Budget round-up: How health fared
THE government is set to net $644 million over four years by freezing indexation of Medicare rebates at current levels until 1 July 2014 as part of savings measures in the federal budget.
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mental health
The following articles have the tag mental health
Love in the wilds of Africa
PORTUGUESE filmmaker Miguel Gomes is certainly someone to reckon with on the international arena as he explores loneliness, illicit but true passion, guilt and colonialism in this academy ratio black and white film that often plays like a silent movie.
Hambleton’s third year will focus on teaching
DR STEVE Hambleton will have the rare privilege of serving a third one-year term as AMA president, saying his priority will be teaching and training the next generation.
GP treatment could be lifesaving
ONE in 10 primary care patients with depression attempt suicide within five years, but the risk is confined almost exclusively to major depressive episodes (MDE), a study shows.
Identifying the cause may aid anorexia
ANOREXIA is the third most common chronic adolescent condition and the most fatal of all psychiatric illnesses, with mortality rates around 20% after 20 years.
Ongoing cannabis use worsens psychosis
PATIENTS with first-episode psychosis who continue to use cannabis after diagnosis have higher levels of psychotic symptoms than those who stop using the drug, research shows.
Mental illness common in filicide
NEARLY half of those who kill their own child have a mental disorder, with affective disorder and personality disorder being the most common among perpetrators, UK research shows.
Push to screen for depression in heart disease patients
THE National Heart Foundation wants all patients presenting with coronary heart disease (CHD) to be screened for depression.
GP who went drinking with patients spared
A GP who allegedly inappropriately prescribed restricted substances, made comments of a sexual nature to his receptionist, and went drinking with patients at his local bar has avoided being deregistered.
Regular postcard cuts poisoning readmissions
SENDING regular postcards for 12 months to people admitted to hospital with self-poisoning almost halves the rate of readmissions over the next five years, Australian data shows.
Genes shape response to antidepressants
MORE than a third of the differences individuals show in their response to antidepressants can be attributed to genetic variation, UK researchers have shown for the first time.
News stories impact attitude to mentally ill
NEWS stories about mass shootings cause people to want to distance themselves from those who have a mental illness, a US study shows.
OCD is often hidden and hard to treat
THE French called it folie du doute (madness of doubt) and délire du toucher (madness of touch).
GP who drank with patients spared
A GP who allegedly inappropriately prescribed restricted substances, made comments of a sexual nature to his receptionist, and went drinking with patients at his local bar has avoided being deregistered.
Genome roadmap
TESTS identifying gene variations that determine how we metabolise drugs could revolutionise medical practice.
Restrictions lifted on anti-dementia drugs
BARRIERS to continued patient access to four anti-dementia drugs will be eased as of next month, along with streamlining of authority prescriptions, following a PBAC review.
The humane approach to opioids
CHRONIC, non-cancer pain will become an increasing health and social burden.
Plea for more help with natural disasters
THE department of health has defended its funding arrangements for GP-led mental health services offered through Medicare Locals (MLs) after the RACGP called for extra resources in areas affected by natural disasters.
Remove asylum children from detention island: expert
ASYLUM-seeker children and their families should be taken off Manus Island if the Australian government can’t ensure adequate safeguards, a member of the government’s asylum review panel says.
Medicare Locals in mental health crisis
CALLS to boost funding for general practice-led mental healthcare have intensified, after a Medicare Local in bushfire-stricken Victoria was forced to suspend its Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) less than halfway into the financial year.
Reading affected in schizophrenia
READING fluency is impaired in people with schizophrenia, a study that monitored eye movement as they read simple sentences has found.
Link between kids’ stress and obesity
CHILDREN who have poor responses to stressors may be at increased risk of becoming overweight or obese, according to a study of 43 children who participated in a stressor experiment.
Gillard spares mental health minister from chop
THE federal minister for mental health and ageing, Mark Butler, has avoided the axe following the latest front-bench reshuffle by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Mental illness in stalkers high
A RARE Australian study of stalkers shows high rates of psychiatric disorder among individuals who stalk strangers, suggesting the need for medical as well as law enforcement strategies, researchers say.
Detainees’ mental health fears
YOUNG people held at Tasmania’s Pontville immigration detention centre fear they will suffer mental illness due to the uncertainty of their situation, the state’s Commissioner for Children Aileen Ashford has said.
Stalkers exhibit high rates of psychopathology
A RARE Australian study of stalkers shows high rates of psychiatric disorder among individuals who stalk strangers, suggesting the need for medical as well as law enforcement strategies, researchers say.
Behind the news – MO asks experts for their opinions on the issues making headlines
When the federal government slashed funding for the successful GP-led mental health scheme Better Access, it claimed the savings would go into a bigger and better Medicare Local-run scheme, Access To Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS). But two years later, ATAPS seems to be nearing its financial ceiling with at least one ML freezing its use of the scheme due to overwhelming demand.
No preferential treatment for self-harmers
ASYLUM seekers who go on hunger strikes or harm themselves won’t get preferential treatment in the processing of their claims, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said.
Alarm over mental health funding
A SECOND Medicare Local has been forced to stop referring patients to the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) scheme because of a huge increase in demand, sparking calls for an overhaul of mental health funding.
GPs frozen out of mental health funds
A GP-referred mental health service in a designated District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) has been frozen because the scheme has run out of money.
Mental health survey needs doctors' support
AUSTRALIAN doctors and medical students are being urged to get involved in what is understood to be the largest mental health survey of its kind ever undertaken.
Mentally ill killer 'fell through the cracks'
A MENTALLY ill man who stabbed his father and sister to death had "fallen through the cracks" of the mental health system, a Sydney inquest has heard.
Docs hit out at GPS for mentally ill
MENTALLY ill Queenslanders could be mistaken for paedophiles and bullied if they are forced to wear GPS monitoring bracelets, medical professionals warn.
Doctors hit out at GPS tracking for mentally ill
MENTALLY ill Queenslanders could be mistaken for paedophiles and bullied if they are forced to wear GPS monitoring bracelets, medical professionals warn.
Millions spent yet suicide rates still a ‘tragedy’
DESPITE spending millions of dollars more on suicide prevention than a decade ago, Australia has failed to tackle its “profound tragedy”, Federal Mental Health Minister Mark Butler has said.
More mental health nurses needed
THE RACGP has backed calls for more funding for community mental health nurses after a review found they had strong GP support, were effective and saved money. In last year’s budget, the government closed the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) to new participants pending a review, prompting concerns the decision would cause a shortage of mental health nurses in crucial areas – including in parts of Victoria affected by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires where many had been employed. But the health department evaluation, quietly released on Christmas Eve, said “patients being supported under MHNIP are ...
More mental health nurses needed: RACGP
THE RACGP has backed calls for more funding for community mental health nurses after a review found they had strong GP support, were effective and saved money.
Renewed claims GPs are 'glorified' mental health care referrers
EXPERTS have defended GPs from a renewed claim that cuts to rebates for care plans under the Better Access program were the result of doctors becoming disengaged with mental health care.
Experts call for action, not talk, on mental health road map
MENTAL health advocates say they will reject the federal government's 10-year road map for the sector unless there are attainable goals in the plan.
US backs gay medical conversion
US mental health professionals have been cleared to work on changing the sexual orientation of gay minors after a federal judge blocked a Californian law to bar the practice.
GPs 'vital' in preventing suicide in older men
GPs have a vital role in curbing high rates of suicide among older men, according to a leading psychiatrist.
Doctors to take part in mental health survey
HALF of Australia’s doctors and medical students – including every doctor in a regional area – will be surveyed in one of the biggest ever studies of medical professionals’ mental health.
Doctors, med students to take part in biggest ever mental health survey
HALF of Australia’s doctors and medical students – including every doctor in a regional area – will be surveyed in one of the biggest ever studies of medical professionals’ mental health.
Headspace to tackle suicide distress at school
HEADSPACE is officially entering the schoolyard with a Commonwealth-funded scheme to help high schools respond to suicide – including managing staff distress – to minimise the risk of further deaths.
MLs should be handed mental health reform role
MOST Medicare Locals (MLs) want a role in a $549.8 million reform of support services for people with serious mental illness but should have been given the job automatically, the national ML body has said.
Fear of discrimination a barrier for depressed patients
PEOPLE with depression may experience similar levels of discrimination from family and friends to patients with schizophrenia, research suggests.
Mental health care shortfall to create more prisoners
THE number of people locked up in prisons or sleeping on the streets is likely to jump without better access to mental health services, an advocacy group has warned.
Evidence goes wanting for herbal violence treatment
A HOMEOPATH has stood by claims herbal remedies can reduce domestic violence rates after doctors questioned whether there was any credible link between the two.
$16.4m ‘virtual’ mental health clinic to be launched
THE federal government will launch later this year a $16.4 million ‘virtual’ clinic which it hopes will increase patient access to phone and online support services for mental health.
Lack of mental health services will see spike in homeless, prisoners
THE number of people locked up in prisons or sleeping on the streets is likely to jump without better access to mental health services, an advocacy group warns.
New Nauru arrivals spur mental health warning
ANOTHER 24 asylum seekers have been transferred to Nauru’s offshore processing detention centre, amid warnings the facility will not be adequately equipped to deal with mental health problems.
New Nauru arrivals spur mental health warning
ANOTHER 24 asylum seekers have been transferred to Nauru's offshore processing detention centre, amid warnings the facility will not be adequately equipped to deal with mental health problems.
Premature deaths three times higher in people who self-harm
INDIVIDUALS who self-harm are three times more likely to die prematurely than the rest of the population and the increased risk is from natural as well as external causes, a cohort study finds.
Change in diagnostic criteria may reflect overdiagnosis of autism
HEALTH commentators have urged GPs to remain alert to the diagnosis of autism despite a tightening up of criteria for the condition.
Dr Andrew Gunn GP and senior lecturer
BRISBANE GP and academic Dr Andrew Gunn may divide his time between five workplaces, but as a result of his keen interest in mental health it remains a key focus in each of them.
McGorry stands firm on ‘flimsy’ accusations
PROFESSOR Patrick McGorry has issued a staunch defence of his youth mental health work after a state Labor MP publicly accused him of promoting “flimsy” methods to diagnose young people at risk of psychosis.
Better Access cuts mean less time for care: survey
ALMOST half of GPs have cut mental health consult times, reduced bulk billing for mental health visits and cut use of Medicare mental health items following the federal government’s reduction in Better Access rebates, according to a Medical Observer-commissioned survey.
