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 # 5.04

News in Brief - Issue # 5.04 (Apr 13, 2005)

AICAFMHA News

AICAFMHA is in the midst of developing its submission to the Select Committee on Mental Health
due on 28 April 2005. Further information about this process is available from our
website in the Resource section (http://www.aicafmha.net.au/resources/index.html).

Don't forget to check the COPMI Project and NYPS (Youth) Project pages for the latest
updates about activities in these areas. A reminder that the draft '3-models' document
is available online for comment. You can access the document and the survey from
http://www.aicafmha.net.au/youth_participation/index.html .


Also the events database is continually being updated. You can now access this from our
homepage.



You may notice while visiting the site that the AICAFMHA homepage is undergoing some
changes. We are starting to utilise database driven technology to present information
on the homepage and other pages on the site. This will allow us to present information in
a much more timely way. We ask you to please be patient with the site while we
are undertaking this process.



What's On

The Events Calendar keeps you up to date, with what's happening in Australia and around the world.
No new Events are available for this edition of News in Brief
Why not browse through all the Events we have listed and if you have an event coming up email secretary@aicafmha.net.au so we can include it in our Calendar.

Mental Health News

The Hidden Army", Four Corners, 8.30pm, Monday 28 March, ABC TV.

Four Corners looks into the world of the carer - the fear and insecurity, the frustrations, failures and rewards - through four stories, including that of a young carer. The program will feature (amongst other carers) a young carer of a parent with mental health problems

Mental Health Council of Australia - March Newsletter

The MHCA March newsletter is now available online at http://www.mhca.com.au/Public/Newsletters/default.html

"'ANNA'S' STORY" - 4 CORNERS MONDAY 4 APRIL 2005

Four Corners follows Cornelia Rau?s journey to the cramped confines of "solitary" in Brisbane Women?s Prison and Baxter detention centre in South Australia. "Anna's Story" - Four Corners, 8.30pm, Monday 4 April, ABC TV. Further details are available at:
4 Corners


COPMI Project on National Radio

Elizabeth Fudge, National Program Manager for AICAFMHA's COPMI Project along with Melina Marchetta
 
Author of 'Saving Francesca', a novel being used as a resource to teach school students about parents with mental illnesses
appeared on Life Matters with Julie McCrossin on 4th April 2005. Further details are available at:http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/lm/stories/s1336067.htm

Child Abuse Report Released

The Pandemic Nature and Effects of Abuse and Domestic Violence on Children in Australia   has been documented in a report released by Latrobe University and commissioned by the The Alannah and Madeline Foundation

You can download an Executive Summary of the Report by clicking here.


National Audit of Child Protection Research

The National Child Protection Clearinghouse at the Australian Institute of
Family Studies has been contracted by the Centre for Child Protection at
the University of South Australia to conduct a national audit of Australian
child protection research.  The audit is being conducted by Dr Daryl Higgins,
Manager of the National Child Protection Clearinghouse with Dr Judy Cashmore
as an external consultant.



The audit covers research actively conducted within with past ten years
(1995-2004), covering prevention and early intervention (but excluding
out-of-home care research).



Further information can be found in the criteria for inclusion for the audit. Please
read the document before you complete the form, which can be found on the
National Child Protection Clearinghouse website at
http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/cpsaaudit/cpsaaudit.html.



Please note that submissions to this audit must be returned on or before
Friday, April 22 2005.



Should you wish to contact us regarding the data collection for the Audit,
please phone Ren Adams on (03) 9214 7891 or email Ren.Adams@aifs.gov.au.
Should you wish to discuss other matters regarding the audit, please contact
Dr Daryl Higgins on
(03) 9214 7821 or Daryl.Higgins@aifs.gov.au.

Suicide Query Won't Plant the Idea

April 6, 2005

CHICAGO (AP) -- Asking teenagers about suicide won't make them more likely to
contemplate it, as some parents and school officials fear, a study suggests.
In fact, the study found that simply asking troubled students about any suicidal
impulses appears to ease their distress and might make some of them less likely
to try killing themselves.


Read more at http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/8014/414107.html

Former Foster Kids' Mental Health

Former Foster Kidsī Mental Health, Socioeconomic Status Worse Off as Adults Than Others: The psychological effects on children who are in the foster care systems can last a lifetime, according to Harvard Medical School researchers. The researchers concluded that adults who as children were raised in the foster care system tend to be " less educated and in much worse mental health than other adults the same age, and about one-third live at or below the poverty level -- three times the national average." (WSJ.com/USA Today, 4/8/05)


Download report or summary at http://www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/NorthwestAlumniStudy.htm

Resources

Mental Illness - Being Well and Staying Well

From ABC Health Updates:

(Perspective: 31/03/2005) When people are described as 'the mentally ill', the label defines the whole person, not just the illness. The label gives the impression that people with a mental illness are destined to a life of madness and suffering. This is simply not true. The so-called 'mentally ill' are often just ordinary people living with a manageable illness.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/perspective/stories/s1335526.htm

Information seminars on childhood anxiety

From ABC Health Updates:

Information seminars on anxiety disorders for parents and teachers Until 31 December, various venues throughout NSW Many children will grow out of their fears as they get older, but one in 10 will experience serious difficulties with anxiety to the point where it begins to interfere in their school, social and family life. Since anxiety in childhood can progress to difficulties later in life, treatment is important.

