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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 #4.17

News in Brief - Issue #4.17 (23/10/2004)

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

AICAFMHA News

The AICAFMHA Board recently congratulated the AICAFMHA Patron Winston Rickards, BSc MD MBBS DPM FRACP FRANZCP FRCPsych ClPsych AFBPsS MAPS, on receiving the IACAPAP Medal at the Berlin Congress (August 2004). IACAPAP (International Association for Child Psychiatry and Allied Professions) presents the Medal for outstanding contributions to IACAPAP. It was accompanied by a citation. Winston has made an outstanding contribution to the fields of child and adolescent psychiatry in Australia and internationally during the past 50 years and has published in the areas of eating disorders, psychological disorders in children & adolescents, preventative child psychiatry, learning disorders, children in hospital & patterns of collaboration between psychiatrists & paediatricians, the disabled child, asthma in children, death, the child & the family and teaching & training in child psychiatry.
Congratulations Winston!

The AICAFMHA/TheMHS Conference on the Gold Coast seems such a long time ago now however we are still getting feedback from people about the event. For those of you who missed some presentations, or really enjoyed presentations, and would like an audio copy, recorded sessions can be found on this link: http://www.evertechnology.com/pastconferences.htm

The first update for the new National Youth Participation Strategy (NYPS) Project is now online containing an introduction to the project, information for circulation to your networks, and details about how you can stay in touch and be involved. Information about the NYPS Project is located at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/youth_participation/index.html. You can view project updates at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/youth_participation/updates/index.html.

The COPMI Project update is online at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/copmi/project/updates/index.htm for the latest news in Phase 2 of this national project. A Consumer/Carer report on the AICAFMHA/TheMHS Conference is also available here.

AICAFMHA membership for the 04/05 financial year is available by printing a form from our website at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/membership/index.htm . Members are eligible for a 10% discount on any ACER Press publication.

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Is Your Child Ready for School? A Guide for Parents Dr Ivan Beale and Dr Sandra Heriot ACER Press 2004 A child who succeeds at school not only enjoys learning, but also knows how to learn. Is Your Child Ready for School? shows parents how to prepare their child for school and how to nourish curiosity so that learning is a positive and pleasurable experience. Is Your Child Ready for School? will help parents understand how their child learns and what they can do to make learning happen as easily and effectively as possible, regardless of the child's natural strengths or weaknesses.
Is Your Child Ready for School? is based on sound research and contains practical examples, strategies and activities that parents can use to help their child in the following areas: * Different types of learning * Motivation * Play * Social competence * Concentration * Memory * Motor skills * Making hard tasks easy * Coping with the transition from home to school The authors have extensive experience in working with parents and children and have demonstrated that an early, positive, encouraging approach actually helps to reduce the chance of learning problems. 'Most parents worry that their child won't like school, or the school won't like their child. They know that it's important that there's a good fit between child and school, but what can a parent do to make it happen? At last, here is a book that provides the answer.' Dr Nirbhay Singh Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Paediatrics 0 86431 6755 $19.95
Children of Parents with Mental Illness 2 Personal and Clinical Perspectives Editor Vicki Cowling ACER Press 2003 Children of Parents with Mental Illness: Personal and Clinical Perspectives 2 looks at the insights and experiences of children and adults who have lived or grown up with parents with a mental illness. The experiences highlight the need to think of all family members when a parent has a mental illness and identifies the needs of children who need to belong and have someone to talk to about their experiences.
Complimenting these personal accounts are clinical chapters written by Australian practitioners with a rich and diverse range of experiences. These chapters offer well-researched and current information concerning the writer's area of expertise. This highly recommended text is a comprehensive and relevant resource for psychologists and social workers. Features * Personal and clinical perspectives offer a balanced look at a range of different experiences * Includes descriptions of important intervention programs * Companion to Children of Parents with Mental Illness, published in 1999, which focused on the service needs * Renowned international and Australian contributors provide well researched, current and relevant information * Raises awareness that children's needs are often overlooked and all family members should be considered when a parent has a mental illness * Focuses on the unseen children's needs 0 86431 473 6 $34.95
The Healing Art of Clay Therapy Dr Patricia Sherwood ACER Press 2004 The Healing Art of Clay Therapy is an engaging handbook designed to guide therapists working with clay in a therapeutic context. Increasingly, therapists are searching for innovative tools to facilitate clients to explore more fully their presenting experience in therapy.
Using clay work in therapy provides therapists with a powerful medium to help clients convey and work through many core issues such as anger, grief, fear and blocked speaking. Clay therapy aims to move the client from painful emotional experiences to opportunities for inner growth and healing. By working with a malleable material like clay, the client's own insight arises with the emerging clay representation of their experience. Clay brings many gifts to the therapeutic process including: * Responsiveness to human feelings * Expressiveness of the inexpressible * Tangibility of the intangible * Knowingness of the unknowable * Visibility of the invisible * Apprehensibility of the inapprehensible Based on the author's work as a clay therapist, The Healing Art of Clay Therapy describes precisely the therapeutic steps and documents them with photographs. It gives therapists the means to add this healing modality to their practice. Features * Step-by-step guidelines for making clay work powerfully and transformingly in the therapeutic process * Provides clients with a way to articulate their feelings and experiences * Suitable for most client groups * Aims to inspire therapists to engage with clay in the therapeutic process. * Provides precise sequences for working in a deeply engaging manner with a range of commonly presenting issues in therapy 0 86431 6917 $29.95