Tragedy leaves small town in shock
GPs in the rural NSW town of Cootamundra are bracing for the tragic task of managing the massive emotional fallout after a fiery car crash left four young people dead.
Asylum seekers deserve quality health care: AMA
THE AMA has called on the federal parliament to set up an expert medical panel to monitor the health of asylum seekers detained in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
GPs want more progress on addiction, dementia
BLOOD pressure, diabetes and cholesterol have all been nominated by MO’s GP readership as areas in which they and their colleagues have had the greatest impact on patient outcomes during MO’s 25 years of publication.
Extended detention detrimental to asylum seekers’ mental health: McGorry
A LEADING mental health expert says adding to the mental health burden of asylum seekers through extended detention is unsatisfactory.
Surveillance increasing for early prostate cancer
ALMOST half of men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer are being treated with surveillance only, new Australian figures show, amid continued controversy about PSA testing.
Steep suicide decline labelled an ABS ‘spin’
A SENIOR mental health leader has criticised the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for announcing a decline in suicides over 10 years, saying the bureau ignored the likelihood that rates have risen in recent years amid the global economic downturn.
Suicide decline an ABS 'spin'
A SENIOR mental health leader has criticised the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for announcing a decline in suicides over 10 years, saying the bureau ignored the likelihood that rates have risen in recent years amid the global economic downturn.
Better Access cuts fallout: bulk billing of care plans plummets
WARNINGS that the federal government’s cuts to the Better Access mental health program would impact patient access have been supported by new figures suggesting the number of mental health care plans bulk billed has more than halved.
Physical health check call for severely mentally ill
GPs have backed a senior mental health campaigner who has called for MBS rebates for physical health checks for patients with severe mental illness.
Physical health check call for severely mentally ill
GPs have backed a senior mental health campaigner who has called for MBS rebates for physical health checks for patients with severe mental illness.
National push for nurse helpline
A CAMPAIGN to ensure every Australian nurse has access to a confidential helpline for nurses facing mental health or substance abuse issues is underway.
Keep calm, children’s health checks here to help
GPs will collect continuing professional development (CPD) points for completing training in the new-look children’s health checks, but will not be pressured to diagnose or meet arbitrary quotas, GP leaders have said.
'It's social engineering': AMA and GPs blast kids' mental health checks
THE federal government’s contentious Healthy Kids mental health checks, which are set to begin on 1 July, have been labelled 'social engineering' by Queensland GP and AMA Queensland board member Dr Wayne Herdy.
Black Saturday community in mental health care void
MENTAL health nurses will be pulled from some of Australia’s neediest patients in bushfire affected Victoria to staff a new headspace youth centre because of a staffing freeze introduced in the latest federal budget.
Infant crying predicts future mental illness
ONE quarter of babies who cry persistently in their first year will go on to have a mental health diagnosis by the age of five years, the RANZCP congress has heard.
Washer warns on Thomson's mental health
LIBERAL backbencher and GP Dr Mal Washer has expressed concern for MP Craig Thomson's mental health.
'Angel of The Gap' dies, aged 86
THE 'Angel of The Gap', Sydney's Don Ritchie, has died aged 86.
New focus on mental health in New Zealand
NZ MENTAL health nurses and specially trained youth workers will be stationed in schools in lower socioeconomic areas in New Zealand as part of a new government push on mental health.
Call for mental health programs for miners
MENTAL health programs should be as standard on mining sites as safety measures such as fluoro shirts, an expert says.
BEACH to investigate GPs' unpaid work
General practice research program Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) is for the first time gathering information on how much time GPs spend on patient care outside Medicare-rebatable consultations.
Decriminalisation benefits sex workers’ health
A REVIEW of the NSW sex industry has concluded it is largely healthy, holding out decriminalisation as one of the reasons for improved health among sex workers.
Insufficient red meat can lead to depression, anxiety in women
CONSUMPTION of an optimum amount of lean red meat may be good for mental health, Australian researchers suggest after a study in more than 1000 women.
GP division shut out of merger and forced to shut down shop
THE latest stoush stemming from the national rollout of Medicare Locals has resulted in an entire GP division being unexpectedly shut out of plans to join its regional body and instead forced to wind up all its services and operations.
Outrage over proposed WA law on children's right to be sterilised
MENTAL health experts have expressed concern at draft legislation being considered in WA that could give children with mental illness as young as 12 the right to decide if they want to be sterilised or receive electroconvulsive therapy [ECT].
Queensland ML doubles GP mental health services referrals
IN ONE of the early signs of more mental health resources going to GPs since the unpopular Better Access cuts, a Queensland Medicare Local has doubled the number of referrals doctors can give for mental health services.
Forget about Rudd, deliver health reform, PM: Mendoza
THE former chair of the Federal Government’s National Advisory Council on Mental Health, Professor John Mendoza, has questioned the government’s ability to deliver meaningful health reform in the wake of yesterday’s leadership ballot.
Hickie defends paper and rejects bias charge
PROFESSOR Ian Hickie has rejected calls to step down from the government’s National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) after being forced to defend his ties to a pharmaceutical company and accusations of bias.
Tear up the roadmap on mental health: Mendoza
THE federal government’s former chief mental health adviser has called for its draft mental health roadmap to be torn up, branding it a failure of public policy without clear benchmarks.
Money should return to health if means test is passed: AMA
GENERAL practice, mental health and aged care should be in line to receive extra funding if the government introduces a means test for the private health insurance rebate, the AMA said today.
Building ML bridges to govt, AGPN’s new role
THE AGPN is set to form the national body to oversee Medicare Locals (MLs), tasked with building a link between the new primary healthcare hubs, hospitals and government.
AGPN blasts govt's narrow, inadequate mental health roadmap
The AGPN has delivered a critical assessment of the federal government’s draft roadmap for mental health care, calling it “too narrow in focus” and saying it “lacks adequate acknowledgement” of GPs’ role in mental health care.
Detention centres like ‘funeral homes’
AUSTRALIA must close its remote immigration detention centres, which long-time detainees liken to funeral homes where they expect to die, Amnesty International says.
Indigenous mental distress alarmingly high
RATES of anxiety, depression and psychosis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may be much higher than previously recognised, researchers say.
Better Access 'still falls short'
EATING disorder groups have joined GPs in criticising the federal government’s partial reversal of cuts to Better Access MBS rebates, saying the move “still falls short” of what is needed.
GPs snubbed again in latest Better Access move
GPs have been dealt a fresh blow with the federal government partially backing down on its controversial cuts to the Better Access scheme by reinstating the available number of visits to psychologists but failing to reinstate GP rebates.
Too late for public input into mental health cuts: adviser
A FORMER federal government mental health adviser who quit over cuts to MBS rebates has criticised the government for waiting until the cuts were in place before asking for public input into its 10-year mental health strategy.
Support for public consultation on mental health reform
DOCTORS have cautiously thrown their support behind a federal government move to test public opinion before embarking on a 10-year mental health reform “roadmap”.
Gay marriage equality linked to health benefit
AS AUSTRALIA grapples with the issue of same-sex marriage, a US study suggests the move could deliver “broad public health benefits”.
Mental health patients feel needs not met despite rise in services
PATIENT perceptions of the quality of mental health care have not improved over a decade despite more people accessing appropriate services, an Australian study suggests.
Patients with psychosis turning to their GPs
PATIENTS with a psychotic illness are relying on their GPs to manage their psychosis as well as other mental health conditions, new Australian data suggest.
Better Access cuts will go back into mental health: Roxon
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has given GPs a guarantee that every cent saved through the controversial cuts to the Better Access scheme will be reinvested elsewhere in mental health services.
Consult GPs on mental health cuts: RACGP
THE RACGP has called for the federal government to hold “continued consultations” with GPs about slashing mental health rebates after a pivotal Senate report failed to make any unanimous recommendation about the move.
Senate inquiry ignores GP role in mental health: AMA
THE undermining of GP involvement in mental health care through the slashing of Better Access rebates has been ignored by a key Senate inquiry examining the impact of the government’s cuts to the program, the AMA has claimed.
Nurse practitioners claim $700,000 in MBS services
NURSE practitioners (NPs) have claimed more than $700,000 in MBS services during the first 11 months since the profession was granted access to Medicare rebates in November last year.
Call to release vulnerable from detention centres
A COALITION of health groups has renewed calls for the federal government to release vulnerable asylum seekers from immigration detention following reports of increasing self-harm and mental illness. The death of a refugee at Sydney's Villawood centre this week has sparked fresh debate about Australia's mandatory detention policy. Mental health groups on Friday demanded the Gillard government and the immigration department urgently establish an independent mental health review process to assess, treat and make community placement orders for vulnerable detainees. "[The government should] release all those with mental ...
Rebate cuts jeopardise GP role in child mental health
CHILDREN’S mental health visits to GPs have risen dramatically under the Better Access program and cutting the rebates would leave the profession’s role in child mental health care in doubt, new research suggests. An analysis of Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) data by the research project’s own authors also suggests GP involvement in child psychology has become less prescription-focused under Better Access as the family doctor plays a more active ongoing role in the mental health care of young Australians. The study, published in the latest Australian and New ...
Mental decline of asylum seekers needs ‘radical rethink’
A SENIOR psychiatric adviser to the immigration department has called for a radical rethink of mandatory detention for asylum seekers due to serious concerns over the mental health effects. Professor Louise Newman, director of the Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology at Monash University, chairs the Detention Health Advisory Group that briefs the immigration department about mental health issues within the detention system. Professor Newman says there is a mental health crisis within the detention network with daily self-harm attempts by detainees and five deaths since September 2010. ...
Child detainee’s attempted suicide not isolated, doctor says
A DARWIN doctor has told a parliamentary inquiry that a nine-year-old child in immigration detention tried to commit suicide. Dr Peter Morris, from the Northern Territory branch of the AMA, told the inquiry into Australia's detention network he was aware of the case, which occurred in May. Dr Morris, who works at the Royal Darwin Hospital, later told AAP that it was not an isolated incident with other children from the centre having also been treated, some for self-harm. According to Dr Morris there were about two adults turning up ...
Doctors ‘out of their depth’, inquest told
A PATIENT with schizophrenia – who died after being restrained and sedated – was in the care of doctors who were "out of their depth", an inquest has been told. Lyji Vaggs, 27, died in Townsville Hospital last year, two days after he stopped breathing while being restrained and sedated on the floor of the nearby mental health unit. The inquest into his death has heard there were no psychiatrists or senior doctors on duty in the unit at the time, only an intern and junior doctors. Counsel assisting Coroner ...
