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Dawson RL, Nixon RDV, Calear AL, Sivanathan D, O'Kearney R. Efficacy of two brief trauma-focussed writing interventions in comparison to positive experiences writing: A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord 2024:S0165-0327(24)00726-2. [PMID: 38734242 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is emerging literature regarding the efficacy of trauma-focussed writing therapies (TF-WTs) for posttraumatic stress. Such therapies have the potential to reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in a brief time frame and can be delivered remotely. There remains a need for further research assessing the efficacy of different types of TF-WTs, as well comparing them to alternative control conditions not previously assessed. The present study assessed two TF-WTs that had differing writing instructions in comparison to an intervention that involved writing about positive experiences. METHODS Adult community participants (n = 83) with subthreshold or clinical PTSD symptoms were randomized to one of three conditions (two of which involved trauma-focussed writing, and the other involved writing about positive experiences). All conditions involved three weekly telehealth-delivered writing appointments. Outcomes were measured using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), and were evaluated at baseline, one-week post-intervention, and five-weeks post-intervention. This trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR Protocol 12620001065987). RESULTS There was no evidence that the two TF-WTs were more efficacious in reducing PTSS or producing clinically meaningful change in comparison to positive experiences writing. Instead, a significant reduction from baseline to follow-up in PTSS, depression, anxiety and stress was observed in all three conditions. LIMITATIONS The results should be interpreted with consideration of the modest sample size and absence of longer-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Three-session trauma-focussed writing delivered via telehealth may not be superior to writing about positive experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Dawson
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Australia.
| | - R D V Nixon
- College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Australia
| | - A L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Australia
| | - D Sivanathan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Australia; Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Australia
| | - R O'Kearney
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Australia
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Murray K, Dawel A, Batterham PJ, Gulliver A, Farrer LM, Rodney Harris RM, Shou Y, Calear AL. Cognitive reappraisal moderates the protective effect of body satisfaction on mental health and wellbeing in adults: A prospective study during COVID-19 lockdown. J Affect Disord 2024; 351:268-277. [PMID: 38290577 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body satisfaction is associated with mental health and well-being in adults. However, prospective studies are needed to better understand its protective effects, and in whom these are most beneficial. This study investigated body satisfaction as a predictor of depressive symptoms, generalised anxiety, and well-being in a representative Australian sample collected during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Two emotion regulation strategies - cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression - were also tested as moderating variables. METHODS The sample comprised 684 adults aged 19 to 87 years who completed three primary waves of data spanning two months [Wave 3 (W3), W4 and W7] from the Australian National COVID-19 Mental Health, Behaviour and Risk Communication Survey. RESULTS Hierarchical multiple regression models controlling for demographic and COVID-19 risk factors, as well as W3 for each outcome variable, indicated that W3 body satisfaction predicted greater W7 well-being, and fewer W7 depressive symptoms and greater W7 well-being in participants reporting low levels of W4 cognitive reappraisal. No moderation for W4 expressive suppression was observed, nor predictive relationships between W3 body satisfaction and W7 anxiety. LIMITATIONS The two-month follow-up period precludes conclusions relating to the longer-term protective effects of body satisfaction within and beyond the pandemic context. Examination of focal relationships in clinical samples, and inclusion of broader indices of body image, emotion regulation and mental health, is needed in future studies. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest body satisfaction warrants attention in community well-being promotion in adults, and may be particularly beneficial for those lack adaptive emotion regulation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Murray
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Building 39, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Amy Dawel
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Building 39, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, 63 Eggleston Road, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, 63 Eggleston Road, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, 63 Eggleston Road, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Rachael M Rodney Harris
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, College of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Building 39, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore 117549; Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for The Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117602
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, 63 Eggleston Road, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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Calear AL, Macleod E, Hoye AM, McCallum S, Morse A, Farrer LM, Batterham PJ. Pragmatic controlled trial of a school-based emotion literacy program for 8- to 10-year-old children: study protocol. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:275. [PMID: 38609882 PMCID: PMC11010293 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05628-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental disorders are common in childhood, but many young people do not receive adequate professional support. Help-seeking interventions may bridge this treatment gap, however, there is limited research on interventions for primary-school children. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an emotion literacy program at increasing literacy, reducing stigma, and promoting help-seeking in children aged 8-10 years. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A two-arm pragmatic cluster-controlled trial will compare Thriving Minds, an emotion literacy program for middle primary school children, to a wait-list control condition. Children aged 8-10 years will be recruited from approximately 12 schools (6 intervention schools/6 wait-list control) to participate in Thriving Minds via direct invitation by the program delivery service. Allocation to the intervention condition will be pragmatically, by school. Children will receive the intervention over two 50-minute sessions, across two weeks. Using story books and interactive discussion, the program aims to develop children's knowledge of their own and other's emotional experiences and emotion regulation strategies (self-care and help-seeking). The primary outcome is help-seeking intentions. Secondary outcomes include help-seeking knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, emotion knowledge and attitudes, and stigma. Children will complete surveys at pre-intervention, post-intervention (one week after the program) and 12-week follow-up. Additional satisfaction data will be collected from teachers in intervention schools via surveys (post-intervention and 3-month follow-up) and semi-structured interviews (after follow-up), and selected children via focus groups (12-week follow-up). Analyses will compare changes in help-seeking intentions relative to the waitlist control condition using mixed-model repeated-measures analyses to account for clustering within schools. DISCUSSION With demonstrated effectiveness, this universal emotion literacy program for promoting help-seeking for mental health could be more widely delivered in Australian primary schools, providing a valuable new resource, contributing to the mental health of young people by improving help-seeking for early mental health difficulties. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12623000910606 Registered on 24 August 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Emily Macleod
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ashley M Hoye
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sonia McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alyssa Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Shou Y, Gulliver A, Farrer LM, Dawel A, Burns R, Calear AL, Cherbuin N, Batterham PJ. Psychological mechanisms of the development of suicidal ideation: Longitudinal cohort study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2024. [PMID: 38436505 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of the development of suicidal ideation and its moderating and protective factors. Drawing on the Interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide, we proposed that disruptions to belongingness, in conjunction with tolerance of health risk, may influence the development of suicidal ideation above and beyond psychosocial changes such as disruptions to finances and work. METHODS The study involved a longitudinal investigation of an Australian representative sample reporting suicidal ideation fortnightly for 12 weeks between March and June 2020. RESULTS The results indicated that participants who reported higher levels of belongingness, mastery, and intolerance of health risk were less likely to experience suicidal ideation and had lower severity of suicidal ideation. Mastery significantly strengthened the negative link between belongingness and the incidence of suicidal ideation, while agreeableness significantly strengthened the negative link between belongingness and the severity of suicidal ideation over time. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that supporting effective social connectedness during times of isolation and promoting self-efficacy, mastery, and regulation of risk tolerance, may be crucial for suicide prevention and therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Shou
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Amy Dawel
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Richard Burns
- Department of Health, Economics, Wellbeing, and Society, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Department of Health, Economics, Wellbeing, and Society, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Dawel A, Shou Y, Gulliver A, Cherbuin N, Calear AL, Farrer LM, Monaghan C. COVID-19 infection associated with poorer mental health in a representative population sample. J Psychosom Res 2024; 177:111588. [PMID: 38181548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is limited evidence of the direct effects of COVID-19 infection on mental health, and whether these are influenced by vaccination or physical health symptoms. We aimed to investigate the relationships of COVID-19 infection, current symptom presentation, and vaccination status with mental health symptoms in adults. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING A cross-sectional sample of the Australian adult population that was representative by age, gender, and location was recruited through market research panels (N = 1407, 51.3% female, mean age 47.9 years). Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine the associations of COVID-19 infection history and current COVID-19 symptoms with symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), generalized anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) and social anxiety (Mini-Social Phobia Inventory). RESULTS COVID-19 infection was associated with significantly higher depression and anxiety symptoms, but only in those who were not fully vaccinated. Current experience of COVID-related symptoms was associated with significantly higher depression and anxiety symptoms, and attenuated the direct effect of infection on mental health outcomes to non-significance. CONCLUSION COVID-19 infection may be associated with increased mental health symptoms. However, the effects of infection on mental health were primarily evident in those who were not fully vaccinated and were explained by greater physical health problems associated with COVID-19 infection. The findings reinforce the efficacy of vaccination for reducing physical and mental health symptoms following infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Amy Dawel
