Suicide Ideation, Attempts, Help-seeking Behaviour And Compliance Within The Gold Coast District
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,320.00
Summary
In response to increasing suicide rates in Australia, and abroad, the Australian Government has embraced a nationally coordinated approach to suicide prevention. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies the need for suicide prevention efforts that are based on research evidence. The Australia Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, is planning to undertake a study to examine suicidal behaviour in the community. Specifically the ....In response to increasing suicide rates in Australia, and abroad, the Australian Government has embraced a nationally coordinated approach to suicide prevention. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies the need for suicide prevention efforts that are based on research evidence. The Australia Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation, is planning to undertake a study to examine suicidal behaviour in the community. Specifically the study will focus on two areas: (a) the willingness of people who displaying suicidal behaviour to seek help and reasons why some people do not seek help, and (b) The compliance with medical treatment among people who seek help following an attempted suicide and the reasons why some of these people do not comply with medical advice. 15,000 people who permanently reside in the Gold Coast Health District will be telephoned at random and asked to participate in the study. Eligible people who agree to participate will be mailed a paper questionnaire. The data gathered in the duty will be examined to gain greater insight into what happens to people following the development or suicidal behaviour. Pilot studies have already revealed that 15% of people in the Gold Coast District have thought about suicide at some time in their lives and as many as 5% have attempted suicide. It is hoped that this study will provide valuable information that can help design more effective suicide prevention programs.Read moreRead less
I am a psychologist and epidemiologist working in the field of suicide prevention. I am proposing a program of work that will systematically evaluate a range of suicide prevention initiatives for particular at-risk groups using novel evaluation methodolog
A Controlled Trial Of An Opportunistic Intervention To Reduce Suicide Risk Among Alcohol And Other Substance Misusers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,000.00
Summary
Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and pe ....Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and personal burden associated with suicidality, the general lack of skills and focus on management of self-harm in specialised drug and alcohol services is of great concern. In this study, all patients attending drug and alcohol services will be screened for suicide risk, and offered a comprehensive psychological treatment to reduce suicide risk and the use of alcohol and other substances.Read moreRead less
I am a mental health researcher who designs and tests the effectiveness of methods to encourage help seeking, to intervene early and prevent the development of psychiatric disorders, and who develops technological tools to assist consumers to manage their
Cross-Sectional And Longitudinal Evaluation Of Childhood Anxiety And Depression: Pathways, Risk Factors And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,055.00
Summary
Anxiety and depression are the most common forms of psychological distress affecting Australian children today. These disorders are seriously disabling and continuous across time. Therefore, it is very important to understand more about the onset and course of these disorders, and about factors which influence these disorders in either a positive or negative manner. There are three major goals for the current project. The first is to further our understanding of the development, maintenance, and ....Anxiety and depression are the most common forms of psychological distress affecting Australian children today. These disorders are seriously disabling and continuous across time. Therefore, it is very important to understand more about the onset and course of these disorders, and about factors which influence these disorders in either a positive or negative manner. There are three major goals for the current project. The first is to further our understanding of the development, maintenance, and amelioration of anxiety and depression in a child and youth population. The second is to understand the relationship between these two disorders in children and youth. The third is to use the acquired information to assist in the identification of optimal ages for preventive interventions, and to aid in the matching of interventions to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children versus adolescents. This project aims to meet these goals through implementation of a controlled prevention trial. The aims fo the research are: 1. To examine the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depresison in Australian children and youth 2. To gain valuable clinical information regarding the assessment and prevention of these disorders 3. To understand the risk and protective factors associated with these disorders, and the impact of these factors over time 4. To implement and evaluate a school-based prevention program The expected outcomes of the research are: 1. To acquire valuable information related to the onset and course of anxiety and depression in children and youth, and their associated risk and protective factors 2. To further development of more timely and targeted interventions for the prevention of anxiety and depression 4. To enhance the emotional resilience of participating children and prevent the onset of anxiety and depression 5. To promote Australian research by publishing the results of the project within the international research literatureRead moreRead less
My background is in psychology and epidemiology and I study lifecourse factors related to common mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety, substance use, eating-disordered behaviour, and gambling. My aims are to use research findings to (1)