Beyond the prison gates
Why are ex-prisoners dying at such an alarming rate? Neil Bramwell investigates.
Govt too busy making other plans for GPs
CUTTING the rebates for mental health plans once again brings into sharp focus the way in which the medical profession is led by the government. Rebates for plans complicate the work of most family GPs, but for a few they are a Godsend staving off an impecunious demise. The back-referral has confronted nearly every GP. Psychologists would probably win the race for sending patients to their GP for a referral to unlock Medicare rebates. Dentists would be a close second. It seems that these days everyone needs a psychologist. There are many who would agree that ...
Climate change is causing suicides and self-harm, says report
REGIONAL Australia is bearing the brunt of a changing climate, which is exacting a human cost in poorer mental health, a report says. Rates of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress and substance abuse were known to increase among those affected by extreme weather events, according to the Climate Institute report released today. Up to one-in-five would suffer an emotional injury, the report said, while a drought-focused study in rural NSW found self-harm and suicide rose by up to 8%. “Climate change is emerging as a major threat to mental health, with the trauma of extreme weather ...
Mental health behind bars
Australia is catching up to global best practice by building specialised forensic mental health hospitals. Melinda Ham investigates what these hospitals do.
Beauty pageants harmful to child's mental health
CHILDREN participating in beauty pageants are being "exploited" in ways that can be detrimental to their personal development, says the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. THE RANZCP's Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry chair, Dr Nick Kowalenko, said the competition for a beauty prize where young girls are judged against sexualised ideals can have significant mental health and developmental consequences that impact on identity, self-esteem and body perception. "Sexualisation is a process whereby a child's value is based on their appearance or behaviour to the exclusion of other characteristics, and ...
Special skills post helps mentally ill
A new specialist skills post is proving a benefit to both GP registrars and a vulnerable patient group
Work with us on Medicare Locals, Roxon tells AMA
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has urged incoming AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton to work with the Government on Medicare Locals and defended the “sensible recalibration” of rebates for GP mental health plans, in a speech to the association’s national conference in Brisbane today. Ms Roxon urged Dr Hambleton to “stay inside the tent” when it came to discussing Medicare Locals, following ongoing criticisms from the AMA of the rollout of the organisations. The AMA has called for the rollout to be put on hold until the exact functions Medicare Locals will have are made clearer and GP ...
Doctors paid too much for mental health role, says Minister
MENTAL Health Minister Mark Butler has claimed GPs have been overpaid for developing mental health treatment plans, following criticism from doctors’ groups over Budget measures set to slash MBS rebates for drawing up the plans. Labor committed $1.5 billion in new funds for mental health on Tuesday night but over one-third of that is to come from rationalising an existing program that provides access to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. Under the Better Access program, GPs refer patients to these health workers for continuing care. But Mr Butler says doctors have been paid too ...
Budget cuts to mental health rebates slammed
DOCTORS’ groups have accused the Government of devaluing the role of GPs in mental health care following its move to dramatically cut rebates for mental health plans in last night’s Budget. The Gillard Government’s $2.2 billion mental health care package has been widely welcomed by consumer and community groups – however, it comes with a sting in the tail for GPs. In a major overhaul of the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, GPs’ rebates for drawing up mental health plans will be scaled back significantly, saving the Government an estimated $405.9 million over the next four ...
Budget countdown: What doctors can expect
MENTAL health is tipped to have a $2 billion starring role in the Gillard Government's first Federal Budget tomorrow night - but Medicare rebates, hospital upgrades and private health insurance are also expected to feature strongly. After weeks of speculation and leaks, the Government is expected to finally unveil plans for a $50 million mental health commission to oversee a nationwide strategy for managing the hot-button health issue that critics argue has been overlooked for too long. The investment is believed to be part of an investment of up to $2 billion by the Government in the ...
Call for more online psych services
GREATER investment in online psychological treatments could prove a novel way for the Federal Government to meet growing demand for mental health services without incurring major budget blowouts, psychologists have argued. Ahead of the May federal Budget, Professor David Kavanagh, chair of the Australian Psychological Society’s telephone and Internet counselling group, said psychologists providing online services were “stumbling from short-term funding to short-term funding”. Online psychological services should be recognised as part of the service mix, and should receive guaranteed, long-term funding accordingly, he said. “We can see that these are remarkably effective programs and in many ...
Mental health needs more funding, services: AMA
THE AMA has called on the Federal Government to provide $5 billion in funding to expand, better resource and coordinate mental health services. The money would be used over four years to increase MBS rebates for GP consultations relating to mental health issues, to better reflect the complexities involved and meanwhile support public campaigns to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness. The call came as the association today unveiled its latest position statement on mental health which included a range of priority areas for government action in mental health policy. The AMA plan also ...
Doubt cast over Better Access ‘success story’
A REPORT trumpeting the success of the $1 billion-plus Better Access mental health program has failed to win over many experts, despite a rise in the number of Australians accessing psychological care. Evaluation of the program shows more than two million Australians have received Better Access services since it started in late 2006. “This groundbreaking program has done more than meet initial expectations – it is now one of the success stories in mental health,” Australian Psychological Society executive director Professor Lyn Littlelfield said. The report, released last week, includes modelling by the Department of Health ...
Positive findings of Better Access report questioned
EXPERTS are questioning the findings of a report on the beleaguered Better Access mental health program which shows improved outcomes for people treated under the scheme. The evaluation of the $1.45 billion Better Access program, conducted by researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of Queensland, was released by the Federal Health Department this week. It showed more than two million Australians have received Better Access services since the program started in late 2006. A survey of Better Access users – recruited by GPs, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists – showed they moved from ...
Mental health access program failing the needy
A SENIOR Government adviser and mental health expert has warned that the contentious Better Access to Mental Health Care program has failed to meet its aims despite its ballooning costs. Professor Ian Hickie, a member of the Government's National Advisory Council on Mental Health and executive director of the University of Sydney's Brain & Mind Research Institute, has called on the Government to urgently overhaul the program. His comments, made on the ABC's AM program this morning, come as Mental Health Minister Mark Butler was set to release a long-awaited review of the program today. Professor ...
Christchurch GPs rally to help quake survivors
JUST weeks after floods and cyclones pushed Australian general practices to their limits, New Zealand GPs have begun recounting their own tales of coping with the aftermath of nature’s latest disaster. The number of deaths from the 6.3 magnitude Christchurch earthquake stood at 113 as MO went to press, and was expected to rise as rescue and recovery efforts continued across the city. More than 200 people were still reported as missing. The fate of the four GPs and four nurses who worked at the medical clinic located inside the CTV building, which was all ...
Self-harm videos a growing online trend
HUNDREDS of graphic YouTube videos promoting self-harm as normal and glamorous are prompting growing concern among mental health experts. The dangerous trend was revealed when Canadian researchers analysed 100 of the most popular 2009 YouTube videos containing non-suicidal self-harm themes. Self-harm viral videos were commonly uploaded by young women, they found. Those selected for study were viewed more than two million times by a general audience and were rated favourably, suggesting they may be identified with, and accepted by, viewers, the researchers said. Despite the videos predominantly being factual or educational, over one-half expressed a ...
AMA rejects mental health ‘liaison’ role for pharmacists
THE AMA has dismissed a push by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia for its members to take a greater role in mental health with a scheme that would see pharmacists employed by Medicare Locals as “liaisons”. In its 2011–12 federal budget submission, the PSA last week requested $2.25 million in funding to employ a pharmacist at each of the 15 initial Medicare Locals – at a cost of $150,000 each. The in-house pharmacists would coordinate a range of services provided by community pharmacies to patients with a mental illness in their Medicare Local, including counselling and practical ...
Victims of workplace bullying face heightened risk of mental illness
TACKLING workplace bullying may help safeguard the mental health of employees, researchers say. A longitudinal Finnish study showed men bullied at work more than tripled their risk of developing a mental disorder, while the risk to women doubled. Supervisory training to recognise bullying and guidelines to follow when bullying took place were important to minimise adverse health outcomes, the researchers said. The study of 6830 municipal employees aged 40–60 found 5% reported current bullying, with no gender differences in prevalence. At follow-up five to seven years later, the men who reported current bullying were 3.64 ...
One in five: aftermath brings major mental health impact
Up to one in five flood victims may develop mental health problems, an Australian psychologist warns. Professor Kevin Ronan, chair of the disaster reference group of the Australian Psychological Society, said although most people would recover psychologically following the flood crisis, 10–20% could later experience symptoms such as anxiety and depression. “When people do present for services from a psychologist it tends not to be until several weeks after an event,” he said. Losing a loved one or experiencing a life-threatening event, significant property damage, or ongoing financial hardship could precipitate psychological problems, he ...
Top 10 - A year living on the edge
It’s been a tumultuous year on the political scene. MO counts down the major events of 2010.
Narcissistic personality disorder faces removal from new DSM
NARCISSISTIC personality disorder is one of five personality disorders that face elimination from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). As well as advocating the removal of the disorder as a separate condition, a DSM-5 Personality Disorder working group report also recommends removing the separate status of histrionic personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, among others. The group has “recommended a significant reformulation of the approach to the assessment and diagnosis of personality psychopathology”. Instead of the 10 existing personality disorders, it recommends five specific personality disorder ...
Bushfire survivor scheme helps others
THE trauma of the February 2009 Victorian bushfires could guide the mental health response to future disasters. The Skills for Psychological Recovery program, which helps survivors cope after a disaster, was trialled by 342 health professionals after the fires. Although its impact on patients is not yet clear, a report published last week shows it was popular among trainees, with most finding it relevant and useful. Forty-six percent said they used it with their bushfire survivor patients, while 54% also used it to help people cope with other traumatic events. The Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental ...
Light at the end of the tunnel
CHRIS was not pleased when the counsellor called him at the end of the day. A construction worker from Queensland, Chris was not the sort of bloke who wasted time yakking about his feelings.
My journey
Melbourne GP Dr Naomi Harris, 31, knows first hand what it’s like to battle severe depression. She courageously shares her very personal story.
Women’s wellbeing
Reproductive conditions are associated with mental health issues across the lifespan.