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore; Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for The Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Conal Monaghan
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Calear AL, Batterham PJ, McCallum SM, Banfield M, Moore E, Johnson N, Morse AR. Designing a Web-Based Navigation Tool to Support Access to Youth Mental Health Services: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e48945. [PMID: 38236625 PMCID: PMC10835581 DOI: 10.2196/48945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many young people with mental health problems do not readily seek help or receive treatment and support. One way to address low help-seeking behavior is to improve access to information on mental health services and how to navigate the mental health system via a web-based tool. Seeking input from the end users (young people and parents or caregivers) on key features of the tool is imperative to ensure that it is relevant, engaging, and likely to meet their needs and expectations. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate young person and parent or caregiver views on the design, content, functioning, and user experience of a web-based mental health navigation tool to support connection to mental health services for children and young people aged up to 25 years. METHODS A total of 4 online focus groups were conducted: 2 with young people aged 16 years and older (total n=15) and 2 with parents or caregivers (total n=13). Focus groups were structured around a series of guiding questions to explore participants' views on content, features, user experience, and design of a mental health navigation website. Focus groups were audio recorded with detailed notes taken. In addition, 53 young people aged 16-25 years and 97 parents or caregivers completed an online survey, comprising closed- and open-ended questions; open-ended responses were included with the focus group data in the qualitative analysis. All qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS A total of 2 topic areas and 7 themes were developed. The first topic area covered the types of information needs of young people and parents. Identified themes concerned the scope of the navigation website, as well as the provision of up-to-date and practical information on how to navigate the whole help-seeking process. The second topic area covered website features that would be beneficial and included the consideration of the website design; search engines; supported navigation; and forums, reviews, and user accounts. CONCLUSIONS This study provides important insights into the navigation needs of young people and parents or caregivers in seeking mental health services. Key findings identified through this research have directly informed the development of MindMap, a web-based youth navigation tool providing a searchable database of local services, including a clear description, their location, and potential wait times. The website can be navigated independently or with support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michelle Banfield
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Moore
- Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing, ACT Health, Canberra, Australia
| | - Natalie Johnson
- Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing, ACT Health, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Werner-Seidler A, O'Dea B, Calear AL, Maston K, Mackinnon A, Christensen H. Psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5) for measuring psychological distress in adolescents. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 169:58-63. [PMID: 38000185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Screening for psychological distress may assist in identifying at-risk adolescents. While several measures of adolescent psychological distress have been used, most have limited or suboptimal psychometric properties. This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Distress Questionnaire-5 (DQ5), a brief measure of psychological distress, in a large community-based sample of adolescents. Data for the study (n = 3117) were drawn from the baseline and 6-week follow-up assessments of the Future Proofing Study, which collected data from three cohorts of Year 8 students (M = 13.9 years; 48% female) between August 2019 and May 2022. Participants completed the DQ5 at each measurement occasion, as well as measures of depression, generalised and social anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 had good fit to a unidimensional construct, with standardised factor loadings ranging between 0.69 and 0.90. The scale had strong criterion (AUC ranged from 0.84 to 0.93) and predictive (AUC ranged from 0.81 to 0.87) validity when compared against indicators for depression, generalised anxiety, social anxiety and suicidal ideation. The DQ5 cut-point of ≥14 had 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity for identifying adolescents meeting symptom thresholds for any of the assessed mental health conditions. Changes in DQ5 scores over 6 weeks had moderate associations with changes in other symptom scales, suggesting sensitivity to change. In conclusion, the DQ5 demonstrates strong psychometric properties and is a reliable measure of psychological distress in adolescents. Given its brevity and ease of interpretation, the DQ5 could be readily used in schools to screen for psychological distress in students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Aliza Werner-Seidler
- Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bridianne O'Dea
- Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | | | - Helen Christensen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Macleod E, Heffernan T, Greenwood LM, Walker I, Lane J, Stanley SK, Evans O, Calear AL, Cruwys T, Christensen BK, Kurz T, Lancsar E, Reynolds J, Rodney Harris R, Sutherland S. Predictors of individual mental health and psychological resilience after Australia's 2019-2020 bushfires. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2024; 58:58-69. [PMID: 37264605 PMCID: PMC10756019 DOI: 10.1177/00048674231175618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We assessed the mental health effects of Australia's 2019-2020 bushfires 12-18 months later, predicting psychological distress and positive psychological outcomes from bushfire exposure and a range of demographic variables, and seeking insights to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience planning for different profiles of people. METHODS We surveyed 3083 bushfire-affected and non-affected Australian residents about their experiences of bushfire, COVID-19, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder) and positive psychological outcomes (resilient coping, wellbeing). RESULTS We found high rates of distress across all participants, exacerbated by severity of bushfire exposure. For people who were bushfire-affected, being older, having less financial stress, and having no or fewer pre-existing mental disorders predicted both lower distress and higher positive outcomes. Being male or having less income loss also predicted positive outcomes. Severity of exposure, higher education and higher COVID-19-related stressors predicted both higher distress and higher positive outcomes. Pre-existing physical health diagnosis and previous bushfire experience did not significantly predict distress or positive outcomes. RECOMMENDATIONS To promote disaster resilience, we recommend investment in mental health, particularly for younger adults and for those in rural and remote areas. We also recommend investment in mechanisms to protect against financial distress and the development of a broader definition of bushfire-related impacts than is currently used to capture brushfires' far-reaching effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Macleod
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Timothy Heffernan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lisa-Marie Greenwood
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Iain Walker
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jo Lane
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Samantha K Stanley
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Olivia Evans
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tegan Cruwys
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Bruce K Christensen
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tim Kurz
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Emily Lancsar
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Julia Reynolds
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Rachael Rodney Harris
- Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stewart Sutherland
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Baffsky R, Ivers R, Cullen P, McGillivray L, Werner-Seidler A, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Toumbourou JW, Stokes R, Kotselas P, Prendergast T, Torok M. Co-design and Development of Implementation Strategies: Enhancing the PAX Good Behaviour Game in Australian Schools. J Prev (2022) 2023; 44:679-704. [PMID: 37741909 PMCID: PMC10638156 DOI: 10.1007/s10935-023-00749-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Effective implementation strategies are important for take-up of programs in schools. However, to date, few implementation strategies have been co-designed with teachers and support staff (including principals) in Australia. The aim of this study was to iteratively co-design multiple implementation strategies to enhance the delivery of mental health prevention program, PAX Good Behaviour Game, in New South Wales primary schools. The secondary aim was to evaluate the acceptability of the implementation strategies from the perspective of school staff. Twenty-nine educational staff (including principals) informed the co-design of the implementation strategies across three phases. Phase 1 involved a rapid review of the literature and stakeholder meetings to agree upon potential evidence-based strategies. Phase 2 involved focus group discussions with educational staff to co-design implementation strategies. Phase 3 involved semi-structured interviews with school staff to assess strategy acceptability after implementation at 6-months post-baseline. Data were analysed using deductive, framework analysis. The final co-designed intervention included nine implementation strategies accessible through a toolkit delivered to the school's leadership team. These strategies were deemed acceptable in school settings that experienced periods of both face-to-face and remote learning due to the changing COVID-19 situation in 2021. This paper contributes to the implementation literature by transparently reporting how educational staff-informed implementation strategies were iteratively co-designed. This will provide a roadmap for other researchers to co-design implementation strategies to further support the delivery of evidence-based prevention programs in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Baffsky
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
| | - Rebecca Ivers
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Patricia Cullen
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - John W Toumbourou
