AFTNews, Fitness, Home Gym

Take your 2023 Results to new levels with these 3 Fitness Trends

Shake up your workouts with these three fitness trends.

1. Smart Home Gyms to Complement In-Club Exercise

Home gyms became a hot commodity during the pandemic and their popularity is standing strong as
people invest in quality equipment to support their at-home exercise efforts. However, while many got
into the swing of convenient home workouts during Covid-19, many people realised that nothing compares to the motivation and energy that comes from working out with others. Now, with the resurgence of live workout experiences, exercisers can enjoy the best of both worlds. The majority of consumers now favour a 60:40 blend between live and digital workouts, with McKinsey research finding the number with hybrid fitness routines grew 41 per cent between 2020 and 2022. The study also found these consumers experienced significantly better results from their hybrid training.

With omni-fitness trending, more people are investing in home gym setups to replicate their favourite in-
gym activities at home, and MindBody’s 2022 Fitness Report (USA) found that 35 per cent of Americans
started going to an in-person fitness class that they first discovered through digital fitness. These savvy exercisers are also adding special one-off exercise experiences to their calendar. At the LES MILLS LIVE London event in October 2022, over 5,000 consumers came together for a thrilling weekend of fitness, and similarly (on a smaller scale) at LES MILLS LIVE Melbourne. The event comprised 40 per cent group fitness Instructors, 20 per cent gym members and 40 per cent LES MILLS+ members who were attending their first live fitness event. Pre-pandemic this type of event was attended predominately by fitness professionals.

2. Gamification at the Gym (or at Home)

Photo supplied by Les Mills

Tech-based workouts have been on the scene for some time, but innovation in this space is accelerating, with a raft of gamified training options and technologically-inspired exercise on the horizon. Gaming authorities report that two out of three Americans are now playing video games at least once a week – doing so to unwind, relieve stress and have fun. These psychological and physical benefits can peak when the gaming is fused with physical activity.

No longer is it just tech companies dabbling in the fitness space, now highly effective science-backed training programs are leveraging virtual reality and being adopted by the masses. Researchers have identified the ability to score exercise points, leader boards, unlockable content, levels, badges, and challenges and quests as the most popular ways bolster workout motivation, so we can expect more of this in the future. Combine this with connected trackers, and thriving online fitness communities, and you’ll have increasing opportunities to enjoy the motivation of a group while you get your fitness fix at home.

Group exercise studios are starting to serve up a new generation of immersive workouts where music, visuals, wearables, and Instructors combine in an exhilarating fitness experience. Down the track, virtual reality machines could soon become more prevalent on gym floors and clubs could offer high-tech cycles and treadmills that push your limits with racing games.

“The cultural convergence between fitness and gaming is sparking exciting collaborations and
innovative products …You can now be transported into the middle of the most popular martial arts workout on the planet.”

Rachael Newsham, Les Mills Program Director.

Meta named Les Mills BODYCOMBAT VR as the Best App of 2022! Get your hands on a virtual
reality headset and then dive into the exciting new world of BODYCOMBAT VR without leaving your
own home! Learn more: LES MILLS BODYCOMBAT on Oculus Quest | Oculus

3. Exercise Snacking

Photo supplied by Les Mills

If you think snacking sounds unhealthy, think again! (AFT Ed. We’re of course talking about fitness here and not nutrition). Small bite-sized snippets of activity are known as one of the healthiest ways to integrate fitness into your life. By peppering your day with short moments of movement it can change your mindset around exercise. No longer an onerous task that you need to schedule, instead you start to enjoy the benefits of exercise – most notably the endorphin rush – multiple times a day, whenever you get a spare minute.

Another reason this trend is taking off is the increasing evidence that breaking your exercise into smaller snack-sized training sessions could be just as good (if not better) than doing lengthier more sporadic training sessions. Research shows that frequency, not volume, drives strength gains. When exercisers choose frequency over volume, it typically leads to improved quality of movement.

Technique is more likely to be superior and exercises are executed with more integrity, so you can expect benefits across the board to be amplified.

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AFTNews, Soccer, Sport

WHO and football icons rally to score a goal for “Health for All” to build healthier future

On Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day), the World Health Organization (WHO) teams up with international football icons to urge action by governments and people across the world to achieve health for all. UHC ensures that everyone, everywhere can access the support they need to be and stay healthy without being driven into financial hardship.