Cyberbullying’s silent victims
For some time, bullying has been acknowledged as more than a ‘character building’ aspect of growing up. Bullying is the use of power and aggression to cause distress or to control another person. It is about maladaptive relationships between people. Bullying is a substantial problem for many Australian children. Surveys suggest around 20% of early high school-aged adolescents will report having been bullied in the preceding 12 months, a similar proportion report being victims of bullying and around 5% report being both aggressors and victims. Bullying can be direct or indirect. Direct bullying involves an overt display ...
In harm’s way
Why do people engage in self-harming or self-injuring behaviour and what can we do to help? Kate Woods finds out.
Online popularity spills over into real life
BEING popular online does actually boost your real-world social life, according to the latest study to weigh into the social networking debate. Debunking fears that Facebook could be linked to social isolation and poor mental health, the survey of nearly 2000 Australians found the majority had increased their face-to-face socialising as a result of social networks. As well as keeping in better touch with friends, many respondents said social networks helped them attend more engagements and speak more often to people on the phone. And some 54% said they still preferred communicating in person, while just 21% ...
For 49 years a guardian angel has prevented suicides at Sydney’s Gap
DON Ritchie has a simple formula for preventing people from taking their own lives: kind words and the offer of a cup of tea. And for more than 400 people, at one point these two things were all that stood between life and death. A former life insurance salesman, Mr Ritchie has lived opposite the notorious Gap in Sydney’s Watsons Bay for 49 years. In that time he has crossed the street – and safety fences – many times to talk people out of committing suicide. “Having lived here so long, you can pick the people ...
Minister fills mental health chair vacated by Mendoza
AUSTRALIA’S Mental Health Minister will step into the role of chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH), MO has learned, bringing an end to months of speculation over the role. Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler will now replace former chair Professor John Mendoza, whose resignation in June sparked a national debate on the Federal Government’s commitment to the sector. Mr Butler will take the role on an interim basis, and intends to make a longer-term decision “pretty shortly”. He told Medical Observer : “I thought it was important ...
McGorry demands Govt take immediate action on mental health
AUSTRALIAN of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry has laid down the gauntlet for the new Minister for Mental Health, saying the “time for talk” is over. Speaking on the ABC’s Lateline program last night, Professor McGorry said although there had been “positive interactions” with Minister Mark Butler who took office in September, government delays in implementing mental health reform were “inexcusable”. Professor McGorry called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to give Mr Butler her strong support to tackle the “incredible” scale of the problem. “The time for talk was over some time ago, and what we ...
Mental health standards ‘tokenistic’
ROCHE Products has been hit with a $200,000 fine, after its offer to fund a nursing position was found to be in breach of the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct. Earlier this year, the pharmaceutical manufacturer app-roached an Area Health Service with a proposal to fund a nursing position, however the offer suggested the funding could be contingent on the level of sales of the company’s hepatitis C treatment Pegasys. The company withdrew the proposal shortly after it was made. However, the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct Appeals Committee ruled that as the offer contained conditions that ...
Figures expose worst of Better Access inequities
THE Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative has come under renewed scrutiny with recent figures stoking criticisms that the program is failing rural Australia. A long-awaited evaluation of the program is scheduled for release by the end of the year, however uncertainty surrounds the exact date. A Melbourne study has added weight to claims that city-based patients benefit most from the scheme. Eighty-two per cent of the 2.44 million sessions delivered through the program in its first 21 months were urban and just 18% rural, the analysis showed. This contrasted with the ...
Mental health ranked high on challenge scale for Aussies
AUSTRALIANS rate mental health as one of the greatest challenges facing the country, a global survey has shown. The online survey, commissioned by King’s College in London, asked more than 7000 adults from eight nations what were the biggest issues facing their country and the world. Mental health was nominated by a 35% of Australians as one of the country’s greatest challenges. Only the economy and global warming were considered to be more pressing issues facing the nation. Australia was the only country to rank mental health in the top three. After Australia, the country most concerned ...
National snapshot shows one in 100 Australians self-harm
As many as one in every 100 Australians may self-injure, according to the findings of a national survey. Researchers from the University of Queensland interviewed a random sample of 12,006 people, aged from 10 to 100 years, finding 1.1% self-injured at least once in the four weeks before the interview. Of these, 40.6% reported cutting, while 39.8% had scratching injuries. The average age of onset of self-injurious behaviour was 17 years, with the oldest age of onset 44 years for men and 60 for women. Self-injurers were also more than 11 times more likely to experience ...
ADHD in kids raises depression and suicide risk
CHILDREN aged 4-6 years with ADHD may be at increased risk of depression, dysthymia and suicide later in life, research reveals. Compared to their peers, children with ADHD had a four times greater risk of depression and three times the risk of suicidal ideation or attempts. Researchers followed two cohorts of US children with ADHD through to age 18 for the study.They found 18.4% of those with early ADHD made at least one suicide attempt compared to 5.7% of matched controls. Those with several concurrent disorders, such as depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder and/or conduct disorder, ...
GPs should assess fitness to hold gun licence
PROSPECTIVE gun owners should have their mental health assessed by a GP before being granted a licence, a NSW coroner has recommended. The recommendation follows an inquiry into the death of a Sydney man who shot himself after being challenged by police officers during an apparent psychotic episode in 2008. Although the man was not diagnosed with a mental illness, Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon found it likely he was acting out of a delusion or hallucination on the day. The man's parents believed he was experiencing mental health issues, having recently become "isolated and secretive", the ...
Mentally ill teens rely on social media for support
SOCIAL media are providing a new frontier for people with mental illness, who are increasingly turning to sites such as Facebook to meet people, according to a new survey. The research by the Mental Health Association NSW found that social isolation and friendship networks were strongly tied to mental health, with many respondents saying they found it difficult to make new friends. Sixty per cent of the 456 anonymous survey respondents, who had a history of mental illness, said they did not have a best friend, and 40 per cent would have trouble finding someone to drive ...
Elderly abuse not being recognised
MORE than a third of health professionals would fail to spot elder abuse, according to a new study that has raised concerns that the problem may be going under-reported. When asked to review hypothetical abuse scenarios, some 40% of professionals deemed locking someone in their house acceptable, despite guidelines and expert advice to the contrary. An abusive physical restraint scenario was also overlooked by almost 25% of the 120 professionals questioned by Melbourne researchers. Study author Dr Briony Dow (PhD), director of preventive and public health at the National Ageing Research Institute, said the findings highlighted ...
Doctors’ groups adjust to new health portfolios
AFTER the drama of the backflips and notable absences from the Gillard Government’s ministerial line-up, doctors’ groups have spent this week renewing their relationship with those now holding health portfolios. Sparking the most vocal outcry was the decision to axe the portfolio of Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health, and Regional Services Delivery, which was held by Warren Snowdon. “Indigenous, rural and regional health is in a state of continuing crisis, and as such it continues to need a dedicated portfolio under a specific minister,” the RDAA warned early in the week. Such was the level ...
Patients’ Internet use an insight into their mental health
CLINICIANS should ask patients specifically about their Internet use, an Australian psychiatrist says. Cherrie Galletly, professor of psychiatry at the University of Adelaide, says asking about the Internet can be a “useful addition to a standard mental health assessment”. In a letter to the MJA, she outlined examples of problematic Internet usage. These included: obsessively accessing Internet pornography to the detriment of real-world relationships; harmful levels of discreet gambling; excessive participation in online games; and engaging in, or suffering from, bullying and other socially destructive behaviour on social networking sites. The Internet was increasingly being incorporated ...
Concerns over voting rights for mentally impaired
WITH Australia’s electorate failing to deliver a decisive verdict, one might wonder how much influence lay in the hands of a large but silent minority. Some 257,000 Australians have dementia, and the number is predicted to reach a million by 2050. It is unclear how many of these chose not to vote, but there is no doubting the growing significance of this demographic. UK academics, at least, are taking up their cause. In an editorial in the BMJ last month, experts called for greater respect for the voting rights of ...
Many doctors battling depression on their own
IT appears that many doctors are heeding the words ‘physician heal thyself’ with Australian research suggesting while they have similar rates of depression and anxiety to the general population, doctors are considerably less likely to seek help, and more likely to commit suicide. Self-prescription of sedatives and benzodiazepines also remains relatively common, beyondblue research shows. The review of 86 doctors’ health studies is thought to be one of the largest in this area – although few of the papers were Australian. There was also almost no literature on how best to treat depression and anxiety in ...
Puzzles slow cognitive decline initially but speed it up later
MENTALLY stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles, playing cards and reading newspapers may at first slow the decline of cognitive skills in Alzheimer’s disease, but patients may pay a price later on. A US study of 1157 individuals (mean age 78 years) found those who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease had an increased rate of cognitive decline if they undertook more cognitive activity. Among those with mild cognitive impairment, the rate of cognitive decline was unrelated to the level of cognitive activity. In contrast, those free of cognitive impairment at baseline had slower cognitive decline if ...
New grants to help bridge gaps in GP mental health training
RURAL GPs will have new opportunities to hone their mental health skills, under a series of grants being handed out to training providers. It is hoped that the extra training courses, allowing GPs to claim four additional item numbers for delivering Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS), will make some inroads into the unmet demand. A recent MO poll found that 85% of GPs were interested in further honing their mental health skills, especially in treating anxiety and depression (MO, 6 August 2010). And Dr Darcy Smith, chair of the RACGP’s Mental Health Standards Collaboration, recently ...
Quetiapine may prevent psychosis relapse: study
PROLONGED treatment with quetiapine can prevent relapse after a first episode of psychosis, but the decision to extend therapy remains challenging, a new trial suggests. Long-term maintenance therapy with quetiapine almost halved the risk of relapse over a year compared to placebo, but side-effects were common, Hong Kong researchers found. The study included 178 patients who had not relapsed after at least one year of antipsychotic drug treatment, and randomised them to further maintenance therapy with quetiapine or placebo. After 12 months, 79% of placebo patients had relapsed, compared to 41% in the quetiapine group. There ...
Psychologist’s data backs Better Access
THE Better Access mental health scheme has been unfairly criticised and held to unreasonable standards, according to a Victorian psychologist, who says his data proves the program’s worth. Presenting a review of 1118 patients treated under the Better Access scheme, Chris Mackey last week hit back at ongoing criticisms that the multimillion dollar program has been helping the “worried well” and neglecting men and youth. Over a third of patients referred to his practice in Geelong, Victoria, were younger than 29, and about a third were men, he told the recent 11th International Mental Health Conference in ...
