4th Australian Rural and Remore Mental Health Symposium

"PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST": MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND INITIATIVES IN AUSTRALIAN RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES. 

The conference will be held in Adelaide from the 16th to the 21st of November 2012.

Our vast country is graced with a diverse population. From indigenous beginnings our population has swollen with the addition of migrants from many countries bringing with them an eclectic mix of individual and collective ethnic, cultural and religious qualities, over many generations.


The settling of regional, rural, and remote areas has provided us with agricultural and mineral resources which are fundamental necessities contributing substantially to our economy. Despite the major contribution to the economy that stems from rural and remote areas, differing state and federal policies have led to a situation whereby rural and remote communities appear to be neglected, as evidenced by their limited access to health services, and in particular mental health services.

Sixteen percent of the population are found in our smaller regional towns and rural and remote communities that spread over approximately 99percent of the continent. With approximately 3-4percent of our population now living and working in rural and remote communities, or in isolated areas, we need to be more aware of their needs and how these needs are best serviced.

People living in remote areas receive 60 percent fewer services

Those in rural areas receive 12 percent fewer, than those in major cities. The large deficit in mental health services for people in rural and remote areas must be recognised and overcome.

A 2007 National Survey showed that around 20 per cent of the population were affected by mental illness in both major cities and rural areas. However, as people in remote areas were not included in this assessment, it could be argued that this percentage could be even higher in those areas. Moreover, people in remote areas received less than half the total number of services for mental health received by those in the Major Cities. (Web-based services were not included in these estimates.) (Source National Rural Health Alliance May 2011).


What about a "fair go" through equity and the provision of adequate resources, particularly in relation to rural and remote mental health services? By putting people first in rural and remote communities, how can we better meet their needs? How well are we currently providing services to meet their needs? What works well, what doesn't, and how can services be improved? What can we work towards in the future to put people and their health, particularly their mental health, first, in rural and remote Australia?

What are the needs of health care workers? 

Visit the website for more information

Membership Survey Results Narcotics Anonymous Australia

Narcotics Anonymous is an international, non–profit community based organization for people recovering from substance abuse. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using drugs. NA is a vital community resource and a free, accessible after-care support opportunity. NA cooperates with professionals by providing NA meetings in treatment centres and institutions, and is complementary to in-patient and out-patient treatment.


Narcotics Anonymous sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the late 1940s, with meetings first emerging in California in the early 1950s. The NA program has grown into one of the world's oldest and largest organizations of its type, with 58,000 registered weekly meetings in 131 countries worldwide. Narcotics Anonymous books and information pamphlets are currently available in 34 languages, with translations in process for 16 languages. There are around 400 weekly meetings in Australia, including on the Gold Coast.

In 2009 Narcotics Anonymous conducted an Australia-wide survey of 1,029 of its members. The results provide a demographic profile of survey respondents, their drug use history, their pathway to and engagement with Narcotics Anonymous, and their quality of life improvements. These include significant improvements in the ability to remain drug free, and in employment and educational outcomes and family relationships.

NA has presented the membership survey results to the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD), members of the NSW State Parliament, senior police, and health professionals.

Ms Victoria Stephen is the chairperson of the Australian Regional Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous

The 12th International Mental Health Conference "Personality Disorders: Out of the Darkness"
Radisson Resort, Gold Coast - Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.

Drug use soars in aged-care facilities

Adam Cresswell, Health editor

From: The Australian March 07, 2011 12:00AM

MORE elderly people are being dosed up on powerful mood-altering drugs, according to a study that finds use of the drugs in some nursing homes has soared.

A study of nearly 2500 residents of 44 western Sydney nursing homes shows that nearly a quarter are taking antidepressants almost every day, up from 15 per cent in 1993.

The proportion on antipsychotics -- powerful drugs normally used to treat serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia -- rose from 22 per cent in 1998 to 28 per cent in 2009.

The expert who conducted the study has described the findings as mostly good news, because doctors had largely shifted to a newer generation of so-called "atypical" antipsychotics, and at lower doses, avoiding the unpleasant side-effects of older drugs, such as muscle stiffness... read the full story here.

The 12th International Mental Health Conference 2011
Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, Australia

Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.
Theme: Personality Disorders "Out if the Darkness"

Depression May Worsen Over Time in Addiction-Prone Women

FRIDAY, Feb. 25 (HealthDay News)
by -- Robert Preidt
Depression symptoms increase over time for women in their 30s and 40s who are prone to addiction problems and antisocial behavior, researchers report.

The new study looked at how personal history, family life and neighborhood instability affected alcoholism symptoms in 273 women over a 12-year period during their early years of marriage and motherhood. The participants lived in the U.S. Midwest.

