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This week James Packer stepped down from the board of Crown Resorts and, with great honesty acknowledged that this was due to mental ill health. We have seen prominent sports people and politicians disclose before, but Mr. Packer is one of the first top business leaders to do so. In doing so he has shown leadership and courage, which will encourage many others. https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/james-packers-admission-highlights-the-need-for-better-mental-health-awareness-20180326-h0xz00.html
Sydney Morning Herald article about recent research into the Mental Health Tribunal and compulsory treatment orders. It introduces a man by the name of John Myers, who receives a compulsory anti-psychotic treatment monthly, without his consent. https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/mental-health-patients-overlooked-in-compulsory-treatment-research-20180318-p4z4z1.html
For an alternate viewpoint see the research into the effectiveness of CTOs Community treatment orders increase community care and delay readmission while in force: Results from a large population-based study Anthony Harris, Wendy Chen, Sharon Jones, Melissa Hulme, Philip Burgess, Grant Sara - Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, February 2018, SAGE Publishing - DOI: 10.1177/0004867418758920 https://goo.gl/A1DVAp
What is the best treatment for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a serious, highly disabling mental health condition and there have been questions about which is the best drug to treat it. This hasn’t been helped by pharmaceutical marketing which may have muddied the water. A study of 18,000 people with bipolar disorder followed for over seven years has assessed which are the most effective medications. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/lithium-remains-best-treatment-for-bipolar-disorder/9563900
A new study links heavy smoking to the possible risk of developing psychosis. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321222.php
Some recent evidence suggests Knitting can reduce anxiety, depression, chronic pain and slow dementia. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/knitting-reduces-anxiety-depression-chronic-pain-slows-dementia-research-knit-for-peace-uk-a8254341.html
This article about schoolyard bullying suggests that having a strong friendship group can a help a child build resilience and lead to better mental health outcomes. https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/friends-in-need-are-friends-indeed
Former insurance executive Patrick O’Connor has gone on the record in support of a probe into the treatment of customers with mental health challenges. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-14/former-insurance-exec-probe-treatment-customers-mental-illness/9542496
People with schizophrenia may now benefit from more effective, tailored treatments and greater self-empowerment, thanks to research establishing a link between childhood trauma and some of schizophrenia's most common symptoms https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180312085111.htm
In this fascinating article, scientists who have been working with stem cells and human brain cells discuss some of their research outcomes; particularly possible implications for mental illness located in the brain. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/getting-to-the-root-of-the-problem-stem-cells-are-revealing-new-secrets-about-mental-illness/
We have all seen the tragic images of schools in aftershock in the US – students and teachers trying to understand how ex-students have sourced assault weapons and how, possibly, they could become so alienated so as to use those weapons. This timely piece of research examines some of the policies a government may put in place to prevent such tragedies, suggesting that gun control laws do work. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/2/17050610/guns-shootings-studies-rand-charts-maps
Adolescents have the highest incidence and prevalence of mental illness across the lifespan, yet the lowest engagement with treatment services, in comparison to other age groups This can make it very difficult for parents or concerned adults to engage with an adolescent whose mental health they are concerned about. However, there does appear to be evidence that adolescents are more likely to interact with their friends and peer groups. This study aims to investigate how peer groups can be engaged to better the mental health outcomes of young people facing mental illness, through targeted education. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0004867417753552
Evidence suggests that there are a number of key phenomena that help people with mental health issues progress towards recovery. This paper takes the interesting approach at looking at the impact of “little things”; the impact of what they call “micro-affirmations”. Micro-affirmations may range from an offhand positive comment from staff to the achievement of small personal goals. This article seeks the patient’s perspectives on how small things have helped them on their recovery journey. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10597-018-0245-9
Any pet owner will tell you – having a pet can increase your well-being. Be it the companionship, the fun or the unconditional love, pets can have a positive impact. But what about people with mental illness? This report seeks to synthesise the evidence regarding companion animals and the impact they can have on people with mental illness. https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2
Everyone knows it. People with mental health conditions suffer stigma. This stigma may range from a mild disapproval of a person’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour, through to a complete stigmatic response, blaming the victim for being abnormal, weird, weak or dangerous. This paper seeks to explore stigmatised beliefs around mental illness held by tertiary-training nursing students. https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1484&context=nursing_fac
Fly-in fly-out work involves workers commuting long distances to the worksite and living in provided accommodation for 1–4 weeks while on shift. While the potentially detrimental impact of this work on the health and well-being of workers has been documented, little attention has been paid to how workers, or their partners, cope with this impact. This study sought to investigate how workers and their partners negotiate the impact of fly-in fly-out work on their mental health and well-being. http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/3/e019516
It is a story oft-told, but little heeded. There is, by proportion of those with illness, too much attention paid to physical healthcare and insufficient attention paid to mental health care. And evidence suggests that the lessons of good physical health care does not apply well to mental health care. This study seeks to overcome these problems by seeking to identity future research priorities in the fields of patient safety in mental health. http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/3/e021361
They are called the Sustainable Development Goals, and they were adopted by world leaders in 2015. Importantly the goals included a clause that refers to mental illness: a commitment to prioritise “prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases, including behavioural development and neurological disorders, which constitute a major challenge to sustainable development”. In other words, these leaders have recognised the importance of good mental health to broader goals in sustainable development. This article looks at these issues in depth. http://www.oatext.com/pdf/PMCH-1-104.pdf
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea can be a serious challenge for the many people who may suffer it at some time in their lives. It can lead to tiredness, insomnia, irritability and sub-par aptitude at work and daily activities. However, there may be a darker side to sleep apnea. This article explores the growing evidence of links between sleep apnea, disturbed sleep and possible mental illness. http://www.mhfmjournal.com/open-access/obstructive-sleep-apnea-and-psychiatry-disorders.pdf
Mental illness can be frightening, difficult and challenging experience for people experience the illness. People need treatment and love and support. However, it is a little less clear how mental illness can impact upon the lives and well-being of care-givers. In light of this issue, this article seeks to examined the burden of care, quality of life and mental health of people caring for a loved one with schizophrenia. http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=https://www.iabcr.org/index.php/iabcr/article/download/18/19&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm1LB-cZeBw_1-34OzeXdM5u0T0z5w&nossl=1&oi=scholaralrt