Antidepressant unsuccessful in heart failure
THE use of an SSRI in patients with heart failure and depression has failed to show a significant reduction in depressive symptoms or improvement in cardiovascular status. US researchers randomised 469 patients with heart failure and major depressive disorder to either sertraline (50-200 mg a day) or a matching placebo. After 12 weeks, both groups recorded similar reductions in depression severity and improvements in cardiovascular outcomes. About 69% of patients in both groups recorded some level of cardiovascular improvement. Professor Henry Krum, director of the Centre of Cardiovascular Research and Education in Therapeutics at Monash University, ...
Millions ‘misdirected’ on perinatal initiative
AUSTRALIA’S multimillion-dollar program to tackle perinatal depression has pushed the pendulum too far and now risks substantially “over-medicalising” motherhood, experts warn. There are fears widespread screening may be picking up many cases of mild, transient symptoms and the $85 million national strategy has been misdirected. Although national rates of perinatal depression are reported at anywhere between 10 and 20%, psychologist Dr Stephen Matthey (PhD), an adjunct associate professor at the University of Sydney, believes fewer than 10% of those affected have serious depression. He blamed the over-inflation on widespread misuse of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ...
Church of Scientology seeks email trail between leading psychiatrists
TWO of Australia’s leading psychiatrists have become embroiled in a series of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from Scientology-linked organisations who are calling on Sydney and Monash Universities to reveal their personal email correspondence. The universities have received several FOI requests, one requesting to see an email chain between Professors Ian Hickie and Louise Newman and others seeking details on Professor Hickie’s funding and research projects. The activities are believed to have begun in March after the two experts backed calls by South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon for a Senate inquiry into the church’s activities. The inquiry push ...
Mental health groups’ open letter pushes for end to ‘neglect’
THE mental health sector has fired another salvo ahead of the election, urging both parties to “do the right thing” and end the “decades of neglect” of mental health. Twenty-six groups have signed an open letter, published for free today by The Australian , beginning: “Dear Julia and Tony, we call on both of you to show true leadership”. The letter is more supportive of the Coalition’s mental health strategy than Labor’s, but warns that it must be backed up with a longer-term plan and broader range of services. More than 20 other ...
Internet overuse depressing young people
TEENAGERS who spend unhealthy amounts of time surfing the Internet face a higher risk of becoming depressed, researchers say. Pathological users were around 2.5 times as likely to develop depression over nine months, a new study of more than 1000 teens in China showed. The study is the latest in a growing body of research linking pathological Internet usage with mental health problems, but is the first to address the question prospectively in teens who were healthy to begin with. The authors suggest that pathological Internet use could cause depression in previously healthy teenagers, and call ...
Hitting the stage to spread mental health message
THEATRE productions can be a useful means of educating different communities on mental illness, according to Australian research. A team of NSW health professionals developed a play as part of an ongoing push to combat negative perceptions of mental health within the Macedonian community in southeast Sydney. The play, Fear and Shame, depicted a Macedonian family struggling to come to terms with their son’s mental illness, and showed how their cultural beliefs and fears stopped them from accessing timely care for him. The production was last year performed to around 1600 Macedonian Australians. Researchers from the ...
GPs embrace mental health skills
MORE opportunities for mental health education would be welcomed by many GPs, especially in the areas of anxiety and depression, an MO poll reveals. The national poll of 150 GPs found 85% were interested in honing their mental health knowledge, with almost two-thirds identifying anxiety and depressive disorders as key areas for improvement. Other disorders were less of a priority but had broad support, with around 40% of GPs interested in further training on personality disorders, behavioural disorders and substance abuse. Dr Darcy Smith, chair of the RACGP’s Mental Health Standards Collaboration, said the ...
Expert opinion divided on youth depression guidelines
CONTROVERSY has flared over Australia’s approach to youth depression, with beyondblue’s new guidelines coming under fire from two of the country’s highest-profile psychiatrists. Writing in the MJA this week, Professors Ian Hickie and Patrick McGorry said the draft guidelines reinforced stereotypes about young people’s reluctance to seek help, and failed to emphasise the emerging importance of early intervention services. They also questioned the “artificial” division between adolescents and young people at 18 years, saying the focus should be on the “more inclusive” age range of 12 to 25. However, Associate Professor Brett McDermott, chair of the ...
Men may ‘aggravate’ postnatal depression: study
NEGATIVE attitudes towards postnatal depression are entrenched among men, and experts fear they are making it worse for struggling mothers. A beyondblue survey of 600 Australian men revealed half thought women brought postnatal depression on themselves by having unrealistic expectations of motherhood, and almost 30% thought it would just go away with time. Men and women also appeared to differ on their views towards motherhood: 25% of men thought it came naturally to women, whereas just 14% of women thought the same. The findings highlighted the need to educate partners about postnatal depression, since they could ...
‘Hoarding disorder’ diagnosis proposed
PEOPLE whose houses are piled high with a lifetime of memorabilia have long attracted the fascination of documentary makers and nosey neighbours alike. But far from being a harmless quirk, experts are warning that compulsive hoarding of personal stuff is a serious – and clinically misunderstood – medical condition. Affecting up to 5% of the population, the most severe hoarders eventually store so many things their houses become serious fire hazards, US expert Dr Randy Frost told a recent conference in Melbourne. Hoarding has typically been lumped in with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but Dr Frost ...
Losing kilos but gaining stress
SIGNING up to the latest calorie-cutting diet might seem a surefire way to drop a few kilos and boost your self-esteem. But new research suggests the opposite: dieting is so stressful it might do more harm than good. US scientists found that dieters lost an average of 0.9 kg over three weeks but reported feeling significantly more stressed than their non-dieting counterparts. Moreover, they actually had measurably greater amounts of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva, with levels higher after three weeks than before starting the diet. “Dieting may be deleterious to psychological wellbeing ...
Child mental health targeted
ADVOCATES for children’s mental health have launched a united front ahead of the election, kicking off a campaign to ensure children are not overlooked in the scramble for health funding. The new Children’s Mental Health Coalition is calling on all political parties to boost mental health funding for the 0-12 age group and invest seriously in early intervention and prevention strategies. The six-group coalition is also calling for the establishment of Kids Life Centres, to offer help and support to children with anxiety and behavioural problems, their parents and carers. Coalition leader Professor Louise Newman, president ...
Quick two-question tool to screen for depression in primary care
A SIMPLE two-question approach offers a convenient and effective first-line screen for depression in primary care, researchers say. A study of 2642 general practice patients in New Zealand found the two-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) had good sensitivity of 86%, although specificity was “poor” at 78 per cent. The PHQ-2 – comprising the first two questions from the longer PHQ-9 – asks patients whether they have experienced depression or lack of pleasure in the past two weeks. Those who score two or more out of six on the PHQ-2 – 26% of those in the study ...
Benefit of depression education fades over time in elderly
EDUCATING older adults about depression could help keep the black dog at bay but only temporarily, Australian research shows. Over-60s who took part in a two-year mental health literacy program showed improvements in depressive symptoms after six weeks, but the benefits were lost by six months. Other preventive attempts to stave off depression also failed: neither promotion of physical activity, nor supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 alleviated distress in a trial of 909 adults with elevated but sub-threshold depressive symptoms. Despite the setback – especially to hopes of a benefit from dietary supplementation – ...
Complementary therapies worthy of further study for depression
COMPLEMENTARY and alternative medicines (CAMs) offer a promising avenue for treating depression that should be explored in future research, America’s top psychiatric body has ruled. Charged with reviewing the literature on CAMs for major depression, an American Psychiatric Association taskforce said there were several approaches worthy of further study. Omega-3 fatty acids, folate, St John’s wort, exercise, acupuncture and even light therapy were named as promising approaches based on current evidence from randomised controlled trials. They warned, however, that patients who pursued CAMs could risk delaying the use of better-established therapies. “Clinical, research, and educational ...
British doctors call for end to ‘gay fix’ therapy
THE British Medical Association (BMA) has called for the National Health System (NHS) to stop funding “discredited” conversion therapy designed to modify the sexual orientation of homosexual people. A systematic review conducted by the American Psychological Association last year concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation. A 2009 survey of British psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists revealed that as many as 40% of conversion therapy treatments were funded by the NHS, despite homosexuality not being a DSM-IV listed condition. Dr Tony Calland, head of the BMA’s ethics committee, ...
Harsh childhood linked to onset of mental illness
THE link between childhood adversity and later mental illness is now “absolutely definitive” an expert says, following the publication of two comprehensive studies. A study of more than 55,000 adults found those reporting childhood adversity, in particular physical or sexual abuse, were up to six times more likely to have attempted suicide or have had suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, New Zealand researchers found children reported to child protection agencies were significantly more likely to later exhibit mood, anxiety and substance use disorders. Adelaide child psychiatrist Dr Phill Brock said the link was now clear. “The architecture ...
Harsh childhood linked to onset of mental illness
THE link between childhood adversity and later mental illness is now “absolutely definitive” an expert says, following the publication of two comprehensive studies. A study of more than 55,000 adults found those reporting childhood adversity, in particular physical or sexual abuse, were up to six times more likely to have attempted suicide or have had suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, New Zealand researchers found children reported to child protection agencies were significantly more likely to later exhibit mood, anxiety and substance use disorders. Adelaide child psychiatrist Dr Phill Brock said the link was now clear. “The architecture ...
Bridge barriers don’t reduce suicide numbers
ERECTING safety barriers at notorious suicide locations may not have the preventive effect that is expected. Canadian researchers say the installation of barriers at Toronto’s Bloor Street Viaduct, a suicide blackspot, cut the number of annual suicides there – with none occurring in the four years after barrier construction. However, there was no overall reduction in the rate of suicide by jumping in the Toronto area, with a significantly increased number of suicides by jumping from other bridges. There was also a non-significant increase in suicide by jumping from buildings in the Toronto area. This ...
Study ignites debate on treatment of resistant depression in teenagers
A SWIFT and decisive change of therapy could hold the key to addressing treatment resistant depression in teenagers. Data from the US Treatment of Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) trial of 334 adolescents aged 12 to 18 showed that switching treatment regimens helped around 40% to achieve remission within six months. Most of those who achieved remission, however, had already done so by 12 weeks – prompting the authors to recommend early intervention in nonresponders. Australian experts welcomed the addition to a sparse area of research but were divided in their opinions of the study. ...
