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The National Mental health Commission is pleased to release the first report on the progress of the implementation of the Fifth national Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. “Through working on this report, we have seen some great examples across Australia to deliver genuine improvements for people living with mental illness.”
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/media-centre/news/first-report-on-the-progress-of-the-implementation-of-the-fifth-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-plan-released.aspx
Janne McMahon, an extraordinary mental health consumer advocate, and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at UNSW, have been awarded this year’s Australian Mental Health Prize.
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/dual-winners-2018-australian-mental-health-prize-announced
After the death of a loved one two decades ago, Janne McMahon went through a dark period, but the experience also ignited her passion for giving those living with mental illness a voice.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-10-20/australian-mental-health-prize-winners-mental-illness/10378006
Australians are seeing their doctor to discuss mental health ailments more than any other issue, according to a new report by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/sep/19/mental-health-is-australians-most-common-ailment-gps-report
https://www.racgp.org.au/newsGP/Professional/Plan-to-improve-mental-health-support-for-Australi
Three of Australia’s key decision makers spoke at the launch of the RACGP’s second annual Health of the Nation report in Canberra.
As the largest medical college in Australia, the RACGP represents more than 39,000 practicing and training GP's all over the country. Its new General Practice: Health of the Nation 2018 report surveryed RACGP Fellows from all walks of life, states and territories, and from inner cities to remote Australia.
https://www.racgp.org.au/newsGP/Racgp/Health-of-the-Nation-What-our-politicians-had-to-s
This article discusses how a new brain research facility is using virtual reality to help people with addictions.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-10/virtual-reality-used-to-help-people-addictions-brainpark/10222528
WA’s chief psychiatrist has ordered a review of “significant gaps” in the mental health system in which patients with severe and complex mental illness end up in the justice system or at risk of serious harm.
http://thewest.com.au/news/health/was-chief-psychiatrist-orders-mental-health-review-as-report-highlights-significant-gaps-ng-b88958120z
A lack of access to services is taking a toll on the mental well-being of young people in rural and regional areas, a new study shows.
https://www.standard.net.au/story/5642226/lack-of-access-taking-toll-on-youth-mental-health-study-shows/?cs=72
This opinion piece explores the relationship between a father’s mental health and the effect it has on his children.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-31/dads-mental-health-fathers-day-childhood-parenting/10187082
Caring for a family member or friend who has a mental illness is much more than a labour of love. Often these caring roles, by a spouse, a parent or even a child, come at the cost of education and employment opportunities.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/mental-health-carers-work-valued-at-13-billion-dollars/10144766
This article explores both the acceptability of taking a ‘mental health day’ from work, and the benefit a mental health day can have on your well-being.
http://www.abc.net.au/life/how-to-take-mental-health-day/10007706
This article explores the relationship between built environments and the effect they can have on the mental health of people using the buildings.
https://academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdy138/5076115
The decisions of Australia’s various mental health review tribunals can have significant impact on people’s lives. This article examines the impact of legal representation in Queensland’s Mental Health Review Tribunal.
https://griffithlawjournal.org/index.php/gjlhd/article/view/1023
Whilst it is often said that early intervention into Serious Mental Illness is an important part of treatment and prevention, such intervention is not always easy. In particular, deciphering pro-dromal phenomena in adolescents can be difficult. This article explores some of the issues in this field.
https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-018-0781-y
Adolescence can be a time of changing emotions and even distress. Depression may first emerge in adolescence. Treatment is not always successful, but often can make a difference. This article explores the positive impact treatment for teen depression can have on parents of a child receiving support.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2018/08/teens-depression-parents-mental-health/567308/
Members of the Stolen Generation fall behind on many measures of life-long physical health and mental health.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/gap-is-widest-for-the-stolen-generations/news-story/5ecb6a8ec6839b146d16badd98624f39
Few expressions of mental illness can be more discomforting than treatment-resistant schizophrenia. This article explores future opportunities for the treatment of this cohort of people.