To mark UHC Day, WHO is launching two new tools: one to help governments design and deliver the right service coverage packages for their populations; and a second to provide people with reliable information to support the everyday decisions they make to protect their health and well-being.

 “The World Cup is the greatest prize in football, and the greatest prize in life is good health and well-being,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Health is not a luxury for the rich, but a fundamental human right, and the foundation of peaceful, prosperous and sustainable economies and societies. The tools we are launching today will help governments and individuals to realise that right.”

UHC Day 2022 comes at a critical time when countries across the world are rebuilding from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing many other crises such as economic and energy constraints, climate change and conflict.

UHC Day kicks off the countdown to the high-level meeting on UHC which will be held at the United Nations General Assembly in 2023. Heads of State and Government, at the first high-level meeting on UHC in 2019, affirmed that health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. They strongly recommitted to achieve UHC by 2030 by scaling up the global effort to build a healthier world for all. The 2023 meeting is an opportunity to take stock of progress and galvanize political support and global action towards achieving UHC targets.

UHC Day at the FIFA World Cup

On the eve of the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022™, WHO and its Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health, football legend Didier Drogba, led UHC Day celebrations in Doha, Qatar. This formed part of a full day of activities organized by the Education Above All Foundation to put a spotlight on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being.

“I found myself in the unusual place where if I had problems on the field, help arrived quickly, and we’ve seen how vital that support can be lately. But off the field, we know, this isn’t always the case,” Didier Drogba said. “Ill-equipped clinics, unsupported health workers, and not enough medicines and vaccines put people’s well-being at risk around the world. Good health needs a team effort, so we need governments to commit to policies that support Universal Health Coverage and give everyone access to what it takes to be healthy. When we team up for health for all, we all win.”

Football enthusiasts of all ages moved to show their support for health for all as electronic dance artist and vocalist, The Mad Stuntman, performed his famous song, “I Like to Move It,” highlighting the importance of staying active and the role of sport in promoting good health and well-being.

Sherrie Silver, Rwandan-British MTV Award winning choreographer, advocate for the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations, Malaria No More Ambassador and Rwandan development advocate also led the crowd in a dance-off, called the World Cup Workout.

“On Universal Health Coverage Day, let’s all be active and play our part to make health for all our goal, said Alisson Becker, goalkeeper for Brazil and Liverpool, and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Health Promotion.

A new WHO tool to help countries deliver UHC

Achieving national health goals has been hampered by the lack of a structured approach in designing and delivering a comprehensive package of health services that are tailored to local contexts.

WHO is launching a new tool named the Universal Health Coverage Service Package Delivery and Implementation or UHC SPDI Tool to support countries in designing their unique UHC health service packages. This innovative and practical online tool includes functionalities that will allow national health planners to select from a comprehensive range of health services—spanning promotive, preventive, resuscitative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services—that people need to reach the highest attainable standard of health and well-being.

The tool is also designed to help identify human resource needs, essential medical products, infrastructure and other elements required for the effective delivery of health services. It also emphasizes first contact primary and emergency care, and highlights a primary health care approach as the basis for strengthening health systems and bringing all sectors under the vision of achieving health for all. The successful implementation of a national health service package will ultimately equip countries to accelerate progress towards UHC.

Universal health information for “Health for All”

WHO also launched a digital resource for the public called, “Your life, your health: Tips and information for health and well-being.” It provides people across different life phases with trustworthy health information that they can easily access, understand and use in daily life.

The resource provides basic information, founded on WHO technical guidance, on important topics such as keeping well during pregnancy and after childbirth, or how to be healthy and active in later adulthood. It also provides information on people’s rights and skills related to accessing and using information for health and well-being.

LINK: : https://www.who.int/news/item/12-12-2022-who-and-football-icons-rally-to-score-a-goal-for–health-for-all–to-build-healthier-future

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Fitness, Men's Health

Doctors develop new, accessible healthcare and wellness brand for men

Via AFTNN/PRNewsGIG
Hisential’s reception area at Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Hisential, a men’s healthcare and wellness brand, has opened its first clinic at the prestigious Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Accessible to men of all ages, the warm and luxe-inspired clinic offers a variety of health optimisation services and treatments, including chronic disease management, regular health screenings, hair transplants, screenings and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), as well as skincare solutions.