McGorry mental health plan gains momentum
GPs are getting behind the latest plea for action on mental health, backing a new five-point plan from Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry. Speaking at the National Press Club last week, Professor McGorry called on the Federal Government to end the “medical apartheid” between mental and physical health and set a national target for suicide prevention. He outlined a plan to focus on leadership, funding, access, skills and standards.GPs across Australia welcomed the advocacy, provided the plan would recognise the key role of general practice. Brisbane GP Dr Andrew Gunn, a senior lecturer in ...
Study ignites debate on treatment of resistant depression in teenagers
A SWIFT and decisive change of therapy could hold the key to addressing treatment resistant depression in teenagers. Data from the US Treatment of Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) trial of 334 adolescents aged 12 to 18 showed that switching treatment regimens helped around 40% to achieve remission within six months. Most of those who achieved remission, however, had already done so by 12 weeks – prompting the authors to recommend early intervention in nonresponders. Australian experts welcomed the addition to a sparse area of research but were divided in their opinions of the study. ...
Abbott mental health plan ‘lacks vision’
THE Federal Opposition’s pledge to invest $1.5 billion in mental health services has received a lukewarm welcome from experts, who argue that while the cash is needed, the focus of the plan is wrong. As both parties shift into election mode, Opposition leader Tony Abbott last week unveiled the Coalition’s Real Action Plan for Better Mental Health, which outlined plans for 20 new early psychosis prevention and intervention centres, 60 additional headspace centres and 800 acute and sub-acute early intervention beds. But the plan would come at the expense of investment in e-health, Medicare Locals and GP ...
Depressed men still dying early despite treatment
NEW research has reaffirmed the poor health outcomes faced by depressed Australian men and the limitations of current treatments. Six-year follow-up of more than 5000 older men in Perth (aged 68 to 88 years) revealed high mortality rates among those with depression, with the most severely depressed more than three times as likely to die as men without depression. Treatment with antidepressants did not reduce mortality and may have even increased it, although one expert said it was unclear whether this was an effect of the treatment itself. Antidepressant use was linked to a 30% independent ...
Mental health intervention should start in childhood
AUSTRALIA could substantially reduce the burden of mental illness by doing more to protect the mental health of its children, advocates say. With 50% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 16, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is urging the Government to consider children in ongoing health reforms. Dr Phill Brock, chair of the RANZCP’s faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry, said infants and children needed specific services beyond those provided for adults. “Inpatient, sub-acute and specialised community mental health care for young people is under-funded and access to primary ...
Mental health intervention should start in childhood
AUSTRALIA could substantially reduce the burden of mental illness by doing more to protect the mental health of its children, advocates say. With 50% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 16, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is urging the Government to consider children in ongoing health reforms. Dr Phill Brock, chair of the RANZCP’s faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry, said infants and children needed specific services beyond those provided for adults. “Inpatient, sub-acute and specialised community mental health care for young people is under-funded and access to primary ...
Anxiety a predictor for cardiac death
ANXIETY can be confirmed as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiac mortality, Australian experts say, after a meta-analysis found it was strongly associated with these outcomes. The review of 20 prospective studies, including 249,846 ‘healthy’ persons, found those with anxiety disorders had a 26% higher risk of CHD and a 48% higher risk of cardiac mortality. The results were independent of demographic variables, biological risk factors and health behaviours. The findings were further bolstered by a Swedish study of 49,321 men followed for 37 years, which found those with anxiety at ...
New evidence comes to light on the dark side of Anakin Skywalker
FOR diehard Star Wars fans, the explanation of Darth Vader’s erratic behaviour has always been obvious. But not content to blame the mind-bending allure of the dark side of the Force, French psychologists claim he may have had a serious, undiagnosed medical condition. Applying the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), they found that Anakin Skywalker – later to become Darth Vader – met six out of nine criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). “He presented impulsivity and difficulty controlling his anger and alternated between idealisation and devaluation of his ...
Gillard urged to make mental health a priority
MENTAL health advocates are calling on the new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to pick up the slack and push mental health up the national agenda. The political reshuffle came at the end of a turbulent week for mental health, with the former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, facing a grilling in Parliament over the resignation of key advisor Professor John Mendoza as chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health. Last Thursday morning, key mental health leaders presented the Prime Minister with a new blueprint for mental health, backed by more than 60 organisations, and a petition ...
Top academic resigns over Govt’s mental health policy
THE chair of the Federal Government’s National Advisory Council on Mental Health, Professor John Mendoza, has resigned amid mounting criticism of the Rudd Government’s handling of mental health. Professor Mendoza tendered his resignation on Friday via a letter, reportedly addressed to Health Minister Nicola Roxon and council members, in which he was highly critical of the Government’s mental health care policy. "It is now abundantly clear that there is no vision or commitment from the Rudd Government to mental health," wrote Professor Mendoza. "The Rudd Government is publicly claiming credit for the increased investment in mental health ...
Internet becoming first port of call for mental health help
AUSTRALIANS are increasingly turning to the Internet when experiencing a crisis or worrying about the mental health of their loved ones. One in five requests to SANE Australia’s helpline now comes via the Internet – double the proportion five years ago, new figures show. The number of fact sheet and podcast downloads from the charity’s website has also risen dramatically in the past 12 months, according to a report analysing the usage of the website’s services. The concerns raised by callers have become increasingly complex, with many worrying about navigating the healthcare system and accessing housing ...
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Early psychosis program effective
EARLY psychosis intervention programs may help patients with schizophrenia achieve remission and rehabilitate into society, the first long-term follow-up of patients suggests. Although recovery remains modest, proponents of the controversial program have hailed the study as important new evidence supporting the model. Seven years on, almost 40% of patients were currently employed, 60% had been employed in the past two years and between 40 and 60% were in remission. Researchers reviewed 651 patients treated at Melbourne’s Orygen Youth Health’s Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre between 1998 and 2005. Senior author Professor Patrick McGorry, executive ...
Mental health experts prominent on honours list
THREE of Australia’s leading mental health experts have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list for contributions to their communities. Professor Patrick McGorry, from the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (OA). Professor McGorry’s recognition follows his naming as Australian of the Year in January for services to mental health. “These kinds of awards are really the reflection of the work of a whole selection of people. I have some tremendous colleagues and have had some great support over the years, so ...
Growth not affected by stimulant drugs in kids with ADHD
PSYCHOSTIMULANT medication in children with ADHD is not associated with long-term impacts on height or weight, new research suggests. While previous reviews had suggested stimulants may delay growth or increase weight, most studies have not followed children into adulthood. US researchers combined data from two case-control studies involving a total of 500 children to assess the effect of stimulants after 10 years, when some patients were aged in their early 20s. They found no significant differences among males or females with ADHD compared to those without ADHD, even among those on long-term treatment, suggesting any effect ...
The depressing truth on intern hours
WORKING long hours as a medical intern really does increase the risk of depression, despite previous claims to the contrary. A new US study has reaffirmed the strikingly high rates of depression in medical interns but, for the first time, has linked this directly to the number of hours worked. Earlier work had pointed to less tangible factors such as perceived working conditions as being more important contributors. Now, in the largest prospective study of its kind, researchers followed 740 interns at 13 hospitals, with assessments performed every three months. Depression rates soared from 3.9% ...
Hormones in menopausal depression queried
EXPERTS remain divided over the link between hormones and mental health, after a major study showed testosterone was the only hormone implicated in perimenopausal depression. Following more than 3000 women for eight years, US researchers found that levels of other hormones had little bearing on depression outcomes, despite previous work implicating estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone and dehydroepiandrosterone. Even the association with testosterone was modest, with high levels linked to a 15% increased risk of depression. Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, said the findings were at odds with previous research, which linked ...
Reassurance on suicide risk for SSRI use in adolescents
CLINICIANS can be reassured that there is likely no additional risk of suicide resulting from use of SSRIs in adolescents. An Australian review of six observational studies in 574 adolescents aged 10 to 21 years who committed suicide found only nine (1.6%) had been taking SSRIs before their death. Scientia Professor Philip Mitchell, head of the school of psychiatry at the University of NSW, said the suicide rates in adolescents on SSRIs were “impressively” low. Although he warned the studies included in the review were not randomised, he said the findings added to evidence that while ...
$25m mental health strategy under fire
A KEY part of the Federal Government’s mental health platform has come under fire, with critics condemning the decision to invest heavily in early psychosis prevention – an area of some scientific controversy. With overall funding for mental health falling short – and community care again neglected – questions are being raised over the $25.5 million devoted to Orygen Youth Health’s psychosis intervention program in Melbourne. The issue has divided experts in the field, with some arguing the model promotes over-treatment in teens who are troubled but not necessarily psychotic. Professor Louise Newman, president of the Royal ...
Behavioural approach to Tourette’s valid
CHILDREN with Tourette's syndrome can learn to control their outbursts by acknowledging and mastering the urge before it erupts into a full-blown tic. This offers a valid treatment alternative to antipsychotics, which have been used since the 1960s for tic control. A US trial of 126 children aged nine to 17 years found that eight therapy sessions substantially reduced tic severity over six months compared to a control intervention of psychotherapy and education. The magnitude of response – a 7.6-point reduction on a severity scale – was comparable to that seen in trials of antipsychotic medications, ...
GPs urged to get into headspace
THE Federal Government’s budget allocation of $78.8 million for headspace has prompted calls for GPs to consider new opportunities for getting involved in the program. The funding is intended to almost double the number of headspace centres, and administrators are now hoping to attract more GPs into the centres. Headspace CEO Chris Tanti said recruitment to existing centres was progressing steadily but there was still “some way to go”, with around 15 full-time GPs at the 30 existing centres. He said it was too early to say if the new funding would translate into improved financial ...
Mental health service may reduce CVD risk
PRIMARY care in Indigenous populations would benefit from integrated mental health services according to new research indicating a strong association between substance use-related mental illness and cardiovascular disease. A study of 784 Aboriginal adults (aged 20-74 years) in the Northern Territory found those with substance use-related mental disorders were 2.6 times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without. The cohort was developed from a population-based renal disease screening program between 1992 and 1995 and then followed up in May 2005 using hospital and death records. The study found that 23% of participants had a ...
Aboriginal kids vulnerable to mental health misdiagnosis
ABORIGINAL children may be being incorrectly diagnosed as having mental health problems when they instead have behavioural problems caused by social and physical factors. A qualitative study of 15 Aboriginal parents and 32 Aboriginal community health workers in Sydney found that hearing, speech or learning difficulties and hunger could lead to behavioural problems that were often mistaken for mental health problems. “If you just approached this strictly from a mental health or social wellbeing [viewpoint] without taking all the other issues into account, you could make the wrong decision and therefore subject not only the child, but ...
