AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
News in Brief - Issue #3.16 (30/08/2003)
AICAFMHA News / What's On? / Mental Health News / Resources / Back to E-News index
AICAFMHA News
AICAFMHA memberships are still available. Download and complete your membership application here.
Several more COPMI programs have been listed on the site at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/copmi/national/programs/index.htm . If yours is not there, please submit the form to have it listed!
The COPMI Project update for this fortnight comes from our consumer representative. The update can be accessed here.
What?s On?
September 1-7 is Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
Check out the website for the Calendar of events for professionals, the media
and the general public
http://www.rch.org.au/ceed/news.cfm?doc_id=2789
The Family Therapy Association of South Australia Inc
September Professional Practice Meeting
When: Tuesday 2nd September 2003
Time: 7:30pm
Where: The Magdalene Centre, 26 Moore St Adelaide (Located between Angus &
Carrington Streets)
Presenter: Kerry Jarvis
Topic: Kids Help Line
For: Members of TFTASA, practitioners & members of caring professions
www.familytherapy.org.au
Qld branch of the Australian Association of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (AACBT)
presents Prof Paul Salkovskis for two workshops:
Topic: Cognitive Behavioural Management of Severe Health Anxiety
When: Monday September 29th (9 am to 4.30 pm, 8.30 Registration)
Where: Bardon Conference Centre, 390 Simpson Rd, Bardon, Brisbane
About the Workshop
This workshop will provide a practical clinical introduction with a strong
theoretical understanding of the cognitive-behavioural treatment of severe and
persistent health anxiety (the clinical diagnoses of "hypochondriasis").
Enquiries only to Andrea Smith 0410 103 958 or e-mail
Sonja_Pohlman@health.qld.gov.au, and
Topic: Clear skies and open spaces: current developments in cognitive behavioural
therapy for panic and agoraphobia.
When: Thursday September 25th (9 am to 4.30 pm, 8.30 Registration)
Where: Seagulls Resort on the Beachfront 74 The Esplanade, Townsville
About the Workshop
This workshop will provide a practical clinical introduction with a strong
theoretical understanding of the cognitive-behavioural treatment of panic and
agoraphobia.
Enquiries only to Tania Mitchell 0438176991 or 0407020121 or e-mail
Tania_Mitchell@health.qld.gov.au
The 4th National Family Day Care Conference Sydney, AJC Convention Centre Sept 10-14th 2003 www.familydaycare.com.au
September (27th -28th) there will be peace-building workshops in Brisbane at
the Total Health and Education Foundation's sponsored peace symposium:
http://www.peacesymposium.org.au
http://www.peacesymposium.org.au/speakers/annmason
Seminar/Practice Discussion Day
Thinking Outside The Square: Connecting With Vulnerable Children And Families
Presented By The Early Intervention Partnership Group
Friday 24 October 2003
The Benevolent Society
Level 1/188 Oxford Street
Paddington Tel. (02) 9339 8000
View flyer.
The NSW Elderly Suicide Prevention Network (ESPN) will hold its 3rd state-wide
conference "What's resilence got to do with it?" at the Carlton Hotel, Parramatta
on Friday 7 November 2003.
Early bird registration is available up until Tuesday 30 September 2003.
Please email espnconference@wsahs.nsw.gov.au or phone 61 02 9840 4120 to obtain
further information.
Young Media Australia and the Victorian Parenting Centre are proud to announce a
seminar with Professor Craig Anderson on the topic of violence in the media and
its effect on children. Professor Anderson is Chair of the Psychology Department
at Iowa State University and an internationally recognised expert in violence
and the media.
The seminar will be held on 11 September 2003, starting at 1:30pm at The
Auditorium, Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, 630 St Kilda Road,
Melbourne. For more information visit the Victorian Parenting Centre website
at www.vicparenting.com.au. or call the Centre on (03)9639 4111.
Mental Health News
The second edition of NDYA (National Divisions Youth Alliance) News Update:
http://ndya.adgp.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=1052
It is available in both Word and PDF format.
VicHealth has recently advertised for expressions of interest from institutions to auspice the new Research and Practice Centre for the Promotion of Mental Health and Social Wellbeing. The Centre grant is up to $9,000,000 over ten years and will focus on research, evaluation and workforce development relevant to mental health and wellbeing. Emphasis on the social and economic determinants of mental health and wellbeing will be fundamental to the centres operation. Tender specifications will be available shortly.
The Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention recently updated its web site.
http://www.mcsp.org.au
Resources
Psychiatric Services
July 2003 (Volume 54, Number 7)
Rates and Predictors of Rehospitalization Among Formerly Hospitalized Adolescents
Arnold EM, Goldston DB, Ruggiero A, Reboussin BA, Daniel SS, Hickman EA
Psychiatric Services. 2003;54(7):994-998
With the high rates of psychiatric rehospitalization among adolescents a cause
for concern, the authors conducted a prospective study of adolescents discharged
from a psychiatric inpatient unit to assess potential predictors of
rehospitalization. These predictors included psychiatric diagnosis, history of
suicidality, history of multiple hospitalizations, and demographic variables.
The study sample included 180 adolescents (91 girls and 89 boys) hospitalized
between September 1991 and April 1995. The study is ongoing, but this initial
analysis included an average duration of follow-up of 8.4 years, with a loss of
21 original participants. The youth were assessed during the hospital stay, then
every 6 months, then at least yearly after discharge. Baseline assessments
determined diagnoses, and investigators focused on conduct disorder, ODD,
anxiety disorders, affective disorders, and substance abuse as potential
predictors. Of the 180 adolescents, 79 had rehospitalizations during the
follow-up period. The time to rehospitalization was 19% by 6 months
postdischarge, 33% by 24 months, and 48.5% by 10 years. The mean time to first
rehospitalization included younger age at index hospitalization and presence of
comorbid affective and psychiatric disorders. In a multivariate reanalysis, only
age and presence of affective disorder were significant predictors. The authors
noted that overall, 92% of the youth received outpatient services postdischarge.
Although youth with depression were most likely to be rehospitalized, suicide
history was not predictive. The increased risk with younger age may indicate
increased vulnerability or more parental insistence on hospitalizations. The
study was limited by its lack of heterogeneity. The population was primarily
white, and few youths had psychotic disorders. Also, some data collections were
incomplete and some children were lost to follow-up. Finally, the authors
conceded that rehospitalization rates might be correlated to additional factors
not addressed in their study, including degree of functional impairment,
severity of symptoms, family involvement, and quality of outpatient services.
From Medscape MedPulse:
Treatment of Mentally Ill in Prisons and Jails: Follow-up Care Needed
Ten percent of inmates in state institutions reported having a mental or
emotional condition.
Drug Benefit Trends 15(6) 2003
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/458600
The National Rural Health Alliance E-forum - 29 August 2003 is online at http://www.ruralhealth.org.au/nrhapublic/Index.Cfm?Category=EForum .
AICAFMHA News / What's On? / Mental Health News / Resources / Back to E-News index
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