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New national data suggest that the “average” dose of Medicare-subsidised mental health services provided by psychologists is around five sessions per year — raising uncomfortable questions about whether publicly funded care is adequately dosed, relationally safe, and fit for purpose.
Complex trauma is common, pervasive, and frequently invisible in primary care settings. Many patients present repeatedly with chronic, unexplained symptoms, dysregulated nervous systems, or fragmented help-seeking patterns without ever naming their trauma experiences. Recognising the patterns and responding sensitively can position medical practitioners as pivotal figures in a patient’s recovery journey.
The current health status of Australian adolescents is concerning. Over 80% are not meeting national dietary or physical activity guidelines. Rates of mental ill-health are also rising, with around three quarters of Australian adolescents experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. Yet as a nation adolescent health is not invested in enough.
2026 marks an inflection point for the MJA in a number of ways. During 2025 we spent time considering how best to position the journal for the future.
As climate change drives increased aeroallergen prevalence and more extreme weather, incidence of thunderstorm asthma could become more frequent and unpredictable.
Vaping has shown promise as an effective quit smoking aid in the general population, but prior to this clinical trial vaping’s role in helping those experiencing socio-economic hardship to quit was unknown.
As a medical practitioner, you pride yourself on being meticulous, analytical, and aware of risks vs outcomes. Qualities that define your profession. Yet without an estate plan, everything you’ve built remains vulnerable. Your business, your assets, and your legacy deserve the same level of diligence as being a clinician.
Patients in regional and remote Australia face major barriers to bleeding disorder diagnosis and management due to limited expertise, transport delays, and lack of specialised testing. These challenges disproportionately affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
At the start of the new year, many of us will commit to joining a gym, eating healthier or cutting back on drinking and smoking. We do this knowing that investing in our health today will pay off into to the future – that prevention is better (and cheaper) than the cure.