One in 10 fathers is prone to perinatal depression
PERINATAL depression is now known to be a common and under-recognised problem among men, affecting twice as many dads as previously thought. Some 10% of fathers become depressed between the first trimester and one year postpartum according to a new meta-analysis, believed to be the most comprehensive review of its kind. The lowest point for fathers was between three and six months postpartum, when depressionrates rose to 26 per cent. The review also revealed an association between maternal and paternal depression, suggesting that “depression in one parent should prompt clinical attention to the other”. Dr ...
Govt criticised for failing to deliver on mental health
MENTAL health was the biggest loser in this year’s Budget, leaving advocates to again question the Government’s commitment to helping mentally ill patients. Even for headspace, one of the apparent winners with $78.8 million of new funding over four years, the Budget was bitter-sweet. Headspace will open new centres but will have to lay off 20-odd social workers and occupational therapists from its 30 existing centres, according to CEO Chris Tanti. Under cuts to Better Access, they will lose access to Medicare rebates. “This is a huge step back,” Mr Tanti said. “The business model now has ...
Green Zone Boosts Mental Health
JUST a five-minute sojourn in a ‘green space’ can do wonders for your mental health, BBC News reports. A UK meta-analysis of 10 studies involving 1250 participants found as little as five minutes of outdoors exercise in a park or garden had the maximum improvement on mood and self-esteem, particularly in the young and the mentally ill. The study assessed the impact of outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming on mood, and found exercising near water had the maximum effect. While exercising for longer than five minutes in a ‘green space’ ...
Predicting psychosis still difficult
PREDICTING if troubled youngsters will develop full-blown psychosis remains an imprecise science, with clinical intuition offering little guidance, researchers say. A study of 168 ultra high risk patients at Melbourne’s Orygen Youth Health Research Centre found that even experienced psychologists could not predict 12-month outcomes based on clinical judgement. The results caution against a recent trend of prescribing antipsychotics to delay or avoid psychosis in high-risk individuals, the authors said. Rather, they should be monitored closely and treated only for current symptoms. “If rapid deterioration occurs in the context of worsening attenuated psychotic symptoms, then that ...
Antenatal SSRIs linked to smaller babies
MOTHERS who take anti-depressants during pregnancy run the risk of premature delivery and of having babies with a low birth weight and size. An Australian study showed women who took antidepressants had an eight times greater risk of having low birth-weight babies and a more than four-fold increased risk of premature birth. Researchers compared 27 women taking antidepressants with 27 controls, the majority of whom were also depressed. There was no link between maternal depression and birth outcomes. Senior author Anne Buist, professor of women’s mental health at the University of Melbourne, said women needed to ...
Fatal shootings of mentally ill continue
Measures to reduce the number of fatal shootings by Victorian police have failed to protect people with mental illness. Researchers have found that despite an overall decline in the number of fatal shootings, the proportion of people shot that have a mental illness has increased. Their study reviewed 48 fatal shootings between 1982 and 2007. It found most of those shot had prior contact with both mental health services and the criminal justice system. A preventive strategy, Project Beacon, was introduced in September 1994. Thirteen of the 16 people shot since that time had a psychiatric ...
Money for mental health is ‘inadequate’ for reform
HOPES for reforming the mental health system have suffered a blow, with experts heavily critical of the commitments made at last week’s Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting. Key figures have welcomed the investment in mental health but say the $174 million falls far short of what is needed for genuine change. Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry, from the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, said mental health “had missed out”. “When you contrast it with the billions that have been pumped into the system over the last few weeks ...
Better Access unlikely as co-payments increase
A government review of the Better Access scheme has revealed anecdotal evidence that psychologists and psychiatrists have substantially hiked their fees since the program was introduced in 2006. The Better Access interim review – completed in May 2009 but only recently released – confirmed psychiatrists and psychologists rarely bulk-billed, which put mental health services out of reach for those unable to pay. The review noted the average co-payment for an initial psychiatric consultation under the Better Access scheme was $68.41. In rural areas, the average co-payment is in excess of $80. RACGP president Dr Chris Mitchell said ...
Treating depression aids physically ill
ANTIDEPRESSANTS can be safely and effectively used in patients with concomitant physical illness and depression, experts say. Reviewers concluded that both tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs were more effective than placebo, and improved depressive symptoms within 4-5 weeks of treatment in these patients. The review included 51 studies, with 3600 participants. The pooled data found anti-depressants more than twice as effective as placebo, although the reviewers said publication and reporting biases might have exaggerated the effect sizes. Those taking antidepressants more commonly reported dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dizziness and hypertension, they found, though the increase for ...
Online anxiety tool could overturn barriers
AN online psychology service offering assessment, diagnosis and treatment programs could increase GP access to referral services if used safely, the AMA says. Anxiety Online, a program run by Melbourne’s Swinburne University through the National eTherapy Centre, offers free online psychological assessments that provide patients with a diagnosis of their level of anxiety and advice on treatment or follow-up options. Once diagnosed, patients can then access their own dedicated psychologists online, conversing via email for a fee of $120 for a 12-week program that treats disorders such as OCD and agoraphobia. While voicing concern over the ...
Pressure grows for Senate inquiry into Scientology
LEADING mental health experts are backing calls for a Senate inquiry into Scientology, claiming the church's views on mental health are putting lives at risk. Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry, from the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, Professor Louise Newman, president of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists, and Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain and Mind Research Institute in Sydney, have called for federal senators to vote for an inquiry into alleged abuses by the Church of Scientology. Following a series of allegations of misconduct - beginning ...
‘Wiki’ launched to provide quality mental health information online
A ‘WIKI’ guide to mental health information where only those with knowledge and experience of mental health can contribute has been launched. The collaborative web guide, similar to Wikipedia, aims to provide accurate, high-quality information about mental health issues. Launched to counteract what they say is the vast amount of irrelevant and inaccurate information available on the web, only health professionals, academic researchers and patient and carer advocates are allowed to contribute. The site’s founders, from the Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Melbourne, say a formal evaluation examining the level of use and comparing information quality ...
Rising tide of stress puts more female doctors under pressure
DOCTORS’ health is once again in the spotlight following the release of data that indicates there may be a growing number of female doctors being referred to impaired doctors programs. The Queensland Medical Board’s health assessment and monitoring committee – which runs the state’s impaired practitioner program – stated that 30% of doctors referred to the program last year were women, which was anecdotally higher than previous years. Most of the 73 referrals, the committee noted, were for mental health conditions. The figures were presented at the 17th Annual Women’s Health Conference on the Gold Coast ...
Be proactive on patients’ Internet self-diagnosis, doctors urged
CLINICIANS need to initiate a discussion with patients about their use of the Internet to research health issues because many are withholding this information from their therapists, Australian psychiatrists say. A survey from two Sydney private practices revealed that 78% of patients used the Internet to research mental health, but just 38% of these discussed the information during consultations. Study authors Dr John Lam-Po-Tang and Dr Diana McKay warned that this information was likely to be influencing patients’ health decisions. “This survey has encouraged us to take the initiative and discuss with our patients what they read ...
Celebrity bipolar cases spark self-diagnosis trend
THE current clutch of celebrities willing to come forward and talk publicly about their struggles with bipolar disorder may have resulted in an unusual trend – a growing number of people diagnosing themselves with the condition. Two British psychiatrists said in a recent editorial that “despite the stigma attached to mental illness, we have noticed in our clinical practice a new and unusual phenomenon, where patients present with self-diagnosed bipolar disorder”. They believed the phenomenon was a direct result of celebrities ...
Improved aftercare needed following suicide attempts
A program that enables GPs to access specialist services for patients at risk of suicide or self-harm should be expanded, according to a leading mental health charity, as new figures reveal a significant number of vulnerable patients are not receiving the help they need. SANE Australia last week published the results of an online survey, which showed that of the 285 anonymous respondents, just 43% of those who had self-harmed or attempted suicide had been offered psychological treatment afterwards. And only 20% had been provided with a crisis plan to follow if they felt suicidal in the future. ...
Treating anxiety disorders
UP to one in five people presenting to GPs will experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder at some point during their life. Anxiety disorders can be difficult to identify and accurately diagnosing the type of anxiety disorder is necessary to ensure correct treatment. Anxiety symptoms may be primary, or secondary to other physical or psychiatric disorders. Anxiety disorders are usually chronic conditions and may co-exist with other disorders (e.g. depression or substance use). Accurate diagnosis requires all symptoms to be characterised against criteria. The first-line treatment for most anxiety disorders is psychological therapies, however if these ...
Heavy Internet use associated with increased risk of depression
BEING considered dependent on the Internet, particularly for socialising, is clearly linked with depression, especially among younger people, researchers say. A total of 1319 people (mean age 21 years), completed an Internet use questionnaire, along with the Beck Depression Inventory, with 1.2% identified as Internet dependent. Those addicted to the Internet were found to be moderately to severely depressed, compared to those not addicted, who all scored in the non-depressed range. However, the researchers said it was not possible to determine if depressed people were drawn to the Internet or if excessive Internet use made people more ...
Mental illness link to childhood adversity
CURRENT mental health strategies are too focused on adults and more needs to be done to address childhood traumas that can lead to mental illness, Australian experts say. Their comments follow the publication of two large US studies strongly linking childhood adversities with the development of adult psychiatric disorders. One survey of more than 9000 adults found that adversities such as violence, neglect, a parent with a mental disorder or sexual abuse were implicated in almost half of childhood-onset disorders and a third of later-onset disorders. Australian psychiatrists said the findings confirmed long-held views about the ...
Shift mental health funding: expert
GOVERNMENT funding for mental health initiatives must be shifted from the Better Access program and into the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) scheme if the nation’s neediest are to get access to psychological care, according to a leading mental health advocate. Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute, said when compared to the Better Access scheme, ATAPS provided a better avenue to reach people who were young, on low incomes or in rural areas. “The balance between Better Access and ATAPS is clearly wrong,” he said. “To have 95% ...
Brilliance link to bipolar confirmed
A link between genius and madness has long been touted in the arts and popular culture, but new research may be bringing scientific credibility to the theory. Swedish research has revealed that the highest achievers at school face an almost four-fold increased risk of developing bipolar disorder compared to their classmates who score average grades. The association was only found in boys and was strongest for high grades in music and Swedish, researchers said. With data from more than 700,000 teenagers and an average follow-up of almost 10 years, the study has been hailed as the ...