The idea for Hisential originated when founders Dr Anthony Stanislaus, Dr Ramesh Rajentheran, and Dr Vishaal Thadani noticed a gap in the market for men’s healthcare. The doctor-developed brand aims to empower men to take charge of their health and remove the stigma they face when speaking about healthcare issues.

“As men ourselves, we realised that while there are clinics out there that offer healthcare services to men, there’s no physical space that addresses our healthcare needs and concerns in a discreet, personalised way and with holistic treatments that suit our needs,” said Dr Anthony Stanislaus.

To ensure that patients receive the best and most effective treatments, Hisential’s doctors are all professionally certified in Malaysia and professionally trained to assist men with their various concerns. Hisential also uses best-in-class medical technology to provide the most effective non-invasive treatments and ensure that medical personnel undergo specialist training prior to operating any machinery.

“We’ve built a safe and luxurious space where men can come in, immediately feel at home and be assured that all their healthcare concerns will be addressed. We also encourage men of all ages to go for regular health and hormonal check-ups and to not be embarrassed to seek help. At Hisential, we are here to help you and give you the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives,” he added.

The launch of Hisential’s clinic is the company’s first step into men’s healthcare. As part of its goal to destigmatise men’s healthcare, the company intends to roll out a membership plan as well as rolling out technology that enables a true-online experience to optimise both the patient experience and treatment outcomes. Additionally, the brand will introduce innovative skin care products that sit at the intersection of luxury and clinical science over the coming year.

For more information on Hisential’s treatments and services, visit www.hisential.com.

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AFTNews, The World Games

The World Games 2025 Application for Sports Selection is underway

Seeking to be in at TWG 2025

With just under 1,000 days to go before the start of The World Games in Chengdu, Peoples Republic of China, the application process for the multi-sport event from 7-17 August 2025 has begun. Member Federations of the International World Games Association have until 16th December to submit their proposals for the sports programme.

The Evaluation Commission will then select the 30+ sports to be in Chengdu. After that, the IWGA Board of Directors will determine the programme that will most excite fans in China at the 2025 Games. The final vote will take place at the Annual General Meeting next spring. The entire process is being managed by Sebastian Garvens, Head of Games Services.

IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow expects the 12th edition of The World Games in the capital of China’s Sichuan Province to present new sports, or at least new disciplines. “There are always changes to the programme. At the Birmingham Games, for example, we awarded medals in Breaking, Parkour, Drone Racing and Flag Football for the first time. Wheelchair Rugby was there as a new sport. I assume that our Federations will want make use our platform in Chengdu for their young and emerging disciplines as well.

At the Games in Birmingham, USA, 34 sports with 58 disciplines and 223 medal events got their globally acclaimed stage during the ten competition days. At the 12th edition of the event, the number of sports on the programme will almost certainly expand. The strategy paper of the IWGA foresees that in addition to the sports of the Member Federations, there will be space in the programme made available for other partners. The host city Chengdu, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee are all invited to participate with proposals for sports disciplines for TWG 2025. The number limit for participants in the Games in three years’ time has been set at 5,000.

Sebastian Garvens explains the criteria for the proposals from the Federations and other partners: “The medal events must not be part of the full Olympic programme in Los Angeles 2028. In addition, each Member Federation can propose a maximum of three disciplines. They must also ensure that the best athletes can compete in the medal events in August 2025.” Other factors that count in programme selection are audience interest in the host country, media interest in a sport, and whether the right kind of sports venue is available. One of the sustainability principles of The World Games is that no new sports facilities need to be built for the event. Gender equality is also important; IWGA allowed almost equal numbers of women and men to compete in the 2022 Games.

In preparation for their applications, the IWGA has sent a questionnaire to the Member Federations. It helps to provide the necessary information for the Evaluation team: the description of the disciplines and events, the number of athletes and competition days, as well as the prerequisites to be created for a competition at the highest level.