- School of Psychology and Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development (SEED), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Rhoni Stokes
- Department of Education, New South Wales (NSW), Parramatta, NSW, Australia
| | - Pauline Kotselas
- Department of Education, New South Wales (NSW), Parramatta, NSW, Australia
| | - Traci Prendergast
- Department of Education, New South Wales (NSW), Parramatta, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Gendi M, Christensen H, Calear AL, Shand F, Sunderland M, Borschmann R, Banfield M, O'Dea B, Larsen M, Heffernan C, Kazan D, Werner-Seidler A, Mackinnon AJ, Hielscher E, Han J, Boydell KM, Leach L, Farrer LM. Understanding suicidal transitions in Australian adults: protocol for the LifeTrack prospective longitudinal cohort study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:821. [PMID: 37940886 PMCID: PMC10634090 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The factors that influence transition from suicidal ideation to a suicide attempt or remission of suicidal thoughts are poorly understood. Despite an abundance of research on risk factors for suicidal ideation, no large-scale longitudinal population-based studies have specifically recruited people with suicidal ideation to examine the mechanisms underlying critical transitions to either suicide attempt or recovery from suicidal ideation. Without longitudinal data on the psychological, behavioural, and social determinants of suicide attempt and the remission of suicidal ideation, we are unlikely to see major gains in the prevention of suicide. AIM The LifeTrack Project is a population-based longitudinal cohort study that aims to identify key modifiable risk and protective factors that predict the transition from suicidal ideation to suicide attempt or remission of suicidal ideation. We will assess theory-informed risk and protective factors using validated and efficient measures to identify distinct trajectories reflecting changes in severity of suicidal ideation and transition to suicide attempt over three years. METHODS A three-year prospective population-based longitudinal cohort study will be conducted with adults from the general Australian population who initially report suicidal ideation (n = 842). Eligibility criteria include recent suicidal ideation (past 30 days), aged 18 years or older, living in Australia and fluent in English. Those with a suicide attempt in past 30 days or who are unable to participate in a long-term study will be excluded. Participants will be asked to complete online assessments related to psychopathology, cognition, psychological factors, social factors, mental health treatment use, and environmental exposures at baseline and every six months during this three-year period. One week of daily measurement bursts (ecological momentary assessments) at yearly intervals will also capture short-term fluctuations in suicidal ideation, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, capability for suicide, and distress. CONCLUSION This study is intended to identify potential targets for novel and tailored therapies for people experiencing suicidal ideation and improve targeting of suicide prevention programs. Even modest improvements in current treatments may lead to important reductions in suicide attempts and deaths. STUDY REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12623000433606.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Monica Gendi
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Fiona Shand
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew Sunderland
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental health and Substance use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rohan Borschmann
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Michelle Banfield
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Bridianne O'Dea
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark Larsen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cassandra Heffernan
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Dominique Kazan
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Aliza Werner-Seidler
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Emily Hielscher
- The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Flourish Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jin Han
- Center for Global Health Equity, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Katherine M Boydell
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Liana Leach
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Burke CT, Calear AL, Cruwys T, Batterham PJ. Are Parents the Key? How Parental Suicide Stigma and Suicide Literacy Affect Help-Seeking Attitudes and Intentions for their Child. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:2417-2429. [PMID: 37592195 PMCID: PMC10495472 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01841-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Suicide is the leading cause of death among Australian young people, yet rates of help-seeking for suicidal ideation and behaviors in this population are concerningly low. In this study, the relationships between parental suicide stigma, parental suicide literacy, and their attitudes and intentions toward seeking professional help for their child if they were to express thoughts of suicide are investigated. Understanding this influence is critical given parents are key facilitators of their child's access to and engagement with professional mental health services. An online survey was administered to 302 parents of children aged-12-18 (Mage = 45.36, SDage = 6.23; 91.4% female). Parental suicide stigma was significantly associated with more negative help-seeking attitudes and lower help-seeking intentions. Other significant predictors of more positive help-seeking attitudes included parental self-efficacy and having a child with no history of suicidal ideation. Higher help-seeking intentions were associated with female gender, living in an urban area, and positive help-seeking attitudes. Parental suicide literacy was not significantly associated with help-seeking. Practically, outcomes of this study may inform the development and implementation of targeted education programs to increase parental help-seeking for their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colette T Burke
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Building 39 Science Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Tegan Cruwys
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Building 39 Science Road, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
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12
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Dawel A, Gulliver A, Farrer LM, Kalokerinos EK, Cherbuin N, Calear AL, McCallum S, Morse AR, Monaghan C. Do emotion intensity, variability, differentiation, co-occurrence, and positive-negative ratios make unique contributions to predicting longitudinal change in psychological distress and well-being? Emotion 2023; 23:1945-1959. [PMID: 36633999 DOI: 10.1037/emo0001204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
A burgeoning array of affective indices are proposed to capture features of affect that contribute to mental health and well-being. However, because indices are often investigated separately, it is unclear what-if any-unique role they have. The present study addresses this question in a high-stress naturalistic context by prospectively testing the relative contributions of eight affective indices to psychological outcomes during the first acute lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across six fortnightly waves of data collection, participants (N = 613, aged 19 to 87 years) reported how much they experienced five positive and five negative emotions in response to images showing the health and social impacts of the pandemic. We used these ratings to calculate participant-level indices of intensity, variability, and differentiation for positive and negative emotions separately, and positive-negative co-occurrence and ratios. Psychosocial outcome measures were general psychological distress, loneliness, work, and social impairment specifically due to the pandemic, well-being, and coping. On average, psychosocial functioning improved across the lockdown period, and, for most affective indices, bivariate relationships with psychosocial functioning supported existing theory and empirical work. However, multiple regression analyses suggested that the contributions of the individual indices were rarely unique, with most of the change in psychosocial functioning over time being explained by affect intensity and variability. These findings highlight that affective indices should be studied in concert to build a comprehensive and integrated understanding of their role in mental health and well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Dawel
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | | | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Sonia McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Conal Monaghan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University
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13
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Cruwys T, Brossard B, Zhou H, Helleren-Simpson G, Klik KA, Van Rooy D, Batterham PJ, Calear AL. Disciplinary differences in the study of the relationship between social variables and mental health: A systematic mapping review. Health (London) 2023; 27:810-828. [PMID: 34877893 DOI: 10.1177/13634593211063049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There has been sustained interest in the intersection between social constructs and mental health from diverse disciplines including psychiatry, sociology and public health. However, no systematic attempt has been made to catalogue what is meant by 'social' by different researchers, how variables deemed 'social' constructs are linked to mental health, nor whether these patterns differ by academic discipline. Understanding interdisciplinary differences and commonalities may reveal opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance our understanding of how social factors relate to mental health. This article presents a prospectively registered systematic map of social approaches to mental health using an innovative synthesis methodology (coding all sentences from a random selection of N = 287 articles). Results indicated that although approaches are diverse, disciplinary overlap is substantial. Psychology and psychiatry led articles tend to focus on social skills or emotions as features of mental (ill-)health, while public health and social sciences led articles tend to focus on social relationships, status or context as determinants of mental (ill-)health. Medicine led articles were most likely to focus on social outcomes of mental (ill-)health. Potential growth areas are noted, particularly the relative dearth of intervention research drawing upon social approaches. The findings are discussed with a view towards enabling more effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
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14