https://www.psychcongress.com/article/future-opportunities-treatment-schizophrenia
This article explores the thorny issue of whether we should understand depression essentially as the expression of brain chemistry.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/words-matter/201808/dont-say-depression-is-caused-chemical-imbalance
The evidence about the mental health risks linked with climate change is mounting, presenting urgent opportunities to respond both locally and globally
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/mental-health-in-a-changing-climate
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/research-and-innovation/friends-key-to-helping-those-with-mental-illness-quit-smoking/7025732.article
https://www.scarymommy.com/mental-illness-impact-sleep-habits/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-exercise-that-helps-mental-health-most-1534777677
As if having a mental illness was not enough… many people with mental illness have “co-morbidity” – the existence of another disease other than their mental illness. Typically this may be a substance abuse disorder. This brief article explores the occurrence of co-morbidity in people with mental illness.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/comorbidity-substance-use-disorders-other-mental-illnesses
This important article examines the prevalence of mental illness in teenage girls who have suffered sexual assault. Alarmingly, the article finds that up to 80% of girls in this context suffer mental illness.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/22/sexually-abused-teenage-girls-likely-suffer-mental-health-issues-months-later-study
This article comes to the interesting conclusion that green spaces within a city context can boost the mental health outcomes of people taking advantage of these spaces.
https://www.greenmatters.com/home/2018/07/23/Z1Acmx2/urban-green-spaces-philadelphia-study
Older Australians battling anxiety and depression will be the focus of sorely-needed research designed to save lives. The federal government and beyondblue are each contributing $2.5 million towards a range of new projects aimed at combating mental illness among the elderly.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/07/26/03/36/mental-health-focus-on-older-australians
All too often the popular media conflates mental illness with violence, embedding stigma and discriminatory attitudes. This article makes a case against this kind of reporting.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/arthur-gallant/faisal-hussain-mental-illness-stigma_a_23489802/
Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, has in the past decade become a standard tool for helping people with schizophrenia deal with their symptoms. Recent developments, however, raise serious questions about how effective this talking therapy really is for this illness.
https://theconversation.com/why-cbt-should-stop-being-offered-to-people-with-schizophrenia-100143
Young people living in regional and remote Australia are being let down by a lack of support services to tackle their mental health needs. Mission Australia and ReachOut recently released a report titled Lifting the weight: understanding young people’s mental health and service needs in regional and remote Australia.
https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/5549089/young-are-failed-on-mental-health-front/
A draft mental health report has identified the Goulburn-Yass area as experiencing some of the highest rates of suicide in the state. The draft Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan has revealed Goulburn – Yass, Shoalhaven, South Coast and Snowy Mountains experience “particularly high rates and spikes” of suicide.
https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/5543446/high-rate-of-suicide-and-self-harm-in-goulburn-yass-region-report/
A must-read article suggesting that recovery rates from schizophrenia for young people may be much higher than previously thought.
http://sciencenordic.com/half-young-people-recover-schizophrenia
Mental health issues suppressed, ignored, say first responders on eve of Senate inquiry.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-16/first-responders-mental-health-not-supported-workers-say/9995620
Researchers have long been fascinated by the potential link between creativity and mental health — here's why it seems like visionaries are more at risk.
https://www.thisisinsider.com/the-link-between-creativity-and-mental-health-2018-7
http://observer.com/2018/07/psychiatrists-say-studies-linking-artists-and-mental-illness-are-flawed/
Using technology to help support people’s mental health makes sense. There are literally hundreds of mental health-related apps available for smartphones and computers. But how do these technologies portray mental illness, and what kind of models of mental health do they espouse? These and other questions are discussed in this article..
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180710/Study-aims-to-assess-whether-mental-health-apps-lead-to-overdiagnosis.aspx
A new study finds that stress during pregnancy can lead to anxiety and depression in adulthood.
https://qz.com/1321196/a-new-study-finds-that-stress-during-pregnancy-can-lead-to-anxiety-and-depression-in-adulthood/
UNSW Scientist Fellow Dr Simon Rosenbaum from UNSW's School of Psychiatry discusses his research into physical fitness and mental illness.
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/better-mental-health-through-exercise
https://www.bunburymail.com.au/story/5512404/mental-health-on-agenda/
https://sputniknews.com/society/201807101066210172-sex-addiction-mental-illness-who/
More than 27,000 South Australian children are suffering very high to extreme levels of psychological distress and are at considerable risk of long-term mental health problems, new research from the University of South Australia has revealed.
https://indaily.com.au/news/2018/06/15/seven-per-cent-sa-kids-suffering-extreme-distress/
Two decades ago, Victoria was lauded as a world leader in specialist mental health services, but access to help is now dangerously low, a new report warns, blaming two decades of underspending.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-s-failing-mental-health-system-following-path-of-us-cities-20180613-p4zla3.html
A patient’s self-evaluation of mental health problems may be more accurate than previously thought according to new research out of Purdue University.