The compilation of the sports and disciplines is only the first step on the way to the competition programme for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. After that, it is a matter of creating a suitable schedule and selecting the appropriate competition venues. The whole process should be largely completed by the fall of 2023. The IWGA will schedule a Competition Managers Meeting for the fourth quarter next year. During the two-days meeting, the concrete implementation of the plans will dominate the agenda.

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AFTNews

Telehealth usage in Asia Pacific for people living with HIV increasing, but Data Privacy and lack of personal contact still seen as a barrier to wider use

Half of the people living with HIV (PLHIV) and individuals at-risk (IARs) surveyed in the region increased their usage of telehealth services over the past year; this is driven by the availability of new telehealth services during pandemic

– Top factor impacting usage of telehealth services for PLHIV is data privacy (43%), while lack of personal contact is the primary concern for IARs (47%)

– Around 1 in 3 respondents chose telehealth services provided by healthcare providers (HCPs) as the most trustworthy source for HIV prevention and care information

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the access and delivery of essential care worldwide, Gilead Sciences today announced findings from a survey conducted to examine changes in the motivations and use of telehealth services for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and individuals at-risk (IARs) in the Asia Pacific.  

The regional survey results were based on responses from 1,531 respondents, comprising 787 PLHIV and 744 IARs, across nine countries/territories in the Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) received during June to September 2022. The survey explored the perspective of PLHIV and IARs to better understand how HIV telehealth services can be improved. This builds on the first Gilead HIV Pulse Survey conducted in 2020 whereby 56% of PLHIV and 64% of IAR reported no access to telehealth services with their doctors[1]. Since then, an analysis into the 2022 responses found that:

  • Regionally, more than half of PLHIV (56%) and IARs (54%) surveyed increased their use of telehealth services over the past year, although there was high variation in the scale of increase between countries/territories. The biggest increase was seen in the Philippines, for both PLHIV (71%) and IARs (83%), followed by Vietnam and Malaysia.
  • This uptick in telehealth usage was attributed to the availability of new services launched during the COVID-19 crisis. Respondents stated that convenience, flexibility, and improved access to additional HIV information were top three reasons why they started to use telehealth.
  • However, the survey found almost half of PLHIV and around one-third of IARs were concerned about data privacy issues (43%; 35%), while nearly half of IARs (47%) felt uncomfortable about the lack of in-person contact when using telehealth services.
  • 1 in 3 respondents ranked services managed by healthcare providers (HCPs) and local HIV community groups as the most trustworthy sources for online HIV prevention and care services. At a time of widespread misinformation[2], it is important for trusted providers to enhance their provision of telehealth services.  

“UNAIDS’ call to action for World AIDS Day 2022 is EQUALIZE, which is why the results of this survey is timely to demonstrate where and how the use of telehealth has grown across the Asia Pacific. If telehealth use is going to remain high beyond the COVID-19 crisis, we need to ensure equity of access,” said Caroline Choi, Senior Director and Medical Affairs Asia 5 Lead, Gilead Sciences. “Not only do HCPs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) need to implement innovative forms of care, such as providing e-prescriptions, but healthcare systems must also adapt to the needs of patients when modernizing HIV services.”

“The pandemic has ushered in confidence for the public to be an active participant in managing their own health,” said Sumita Banerjee, Executive Director, Action for AIDS (AfA) Singapore. “In the context of HIV, telehealth services that have been endorsed and approved by relevant authorities may provide additional support to existing services to retain PLHIV in care. The study provides insights to understand the expectations that PLHIV and key populations have from using such a service.”

“With stigma still unfortunately a barrier for some PLHIV and IARs seeking high-quality medical help and advice, it is important to note that at present, telehealth is not a silver bullet. It is clear from this survey that two-way communications with HCPs or CBOs are especially important for those on antiretroviral therapy (ART) which could help improve their adherence to medicine,” said Dr. Julian Ng, Deputy CEO of DTAP Clinic Pte Ltd. “This is an opportunity for telehealth providers to further tailor their online services in order to give patients what they want and what they need.”