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Werner‐Seidler A, Maston K, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Larsen ME, Torok M, O’Dea B, Huckvale K, Beames JR, Brown L, Fujimoto H, Bartholomew A, Bal D, Schweizer S, Skinner SR, Steinbeck K, Ratcliffe J, Oei J, Venkatesh S, Lingam R, Perry Y, Hudson JL, Boydell KM, Mackinnon A, Christensen H. The Future Proofing Study: Design, methods and baseline characteristics of a prospective cohort study of the mental health of Australian adolescents. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 2023; 32:e1954. [PMID: 36444163 PMCID: PMC10485316 DOI: 10.1002/mpr.1954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Future Proofing Study (FPS) was established to examine factors associated with the onset and course of mental health conditions during adolescence. This paper describes the design, methods, and baseline characteristics of the FPS cohort. METHODS The FPS is an Australian school-based prospective cohort study with an embedded cluster-randomized controlled trial examining the effects of digital prevention programs on mental health. Data sources include self-report questionnaires, cognitive functioning, linkage to health and education records, and smartphone sensor data. Participants are assessed annually for 5 years. RESULTS The baseline cohort (N = 6388, M = 13.9 years) is broadly representative of the Australian adolescent population. The clinical profile of participants is comparable to other population estimates. Overall, 15.1% of the cohort met the clinical threshold for depression, 18.6% for anxiety, 31.6% for psychological distress, and 4.9% for suicidal ideation. These rates were significantly higher in adolescents who identified as female, gender diverse, sexuality diverse, or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (all ps < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This paper provides current and comprehensive data about the status of adolescent mental health in Australia. The FPS cohort is expected to provide significant insights into the risk, protective, and mediating factors associated with development of mental health conditions during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kate Maston
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health ResearchThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health ResearchThe Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Mark E. Larsen
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Bridianne O’Dea
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Kit Huckvale
- Centre for Digital Transformation of HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Joanne R. Beames
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Lyndsay Brown
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hiroko Fujimoto
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Debopriyo Bal
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Susanne Schweizer
- School of PsychologyUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Institute of Cognitive NeuroscienceUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - S. Rachel Skinner
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent HealthFaculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Katharine Steinbeck
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent HealthFaculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Julie Ratcliffe
- College of Nursing and Health SciencesFlinders UniversityAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Ju‐Lee Oei
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Svetha Venkatesh
- Applied Artificial Intelligence InstituteDeakin UniversityBurwoodVictoriaAustralia
| | - Raghu Lingam
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Yael Perry
- Telethon Kids InstituteUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jennifer L. Hudson
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Katherine M. Boydell
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Andrew Mackinnon
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog InstituteUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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15
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Calear AL, Morse AR, Christensen H, McCallum S, Werner-Seidler A, Alexander R, Batterham PJ. Evaluating suicide attitudes and suicide literacy in adolescents. J Ment Health 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37605447 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2245883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two of the most common modifiable barriers to help-seeking for mental health problems during adolescence are stigma and poor mental health literacy. However, relatively little is known about stigma as it relates to suicide, and knowledge about suicidality in this age group. AIMS To assess levels of suicide literacy and suicide attitudes in an adolescent sample, and to identify correlates of these constructs. METHODS Data were drawn from the pre-intervention survey of the Sources of Strength Australia Project. A total of 1019 adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years participated. Suicide literacy and attitudes were measured alongside potential correlates including psychological distress, suicidal ideation, mastery, previous exposure to suicidal thinking and behaviour, and demographics. RESULTS Participants more strongly endorsed attitudes attributing suicide to isolation/depression, compared to attitudes glorifying or stigmatising suicide. Gaps in knowledge about suicide included the risk factors, signs and symptoms. Key correlates of suicide attitudes and literacy included age, gender and cultural background. CONCLUSION Findings highlight the need for further education activities in schools and public awareness campaigns that address the gaps in suicide knowledge and attitudes. Such activities would assist in the identification of suicide risk among young people and improve help-seeking in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sonia McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | - Rebecca Alexander
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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16
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Cruwys T, Macleod E, Heffernan T, Walker I, Stanley SK, Kurz T, Greenwood LM, Evans O, Calear AL. Social group connections support mental health following wildfire. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023:10.1007/s00127-023-02519-8. [PMID: 37428193 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02519-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE As environmental disasters become more common and severe due to climate change, there is a growing need for strategies to bolster recovery that are proactive, cost-effective, and which mobilise community resources. AIMS We propose that building social group connections is a particularly promising strategy for supporting mental health in communities affected by environmental disasters. METHODS We tested the social identity model of identity change in a disaster context among 627 people substantially affected by the 2019-2020 Australian fires. RESULTS We found high levels of post-traumatic stress, strongly related to severity of disaster exposure, but also evidence of psychological resilience. Distress and resilience were weakly positively correlated. Having stronger social group connections pre-disaster was associated with less distress and more resilience 12-18 months after the disaster, via three pathways: greater social identification with the disaster-affected community, greater continuity of social group ties, and greater formation of new social group ties. New group ties were a mixed blessing, positively predicting both resilience and distress. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that investment in social resources is key to supporting mental health outcomes, not just reactively in the aftermath of disasters, but also proactively in communities most at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tegan Cruwys
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
| | - Emily Macleod
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Timothy Heffernan
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- UNSW School of Built Environment, Sydney, Australia
| | - Iain Walker
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Samantha K Stanley
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Tim Kurz
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Lisa-Marie Greenwood
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Olivia Evans
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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17
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Beames JR, Werner-Seidler A, Hodgins M, Brown L, Fujimoto H, Bartholomew A, Maston K, Huckvale K, Zbukvic I, Torok M, Christensen H, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Lingam R, Boydell KM. Implementing a Digital Depression Prevention Program in Australian Secondary Schools: Cross-Sectional Qualitative Study. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2023; 6:e42349. [PMID: 37307051 DOI: 10.2196/42349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is common during adolescence and is associated with adverse educational, employment, and health outcomes in later life. Digital programs are increasingly being implemented in schools to improve and protect adolescent mental health. Although digital depression prevention programs can be effective, there is limited knowledge about how contextual factors influence real-world delivery at scale in schools. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the contextual factors that influence the implementation of the Future Proofing Program (FPP) from the perspectives of school staff. The FPP is a 2-arm hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial evaluating whether depression can be prevented at scale in schools, using an evidence-based smartphone app delivered universally to year 8 students (13-14 years of age). METHODS Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 staff from 20 schools in New South Wales, Australia, who assisted with the implementation of the FPP. The interviews were guided by our theory-driven logic model. Reflexive thematic analysis, using both deductive and inductive coding, was used to analyze responses. RESULTS Staff perceived the FPP as a novel ("innovative approach") and appropriate way to address an unmet need within schools ("right place at the right time"). Active leadership and counselor involvement were critical for planning and engaging; teamwork, communication, and staff capacity were critical for execution ("ways of working within schools"). Low student engagement and staffing availability were identified as barriers for future adoption and implementation by schools ("reflecting on past experiences"). CONCLUSIONS Four superordinate themes pertaining to the program, implementation processes, and implementation barriers were identified from qualitative responses by school staff. On the basis of our findings, we proposed a select set of recommendations for future implementation of digital prevention programs delivered at scale in schools. These recommendations were designed to facilitate an organizational change and help staff to implement digital mental health programs within their schools. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042133.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne R Beames
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Michael Hodgins
- Population Child Health Clinical Research Group, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lyndsay Brown
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hiroko Fujimoto
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Kate Maston
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kit Huckvale
- Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Isabel Zbukvic
- Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Raghu Lingam
- Population Child Health Clinical Research Group, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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18