https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/report-self-diagnosis-of-mental-illness-may-not-be-far-off
This article considers common opinions around men’s mental health; particularly the tendency to blame men for the mental health issues they experience.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/talking-about-men/201806/it-s-time-stop-blaming-men-their-mental-health-woes
A timely and open discussion about suicide
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/bourdain-spade-questions-remain-but-this-much-is-certain-20180610-p4zkld.html
Spiritual practice may help people with mental health disorders.
https://www.medicaldaily.com/spiritual-experiences-may-help-mental-health-disorders-424558
Employers that actively seek to reduce job strain could also help curtail new cases of mental illness, according to the results of one recent study.
https://www.hcamag.com/hr-news/job-strain-linked-to-onset-of-mental-illness-249826.aspx
On a similar issue of mental health in the workplace, this Canadian article examines how some relatively small steps by employers can lead to significant changes in the mental wellness of staff.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/careers/workplace-award/article-small-steps-can-lead-to-big-change-in-curbing-mental-illness-in-the/
With the Federal Budget fresh in our memories, this article examines some of the winners in the field of mental health research.
https://www.science.org.au/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/good-outcomes-science-budget-2018-0
NSW mental health units and emergency departments will be subject to tougher targets and mandatory public reporting to cut the alarming rates of psychiatric patients kept in seclusion or physically restrained.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/crackdown-on-seclusion-and-restraint-in-nsw-mental-health-units-20180510-p4zej8.html
This timely article explores some of the statistics, and the reality behind the statistics, for young people with a history of mental illness and trauma.
https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/201805090400
Children raised in a rural environment, surrounded by animals and bacteria-laden dust, grow up to have more stress-resilient immune systems and might be at lower risk of mental illness than pet-free city dwellers, according to new research.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180430160419.htm
Physical activity can prevent depression, across all ages and around the world, a new study has found. You may have heard before that exercise can help with mental health. Now, a big international study has the numbers to show it can actually prevent depression from developing in the first place.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-01/exercise-can-prevent-depression-study-finds/9716886
Statistics show that anorexia has the highest death rate of all psychiatric illness. This article questions why treatment isn’t funded properly.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-03/why-isnt-treatment-for-eating-disorders-funded-properly/9714368
Inflammation caused from infection, injury and even poor diet during pregnancy may impact parts of a baby's brain associated with working memory, an international study has found.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/inflammation-linked-to-brain-development
Mental disorders are now among the leading causes of illness in children worldwide, according to new research out of Europe.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/study-finds-mental-disorders-are-in-the-top-three-causes-of-ill/9647874
The five-time Grammy winner Mariah Carey revealed she’d quietly struggled with bipolar disorder since her 2001 diagnosis
https://moneyish.com/ish/why-mariah-careys-bipolar-disorder-disclosure-matters-and-how-talking-about-mental-illness-can-help/
A new study by Macquarie University and the Matthew Talbot Hostel Clinic reveals how the current housing policy is contributing to the problems of homelessness and mental illness. According to the research done by Macquarie University with the Matthew Talbot Hostel Clinic run by the St Vincent de Paul Society, mental illness is a serious problem among the homeless, which can be addressed by making available more low cost housing and alternative housing models.
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/housing-policy-is-failing-the-homeless-and-mentall
Suicide has passed traffic accidents and cancer as the leading cause of teenage deaths in Queensland for the third year in a row, prompting calls for improved mental health services.
https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/more-teens-die-by-suicide-than-car-crashes-report-/3386553/
FLORENCE, Italy — Schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) that have not responded to treatment may experience improvement with two cutting-edge techniques, new research shows.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/895140
Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can have a serious impact on people suffering these experiences. However, this articles suggests this impact may be reduced by living in a compassionate environment.
http://theconversation.com/how-compassion-can-triumph-over-toxic-childhood-trauma-90756
“I've studied mental illness my entire career. Yet when I began my descent into the very same sort of madness that I'd researched, I had no idea what was happening. This is the story of my journey into insanity—and back.”
https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/04/08/im-a-neuroscientist-who-studies-mental-illness-heres-what-happened-when-i-lost-my-own-mind/
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
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/
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
There is growing evidence that incarceration is associated with adverse health outcomes, but little is known about how circumstance surrounding incarceration relates to health. In this present study, the effect of timing of incarceration on mental health is estimates using panel date constructed from the Danish population registry.
https://academic.oup.com/sf/advance-article/doi/10.1093/sf/soy102/5145053
Mindfulness is a meditative technique that has been recommended widely in the management if certain mental illnesses. This article attempts to measure the effectiveness of mindfulness based interventions using randomized control trials.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jcpp.12980
The introduction of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) had generated considerable debate regarding the assertion that people with disabilities arising from mental health conditions always possess decision-making capacity. This article explores the relationship between involuntary mental health treatment for mental illness and the CRDP.