About the HIV Asia Study 2.0: Enhancing HIV services to build back from COVID-19

The quantitative online survey was conducted from June to September 2022 and compiled by Cerner Enviza (formerly Kantar Health) with funding from Gilead Sciences. Conducted across 9 target markets (Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam), it aims to define optimal engagement configurations using telehealth services to improve access to HIV testing and preventive medications. 1,531 respondents, comprising of 787 PLHIV and 744 IAR, participated in the survey. Two CBOs from each market were also interviewed to gain insights on the engagement configurations for PLHIV and IARs during COVID-19.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer.

For 35 years, Gilead has been a leading innovator in the field of HIV, driving advances in treatment, prevention and cure research. Gilead is committed to continued scientific innovation to provide solutions for the evolving needs of people affected by HIV around the world. Through partnerships and collaborations, the company also aims to improve education, expand access and address barriers to care, with the goal of ending the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere. Gilead was recognized as the number one philanthropic funder of HIV-related programs in a report released by Funders Concerned About AIDS.

In Asia, Gilead has launched the Asia Pacific Rainbow Grant since 2018, providing more than USD 4.5 million to 112 organizations across Asia Pacific. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com/, follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-30. 

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AFT Features, Airsports

Korea to host world’s biggest drone racing competition in 2023

The World Air Sports Federation or Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has awarded the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship to Korea. It is the biggest competition of its kind, offering an arena for the world’s best pilots to pit their skills against one another.

The Championship will take place from 6 to 9 October 2023 at the Chunhyangol Stadium in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, about two hours south of Seoul. It will include prize money of USD 100,000.

Chunhyangol Stadium

KAMA, one of the sport’s most experienced organisers worldwide, is teaming up with the Federation of Korea Aeronautics and the city of Namwon to deliver the Championship, with the aim of organising a top-level event for competitors and spectators alike. Aside from the Drone Racing competition, an FAI Drone Soccer competition, a Drone Conference and other side events will familiarise spectators with the infinite world of drones. Music concerts and an array of cultural activities will complete the picture in the field of entertainment, while experts will debate and discuss drones at a conference.

Drone Soccer

Antonis Papadopoulos, President of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission, said: “We are delighted with the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship being held in Korea, knowing this exciting competition has been entrusted to the hands of highly competent and experienced organisers. Their ambitious plans to showcase drones in all their variety, competition and otherwise, is promising to be a hit with everyone. And I must say, after two years of interruption, we are all impatient to see the world’s best of the best pilots fight for victory. This event cannot come soon enough!”

The two first editions of the FAI Drone Racing World Championship happened in Shenzhen (2018) and Ningbo (2019), China, before a three-year gap caused by the pandemic.

Drone Racing
AFTNews, Features Thailand, Travel & Wellness, Women's Health

Zulal Wellness Resort Launches ‘Mother-To-Be’ Retreat

AFTNN/PRNewsGIG

Prenatal programme to nurture and empower women at any stage of their pregnancy

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, the Middle East’s largest wellness destination and the world’s first family wellness offering, unveils its new Mother-to-Be retreat. The two- to eight-night prenatal programme combines tailored nutrition, holistic therapies, pampering spa treatments and gentle movement to enhance wellbeing and ready mothers for the most important chapter of their lives. Zulal Wellness Resort’s peaceful setting, surrounded by the tranquility of Qatar’s northern desert and the Arabian Gulf, is ideal for mothers to be looking to relax and prepare themselves for the birth of their child. Their journey will be guided by a team of licensed maternal care experts, nutritionists, chefs, therapists and personal trainers.

The ‘Mother-To-Be’ programme is open to women at any stage of their pregnancy and can be tailored to include partners. Beginning with a holistic consultation, a personalised selection of activities will enable mothers to handle the physical changes that occur during pregnancy, ease aches and pains, improve sleep and strengthen the body in preparation for childbirth.  In addition, they will have time to bond with their partners and their babies.

A wide range of activities and treatments are available, including postural corrective therapy and Gyrotonic movement to relieve pain and swelling and improve posture; acupuncture to alleviate symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and heartburn; meditation and breathing exercises to support mothers during labour; and prenatal yoga, massage and aromatherapy to relax the body and mind.

A core part of the retreat is quality prenatal nutrition. A nutritional consultant will provide tailored advice about making healthy food choices and maintaining a balanced diet, and three bio-individualised wellness meals are included per night of stay.