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Jackson HM, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Ohan JL, Farmer GM, Farrer LM. Skill Enactment and Knowledge Acquisition in Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44673. [PMID: 37256673 DOI: 10.2196/44673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions can effectively prevent and treat depression and anxiety, but engagement with these programs is often low. Although extensive research has evaluated program use as a proxy for engagement, the extent to which users acquire knowledge and enact skills from these programs has been largely overlooked. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate how skill enactment and knowledge acquisition have been measured, evaluate postintervention changes in skill enactment and knowledge acquisition, examine whether mental health outcomes are associated with skill enactment or knowledge acquisition, and evaluate predictors of skill enactment and knowledge acquisition. METHODS PubMed, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2000 and July 2022. We included RCTs comparing digital CBT with any comparison group in adolescents or adults (aged ≥12 years) for anxiety or depression. Eligible studies reported quantitative measures of skill enactment or knowledge acquisition. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for RCTs. Narrative synthesis was used to address the review questions. RESULTS In total, 43 papers were included, of which 29 (67%) reported a skill enactment measure and 15 (35%) reported a knowledge acquisition measure. Skill enactment was typically operationalized as the frequency of enacting skills using the completion of in-program activities (ie, formal skill enactment; 13/29, 45%) and intervention-specific (9/29, 31%) or standardized (8/29, 28%) questionnaires. Knowledge measures included tests of CBT knowledge (6/15, 40%) or mental health literacy (5/15, 33%) and self-report questionnaires (6/15, 40%). In total, 17 studies evaluated postintervention changes in skill enactment or knowledge acquisition, and findings were mostly significant for skill enactment (6/8, 75% of the studies), CBT knowledge (6/6, 100%), and mental health literacy (4/5, 80%). Of the 12 studies that evaluated the association between skill enactment and postintervention mental health outcomes, most reported ≥1 significant positive finding on standardized questionnaires (4/4, 100%), formal skill enactment indicators (5/7, 71%), or intervention-specific questionnaires (1/1, 100%). None of the 4 studies that evaluated the association between knowledge acquisition and primary mental health outcomes reported significant results. A total of 13 studies investigated predictors of skill enactment; only type of guidance and improvements in psychological variables were associated with increased skill enactment in ≥2 analyses. Predictors of knowledge acquisition were evaluated in 2 studies. CONCLUSIONS Digital CBT for depression and anxiety can improve skill enactment and knowledge acquisition. However, only skill enactment appears to be associated with mental health outcomes, which may depend on the type of measure examined. Additional research is needed to understand what types and levels of skill enactment and knowledge acquisition are most relevant for outcomes and identify predictors of these constructs. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42021275270; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=275270.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley M Jackson
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Acton ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Acton ACT, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Acton ACT, Australia
| | - Jeneva L Ohan
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Glenda M Farmer
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Acton ACT, Australia
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Ma SON, McCallum SM, Pasalich D, Batterham PJ, Calear AL. Understanding parental knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy in professional help-seeking for child anxiety. J Affect Disord 2023:S0165-0327(23)00720-6. [PMID: 37245548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.05.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Child anxiety disorders are highly prevalent yet undertreated. As parents are often 'gatekeepers' to children receiving treatment and support, this study aimed to investigate modifiable parental factors affecting professional help-seeking for their children from general practitioners (GPs), psychologists, and paediatricians. METHODS In this study, 257 Australian parents of children aged 5-12 years with elevated anxiety symptoms completed a cross-sectional online survey. The survey assessed help-seeking from a GP, psychologist, and paediatrician (General Help Seeking Questionnaire), as well as anxiety knowledge (Anxiety Literacy Scale), help-seeking attitudes (Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help), personal stigma (Generalised Anxiety Stigma Scale) and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy in Seeking Mental Health Care). RESULTS 66.9 % of participants had sought help from a GP, 61.1 % from a psychologist, and 33.9 % from a paediatrician. Help-seeking from a GP or psychologist was associated with lower personal stigma (p = .02 and p = .03 respectively). Participants who sought help from a psychologist also had more positive attitudes toward seeking professional support (p = .01). Conversely, knowledge of anxiety disorders and self-efficacy were not associated with help-seeking from any source. LIMITATIONS Limitations of the study include the representativeness of our sample (female gender, higher education level); unexplained variance potentially accounted for by other factors (e.g., structural barriers); lack of prior validation of measures in a parent sample. CONCLUSIONS This research will inform the development of public health policy and psychoeducation interventions for parents, to reduce personal stigma and increase positive attitudes toward professional help-seeking, in turn improving help-seeking for child anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel O N Ma
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Dave Pasalich
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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20
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Busby Grant J, Gulliver A, Calear AL, Farrer LM, Batterham PJ. "I don't have time": an exploration of the role of time pressures in acceptance of internet interventions for mental health. J Ment Health 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37212332 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2023.2210663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internet interventions for common mental disorders are widely available, effective, and economical, yet community uptake remains low. One consistently cited reason for not engaging in mental health interventions is lack of time. AIMS This research examined whether lack of time as a rationale for not using online interventions reflects real time scarcity, and whether time availability impacts intention to use interventions. METHODS A nationally representative sample (N = 1094, 51% women) reported their time use in activity categories for a typical week. Participants rated their acceptance and likelihood of use of mental health internet interventions, and completed mental health symptom, help-seeking and stigma measures. RESULTS Amount of leisure time reported by participants was not associated with acceptance or likelihood of use of internet interventions for mental health. However, respondents who worked longer hours ranked time and effort factors as more influential in their intention to use internet-based mental health programs. Younger respondents and those with greater help-seeking attitudes reported higher acceptance of use. CONCLUSION These findings suggest lack of time is not a direct barrier to use of internet interventions, and that perceived time scarcity may be masking real barriers to uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janie Busby Grant
- Discipline of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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21
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Busby Grant J, Batterham PJ, McCallum SM, Werner-Seidler A, Calear AL. Specific anxiety and depression symptoms are risk factors for the onset of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in youth. J Affect Disord 2023; 327:299-305. [PMID: 36764362 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicidality research has typically focused on affective disorders to identify at-risk youth. Investigating the predictive role of individual symptoms, particularly anxiety symptoms, may allow for preventative targeting of additional risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts. METHODS This analysis used the Sources of Strength Australia project dataset, a cluster randomised controlled trial which assessed the impact of a schools-based intervention for youth help-seeking over 18 months (Calear et al., 2022). Symptoms of anxiety, depression and distress at baseline were used to predict the onset of suicidal ideation, planning for suicide and suicide attempts at 18 months. RESULTS Worry, lack of sleep and anxiety interfering with everyday activities at baseline predicted new onset of suicidal ideation 18 months later. Worry about the future and past, reduced appetite and a belief that life wasn't worth living were risk factors for later suicide plans and attempts. Total scale scores on the scales were typically poor predictors of onset of suicidal behaviours. LIMITATIONS Analyses were impacted by dropouts over the 18 month study period and restricted further investigation into potential behaviour transition trajectories. CONCLUSIONS These findings identify individual symptom profiles associated with later onset of suicidal behaviour. Broadening the focus beyond depression and hopelessness to incorporate anxiety, worry and reduced sleep as risk factors for suicidality is important for public health and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janie Busby Grant
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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22
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Sahib A, Chen J, Cárdenas D, Calear AL. Intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation: A meta-analytic and systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev 2023; 101:102270. [PMID: 36965452 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Intolerance of uncertainty, a transdiagnostic factor manifested across emotional disorders, has been associated with difficulties in regulating emotions. This meta-analysis addresses the lack of synthesis of this relationship. PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest were systematically searched for relevant articles published up to and during November 2022. We combined 161 effect sizes from 91 studies (N = 30,239), separating the analysis into maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies and their association with intolerance of uncertainty. We found a moderate positive relationship between maladaptive, and a moderate inverse relationship between adaptive emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty. Analysing the magnitude of relationships revealed that cognitive avoidance and mindfulness were the maladaptive and adaptive strategies respectively which had the largest effect sizes and thus strongest relationships with intolerance of uncertainty. Combining all strategies, cognitive avoidance remained the largest effect size, while expressive suppression had the smallest effect size and was non-significant in its relationship. Further analyses testing study sample, design, and age as moderators found no significant moderator for the relationships between intolerance of uncertainty and emotion regulation strategies. These findings have implications for future intolerance of uncertainty interventions, with emotion regulation as a potential target of change.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sahib
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Building 39, Science Rd, Action ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - J Chen
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Building 39, Science Rd, Action ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - D Cárdenas
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Pavillon Marie-Victorin, 90 avenue Vincent d'Indy, Montréal (QC) H2V 2S9, Canada.
| | - A L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Eggleston Rd & Mills Rd, Acton ACT 2601, Australia.
