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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 #4.14

News in Brief - Issue #4.14 (14/08/2004)

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

AICAFMHA News

Only two weeks to go to get your registrations in for the 5th AICAFMHA/14th TheMHS Conference on the Gold Coast, 1-3 Sept. Download a brochure from http://www.aicafmha.net.au/conferences/goldcoast2004/index.html or register online at http://www.themhs.org/conferences/main.htm . Pre-conference workshops will be held on Tues 31 Aug and include a special AICAFMHA/ADGP full day workshop on Primary Care, Youth and Family Mental Health. Don't miss out - register now for 4 days of fun, information and networking - it's between 23-27慢 up there now!

AICAFMHA memberships for 2004/05 are now available online. Show your support for the association that supports infant, child, adolescent and family mental health in Australia by becoming a financial member. Details available at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/membership/index.htm . Membership includes a 10% discount on ACER Press publications.

View the COPMI Project fortnightly update online at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/copmi/project/updates/index.htm .

What?s On?

A National Parenting Conference: Parenting Imperatives
Monday 6th - Wednesday 8th
September 2004
Adelaide Convention Centre
North Terrace, Adelaide
Details and full conference program available at http://www.cyh.com/helpline/parentingconference/index.htm

Registration is now open for The 14th National Conference of the Institute of Australian Psychiatrists, to be held at Tweed Heads - Friday 12th to Sunday 14th of November 2004.
The theme this year will be will be "Exploring the Options, Complementary Approaches to Psychiatry" , and the published program is currently being expanded to include another six workshop sessions.
This conference is the first in Australia dedicated to the exploration of complementary approaches to Psychiatric treatment and Psychotherapy.
http://www.astmanagement.com.au/iap04

PROTECTING CHILDREN IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS
National Child Protection Week
5th - 11th September 2004
Register your activity by visiting www.napcan.org.au or call 1800 126 456

Paediatric Consultation Liaison Conference
2nd - 3rd September 2004
Cynthia Poulton Centre
St. Peter's Cathedral Close
27 King William Road, NORTH ADELAIDE
SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR WCH STAFF
Thursday (Half Day p.m.) $50 / Friday (Full Day) $100

Mental Health News

Mental Health Promotion Evidence Review
The MHP evidence review is now available from the VicHealth website. In 2003 the Sydney Health Projects Group, was commissioned to undertake a review of the literature pertaining to the VicHealth Mental Health Promotion Framework - particularly literature published after 1998, when the documentation to inform its development was first compiled.
The report provides a summary of the evidence reviewed and a discussion of the implications of the research for consideration by VicHealth. The report can be downloaded in two sections:
Introduction and overview of the report structure; and
Summaries of the literature on specific determinants of mental health; and Tables containing details of the literature collected
http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/default.asp?artid=701&tmid=407&level=3

Latest information on the NSW Commissions Child & Youth website:
Help us help kids to have their say; Follow the link to find out more and access the survey: http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/arcade/involved.html
New resource - All aBoard!; Follow the link to download All aBoard! http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/publications/tps_allaboard.html
Workshop notes available; Follow the link to notes from the 'Working With Sex Offenders' workshops: http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/ourwork/billmarshallnotes.html

Now available, the fifth edition of Western Youth. Thanks to all those who contributed, it's a great edition. View here.

Resources

Identifying Developmental and Psychological Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Checklists for Professionals
An essential, highly practical resource for professionals working with children, adolescents and their families. Covers 17 different categories of disorder and special need. Can be used for age range 4 years through to 18 years.
Compatible with DSM IV diagnostic criteria. Each checklist can be used as a questionnaire or an interview schedule. The checklists use everyday language and practical examples, so that parents can relate to the items easily.
The items give a thorough coverage of the diagnostic characteristics of each disorder and systematically probe for information that might not otherwise be recalled or deemed relevant.
Provides the professional with a clear summary of observations, categorized into diagnostic clusters.
An invaluable resource for the busy professional.
View flyer and order form.

From ABC Health Updates:
BIPOLAR DISORDER (Health Report: 09/08/2004)
ABC sports broadcaster Craig Hamilton talks about his own personal experiences with bipolar disorder. And Professor Philip Mitchell from the University of New South Wales talks about the findings of a study on the prevalence and disability of bipolar disorder in Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/stories/s1170266.htm

ALL IN THE MIND: Worried Children - How Anxious Should We Be? Saturday 14 August, 1:30pm, Radio National
When should you be anxious about an anxious child? Child anxiety can mean not wanting to leave mum or dad's side, complaints of tummy aches, and fears about trying new challenges, school and meeting other kids. The link between child anxiety and depression later in life is becoming much clearer. This week, All in the Mind looks at innovative efforts to target parents with anxious children in regional New South Wales, who are starved for support services. The idea is to get in early, before anxiety becomes a disabling life pattern.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/mind/

THE HEALTH REPORT: Kids Who Self Harm
Monday 16 August, 8:30am, Radio National
Deliberate self harm is common on Australian youth, especially among young women. A Queensland study by Professor Diego De Leo, Director of the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University and Travis Heller, researcher, examined the behaviour of a large group of Year 10 and 11 students. The researchers stress the importance of preventive programs, which should encourage young people to seek professional help in stressful situations.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/helthrpt/

STREET STORIES: Growing Up With Prison
Wednesday 18 August, 10.15am, Radio National
When women go to prison we rarely hear from the people who are most affected - the children. In this feature, three grown-up children tell of their experience of having a mother in gaol.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/history/streets/

Who are the kids who self-harm? An Australian self-report school survey
Diego De Leo and Travis S Heller.
Med J Aust 2004; 181 (3): 140-144.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_03_020804/del10634_fm.html