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What?s On?

CanTeen National Living with Cancer Conference - Changing Perspectives
CanTeen holds this conference bi-enially throughout Australia and this year it will be hosted by the SA/NT Division.
This one day conference is being held in Adelaide on the 26th November, at the University of SA City West Campus.
The conference will provide a unique perspective of living with cancer presented jointly by Health Professionals and Young People who are Patients, Siblings or who have a parent with cancer.
Health Professionals, members of public, students, young people and anyone living with cancer are invited to participate. The conference is provided to you by CanTeen, with the only cost being $15 for catering. The day promises to be an opportunity to participate in interesting and challenging workshops and hear the perspectives of a variety of key note speakers and experts in the field.
CanTeen SA/NT Division GPO Box 1093 SA 5001
Ph 8161 7488 Fax 8161 6435 Email sa.admin@canteen.org.au

The Health and Wellbeing of Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Policy inequities and current projects
This conference is an initiative of Researchers for Asylum Seekers (RAS) and has been given support from the Australian Psychological Society's Psychology and Cultures interest group and the International Conflict Resolution Centre, University of Melbourne.
This conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, community voices, artists, storytellers and film makers to consider policy inequities between refugees and asylum seekers, and the broader community. The conference will include presentations of artwork, stories, current projects and research promoting the health and wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers.
WHERE: Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne Swanston St, Parkville, Victoria.
WHEN: 15th, November, 2004.
Download a registration form from the conference website at: http://www.psychology.org.au/units/interest_groups/cultures/8.7.34_11.asp or contact Tatiana Resk to receive a registration form by post or fax (Email: intern1@psych.unimelb.edu.au ; Fax: +61 3 9347 6618; Phone: + 61 3 8344 7035).

The Third Cambridge Conference on Teenage Anorexia Nervosa
Tuesday 2nd November 2004, Churchill College, Cambridge
A one-day conference for professionals, young people, families and carers. Booking form available on:
http://www.focusproject.org.uk/
Or by email: cayres@cru.rcpsych.ac.uk

THE 2005 Tresillian Conference will be held at the Ibis Hotel, Homebush Bay, 5 & 6 August 2005.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 17 DECEMBER 2004
For further details or to register your interest please contact: Cathrine Fowler, Manager, Education & Research, Tresillian Family Care Centres McKenzie Street, Belmore 2192
(02)978 70869 telephone
(02)978 70880 fax
Email: cathrine@email.cs.nsw.gov.au

For more information please visit website at www.resilienceproject.org
Pathways to Resilience: An International Conference
Hosted by the International Resilience Project
June 15-17, 2005
School of Social Work, Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

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 now available on the website.
http://www.astmanagement.com.au/iap04

2004 Faculty Research Conference
9 December, 2004
9.00 am to 5.15 pm (registration commences at 8.00 am)
West Lecture Theatre Complex
La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus
The Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University is holding its fifth annual one-day research conference - this year's theme focusing on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. The wide variety of areas in which innovative research in this field is being undertaken within the Faculty's Schools and Centres will be conveyed.
For further information
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/health/research/resconf.htm