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23
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Beames JR, Huckvale K, Fujimoto H, Maston K, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Mackinnon A, Werner-Seidler A, Christensen H. The impact of COVID-19 and bushfires on the mental health of Australian adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:34. [PMID: 36895004 PMCID: PMC9998012 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When COVID-19 spread to Australia in January 2020, many communities were already in a state of emergency from the Black Summer bushfires. Studies of adolescent mental health have typically focused on the effects of COVID-19 in isolation. Few studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 and other co-occurring disasters, such as the Black Summer bushfires in Australia, on adolescent mental health. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine the impact of COVID-19 and the Black Summer bushfires on the mental health of Australian adolescents. Participants (N = 5866; mean age 13.61 years) answered self-report questionnaires about COVID-19 diagnosis/quarantine (being diagnosed with and/or quarantined because of COVID-19) and personal exposure to bushfire harm (being physically injured, evacuated from home and/or having possessions destroyed). Validated standardised scales were used to assess depression, psychological distress, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Trauma related to COVID-19 and the bushfires was also assessed. The survey was completed in two large school-based cohorts between October 2020 and November 2021. RESULTS Exposure to COVID-19 diagnosis/quarantine was associated with increased probability of elevated trauma. Exposure to personal harm by the bushfires was associated with increased probability of elevated insomnia, suicidal ideation, and trauma. There were no interactive effects between disasters on adolescent mental health. Effects between personal risk factors and disasters were generally additive or sub-additive. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent mental health responses to community-level disasters are multi-faceted. Complex psychosocial factors associated with mental ill health may be relevant irrespective of disaster. Future research is needed to investigate synergistic effects of disasters on young mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne R Beames
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kit Huckvale
- Centre for Digital Transformation of Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Hiroko Fujimoto
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kate Maston
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Andrew Mackinnon
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Helen Christensen
- School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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24
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Bower M, Smout S, Donohoe-Bales A, O’Dean S, Teesson L, Boyle J, Lim D, Nguyen A, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Gournay K, Teesson M. A hidden pandemic? An umbrella review of global evidence on mental health in the time of COVID-19. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1107560. [PMID: 36970258 PMCID: PMC10032377 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1107560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic remain a public health concern. High quality synthesis of extensive global literature is needed to quantify this impact and identify factors associated with adverse outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a rigorous umbrella review with meta-review and present (a) pooled prevalence of probable depression, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress, (b) standardised mean difference in probable depression and anxiety pre-versus-during the pandemic period, and (c) comprehensive narrative synthesis of factors associated with poorer outcomes. Databases searched included Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE dated to March 2022. Eligibility criteria included systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses, published post-November 2019, reporting data in English on mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThree hundred and thirty-eight systematic reviews were included, 158 of which incorporated meta-analyses. Meta-review prevalence of anxiety symptoms ranged from 24.4% (95%CI: 18–31%, I2: 99.98%) for general populations to 41.1% (95%CI: 23–61%, I2: 99.65%) in vulnerable populations. Prevalence of depressive symptoms ranged from 22.9% (95%CI: 17–30%, I2: 99.99%) for general populations to 32.5% (95%CI: 17–52%, I2: 99.35) in vulnerable populations. Prevalence of stress, psychological distress and PTSD/PTSS symptoms were 39.1% (95%CI: 34–44%; I2: 99.91%), 44.2% (95%CI: 32–58%; I2: 99.95%), and 18.8% (95%CI: 15–23%; I2: 99.87%), respectively. Meta-review comparing pre-COVID-19 to during COVID-19 prevalence of probable depression and probable anxiety revealed standard mean differences of 0.20 (95%CI = 0.07–0.33) and 0.29 (95%CI = 0.12–0.45), respectively.ConclusionThis is the first meta-review to synthesise the longitudinal mental health impacts of the pandemic. Findings show that probable depression and anxiety were significantly higher than pre-COVID-19, and provide some evidence that that adolescents, pregnant and postpartum people, and those hospitalised with COVID-19 experienced heightened adverse mental health. Policymakers can modify future pandemic responses accordingly to mitigate the impact of such measures on public mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlee Bower
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Marlee Bower,
| | - Scarlett Smout
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Scarlett Smout,
| | - Amarina Donohoe-Bales
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Siobhan O’Dean
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lily Teesson
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julia Boyle
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Denise Lim
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andre Nguyen
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kevin Gournay
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maree Teesson
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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25
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Grant JB, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Grant WJ, Christensen H. Recognising the anxiogenic environment as a driver of youth anxiety. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2023; 7:303-305. [PMID: 36780907 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00023-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Janie Busby Grant
- Discipline of Psychology, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2617, Australia.