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002679
This article seeks to gather the concepts, theories and interventions about spirituality, its nature and functions in mental health and psychiatric nursing.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/reben/v71s5/0034-7167-reben-71-s5-2323.pdf
Researchers have found that the signals in people's brains differ depending on a particular aspect of an individual's personality, termed Schizotypy, a discovery that could improve the way schizophrenia is characterised and treated. The study, "Attenuated post-movement beta rebound associated with schizotypal features in healthy people," published in Schizophrenia Bulletin, was led by the University of Nottingham and the findings suggest that many mental illnesses may be thought of as extreme variants of a normal personality.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-09-brain-schizophrenia-extreme-version-common.html
Hope may have an undervalued effect in mental health. This article examines the effect of “hope training” on the mental health of a cohort of elderly people.
https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/Fulltext/2018/09070/Hope_as_a_behavior_and_cognitive_process__A_new.43.aspx
In one of the biggest breakthroughs in schizophrenia research in recent times, Professor Cynthia Shannon Weickert at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) has identified immune cells in greater amounts in the brains of some people with schizophrenia. The study published in Molecular Psychiatry has the potential to transform global schizophrenia research and open new avenues for developing targeted immune cell therapies.
http://www.mentalhealthcarersnsw.org/2018/09/szhiophrenia-breakthrough-australian-research-discovery-article/
These British experts in mental health seek to reform mental health care, particularly for patients post-discharge from hospital without burdening practitioners with paperwork, allowing for better care. Should Australia be taking notes?
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/reforming-care-without-bureaucracy/61E20AFDC1C1E4D47EE16F9AE9A51E60/core-reader
Despite the availability of numerous antipsychotic medications, many patients with schizophrenia continue to experience side effects that contribute to the overall burden of the illness. The present survey of patients living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is aimed to assess patient attitudes toward antipsychotic treatment and understand key factors about willingness to try a new medication.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-018-1856-y
Two facts: teenagers today are highly literate in social media and smartphones, and there have been a number of mental health support Apps designed for smartphones. This article examines the relationship between these two facts – how young people are currently using mental health Apps on their smartphones.
https://oxfordhealth-nhs.archive.knowledgearc.net/bitstream/handle/123456789/51/Stallard_BJPsychOpen_2018.pdf?sequence=1
There are numerous campaigns targeting mental health stigma. However, evaluating how effective these are in changing perceptions is complex. Social media may be used to assess stigma levels and highlight new trends. This study uses a social media platform, Twitter, to investigate stigmatising and trivialising attitudes across a range of mental and physical health conditions.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-018-1571-5
Music may be the language of the soul, but it may also help people managing co-morbid drug abuse and mental health problems. This article looks at the use of rhythmic music to help people with these challenges.
https://rhythm2recovery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Journal-of-Dual-Diagnosis-article.pdf
Individuals who have lived with childhood parental mental illness are at increased risk of developing mental health concerns. Yet there is limited knowledge about how a person’s childhood experiences of parental mental illness may influence their subsequent parenting roles. This article explores these issues.
https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-018-0248-x
The treatment of asylum seekers in Australia is a touchy issue. Passions run high on all sides of the debate, but a bipartisan consensus seems to have emerged that we need to be ‘tough on boat people’. All too often, however, the individual impact that exclusionary practices have are not seen or reported. This article tracks some of the mental health outcomes for people seeking asylum in Australia.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/E839F89C7414758D92F8A49129C2A269/S2056474018000119a.pdf/mental_health_of_asylum_seekers_in_australia_and_the_role_of_psychiatrists.pdf
Cancer is a terrible and all-too-frequent disease. Often the intensity of suffering by the person with cancer can obscure the emotional work and support given by care-givers. This article examines the stress, coping and lived experience of carers for someone with cancer in palliative care.