The Mother-To-Be retreat is inclusive of accommodation, wellness meals, consultations and treatments, with a minimum stay of two nights.

Visit www.zulal.com or follow @zulalwellnessresort on Facebook or Instagram for more information.

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AFTNews, Mental Health

Children as young as 10 are repeat self-harming: study (UNSW Sydney)

The risk of repeat self-harm in young people is highest in the first month after an initial self-harm hospital presentation.

Suicidal behaviour is evident in children, with some as young as 10 presenting to hospitals and emergency departments following a self-harm episode – some on multiple occasions.

Research has found 6055 adolescents aged 10–14 attended an emergency department in New South Wales for self-harm over a five-year period – 2276 of them for a repeat incidence.

In the study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers from the Black Dog Institute and UNSW Medicine & Health analysed over 81,000 hospital-presenting self-harm episodes among 48,547 individuals aged 10-29 years identified during 2014-2019 in New South Wales. They found approximately one-quarter had engaged in self-harm more than once. Repeat self-harm was most likely to occur in the year following the initial episode – specifically in the first month.

“Anecdotally, we’ve been finding that teachers are overhearing self-harm and suicide being discussed in the playground from the primary school years,” says Dr Michelle Tye, senior author of the study who is from the Black Dog Institute and UNSW Medicine & Health. “This study supports that children and adolescents are a high-risk group for self-harm and repeat self-harm.”

The research, which was funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, also found the risk of repeat self-harm was highest among children and adolescents who had their index (first) episode between ages 10-19, and for more severe presentations requiring admission to hospital. According to the findings, those with two or more self-harm presentations had a higher risk of dying from suicide.

While the study couldn’t determine intent, repeat self-harm is a predictor of suicide, which is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15-44. Self-harm is also a risk factor for a suicide attempt, which is even more common, with some estimates suggesting they occur up to 30 times as often as deaths.

“Adolescence is a stressful period of change, but young people today face unprecedented uncertainty – the COVID-19 pandemic, climate anxiety and economic stress colliding,” Dr Tye says. “It’s likely they’re not coping with distress well and turning to self-harm as a way of coping.”

Lead author of the study Dr Jiahui Qian, from the Black Dog Institute and UNSW Medicine & Health, says self-harm behaviours among adolescents may be even more widespread than reported.

“We only looked at self-harm presentations to an emergency department. But there will be many more young people in the community who self-harm but don’t go to a hospital and so aren’t represented in this study,” Dr Qian says.

The study found males aged 15-29 who were admitted to hospital following a self-harm episode had a higher risk of engaging in self-harm again and subsequent suicide death compared to females. The higher risk of suicide death in males has also been observed in previous studies.

“We observed a higher risk of repeat self-harm and suicide death in males, but overall self-harm presentations are much more prevalent in females,” Dr Qian says.

Dr Tye says it could be that males escalate the lethality of their means of self-harm more than females, but that’s question future research may be able to help explain.

Developing youth-specific self-harm interventions

While the complete prevention of self-harm may not be realistic, we can hope to reduce the extent of it, particularly for young people. Youth-specific early intervention is critical to prevent future self-harm episodes for adolescents.

“Self-harm is fundamentally a maladaptive coping behaviour, so we need to find ways to stop young people from getting to the point of engaging in suicidal behaviour and shift them to adaptive coping behaviours,” Dr Tye says.

The researchers say more evidence-based programs in schools would help expose large cohorts of young people to adaptive coping strategies, raise awareness of the warning signs of suicide and non-suicidal self-harm, and educate young people about how to seek help.

“We need better (and more) suicide prevention-focused programs in schools to empower young people to recognise the warning signs, and improve their capacity to seek out and get the right support,” Dr Tye says.

There is also a need to improve clinical assessment in frontline health services. For many, the experience of presenting to an emergency department can be varied, and clinical support and post-discharge care isn’t always adequate, Dr Tye says.

Routine psychosocial assessments and follow-ups with patients may help reduce the risk of repeat self-harm and suicide death over the long term. But the heightened risk in the first month following a self-harm episode also indicates a need for more immediate patient support.

“Ideally, all young people should have access to ongoing support through coordinated aftercare approaches, particularly in those first few weeks after their presentation to hospital, to protect against repeat self-harm,” Dr Tye says.