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Will J Grant
- Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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26
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Mavragani A, Batterham PJ, Gulliver A, Morse A, Calear AL, McCallum S, Banfield M, Shou Y, Newman E, Dawel A. The Factors Associated With Telehealth Use and Avoidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Survey. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e43798. [PMID: 36649254 PMCID: PMC9947771 DOI: 10.2196/43798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic saw a rapid increase in the delivery of telehealth consultations as an alternative to face-to-face health care services. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to assess the use and acceptability of telehealth during the early stages of the pandemic and identify factors associated with telehealth avoidance during this period. METHODS Data were obtained from waves 4 and 7 of a longitudinal survey designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and behavior of a representative sample of Australian adults. Participants reported on their use or avoidance of telehealth during the assessment period, as well as the mode of telehealth used and acceptability. RESULTS Approximately 30% of participants reported using telehealth during the assessment periods, with the most common telehealth modality being the telephone. Acceptance of telehealth was generally high and was higher among those who used telehealth compared with those who did not. Approximately 18% of participants reported avoiding health care due to telehealth. Across assessment waves, avoidance was associated with younger age, speaking a language other than or in addition to English, having a current medical diagnosis, and lower levels of telehealth acceptability. CONCLUSIONS While most participants in this study were accepting of telehealth services, there remain barriers to use, especially among those from particular sociodemographic groups. At a population level, avoidance of health services in nearly one in five adults may have considerable long-term impacts on morbidity and potentially mortality. Targeted efforts to promote engagement with telehealth services are critical if these adverse outcomes are to be avoided, particularly during periods when access to face-to-face services may be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alyssa Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Sonia McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michelle Banfield
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.,Saw See Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Lloyd's Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Eryn Newman
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Amy Dawel
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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27
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Farrer LM, Clough B, Bekker MJ, Calear AL, Werner-Seidler A, Newby JM, Knott V, Gooding P, Reynolds J, Brennan L, Batterham PJ. Telehealth use by mental health professionals during COVID-19. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2023; 57:230-240. [PMID: 35360958 PMCID: PMC10080222 DOI: 10.1177/00048674221089229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine and describe telehealth use and attitudes among mental health professionals in Australia and New Zealand during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Participants completed a brief online survey between May and July 2020. Participants were recruited via peak and professional organisations and through psychology-focused social media groups and networks. The survey examined frequency of telehealth use, reasons for non-use, telehealth modalities, prior use, attitudes towards use, plans for future use, and training, information or resource needs. RESULTS A total of 528 professionals (85.2% female) participated in the survey, of which 98.9% reported using telehealth and 32.2% reported using telehealth exclusively. Respondents were less likely to use telehealth if they worked with clients experiencing complex issues (e.g. trauma), had more hours of weekly client contact, had a choice about whether to use telehealth or felt less positive about using technology. Respondents were more likely to hold positive views towards telehealth if they were female, had used online programmes with clients previously, were frequent telehealth users and were comfortable using technology. Participants expressed mixed views on client safety and the impact of telehealth on therapeutic process and effectiveness. CONCLUSION Telehealth has a clear and ongoing role within mental healthcare and there is a need for strong guidance for professionals on how to manage client risk, privacy, security and adapt therapy for delivery via telehealth. In particular, there is a need for individual-, organisational-, professional- and policy-level responses to ensure that telehealth remains a viable and effective healthcare medium into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Bonnie Clough
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Jill M Newby
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vikki Knott
- Australian College of Applied Psychology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Piers Gooding
- Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Julia Reynolds
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Leah Brennan
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
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28
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Carter S, Sadiq S, Calear AL, Housen T, Joshy G, Fredj N, Lokuge K. The feasibility and acceptability of implementing and evaluating a caregiver group intervention to address child mental health: A pilot study in Iraq. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
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29
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Sharwood LN, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Torok M, McGillivray L, Rheinberger D, Zeritis S, Esgin T, Shand F. Exploring Sociodemographic Correlates of Suicide Stigma in Australia: Baseline Cross-Sectional Survey Findings from the Life-Span Suicide Prevention Trial Studies. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:2610. [PMID: 36767975 PMCID: PMC9915917 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The risk of suicidal behaviour in Australia varies by age, sex, sexual preference and Indigenous status. Suicide stigma is known to affect suicide rates and help-seeking for suicidal crises. The aim of this study was to investigate the sociodemographic correlates of suicide stigma to assist in prevention efforts. We surveyed community members and individuals who had attended specific emergency departments for suicidal crisis. The respondents were part of a large-scale suicide prevention trial in New South Wales, Australia. The data collected included demographic characteristics, measures of help-seeking and suicide stigma. The linear regression analyses conducted sought to identify the factors associated with suicide stigma. The 5426 participants were predominantly female (71.4%) with a mean (SD) age of 41.7 (14.8) years, and 3.9% were Indigenous. Around one-third of participants reported a previous suicide attempt (n = 1690, 31.5%) with two-thirds (n = 3545, 65.3%) seeking help for suicidal crisis in the past year. Higher stigma scores were associated with Indigenous status (β 0.123, 95%CI 0.074-0.172), male sex (β 0.527, 95%CI 0.375-0.626) and regional residence (β 0.079, 95%CI 0.015-0.143). Lower stigma scores were associated with younger age (β -0.002, 95%CI -0.004--0.001), mental illness (β -0.095, 95%CI -0.139 to -0.050), male bisexuality (β -0.202, 95%CI -0.351 to -0.052) and males who glorified suicide (β -0.075, 95%CI -0.119 to -0.031). These results suggested that suicide stigma differed across the community, varying significantly by sex, sexual orientation and Indigenous status. Targeted educational programs to address suicide stigma could assist in suicide prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N. Sharwood
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
- John Walsh Centre, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Sydney 2006, Australia
- School of Engineering and Mechatronics, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney 2007, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health Research, iResearch School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health Research, iResearch School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
| | - Lauren McGillivray
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
| | - Demee Rheinberger
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
| | - Stephanie Zeritis
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
| | - Tuguy Esgin
- Discipline of Exercise, Health and Performance, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia
| | - Fiona Shand
- Black Dog Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2032, Australia
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Sunderland M, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Chapman C, Slade T. Factors associated with the time to transition from suicidal ideation to suicide plans and attempts in the Australian general population. Psychol Med 2023; 53:258-266. [PMID: 33926588 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721001501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide plans and attempts rarely occur without prior suicidal ideation but are hard to predict. Early intervention efforts need to focus on subgroups of the population who are more likely to transition from ideation to suicidal plans and attempts. The current study utilised data from a large nationally representative sample to investigate the time taken to transition and the demographic and mental health correlates of transitioning to suicidal plans and attempts among those with suicidal ideation. METHODS Data were from 1237 Australians aged 16-85 years who reported suicidal thoughts at some point in their life. Discrete time survival analysis was used to retrospectively examine the time in years and correlates of transitioning from suicidal ideation to suicide plans and suicide attempt. RESULTS The majority of those who transitioned to suicide plans or attempts typically did so within 2 years of first experiencing suicidal ideation. Several factors were independently associated with increased speed to transition, including alcohol use disorder, drug use disorder, major depressive episode, obsessive compulsive disorder, sexual minority status, and non-urban location. Older age, being male, older age of first ideation and greater family support were associated with a slower transition. CONCLUSION The current study suggests that pre-existing mental or substance use disorders, particularly drug use disorder, as well as sexual minority status, sex and greater family support play an important role in the transition from suicidal ideation to plans or attempts. These results highlight the potential importance of suicide prevention programs that aim to improve social connectedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Sunderland
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cath Chapman
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tim Slade
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, the University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Gulliver A, Wysoke T, Calear AL, Farrer LM. Factors Associated with Engagement in University Life, and Help Seeking Attitudes and Behaviour in First Year Undergraduate Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 20:120. [PMID: 36612442 PMCID: PMC9819179 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Students transitioning from secondary school to university may experience unique issues that impact their mental health. There is limited research, however, on what drives first year students to seek professional help for mental health problems. There is also a current lack of knowledge about the factors that may be associated with engagement with university life in students transitioning to university, and how engagement may be related to help seeking attitudes and behaviours in a first year university population. Data (N = 165) were drawn from two waves (Wave 1, February 2021, and Wave 4, June 2021) of a longitudinal study of Australian university students commencing study for the first time, which included measures of engagement, belonging, stigma and help seeking intentions and behaviours. The results showed that students with higher levels of depression stigma prior to commencing university at Wave 1 had less positive attitudes towards help seeking at Wave 4. Students had increased odds of seeking help for a mental health problem in Wave 4 if they had moved away for university, reported higher levels of mental health literacy or willingness to disclose, had lower levels of engagement with university life and were experiencing higher levels of general psychological distress. Students experiencing higher thwarted belongingness were also found to have lower levels of engagement with university at Wave 4. Both thwarted belongingness and stigma were found to be associated with engagement with university and help seeking behaviours and should be examined further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Taliah Wysoke
- Medical School, ANU College of Health & Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Louise M. Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
