An E-cigarette is an electronic device that works by heating a liquid which produces a vapour that the person inhales. While an e-cigarette doesn't contain nicotine or tar like a traditional cigarette, it does produce other toxic chemicals.

The nicotine in cigarettes provide a very quick and reliable way to reduce nicotine levels in the blood. Therefore, recovering from smoking can be a very strenuous task. According to the health guide: Find an oral substitute – Keep other things around to pop in your mouth when cravings hit. Try mints, carrot or celery sticks, gum, or sunflower seeds. Or suck on a drinking straw. Keep your mind busy – Read a book or magazine, listen to some music you love, do a crossword or Sudoku puzzle, or play an online game. Keep your hands busy – Squeeze balls, pencils, or paper clips are good substitutes to satisfy that need for tactile stimulation.

I think that vaping is very romanticized in the media. In New Zealand especially around 16 to 18 years, vaping is seen as a very 'cool' thing to do - and aligns with the 'soft boy epidemic' and a great pastime as it is seemingly less harmful than cigarettes.

These are some really good websites I found that give accurate and concise formation of short and long term consequences https://norml.org.nz/about/health-effects/ https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/marijuana/short-and-long-term-effects.html

This is interesting as although medical marijuana is legal in the US, it is still illegal in New Zealand. Despite this fact, I feel that because of the media this culture of smoking pot is considered 'edgy' as the US media often glorifies marijuana smoking. I think teens in NZ are highly influenced by these mediums and to live lifestyles depicted in trendy videos.

I thought that postpartum depression was not widely known and felt it was more of a "post baby blues" rather than a mental illness. However, after researching I have found that feelings of sadness and depression are more common after childbirth than I realised. In fact this seems to be because of a natural effect of hormones which shift during childbirth as the elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone drop suddenly after childbirth.

This is a really interesting case for me as I have watched a couple of interviews him and from what I've seen of his laid-back, humorous personality , I would never have thought that he would have had the past he has had. I think it is really inspiring to see how he has overcome adversity to get to the place he is now.

I absolutely love how all of these celebrities are becoming more open about depression and other mental illnesses. I think this transparency is creating a social environment which moves away from depression being a taboo topic and one which is stigmatised.

For New Zealand, we have a program called Attitude. Staff members from this organisation tour New Zealand schools giving presentations about ways to build a meaningful life, and tend to focus on mental health and well-being in particular. In addition to their presentations, they also produce a website and a range of handbooks and teaching resources with focus sessions to encourage discussion. Here are a list of websites they suggest: https://depression.org.nz/ https://thelowdown.co.nz/ https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/a-z/resource/13/depression

I agree! Its true that presenting mental health issues in a comedic light can lessen the tension regarding this sensitive topic. However, I also feel we need to be vigilant that the fine line between raising awareness and dismissing these issues as unimportant through comedy is preserved.

Agreed! The media frenzy in conjunction with celebrity endorsemts such as those of Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy can be very persuasive because unlike scientific reports parents can relate to other parents.

It is interesting that you mentioned the point about "vaccines cause autism". It seems that the media often fails to communicate the subtilizes of science. In the case of the vaccination, debates in media organizations have been partial and incomplete. The failure to properly and correctly communicate both the risks and benefits means that parents are expected to make decisions without pa sound foundation.