Dr Qian says developing new insights into how to respond effectively to self-harm will help suicide prevention efforts. There is an increasingly critical need to learn from children and adolescents who are presenting for self-harm to hospital to help researchers better understand intervention opportunities, guide service provision and improve clinical management.

“Because we’re better able to identify young people who self-harm from hospital records, rather than in the community, we have an opportunity to engage with them to help us understand how we can develop better preventative strategies and find new opportunities for intervention,” Dr Qian says.

In an emergency call triple zero – 000.

For help and support, call: 

• Parent Line NSW 1300 130 052
• Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
• NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
• Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline 1800 551 800

Source: UNSW Media & Content

AFTNews, eSports

Esports Pioneer Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan Makes Bold Investment in English Football Club AFC Wimbledon

  • The investment makes Dato’ Ananth puts him in the league of Asians to have ownership of a European football club
  • Bold plans are in the pipeline to leverage Esports as an innovative strategy to grow beyond the traditional football roots, as well as nurture local and regional talent through a football academy

Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, President of the Malaysian Esports Federation (MESF) and pioneer of the Esports community in Southeast Asia has undertaken a leading investment in founding English Premier League Club Wimbledon FC, which was resurrected in 2002 as AFC Wimbledon. This investment positions him as the second-largest individual shareholder AFC Wimbledon, and one of a select few Asian owners of a European football club.

A very unique aspect of Dato’ Ananth’s investment is that he has never seen the AFC Wimbledon team play live. In 2002, Wimbledon FC, or affectionately known as the Dons, was controversially severed from its community by the decision of a Football Association commission. The club was relocated 70-miles from its home, and repositioned under a new name and ownership.

A devastating moment for fans, this resulted to a fan-led campaign that relaunched the club as AFC Wimbledon in the same year, maintain the team’s outstanding legacy. That same passion was also shown during a multi-million-pound fundraising campaign to rebuild its beloved Plough Lane home stadium, with the club playing its first match in its new Plough Lane home in November 2020.

Dato’ Ananth shared that he found his own journey echoed the story of struggle and triumph of AFC Wimbledon, forming an instant bond with the passion and perseverance with the football club. He has become a committed supporter of AFC Wimbledon’s journey, one which he hopes to extend through a shared community in Asia and beyond.

“In 2010, I went through a tough stint in my personal and professional life. With the support of family and close friends, I persevered.  Like a phoenix, my life rose from the ashes and I embarked on an upwards trajectory,” he said.

Dato’ Ananth said that he believes AFC Wimbledon’s story will resonate in Malaysia and throughout Asia. “The strong community spirit on the revival of the club was an important catalyst of this investment. It never crossed my mind as an investment, I did it because I love football and the romantic history of the club. When I went through the museum here at Plough Lane, I had goosebumps. That’s the effect I want to create in Malaysia. So, when the opportunity came, I had to put my name in,” he continued.

Despite its rocky history, AFC Wimbledon is no stranger to success. The club currently holds the record for the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, with 78 consecutive undefeated league games, as well as being proud winners of the FA Cup in 1988 having beaten Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley.

Through the investment, Dato’ Ananth also assumes a new role as International President for AFC Wimbledon. His ambition is to combine his unique Asian perspective and connections, and his extensive Esports experience to build on the Dons’ remarkable legacy and passionate fanbase.

Alongside revitalised business foundations in his successful AIRMARINE, an international integrated logistics and supply chain business, Dato’ Ananth believes he is positioned to help inspire an exciting new future for AFC Wimbledon.

In the long-term, there are bold plans to have the Dons play against national teams of Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and other nations of the region, as well as develop a Wimbledon Academy in Asia to help build player depth and experience across the club and national team. Dato’ Ananth also plans to build a local clubhouse where people can watch the game live together.

Beyond the traditional roots of a shared gameday experience, Ananth also has a vision to potentially establish the famous Plough Lane stadium as a leading home of Esports, building on the huge growth of this innovative industry.

He said, “I would like to see how we can add value with a Wimbledon Esports Division. According to reports, the global gaming market was valued at USD173 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach USD314 billion by 2027. That is something we should look to capitalise on.”

