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AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022

AICAFMHA E-News in Brief Issue #3.08

News in Brief - Issue #3.08 (10/05/2003)

AICAFMHA News / What's On? / Mental Health News / Resources / Back to E-News index

AICAFMHA News

The Board and staff of AICAFMHA wish all mothers a happy and relaxing Mother's Day.

The Children of Parents with a Mental Illness National Initiative update is now online at. It contains information about the release of the draft document ('Principles and Actions for Services and People Working with Children Of Parents With A Mental Illness') and the piloting of resources etc.

AICAFMHA's response to the Consultation Paper for the Third National Mental Health Plan is available to download from the website homepage.

Following the recent spate of consultation papers we have updated our Documents/Surveys/Reports category of the Links section on the website. Please have a look and add useful references to the list as you see fit.

What?s On?

Australian Story on ABC TV - Monday night 19 May, 8.00pm
Subject: Australian Story on ABC TV - Monday night 19 May, 8.00pm
Features the story of Dan Halloran, 16 year old young man whose mother had both schizophrenia and breast cancer (she passed away last year). Dan's father John has had a long involvement in "taking on" the health system that failed to care for his wife Virginia's dual illnesses. John has been a long time member of Carers Victoria and a passionate campaigner and supporter of carers doing advocacy. Dan's book "You're Not Alone" for 6-12 year olds who have a parent with a mental illness, was launched recently. SANE have supported Dan and John with the book and the TV story.

Finding meaning to sustain life: 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Australia National Conference
12-15 June 2003, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Queensland Australia
For information www.suicidepreventionaust.org or spa2003@im.com.au
Telephone Sydney 02 9568 3111 or Brisbane 07 3858 5563

Symposium on the Dynamic Processes in Ageing, to be held in Canberra on the 22nd and 23rd of September, 2003. The symposium will be held in the Manning Clarke Complex at the Australian National University.
This symposium will focus on those research questions in ageing which can best be answered with longitudinal data. Details of keynote speakers and more are available on the website, http://www.anu.edu.au/cmhr/symposium .

May 2003 Professional Practice Meeting
Nada Miocevic: 'Clinical and Supervision Aspects of the Welfare of Refugees'
Tuesday 6th May 2003 at 7:30pm
The Magdalene Centre, 26 Moore Street Adelaide (between Angus & Carrington Streets)
Nada Miocevic is a Social Worker, immediate past President of The Victorian Association of Family Therapists (VAFT), a clinical member of VAFT and member of The Australian Association of Marriage and Family Counsellors. Nada works in private practice. The topic is timely and of interest to many people for whom the refugee question is a major social justice issue. Nada is particularly interested in speaking about therapy, what does not work in therapy and what is 'unethical' in therapy with refugees. Nada brings us to the edges of comfort and certainty about what we do as therapists. Nada is also presenting at the National Conference 'Relationships, Reconciliation and Children' October 20th - 22nd 2003.
Please invite others to this event. Supper will be provided. The Meeting is free and open to the public.
janvic@senet.com.au or www.users.on.net/ftasa
The Family Therapy Association of South Australia
GPO Box 486, Adelaide 5001. Phone 08 82420319 Fax 08 82420319

Mental Health News

The latest issue of the Auseinetter (Issue 17) is available to download at: http://www.auseinet.com/resources/auseinet/netter.php

The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) May Newsletter 2003 is now available on the MHCA website: http://www.mhca.com.au/cgi-bin/db.cgi?db=docs&uid=default&docs=1&Type=NL

A reminder that Schizophrenia Awareness Week (SAW) is occurring May 18 - 24, 2003. To mark SAW, SANE Australia will be releasing the StigmaWatch Report 2003 - 04.

Resources

From ABC Health Updates:
CONNECTION ESTABLISHED BETWEEN SEVERE ASTHMA AND DEPRESSION (AM: 06/05/2003)
Sufferers of severe asthma have twice the rate of depression as the general community, according to a new study published in the Australian Medical Journal.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2003/s847929.htm

VIOLENT MUSIC, AGGRESSIVE THOUGHTS LINKED (Health News: 05/05/2003)
Violent lyrics in songs increase aggression-related thoughts and emotions and could indirectly create a more hostile social environment, according to a US study released yesterday.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_847460.htm

IN CONVERSATION: Why the Kids are Blue
Thursday 15 May, 2.15pm, Radio National
Dr Tony Kidman has been tackling depression for 30 years. First he looked after women with cancer, offering them not a longer life, but one fulfilled through a better outlook. Now he is helping adolescents. The number of teenagers with the blues has become epidemic - 20 per cent of the young Australian population.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/incon/default.htm

From Medscape MedPulse:
Mind-Body Medicine: State of the Science, Implications for Practice
Evidence emerging within the past several decades suggests that psychosocial factors from emotional states, such as depression, behavioral dispositions, such as hostility, and psychosocial stress can directly influence both physiologic function and health outcomes.
J Am Board Fam Pract 16(2) 2003
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/452275

Chronic Obesity Linked to Psychopathology in Youth
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has doubled among U.S. children and adolescents since 1980, according to one Surgeon General's report.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/452538?mpid=12953

Heterogeneity and Comorbidity in Hyperactivity Disorders
There is a strong argument for early intervention with the recognition and management of ADHD at a young age in order to reduce the likelihood of a poorer long-term prognosis.
Medscape 2003
http://www.medscape.com/viewprogram/2345