http://www.jpalliativecare.com/article.asp?issn=0973-1075;year=2018;volume=24;issue=3;spage=313;epage=319;aulast=Antony
One of the “frontiers” of contemporary mental health service lies in the use of technology to support peoples’ mental health. This article explores one such technological approach – the use of smartphone technology to support mental health consumers.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gregory_Mchugo/publication/325964550_The_WorkingWell_Smartphone_App_for_Individuals_with_Serious_Mental_Illnesses_A_Proof-of-Concept_Mixed_Methods_Feasibility_Study_Preprint/links/5b473bde0f7e9b4637ce95bc/The-WorkingWell-Smartphone-App-for-Individuals-with-Serious-Mental-Illnesses-A-Proof-of-Concept-Mixed-Methods-Feasibility-Study-Preprint.pdf
Mental illnesses like schizophrenia are often co-morbid with other diseases. Typically a person with lived experience of schizophrenia might develop heart disease, insulin resistance, diabetes or obesity. Less attention has been paid, however, to co-morbid mental illnesses.
http://www.jneuropsychiatry.org/peer-review/prevalence-of-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-in-schizophrenia-spectrum-disorders-a-systematic-review.pdf
A large number of health apps are available directly to consumers through app marketplaces. Little information is known, however, about how consumers search for these apps and which factors influence their uptake, adoption, and long-term use. The aim of this study was to understand what people look for when they search for health apps and the aspects and features of those apps that consumers find appealing.
https://www.jmir.org/2018/6/e10141/
Although it may be something of a buzzword, the term “mindfulness” has worked its way into psychological practice in Australia. This article examines how “mindfulness-based cognitive therapy” may help in the treatment in a range of mental illnesses.
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=85063
The cutting edge in mental health treatment and support may not be in new psychopharmaceuticals, but in new technology. This interesting article looks at the use of Apps and similar technology in monitoring people for abnormal or uncomfortable mood to improve health and well-being.
https://www.jmir.org/2018/6/e210/
It is an unfortunate truth that the accessibility and quality of mental health services suffer in rural and remote Australia. This article examines some of the consequences of this gap, and along the way makes some recommendations about exercise and mental health.
https://www.essa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ESSA-submission_Accessibility-and-quality-of-mental-health-services-in-rural-and-remote-Australia_May-2018.pdf
The front-line for mental health problems reported in rural and regional Australia is the GP. This article examines how integrated mental health care may be established in rural and regional medical services.
https://ijic.ubiquitypress.com/articles/10.5334/ijic.3943/
Taking two phenomena that may not appear to be linked, this fascinating article plots the impact of mental illness due to climate change.
https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6
Mental illness can strike at a young age. Teenagers, and perhaps even children, can exhibit early signs of serious mental illness. Some may experience depression or anxiety. In light of this problem, some people advocate better mental health interventions in schools, to catch problems early and teach resilience and understanding to young people. This article critically considers a number of different forms of intervention.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-018-1530-1
On the similar theme of mental illness amongst youth and young adults, this article considers some of the ways a peer support role can help out those in distress. The article canvasses a number of relevant issues, including how the peer support worker role is defined and supported, and what sort of outcomes can and should be expected once peer support is implemented as a service.
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1232&context=socwork_fac
One of the most important, though not easiest, ways to help reduce the stigma of serious mental illness is to “come out” in front of an audience and be open about one’s condition. But what happens when the coming out is online, and the audience are the users of social media such as Facebook or Twitter? This article explores these kind of questions.
http://www.munmund.net/pubs/AudienceEngagement_ICWSM18.pdf
Personality disorders are amongst the least understood of mental illnesses. This interesting study delves into the world of personality disorders and asks what social factors may be involved in their development. http://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=http://jfas.info/index.php/jfas/article/download/4367/2746&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm26s-xPaWlqIbpYRNjsdu7aP2qaFg&nossl=1&oi=scholaralrt
There is a growing body of evidence that meditation, or meditative practice, may improve mental health and wellbeing. This article sifts through some of the evidence for the efficacy of “mindfulness”-based meditative practice.
http://cdn.neoscriber.org/cdn/serve/3144b/7dc1647117483b6a4c6cc4533dc053d83c5b02fb/ircmj-In_Press-In_Press-16231.pdf
Mental illness can bear a heavy burden on any family, in many different ways. This article looks at some of the ways having a parent with mental illness can affect children of that parent.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/487748
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 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