Details at http://www2b.abc.net.au/abcdiary/event.asp?id=53253&display=fromtoday&gatewayid=221&presdir=health&PageRec=0

COPMI - Partners in Care package (UK)

There is a new leaflet in the package developed as part of the UK-based "Partners in Care" campaign that may interest copmi workers.


"A checklist for professionals coming into contact with the children of parents with mental health problems" was developed in consultation with young carers to help the professional give children and young people the information they need to come to terms with a family member's mental health problem.


The leaflet can be downloaded from http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/pinc/index.htm

Involving Youth Meaningfully - Discussion

From RTC Updates

Youth ?involvement? in systems of care can run from manipulation and tokenism
to full partnership. We invite you to read this essay and to reflect on the
nature of the youth involvement you see around you. What are challenges to
increasing involvement, and what strategies support it?

http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/pgFeaturedDiscussions.php

RTC Publications (children's mental health, resilience etc)

From RTC Updates

NEW Eileen M. Brennan, Jennifer R. Bradley, Maria Garcia Gettman, and Shane Ama
co-authored Initiatives Supporting Children with Emotional or Behavioral
Challenges in Child Care Settings  presented at the 18th Annual Conference: A
System of Care for Children?s Mental Health: Expanding the Research Base.
March 8, 2005.

http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/PDF/Florida2005Initiatives.pdf




NEW Eileen M. Brennan, Jennifer R. Bradley, Mary Dallas Allen, Deborah F. Perry
and Adey Tsega co-authored The Evidence Base for Mental Health Consultation in
Early Childhood Settings: Research Synthesis and Review presented at
Establishing the Evidence Base for Early Childhood Mental Health
Consultation. March 4, 2005.

http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/PDF/EarlyChildhoodResearchSynthesis.pdf



FAQs on recovery, resilience, and children?s mental health

http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/PDF/FAQs.pdf



Presentation on recovery and resilience

http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/PDF/Recovery%20&%20Resilience%20Handouts.pdf



Data Trends - Recent Research Summaries

From RTC Updates

*Assessing Strengths-Based Delivery of Services for Children and Families (#113)

*Family and Youth Use of Urban Mental Health Services (#112)

*Stigma and mental illness (#111)

*Staff Perspectives on Consultation and Integrated Mental Health Services in
Early Childhood Settings (#110)

*Low Income Mothers Coming to Primary Care: Depression and Reports of Problems
with their Children (#109)


Visit the "Data Trends" web page at http://www.rtc.pdx.edu/pgDataTrends.shtml



Web Resources (adolescence, self determination, antidepressant use, dual diagnosis etc)

From RTC Updates


Adolescence and the Transition to Adulthood

This summary of Chapin Hall's November 2004 conference, titled Adolescence
and the Transition to Adulthood: Rethinking Public Policy for a New
Century, synthesizes research and associated policy implications in
areas like education, workforce development, and civic engagement. Special
attention is focused on transition for teens in foster care and corrections,
and teens with mental health challenges.

http://www.about.chapinhall.org/conferences/NovATA/Conference_Summary_Final.pdf



New Self-Determination Tools

Express Yourself! is a new self-determination tool from the UIC National
Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability. Users can pinpoint areas
of their lives (such as money or relationships) where they'd like to have more
control and decision-making power, and then learn how to get started by using
action-planning and web-based resources.

Also available on the website is This is Your Life! a self-directed life
planning workbook. This is Your Life! is especially useful when used with
Express Yourself!

http://www.psych.uic.edu/uicnrtc/self-determination.htm#tools



Pediatric Antidepressant Use Shows Substantial Decline Over Past Year

Medco Health Solutions, Inc., recently released the results of its study on
pediatric antidepressant use showing that the number of children taking
antidepressants has decreased considerably from 2003 to 2004 since the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) re-evaluated and revised antidepressant
warning labeling.

http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=MHS&script=410&layout=-6&item_id=668973



Cannabis Link to Mental Illness

New research report from New Zealand has revealed that smoking cannabis almost
doubles the risk of psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=339635&in_page_id=1774



NSDUH Reviews Substance Abuse Amongst Former Foster Care Youth

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health as released a report discussing the
prevalence of drug use in youth who have spent time in foster care.

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/FosterCare/FosterCare.htm



New Treatment Protocol for Mental Health/Substance Abuse Disorders

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has recently
released Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP 42) for co-occurring disorders.
While the protocol is aimed at the diagnosis and treatment of adults, it may
be of use to clinicians who work with children and adolescents.

http://www.healthinschools.org/2005/jan31_alert.asp



Screening and Supporting Kids in Juvenile Justice: A Resource Guide

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention recently issued
Screening and Assessing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Among Youth
in the Juvenile Justice System, an online guide for practitioners which includes
profiles of more than 50 instruments, guidelines for selecting instruments,
and best practice recommendations for diverse settings and situations.

http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/204956.pdf