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


Collated Resources for 2012
Collated Resources posted in 2012

Displaying items 1 to 5

Developing evidence based resources to guide safe and effective conversations about suicide and attempted suicide in NSW.
In 2010, The New South Wales Ministry of Health released the NSW Suicide Prevention Strategy 2010-2015, to reduce the rate of suicide and suicidal behaviour in New South Wales by strengthening the capacity of individuals, families, schools, workplaces and the local community to work together and share responsibility in supporting each other and the whole community. The NSW Ministry of Health has contracted the Hunter Institute of Mental Health to develop the Community Guidelines for Discussing Suicide in consultation with a state-wide steering committee. While these resources are being funded and developed in NSW, they will be nationally relevant and useable once completed in late 2012. The project will include a search, critical review and synthesis of the research evidence as well as existing program approaches to identify and provide evidence based recommendations on the proposed content and format for the Community Guidelines. There will then be a process of consultation and sector engagement to plan, write, draft, review and develop community guidelines or a set of community guidelines for discussing suicide. To download the first update of the project, go to http://www.himh.org.au/client_images/1065908.pdf.

Posted:Apr 26, 2012
Social and emotional wellbeing: Development of a children's headline indicator
 The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released an information paper that outlines the process undertaken to develop a headline indicator1 for children's social and emotional wellbeing in Australia. The indicator for children's social and emotional wellbeing is one of 19 indicators for priority areas endorsed by Australia'S health, community and disability services ministers and education officials in 2006, following their approval of a project to develop the indicators in 2005. Social and emotional wellbeing is difficult to define as it is inextricably linked to aspects of health, development and wellbeing. The AIHW information paper, Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Development of a Children's Headline Indicator, describes the role of the two interdependent domains of individual and environmental factors. After a review of the literature and expert consultation the report recommends that the children's headline indicator for social and emotional wellbeing be based on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and defined as the proportion of children scoring "of concern" in the SDQ. The SDQ is seen as having a number of strengths including that it has been validated for use in the Australian context with modified versions for use for Indigenous children, but has been used internationally to enable comparisons. For a copy of the report, go to http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=10737421524.

Posted:Apr 20, 2012
Is resilience still a useful concept when working with children and young people?
 This paper, published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies,discusses some of the definitional and conceptual issues in childhood resilience research, with a focus on the usefulness of the concept for practitioners. It also highlights some of the progress made in the research as the concept has broadened and moved towards a more ecological framework that takes into consideration the complete context of the child. The paper also explores how resilience relates to other theories and practices, such as trauma theory and strengths based practices. Finally, the paper discusses how resilience is being used in practice. To view the paper online or to download a copy, go to http://www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/pubs/papers/02/index.html.

Posted:Apr 13, 2012
National Eating Disorders Collaboration launches its new website
 The National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) is an initiative of the federal Department of Health and Ageing. The new website is the first comprehensive Australian evidence based website on eating disorders and it includes information for young people, for parents and carers and for teachers, clinicians and researchers. Information can be accessed regarding issues such as the onset and duration of eating disorders, risk and protective factors, warning signs, how to support a young person with an eating disorder and treatment approaches. It also provides information on school programs and resources, the latest research on eating disorders and professional development opportunities. To view this information, go to http://www.nedc.com.au/about-the-nedc.

Posted:Apr 5, 2012
HeadStrong Curriculum Resource
 HeadStrong Curriculum Resource for teachers and other youth workers is a creative way of thinking, talking and teaching about mood disorders. This free to download resource is a unique, innovative and straight-forward resource on mood disorders, mental health and resilience which is easy to understand, implement and teach in secondary schools with classroom activities and teacher development notes. It covers issues including what it is to be a teenager; the Telltale Signs of a Mood Disorder; Facts and Stats about Mood Disorders; the different type of Mood Disorders; Personality Types at risk of Non-melancholic Depression; Bipolar Disorders; Common Coping Strategies; Fears of Seeking Help; Touching on Medication; the Importance of Family and School Support and Navigating the Mental Health System. To download this resource, go to http://blackdoginstitute.force.com/resources/HeadStrong_Download

Posted:Mar 30, 2012

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