child protection advocacy group and the nation’s only charity specifically dedicated to combating child sexual assault in Australia, announced today that Australia’s largest department store group, MYER, and the leading service provider and charitable group for those in need, The Salvation Army will join forces to promote Bravehearts’ annual White Balloon Day campaign on 7^th September.

MYER, Bravehearts' official department store retailer of White Balloon Day merchandise, and the Salvo’s (The Salvation Army), will commence selling White Balloon Day packs in 65 MYER stores around Australia and 102 Eastern Territory Salvos stores across New South Wales, Queensland and ACT.

White Balloon Day packs will include 5 white balloons and will sell for $2 up until and throughout Child Protection Week (September 5^th – 11^th) to help raise funds for the appeal.

Bravehearts Founder Hetty Johnston said “We are delighted to have these two iconic brands providing retail support for White Balloon Day this year. MYER and The Salvation Army operate across a broad spectrum of society, but are united by a common goal – to educate, empower and protect our kids. Child protection is everybody’s responsibility and MYER and ‘The Salvation Army’ are to be commended for prioritising this issue.”

Sadly, one in five Australian children will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18 – equating to an alarming 59,000 children a year. Support Bravehearts to achieve their vision of making Australia the safest place in the world to raise a child. Purchasing a pack of 5 balloons for $2 from any MYER or Salvo’s store will help to protect a child you know and love. Show your support for victims of child sexual assault by displaying a white balloon outside your home, work, church or school and help educate, empower and protect our kids.

For more information and details on where to purchase official white balloons:

White Balloon Day http://www.whiteballoonday.com.au

Bravehearts http://www.bravehearts.org.au

Bravehearts You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/bravehearts

by James Lunden

When you and your partner get the exciting news that you're expecting a baby, there are many things to consider. This will be an emotional time, filled with exciting milestones and decisions. Getting everything ready for baby will be fun and exciting for both parents. From baby showers to birth plans, there is much to consider when it comes to getting ready for your new bundle of joy.

Once you get the official word that you are expecting a baby, it's time to start preparing for her arrival. Picking out a name, choosing a design theme for the nursery, and buying adorable clothes for baby are just a few of the thrilling things that you'll be doing in the months leading up to baby's arrival.

For many parents, picking out the name can be one of the most fun experiences. From family names to funky and unusual names, there are so many options to consider. It is also a thrill to start preparing the nursery for baby. Choosing the perfect theme, buying all the furniture, and decorating the nursery are important parts of getting ready for baby.

It's also fun to start buying clothes when expecting a baby. Finding the perfect outfit for her to wear home from the hospital is one of the many important decisions to be made as the due date approaches. The birthing plan is also a major preparation in getting ready for baby. Making sure there is a baby shower to take care of all the things you need for your new bundle of joy can be helpful as well.

As you get closer to meeting your baby for the first time, it can be a very emotional time. Expecting a baby is one of the most important times in your life, so it's a good idea to cherish all the moments leading up to her arrival.

Depression is one of those problems in society that we often try to hide rather than trying to solve. We either hide our own depression, or we try to hide from others the depressive state of our loved ones. While a lot of focus has been on children, particularly teens, what about their grandparents - our parents?

Here is an article that has been submitted as a guest post by Betty Doyle. She has her own blog where she discusses depression and her personal depression journey.

Did you know that the Institute of Medical and Health Research (INSERM) and College of Montpellier funded scientists have indicated that controlling 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol levels can help stop emotional disorders among seniors?

In a newly released issue of the publication Biological Psychiatry (http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com) written in July 2010, leading researcher Dr. Marie-Laure Ancelin of INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale http://www.inserm.fr) reported that gender-specific regulation of cholesterol may help prevent depressive disorders in the aging adults.

French analysts followed a large group of males and females aged 65 and older for 7 years.

They discovered that depression in women was linked with lower levels of "good" high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which puts them at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, including stroke.

In contrast, depressive disorder in men was associated with low levels of "bad" low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This association was strongest in men with a hereditary vulnerability to depression related to a serotonin transporter gene.

Therefore, proper regulation of HDL-C and LDL-C levels can aid prevent depressive disorder in the aging senior, the study concluded.

The research appeared in the July 15 issue of the journal Biological Psychiatry (Reference: http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(10)00393-8/abstract).