Parenting Style As A Mediator Of Psychosocial Risk Factors And Childhood Externalizing Behaviour Problems
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$113,160.00
Summary
It is imperative that effective interventions be developed and evaluated for children with externalising disorders (e.g. oppositional disorder, attention deficit order and conduct disorder). The prevalence of these problems in the community is high, the prognosis of children is poor, and externalising problems are passed on across successive generations in the same family. Childhood externalising problems are also one of the most costly behavioural disorders for society. Many studies have examin ....It is imperative that effective interventions be developed and evaluated for children with externalising disorders (e.g. oppositional disorder, attention deficit order and conduct disorder). The prevalence of these problems in the community is high, the prognosis of children is poor, and externalising problems are passed on across successive generations in the same family. Childhood externalising problems are also one of the most costly behavioural disorders for society. Many studies have examined the nature and course of externalising problems in older children and adolescents. However, little attention has been paid to the early onset of externalising disorders amongst preschool and early school-age children. Whilst the relationships between family risk factors (e.g. marital discord and maternal depression), parental management styles and children's behaviour problems are widely recognised, the exact nature and direction of these relationships remains largely unknown. This proposal will provide new information about the mechanism through which family risk factors such as marital discord or parental distress influence the onset and persistence of externalising problems in young children, via their effects on parents' behaviour management techniques. This information can then be used to instruct early intervention efforts for parents and families of children at risk of developing externalising behaviour problems.Read moreRead less
Adolescent Depression: Evaluation Of A Preventive Intervention And Identification Of Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,313.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already b ....This project will evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent depression among adolescents. It also aims to identify factors that predict the onset of depression in those who do not receive the intervention. The intervention focuses on the training of interpersonal problem solving skills and enhancement of optimistic thinking styles within a classroom-based curriculum. This project extends the current research program of the applicant. The intervention has already been developed and implemented with 1600 young people, with the support of local education authorities. The evaluation uses well-researched measures and includes a control group of adolescents who do not receive the intervention. Around 5% of adolescents experience clinical levels of depression and an even larger percentage show subclinical levels. Depression results in many debilitating consequences such as impaired school, work and social functioning and is also a risk factor in adolescent suicide. The prevention of mental health problems is a priority for Commonwealth and State governments and yet there is minimal research to demonstrate the effectiveness of preventive interventions, particularly in the area of depression. If the present study demonstrates a positive outcome, it will provide important guidelines as to preventive materials that should be included in the school curriculum. It is predicted that: a) the intervention will be associated with lower levels of depression over the 4 year follow-up, particularly for adolescents who are assessed as showing mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills or pessimistic cognitive style prior to intervention b) risk factors for the development of depression in adolescents who do not receive the intervention will include initial mild symptoms of depression, poor problem solving skills and pessimistic attributional style.Read moreRead less
Prevention Of Childhood Anxiety: A Parent-focused Approach, Targeting The School Transition
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$60,220.00
Summary
The prevention of mental health problems in young people warrants research. Anxiety is a common problem amongst children, resulting in academic and relationship difficulties across the lifespan. The project investigates the effectiveness of an anxiety prevention strategy designed to optimise school adjustment in anxious and withdrawn preschool aged children making the transition to formal schooling. The intervention is parent-focused. Parents will be taught anxiety management strategies. They wi ....The prevention of mental health problems in young people warrants research. Anxiety is a common problem amongst children, resulting in academic and relationship difficulties across the lifespan. The project investigates the effectiveness of an anxiety prevention strategy designed to optimise school adjustment in anxious and withdrawn preschool aged children making the transition to formal schooling. The intervention is parent-focused. Parents will be taught anxiety management strategies. They will also be taught to decrease the use of overprotective or threat communicative responses, to model and reinforce non-anxious behaviour, and to coach children in active problem solving. The prevention of childhood anxiety will have important cost savings in the long term, relating to reduction in the costs associated with school adjustment difficulties and mental health treatments for children, as well as reductions in distress amongst individuals and their families. If the present program proves successful with children at risk of anxiety, it may have the potential to be offered within the education system as a universal transitional program.Read moreRead less