Regular soft drink intake linked to higher risk of mental illness
PEOPLE who regularly consume large amounts of soft drink may be at increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation, an Australian study shows. A population-based survey of nearly 5000 people linked consumption of more than half a litre of soft drink per day to depression and psychological distress, but not anxiety. The study was adjusted for possible confounding by chronic diseases such as diabetes and asthma. The authors said it was unclear whether the effect related to the sugar content of soft drinks or to other factors. Meanwhile, other Australian researchers have found that, among 1000 ...
Legal troubles linked to doctors’ health problems
DOCTORS who are embroiled in medico-legal matters are far more likely to experience poor mental health and consume more alcohol, according to a new study of nearly 3000 Australian medical practitioners. The research, published in the latest MJA , demonstrates an association between higher rates of psychiatric morbidities – including anxiety, depression and insomnia – and alcohol consumption. According to lead author Dr Louise Nash, a psychiatrist at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry, the study also raised questions over whether the concerning health outcomes were a cause or an effect of the medico-legal process. “This ...
Scheme for doctors’ mental health launched
A PROGRAM aimed at removing the stigma associated with doctors who seek mental health care is set to be rolled out nationally from early next year. The National Doctors’ Mental Health Program, an initiative from depression support organisation beyondblue, aims to normalise the topic of mental health among doctors, raise awareness and encourage doctors to seek early help. Meeting for the first time last month, an advisory committee, chaired by former AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, will initially undertake a systematic literature review to inform the development of specific tools and education programs. Program leader and ...
World report - 26 June 2009
• FRENCH CIVIL ACTION OVER DOCTOR-PHARMA TIES A FRENCH non-profit doctors’ organisation has filed civil charges against nine academic medical specialists considered key opinion leaders, claiming they failed to disclose ties with drug manufacturers. Formindep, an organisation promoting independent medical information, has joined with a leading consumer protection group to file the charges with French medical authorities. They claim the nine doctors, considered leading medical experts in fields such as menopause, diabetes care and Alzheimer’s disease, violated France’s public health code. It requires them to declare ties to relevant products while making public statements. “These ...
Treatment failure blamed for suicides in bipolar
AUSTRALIAN research reveals many suicides among patients with bipolar disorder may be due to inadequate treatment, suggesting a new focus on preventive strategies might be needed. Researchers identified 35 cases of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder among 3752 suicides from Victorian Coroner’s Office data. Of greatest concern was the finding that almost a third of bipolar patients had never been treated with lithium. Only 43% of patients were taking lithium during the last four weeks of life. The majority of the suicides occurred in patients with more than 10 years’ illness duration, and only five ...
City-bush divide on antidepressant use
RURAL Australians are more likely to receive prescriptions for antidepressants than their urban counterparts, which experts say could be due to improved access to, or longer relationships with, their GPs. Analysis of PBS antidepressant prescription data from 2003 to 2005 found women in rural centres aged 30 and older were prescribed 132 doses per 1000 people per day. This compared to 105.9 daily doses for those in capital cities and 68.5 for those in remote areas. The difference for males was not so pronounced, but rates were still significantly higher in rural centres than in urban or ...
The aftershocks of unemployment
With the recession yet to peak, Kathryn Eccles looks at the health consequences for patients dealing with unemployment or high debt. WHILE many people are relishing the Rudd Government’s stimulus cash bonus being deposited in their accounts, many others are facing the cold hard reality of the downturn. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures for April show that around 35,300 Australian workers lost their jobs last month, a direct result of the global financial crisis. These new victims of the downturn join 614,600 before them sharing the label ‘unemployed’ and together they make up ...
Mental health services under pressure
AS the number of patients turning to GPs for mental health care hits record highs, experts have warned mental health services will struggle to cope with increased demand in the wake of the global financial crisis. Recently released Medicare data has revealed claims for GP mental health plans and one-off GP mental health consultations for the first quarter of this year are up nearly 35% when compared to the same period last year – an increase of nearly 90,000. The figures come as a Medical Observer poll reveals 91% of GPs believe the economic crisis ...
Call for rural institute to revamp men’s health policy
RURAL groups have called for the establishment of a rural health research institute to shape a strategic approach to redesigning men’s health policy. In a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Men’s Health, the National Rural Health Alliance listed limited access and reluctance to use Medicare – particularly mental health services – as significant contributors to higher male death rates in rural Australia. The alliance of peak rural health organisations called for a new rural health institute to investigate “barriers to men better managing their own health and to seeking help” as part of a longitudinal ...
Push pedalling to patients
AUSTRALIA needs to invest more money into infrastructure to ensure people can cycle in safety and GPs should be encouraging the uptake of this mode of transport, experts say. With a million new bicycles sold nationwide last year, and reported increases in the number of people cycling to work, experts from the University of Sydney school of public health said more funding for cycle lanes and increased allocation of road space for cycling were needed. “A dominant car culture and concerns about safety are the main reasons people give for not cycling in Australia,” they wrote in ...
Mental health pressure point
Funding for a promising rural mental health program is about to dry out. Elizabeth McIntosh reports. IS it time to rethink Dorothea Mackellar’s famous poem about Australia’s sunburnt country and to stop hoping for flooding rains? More and more we’re told the ‘big dry’ is Australia’s new climate, but what does that mean for our farmers and their livelihood? Drought is isolating – a reverse to bushfires and floods, which instead tend to bring communities together – but the effects of drought run deep. So, when the rain doesn’t fall, what support is there ...
Govt bolsters mental health support for bushfire victims
THE Federal Government has pledged $7.5 million to support mental health services for Victorians affected by the summer bushfires that continue to threaten the state. An initial allocation of $4.5 million has been directed to the immediate expansion of current mental health services, including additional funding for divisions to step up the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program. In a joint statement, Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the funding would build on social workers, psychologists and case managers already providing counselling and support in affected areas. The remaining ...
A new mind-set for headspace
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission last week gave the youth mental health foundation headspace a ringing endorsement, which couldn’t have come at a better time for new chair Wendy McCarthy. Shannon McKenzie reports. HECTIC does not even begin to describe Wendy McCarthy’s schedule. Nor does crammed, nor packed, nor any other adjective that might be used to indicate just how busy she really is. Nominated in 2005 by The Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia’s top 100 public intellectuals, Ms McCarthy (pictured) is a corporate management adviser, mentor, author, educator ...
Poor planning blamed for mental health underspend
BUREAUCRATIC inefficiencies in the Federal and State health departments have been blamed for a massive underspend of funding for mental health programs. Three leading mental health academics claim millions of dollars are languishing within the system, with the Federal Government spending just $87.3 million – or just 4.6% – of the total $1.9 billion funding allocated under the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health in 2006. Report author Professor Ian Hickie, executive director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney, said poor planning and a lack of understanding meant the money ...
Space helps ground control
A PROGRAM to treat depressed astronauts could be brought down to Earth to help others in remote locations. Scientists with the US National Space Biomedical Research Institute are developing an interactive multimedia program that will assist astronauts to manage depression and other psychosocial problems that can occur during long space missions. The program, known as the Virtual Space Station, can be used for training before, and for help during, missions. Other problems addressed using the program include interpersonal conflict and stress and anxiety. The researchers believe the system could have applications on Earth, especially in ...
Mental health disorders rife
ALMOST half of all adult Australians will experience a mental health disorder at some time in their life, according to a new report. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing found that GPs were the most likely source of mental health support and treatment for the one in five Australians (3.2 million) who had experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months. However, 2.1 million of these did not actually use support services during that period. More than a quarter of those aged 16-34 had had a mental health disorder ...
Solutions to break drought’s cycle of ill health
AS a GP in the rural NSW town of Cootamundra, I witness the devastating effect drought is having on the physical and mental health of people living in rural Australia. A recent survey by the Australian Institute of Family Studies measuring financial hardship and the health and wellbeing of farmers found that, of those farmers currently in drought, 17% had mental health issues, compared to 8% of those who hadn’t been in drought in the past three years. Financial, social and personal pressures, directly linked to the drought, are impacting on the mental health and wellbeing of ...
Mental health is a yearlong concern
MENTAL Health Week (5-11 October) has just come to an end in Australia and many other parts of the world. The week is an annual event to promote mental health, running in Australia since 1992 and coordinated by the World Federation for Mental Health and the World Health Organization, and with support from the Australian and state governments. Scores of local mental health organisations in every part of the country promote events in local communities to raise awareness of mental health in general, as well as the needs of people whose lives have been affected by mental ...
Mental health services in armed forces under review
MENTAL health services for Australian Defence Force personnel are set to come under scrutiny with the launch of an independent review. Led by Professor David Dunt, head of the Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics at Melbourne University, the review will assess the effectiveness of existing mental health programs and support across the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. In particular, the review will examine programs around the transition to non-military life, and will seek to identify any gaps or duplication in service provision. Launching the review, Warren Snowdon, the Minister for ...
Evidence lacking for rising depression, say researchers
THERE is no evidence that depression is increasing in Australia, researchers say, despite some previous studies suggesting its prevalence is rising. Researchers from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Psychiatry reanalysed data from the 1998 and 2004 South Australian Health Omnibus Surveys, which included more than 3000 participant interviews. They found no “statistically significant increase” in the proportion of cases classified with major depression between 1998 and 2004. There was, however, a significant decrease in other types of depression such as dysthymia. Lead researcher Associate Professor Graeme Hawthorne said this showed conventional wisdom that depression was ...
Managing bipolar depression
Taking an evidence-based approach to this condition is easier said than done. THERE is little consistency in the approach to managing the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. As bipolar disorder is primarily biological in nature, clinical features during depressive phases reflect the melancholic or psychotic depressive pattern. These patients report severe depression and marked lack of energy, both generally worse in the morning; an anhedonic and non-reactive mood, lack of motivation and being antisocial. Such features are present in most patients with a bipolar II disorder. Around half of those with bipolar I disorder ...
GPs pivotal to mental health initiatives
MENTAL health is an area where GPs require a broad number of supports to diagnose and treat patients, and to support their recovery. Over the past 12 months, the former and current federal governments have shown an increased recognition of mental health conditions in Australia and the need to boost services in the community. The divisions network has welcomed the commitment of funding for mental health initiatives for a number of at-risk groups. It’s important that we as GPs seeing these patients every day have an understanding of government initiatives that will help support our patients. Some ...