Dato’ Ananth’s inspired investment also sees him take a significant share in AFCW Plc—the holding company of AFC Wimbledon Ltd, AFCW Stadium Ltd, AFC Wimbledon Women, and The Wider Interests of Football Limited.

Dato’ Ananth S. Nathan, ardent sports fan and International President for AFC Wimbledon

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AFTNews, Airsports

2022 FAI Awards winners announced

FAI announced the recipients of the 2022 FAI Awards on Tuesday in a ceremony held online as a video broadcast. The event celebrated the individuals and teams who have made a significant impact upon aeronautics and astronautics and was viewed by air sports community members and enthusiasts from across the globe.

The 2022 award winners represent many nations, many air sports, and many vocations. Included in this year’s prestigious list are accomplished judges, model aircraft builders, skilled pilots, UAV engineers, a publishing house and the first all-civilian crew to go to space.

> Full Ceremony video

GENERAL AWARDS

FAI Silver Medal
> Alvaro DE ORLEANS-BORBON (Spain)

FAI Bronze Medal
> Marylou LAUGHLIN (United States of America)

Sabiha Gökcen Medal
> Euhee LEE (Korea)

De La Vaulx Medal
> Airbus Zephyr Programme (USA)

Louis Blériot Medal
> Klaus Ohlmann (Germany)

FAI Group Diplomas of Honour
> GFA Training Program Steering Group (Australia)
> Aeroklub Brno – Slatina (Czech Republic)
> Omilos Aeromonteliston Melissochoriou (Greece)
> Editorial Perfils – Revista Parapente – Vuelo Libre (Spain)

Paul Tissandier Diplomas
> Beryl HARTLEY (Australia)
> Arnold HOHENEGGER (Austria)
> Margit NANCE (Canada)
> Karel MARIK (Czech Republic)
> Martin REZEK (Czech Republic)
> Xavier BONET DALMAU (Spain)
> Faustino CANTOS GRACIA (Spain)
> Henri CORDEROY DU TIERS (France)
> Gyula KISS (Hungary)
> Peter SZABO (Hungary)
> Norihiro GOTO (Japan)
> Pierre KLEIN (Luxemburg)
> Tim BROMHEAD (New Zealand)
> Mark WOODHOUSE (New Zealand)
> Krzysztof WIECZOREK (Poland)
> George ROTARU (Romania)
> Srdjan SRDIC (Serbia)
> Anton LANDOLT (Switzerland)
> Rudolf SCHAUB (Switzerland)
> Eduard INAEBNIT (Switzerland)
> Rob HUGHES (United Kingdom)
> Howard TORODE (United Kingdom)

AWARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINES

Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Best Performance, Gas Ballooning
> Eric DECELLIÈRES and Benoît HAVRET (France)

Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Best Performance, Hot Air Ballooning
> David SPILDOOREN (Belgium)

Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas, Major Contribution to the Development of the Sport of Ballooning
> Garry A. LOCKYER (Canada)

Leonardo Da Vinci Parachuting Diploma
> Brian PANGBURN (USA)

FAI Aeromodelling Gold Medal
> Marek DOMINIAK (Poland)

Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Medal
> Michal ZITNAN (Slovakia)

Andrei Tupolev Aeromodelling Diploma
> Jan KOTUHA (Slovakia)

Alphonse Penaud Aeromodelling Diploma
> Jan KOTUHA (Slovakia)

Antonov Aeromodelling Diploma
> Aleksandar STOJANOVIC (Serbia)

Frank Ehling Diploma
> Vladimir SVEC (Slovakia)

Pelagia Majewska Gliding Medal
> Marina VIGORITO (Italy)

Ann Welch Diploma, Microlight
> Krisztian DOLHAI (Hungary)

Ann Welch Diploma, Paramotor
> Daniel TYDECKS (Germany)

FAI Gold Rotorcraft Medal
> Michael SCHAUFF (Germany)

Leon Biancotto Aerobatics Diploma
> Mike HEUER (USA)

Vladimir Komarov Diploma
> Inspiration 4 (USA)

Yuri A. Gagarin Gold Medal
> Crew of Space DM-2 (NASA/Douglas G. Hurley and NASA/Robert L. Behnken) (USA)

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