Major dietary sources of cholesterol include cheese, egg yolks, beef, pork, poultry, and shrimp. Plant products such as flax seeds and peanuts incorporate cholesterol-like substances called phytosterols.

Total cholesterol is described as the sum of HDL (High-density lipoprotein), LDL (Low-density lipoprotein), and VLDL (Very-low-density lipoprotein). Usually, only the total, HDL, and triglycerides are tested.

It is recommended to have cholesterol tested more frequently than 5 years if a person has total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or more, or if a man over age 45 or a woman over age fifty has HDL (good) cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL, or exist other risk aspects for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

So...exactly what can you do to increase your HDL (good) and reduce your LDL (bad) levels?

1. Exercising can substantially raise HDL cholesterol while lowering LDL cholesterol.
2. Smoking cigarettes has been shown to lower HDL while raising LDL cholesterol.
3. Processed, trans fats at the same time raise LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol.
4. Monounsaturated fats such as those found in extra virgin olive oil and avocados raise HDL and reduce LDL.
5. Fatty fish like salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fats that raise HDL and lower LDL.
6. Whole, intact grains contain dietary fiber and niacin, both of which raise HDL and may lower LDL.

Now it's all to you...

About me - Betty Doyle shares knowledge for the anti depression pills blog. It's a non profit site focused on her personal depression journey. The blog is targeted on offering energy and hope to any person who is suffering from depression and encourages those people to find the energy to fight against the effects of depression. In this manner she would like to support alleviate some of the stigma mental illness depression can cause and help the general public perception of mood problems.

by James Lunden

Having a new baby is an exciting and overwhelming experience. From sleepless nights to midnight feedings, most parents don't get much sleep. With most newborns sleeping up to 20 hours a day, parents are faced with frequent feedings and short periods of rest. This is only made worse in the case of their baby not sleeping. There are many things that can cause baby to have trouble sleeping, so it's important to know the causes so you can take care of the problem of sleeplessness.

There are certain ailments that can cause sleeplessness in babies. Ear infections are common causes of discomfort in babies and can lead to baby not sleeping. Getting to a doctor right away is important if you suspect an ear infection. There are other infections that might be a problem for a new baby.

Urinary tract infections are relatively common in babies as well. Being aware of the symptoms of problems like this can help baby sleep better and be healthier. Milk allergies are also common problems that can cause discomfort in babies and therefore sleeplessness.

Other problems that might lead to babies not sleeping could be things like acid reflux, fever, respiratory infections, and snoring or breathing problems. Being aware of the amount of sleep a baby should get at various stages of growth is a good way to be aware of abnormal sleep patterns. Making sure to resolve any sleep problems as soon as you notice them is important to baby's health and overall well being.

From ear infections to acid reflux, there are many things that can lead to baby not sleeping. Being aware of any irregularities and seeing your physician are important parts of keeping your baby happy and healthy. Most sleep disturbances are nothing to be alarmed about and will be resolved on their own, but it's a good idea to be aware of any changes in the sleeping habits of your baby.

by Les Scammell - editor Just 4 Families.

Is it just me, or are our children having more and more time off school every year. This Friday is a pupil free day at our kids school - about the fourth for the year now. I sat down last night and worked out that, on average, most kids spend around 16 weeks away from school each year. In Australia we have the following time away from school:

• School Holidays - around 12 weeks each year
• Public Holidays - another five days (or one week)
• Sick Days - an average of 5-10 days each year (or one to two weeks)
• Pupil Free Days - around five each year (or one week)

That's a total of 16 weeks of non attendance at school. So why do teachers need that day off from school. Apparently it's for training and administrative work. Surely, given there are 12 weeks of school holidays each year, and teachers are only entitled to four or five weeks annual leave, there is plenty of time for their training and administrative work.

What would happen if that principle entered all work places? Consider the following:

• Supermarkets declared that one day every three months was to be a customer free day. Workers would attend, but customers were not welcome?
• Doctors and nurses declared that one day every three months was to be a patient free day. All in-patients were to be sent home for the day and no new patients accepted - even emergencies?
• Police declared a crime free day one every three months. Police would not attend to any criminal matters on that day - only administrative work or training?

I could add ambulance and fire services to that list, but I think you get the picture. I know I have gone to extremes, but when we are in a situation where employers are claiming that young people are entering the workplace with inadequate numeracy and literacy skills, perhaps rather than spending more time away from school, our kids need to spend more time at school.

Just a thought - my gripe for the week. What are your thoughts?