While alcohol problems and antisocial behavior declined over time, depression symptoms increased among the women. The study also found that the women's partner's and children's problems also had an effect on them. For example, women's symptoms and behaviors worsened if their partner also struggled with addiction and antisocial behavior, such as trouble with the law.

And negative behaviors in their children, such as acting out and getting into trouble, tended to increase the mothers' alcohol problems and antisocial behavior. In addition, the mothers' depression increased when children were sad or isolated.

The researchers also found that the women's alcoholism and depression levels were higher if they lived in an unstable neighborhood, where residents frequently moved in and out.

The study was published in the current online edition of the journal Development and Psychopathology.

"Our findings demonstrate the complexity of the factors affecting changes in alcohol problems, antisocial behavior and depression for these women," senior author Robert Zucker, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Michigan Medical School and director of the U-M Addiction Research Center, said in a University of Michigan Health System news release.

Youth Ask the South Australian Government Not to Close Down Eating Disorder Unit

Young people have asked the South Australian government not to risk their lives by closing an eating disorder unit. As parliament sat for the second time this year, a second protest mounted the steps of parliament house to complain about Premier Mike Rann's government.

On Monday, it was more than 50 logging trucks and a thousand people protesting plans to sell off future forestry harvests. On Tuesday, Georgia Taylor, 22, urged the Labor government not to move patients at a special unit at Flinders Hospital to a psychiatric unit that caters for a range of disorders.

She says she lost friends when she struggled with anorexia nervosa and she wanted to eat but didn't know how, until she went to ward 4G. "They teach you how to change the voices in your head, basically, and make you be able to eat and not abuse food in a bad way and you learn to like food and be able to enjoy life," she said.

Ms Taylor was scared when she was once put in a locked ward with patients with range of psychiatric disorders.

Liza Kappelle smh.com.au

February 9, 2011

The topic of Eating Disorders will be discussed and explored at the 12th International Mental Health Conference 'Personality Disorders - Out of the Darkness' on the Gold Coast, 24th - 26th August 2011

Mental illness can bring a massive paycut

Danny Rose, AAP From Sydney Morning Herald February 1, 2011

Mental illness can represent a massive pay cut, according to Australian research which has calculated its cost in forcing people to leave the workforce early.

The study found people who experienced depression or other mental health problems were up to $250,000 worse off, or they had around half the accumulated wealth, compared to their healthy peers around retirement age.

Professor Deborah Schofield said it showed how mental health problems had not only a major impact on a person's wellbeing and family life but also on their career earnings - and so their level of independence in old age. "We expected to see a gap but not such a big gap," said Prof Schofield, from the University of Sydney and who led the joint research effort with the University of Canberra.

"What it shows us is that if you do have mental illnesses your chances of being in the labour force are much, much lower and so, as a result, you have much less capacity to save."

The research analysed a nationally representative sample of more than 8000 Australians aged between 45 and 64 years. They accessed each participant's employment, income, and accumulated wealth in savings, property and other financial investments.

There were 99 participants who were found to have retired early due to debilitating mental health problems. Those with depression were found to have a mean value of $236,000 in wealth while those with other conditions - such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder - had just $148,000. This was compared to $398,000 accumulated by a worker who had no mental health or other chronic health problems.

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How to help psychologically during – and after – the floods

Thousands of Queenslanders have been affected by the recent floods that have disrupted lives and created much distress, cutting off homes and even entire towns and causing the evacuation of  thousands.

Kevin Ronan, a Rockhampton resident and Chair of the Australian Psychological Society’s Disaster Reference Group, said: “There is no doubt that many people are going to be highly distressed by
these events, but I have witnessed a great sense of resilience in the community. The excellent response by the emergency services, and the leadership shown by our Mayor bodes well for recovery from these floods.”

The Australian Psychological Society has prepared the following guidance for the many hundreds of
professionals and volunteers who now want to know the best ways to support those affected to
assist their recovery.

Following a disaster, strive to promote a sense of safety and calm, while at the same time being willing to provide comfort and empathy for people’s distress and loss. Help people to contact friends and loved ones and get the practical assistance they need. Staying connected to support networks following a disaster has been identified as a critical part of people getting back to normal.

To re-establish a sense of safety, people may require help to meet basic needs for food and shelter, and to obtain emergency medical attention. People often need repeated, simple and accurate information on how to access these necessities. Give clear information about what is going on, and help to link them to available services..

Survivors are likely to need contact that is predictable, familiar and respectful. Some people need to share stories and emotions, and should be listened to, but in a way that does not encourage disclosure beyond the level at which they feel comfortable. Others may not want to talk about it at all, and this is also OK: it is not useful, and is perhaps even harmful, to press people to talk about their experiences if they don’t wish to in this initial stage.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to feel.  People cope well when they believe they have the ability to manage a stressful event, so remind people of their own coping skills, strengths and resilience. Giving practical suggestions that steer them towards helping themselves and others can be very useful.

