Enhancing The Capacity Of Mental Health Services To Review, Personalise And Intervene Early Through Implementation Of Real-time Outcome Monitoring
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
By monitoring functioning and symptom changes experienced by severe mental illness patients in their living environments, mental health services can identify those experiencing decline earlier and hence deliver appropriate and timely interventions. However, monitoring is currently poorly implemented in Australian mental health services and inadequately supported by national policy. The applicant proposes to address this evidence-practice gap through a mobile phone-based monitoring system.
Reducing Depression And Suicide Amongst Older Australians: A Clustered Randomised Clinical Trial In Primary Health Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$765,050.00
Summary
Like many industrialised nations, Australia's population is ageing. By the year 2051, the population aged 65 years and over is projected to triple in size, while those over 85 will increase five-fold. The social, financial, and health consequences of a rapidly ageing society cannot be ignored. Accompanying this population explosion will be greater numbers of individuals experiencing age-related physical disorders and disabilities that give rise to social and psychological problems, including dep ....Like many industrialised nations, Australia's population is ageing. By the year 2051, the population aged 65 years and over is projected to triple in size, while those over 85 will increase five-fold. The social, financial, and health consequences of a rapidly ageing society cannot be ignored. Accompanying this population explosion will be greater numbers of individuals experiencing age-related physical disorders and disabilities that give rise to social and psychological problems, including depression and suicide. Suicide rates are very high in later life, with the ratio of men who kill themselves in late old age greater than that found in their youthful counterparts. Depression is most often linked to suicidal behaviour in this age group, with research suggesting that the treatment of this mental disorder may directly lead to a reduction in suicide in the aged. Approximately 80% of older adults will visit their general practitioner at least once per year in Australia, while up to 70% of older people will consult their GP in the month prior to their death by suicide. This suggests that GPs are in the best possible position to detect and manage depression and suicide risk in later life. Unfortunately, depression is consistently reported to be underdiagnosed and undertreated in this setting. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an educational programme targeting Australian GPs can enhance doctors' detection rates of depression and suicide risk, thereby leading to a reduction in depression and suicidal behaviour among those older patients visiting their surgeries.Read moreRead less
Policing services and the mentally ill: An evidence-based good practice model. Community safety is at the forefront of policing policy and procedure. As gatekeepers to the criminal justice (and to a lesser extent the mental health) systems, the police play a pivotal role in promoting and maintaining the health, safety and wellbeing of the community. This programme of research will provide much needed quality information and empirical evidence about the current practices, policies, and procedures ....Policing services and the mentally ill: An evidence-based good practice model. Community safety is at the forefront of policing policy and procedure. As gatekeepers to the criminal justice (and to a lesser extent the mental health) systems, the police play a pivotal role in promoting and maintaining the health, safety and wellbeing of the community. This programme of research will provide much needed quality information and empirical evidence about the current practices, policies, and procedures for dealing with the mentally ill who come into contact with the police. In a broader sense the research will have dramatic, wide-reaching practical outputs for all of Australia, and help contribute to increased levels of community safety and reduced levels of victimisation of some of the most vulnerable in our society.Read moreRead less
Early Psychosis Workforce: Development Of Core Competencies For Mental Health Professionals Working In The Field Of Early Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,332.00
Summary
I am a mental health clinician with over 10 years experience working with young people. I intend to develop a set of core competencies (knowledge, attitudes, skills) for mental health professionals working with clients who have recently experienced their first epsiode of psychosis and evaluate how the competency standards are implemented in clinical practice.
Suicide prevention and management of deliberate self-harm: randomised control trial of an assertive engagement, brief psychotherapy and community linkage model. Suicide is the second commonest cause of death by injury in Australia. Suicide prevention is an important public health priority but rates remain high. People who have previously attempted suicide are most likely to kill themselves. Most suicidal people attend emergency departments where they get inadequate treatment for their psychologi ....Suicide prevention and management of deliberate self-harm: randomised control trial of an assertive engagement, brief psychotherapy and community linkage model. Suicide is the second commonest cause of death by injury in Australia. Suicide prevention is an important public health priority but rates remain high. People who have previously attempted suicide are most likely to kill themselves. Most suicidal people attend emergency departments where they get inadequate treatment for their psychological and social problems and remain depressed and suicidal. This project will test the effectiveness of a new psychological and social treatment to reduce the depression and link suicidal people with community supports. If successful, this treatment could be provided in any emergency department and help decrease suicide rates in Australia.Read moreRead less
Improving Mental Health For Young People In Out-of-home Care: Providng Participatory Evidence-based Mental Health Care Across Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$956,114.00
Summary
Young people in out-of-home care have experienced traumas and adversities. They are highly vulnerable to mental ill-health and associated problems with relationships, education and meaningful activity. The project aims to deliver evidence-based mental health support and care across the health and community service system relevant to these young people in Victoria. The aim is to work in partnership to reduce the risks of mental ill-health and support more effective treatment and recovery.