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
An initiative of the United Nations and Queensland Government 14-17 August 2005
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia
ABSTRACTS DUE MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2004
This unique event will explore all issues related to community engagement and address the experiences, challenges and research which affect all citizens, governments and organisations alike. The program is designed to interest representatives from community groups, academia, government agencies, corporations, associations and the like.
For details visit: http://www.engagingcommunities2005.org

ADVANCE NOTICE and CALL FOR PAPERS - EXPRESSIONS of INTEREST INVITED for the Association for the Welfare of Child Health 10th National Conference
28, 29 April 2005
Carlton Hotel Parramatta, Sydney
'Healthy Solutions for Children: Making the Right Choice'
Information for Presenters - Call for Papers brief available from www.mob.com.au/awch2005 or on request by emailing sharyn@mob.com.au

Mental Health News

The latest issue of Exchange (NSW Commission for Children & Young People) is now online and available at: http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/exchange/
Articles include:
*Focus on kids' issues*
A new resource has been published by the Commission that features the responses of 430 young people who were asked to identify issues important to them.
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/exchange/19/issues.html
*Young people get All aBoard!*
A new, practical Commission resource is available to help groups and organisations involve young people on boards and committees.
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/exchange/19/allaboard.html
*Teens and parents 'seeking common ground'*
A recent youth forum facilitated by the NSW Commissioner for Children and Young People has highlighted the communication challenges that can affect how well parents and teenagers relate to each other.
http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/exchange/19/commonground.html

The latest edition of the (WA) Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention newsletter is available online at: www.mcsp.org.au and includes updates about WA activities, national activities and research.

Lifeline Australia's October e-newsletter can be viewed at http://www.lifeline.org.au/content/e-newsletter_october_2004.pdf or by visiting www.lifeline.org.au .

The 2004 Sane Mental Health Report can be accessed at http://www.sane.org . On the eve of the Federal election, SANE Australia's Mental Health Report finds Australian Governments responsible for the crisis in Australia's National Mental Health Strategy citing apathy and stigma as the reason for neglect and inaction.

PREVENTING MENTAL DISORDERS AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH IS POSSIBLE, SAYS NEW EVIDENCE RELEASED BY WHO
GENEVA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the latest evidence which demonstrates how both public health interventions and social programmes can promote and enable good mental health, and prevent mental and behavioural diseases. The evidence is released in two new reports which are the result of a two-year international review.
The full texts of the two reports, "Promoting Mental Health" and "Prevention of Mental Disorders" are available in PDF on the WHO website:
http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/.

AeJAMH - The Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health - Volume 3, Issue 2 is now online at www.auseinet.com/journal/vol3iss2/index.php

Resources

Welcome to rtcUpdates for October 2004!
rtcUpdates are brought to you by the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health in Portland, Oregon. Subscribers to rtcUpdates receive occasional email messages from the RTC containing information about the RTC's recent research, publications, and other activities, as well as information about developments in the field of Children's Mental Health.
CONTENTS OF THIS UPDATE:
**RENEWED FUNDING--RTC to Continue its Work through 2009
** FEATURED DISCUSSION--Strengths, Assets, and Evidence: Do Positive Strategies "Work"?
** NEW Website of the National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
** FOCAL POINT--Summer Issue Available Online
** RTC PUBLICATIONS & PRODUCTS--Recently Produced
** DATA TRENDS--Recent Research Summaries
** FROM THE WEB--Online Information and Sites of Interest
The 'Data Trends' and 'From the Web' areas contain some excellent article links including information about family-driven care systems, juvenile justice, substance abuse, anti-depression medication and more. Well worth a read!
View online.

From Adelaide University Library:
Australian Temperament Project - Australian Institute of Family Studies
http://www.aifs.gov.au/atp/
The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) is a longitudinal study of the psychosocial development of a large and representative sample of Australian children born in the state of Victoria, Australia between September 1982 and January 1983. The study aims to trace the pathways to psychosocial adjustment and maladjustment across the lifespan, and to investigate the contribution of personal, family and environmental factors to development and wellbeing. Many of the publications listed on the site are available online, or appear in journals which the Library holds.

RU-OK - SELF HELP FOR TEENAGERS
http://www.ru-ok.com/
This British site was developed by psychologists, psychiatrists, educational professionals, teenagers and web designers / artists. It is designed for teenagers to use on their own, or in collaboration with an adult. This could be a teacher, learning mentor or educational psychologist. The underlying theory is cognitive behavioural.