Pay attention to children’s needs: Children are a particularly vulnerable group following a disaster. Parents and caregivers should try to acknowledge any upset they may be experiencing while also reassuring their children that, as a family, they will be able to cope with the adversity caused by the floods.

Professor Ronan said: “Helping people reinvigorate a sense of hope, while acknowledging the real distress they may be experiencing, has been identified as one way of helping people manage more effectively as they begin the process of recovery.”

Source: Australian Psychological Society

US Research - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Report

Researchers of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported on Nov 18 that in 2009, 45 million, or 20 percent, of adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. suffered from some mental disorder or mental illness in the past year. Among those with mental illness, 11 million or 4.8 percent had a serious mental illness.
The report determined that women were more likely than men to suffer mental illness, 23.8 percent versus 15.6 percent – those suffering from serious mental illness is estimated at 6.4 versus 3.2 percent of women and men, respectively.

Also in 2009, an estimated 8.4 million adults or 3.7 percent aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide the previous year. Of those who had thought about committing suicide, 2.2 million or 1 percent had a plan and 1 million or 0.5 percent had attempted suicide in the past year.

Among the 45 million suffering from some form of mental illness, nearly 20 percent or 8.9 million adults had substance dependence or substance abuse issues. 25.7 percent had substance dependence or substance abuse in the prior year, compared with 6.5 percent of adults who did not have mental illness.

Of the same 45 million adults, 17.1 million or 37.9 received mental health care services during the prior 12 months - of the 11 million adults with serious mental illness, 6.6 million or 60.2 percent received care. In 2009, 13.3 percent or 30.2 million adults received mental health services during the past 12 months.

Of the 2.8 million adults aged 18 or older with both substance dependence or abuse in the past year, 2.4 percent received treatment at a specialty facility.
In 2009, 2.0 million youths aged 12 to 17 suffered a major depressive episode during the past year. Among those who experienced major depression, 35.7 percent used illicit drugs, compared to 18.0 percent of those who did not have major depression in the past year.

12th International Mental Health Conference 2011 Radisson Resort, Gold Coast
Personality Disorders: Out of the Darkness
Wednesday 24th August – Friday 26th August 2011.

www.anzmh.asn.au/conference2011

Post-natal depression and smoking cessation before, during and after pregnancy

Background: A substantial proportion of women give up smoking before, during and after pregnancy. It is estimated that between 7% to 17% of post-partum women may experience depression, with a higher risk among those women with a history of clinical depression. However, little is known about the relationship between maternal mental health and smoking cessation. Our longitudinal study explores whether post-natal depression is related to changes in patterns of tobacco consumption before, during and after the pregnancy.

Method: Each participant was assessed for symptoms of depression at the first clinic visit (entry to the study), and reassessed at various intervals – at 3-5 days, at 6 months, and again at 5 years after the birth of the child-using the DSSI-D( Delusions-Symptoms- States Inventory/ Bedford and Foulds, 1976). Smoking was also assessed at each stage of data collection and there was a retrospective report of smoking prior to the pregnancy.

Results: There is a linear association between tobacco consumption in pregnancy and the proportion of women who experience anxiety and depression in the postnatal period. The test for the two main causal pathways, smoking leading to depression and depression leading to smoking suggests that prior poor mental health (anxiety/depression) precede smoking behavior and the changes in smoking do not impact on maternal mental health.

Conclusion: The analysis examines whether post-natal depression contributes to smoking behavior/relapse or whether smoking cessation leads to worsening of pre-existing poor mental health and subsequent post natal depression in women. Poor mental health predicts patterns of smoking behavior but the reverse is not the case.
 

Dr Divey Rattan
School of Population Health, University of Queensland

Defence eyes states for health overhaul

Sean Parnell, FOI editor From: The Australian November 08, 2010 12:00AM

MORE medics will work in public hospitals and dozens of military clinics will close in a major restructuring of defence health services.

There will also be a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and mental health care.

As operations in Afghanistan become more dangerous and protracted, multi-disciplinary health hubs are being established on home bases and new links formed with state health departments and universities for high-end care, training and research.

Queensland Health has already agreed to set aside an acute care ward at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for military patients. A military surgical team will be embedded at the facility, and Defence will also fund the appointment of a chair of military surgery at the University of Queensland.

Defence documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws show the ward is being provided as a quid pro quo for Queensland Health being able to use the military surgery team and facilities at Enoggera barracks for public patients.

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