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Büscher R, Beisemann M, Doebler P, Micklitz HM, Kerkhof A, Cuijpers P, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Christensen H, De Jaegere E, Domhardt M, Erlangsen A, Eylem van Bergeijk O, Hill R, Lungu A, Mühlmann C, Pettit JW, Portzky G, Steubl LS, van Spijker BAJ, Tighe J, Werner-Seidler A, Wilks CR, Sander LB. Digital cognitive-behavioural therapy to reduce suicidal ideation and behaviours: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. Evid Based Ment Health 2022; 25:e8-e17. [PMID: 36535686 PMCID: PMC9811070 DOI: 10.1136/ebmental-2022-300540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
QUESTION Digital interventions based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (iCBT) is associated with reductions in suicidal ideation. However, fine-grained analyses of effects and potential effect-moderating variables are missing. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of iCBT on suicidal ideation, effect moderators, effects on suicide attempts and predictors of adherence. STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS We systematically searched CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Embase and PubMed for randomised controlled trials that investigated iCBT for suicidal ideation or behaviours. Participants reporting baseline suicidal ideation were eligible. We conducted a one-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. Suicidal ideation was the primary outcome, analysed as three indices: severity of suicidal ideation, reliable changes and treatment response. FINDINGS We included IPD from nine out of ten eligible trials (2037 participants). iCBT showed significant reductions of suicidal ideation compared with control conditions across all indices (severity: b=-0.247, 95% CI -0.322 to -0.173; reliable changes: b=0.633, 95% CI 0.408 to 0.859; treatment response: b=0.606, 95% CI 0.410 to 0.801). In iCBT, the rate of reliable improvement was 40.5% (controls: 27.3%); the deterioration rate was 2.8% (controls: 5.1%). No participant-level moderator effects were identified. The effects on treatment response were higher for trials with waitlist-controls compared with active controls. There were insufficient data on suicide attempts. Human support and female gender predicted treatment adherence. The main source of potential bias was missing outcome data. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence indicates that iCBT is effective in reducing suicidal ideation irrespective of age, gender and previous suicide attempts. Future studies should rigorously assess suicidal behaviour and drop-out reasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Büscher
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marie Beisemann
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Philipp Doebler
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hannah M Micklitz
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ad Kerkhof
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pim Cuijpers
- Department of Clinical, Neuro and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands,International Institute for Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia,School of Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eva De Jaegere
- Department of Head and Skin, Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Matthias Domhardt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Annette Erlangsen
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia,Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ryan Hill
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Anita Lungu
- Lyra Health Inc, Burlingame, California, USA
| | - Charlotte Mühlmann
- Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeremy W Pettit
- Department of Psychology, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Portzky
- Department of Head and Skin, Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | - Lena S Steubl
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bregje A J van Spijker
- Centre for Mental Health Research, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Joseph Tighe
- Black Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Chelsey R Wilks
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St Louis, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lasse B Sander
- Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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Brinckley MM, Jones R, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Lovett R. The development and validation of a family functioning measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1976. [PMID: 36307796 PMCID: PMC9615397 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Family and kinship networks are a key aspect of culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from Australia. They are intrinsically connected to good health and wellbeing, and cultural knowledge exchange. However, despite the known importance of family and kinship networks in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and the move towards family-centred approaches in healthcare service provision, there is no validated, national measure of family functioning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A valid tool to measure family functioning is necessary in order to better understand what fosters good family functioning, and to inform and develop programs and healthcare interventions. Methods Mayi Kuwayu: the National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing is a longitudinal cohort study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 16 years and over. An existing family functioning scale was modified for use in the Mayi Kuwayu Study to measure family functioning at the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population level. This study used a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (N = 8705, ≥16 years) for the psychometric assessment of the modified Mayi Kuwayu Study Family Functioning Measure. This involved face validity, acceptability, internal consistency/reliability, construct validity, and convergent and divergent validity testing. Results Participants in this study were 8705 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a mean age of 48 years, who primarily live in regional Australia (47.3%). The Mayi Kuwayu Family Functioning Measure demonstrated face validity for family functioning and had good internal consistency/reliability (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.90). Construct validity results were mixed, with an indication of uni-dimensionality (with one component explaining 59.5% of variance), but some item redundancy and inconsistency in responding patterns among groups of respondents. Balancing psychometric properties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander expert and end-user feedback of the measure indicate that the full scale should be retained. Finally, the measure demonstrated strong convergent and divergent validity, with prevalence ratios exhibiting dose-response relationships between family functioning and conceptually related outcomes (convergent validity) and conceptually unrelated outcomes (divergent validity). Conclusion The Mayi Kuwayu Family Functioning Measure is a valid measure of family functioning in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adult population. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-14363-7.
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Banfield M, Fitzpatrick SJ, Lamb H, Giugni M, Calear AL, Stewart E, Pavloudis M, Ellen L, Sargent G, Skeat H, Edwards B, Miller B, Gulliver A, Ellis LA, Bliokas V, Goj P, Lee M, Stewart K, Webb G, Main M, Lumby C, Wells K, McKay C, Batterham PJ, Morse AR, Shand F. Co-creating safe spaces: Study protocol for translational research on innovative alternatives to the emergency department for people experiencing emotional distress and/or suicidal crisis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272483. [PMID: 36190989 PMCID: PMC9529138 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Safe spaces are an alternative to emergency departments, which are often unable to provide optimum care for people experiencing emotional distress and/or suicidal crisis. At present, there are several different safe space models being trialled in Australia. However, research examining the effectiveness of safe space models, especially in community settings, is rare. In this paper, we present a protocol for a study in which we will investigate the implementation, effectiveness, and sustainability of safe space models as genuine alternatives for people who might usually present to the emergency department or choose not to access help due to past negative experiences. MATERIAL AND METHODS We will use a mixed methods, co-designed study design, conducted according to the principles of community-based participatory research to obtain deep insights into the benefits of different safe space models, potential challenges, and facilitators of effective practice. We developed the study plan and evaluation framework using the RE-AIM framework, and this will be used to assess key outcomes related to reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Data collection will comprise quantitative measures on access, use, satisfaction, (cost) effectiveness, distress, and suicidal ideation; and qualitative assessments of service implementation, experience, feasibility, acceptability, community awareness, and the fidelity of the models to service co-design. Data will be collected and analysed concurrently throughout the trial period of the initiatives. DISCUSSION This study will enable an extensive investigation of safe spaces that will inform local delivery and provide a broader understanding of the key features of safe spaces as acceptable and effective alternatives to hospital-based care for people experiencing emotional distress and/or suicidal crisis. This study will also contribute to a growing body of research on the role and benefits of peer support and provide critical new knowledge on the successes and challenges of service co-design to inform future practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Banfield
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Scott J. Fitzpatrick
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Heather Lamb
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Melanie Giugni
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Erin Stewart
- ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Maree Pavloudis
- ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Lucy Ellen
- Centre for Social Research & Methods, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ginny Sargent
- Population Health Exchange, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Helen Skeat
- Population Health Exchange, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Benn Miller
- Towards Zero Suicides Initiatives, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Louise A. Ellis
- Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vida Bliokas
- School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Purity Goj
- ACT Health Directorate, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Melissa Lee
- ACT Health Directorate, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Glenda Webb
- Towards Zero Suicides Initiatives, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Merkitta Main
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carrie Lumby
- Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Kelly Wells
- Adelaide Primary Health Network, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Carolyn McKay
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Alyssa R. Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Fiona Shand
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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McGillivray L, Shand F, Calear AL, Batterham PJ, Chen NA, Rheinberger D, Rosebrock H, Torok M. Profiles of Passive and Active Suicidal Ideation and Attempts Among Secondary School Students in Australia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 26:1880-1894. [PMID: 34223811 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2021.1945983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people (aged 15-24 years), and as such, identifying targets for early intervention is essential to reducing this risk. Using baseline data from a school-based universal suicide prevention trial, we investigate factors associated with different types of suicidal ideation in secondary school students with implications for youth suicide preventive efforts. METHODS A self-report questionnaire was administered to students aged 13-16 years (Year 9) before program delivery in four regions across New South Wales, Australia (N = 556). Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify correlates of suicidal ideation type (passive vs. active). RESULTS Approximately half the total sample reported recent suicidal ideation (51.6% in the previous two weeks), which included almost one-third reporting active suicidal ideation (32.2% seriously considered suicide or made plans). Participants that were significantly more likely to report active suicidal ideation compared to passive suicidal ideation identified as female (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.02-3.59), Indigenous (OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.05-0.80), as sexual minorities (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.13-0.97), and had greater depression severity (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.04-1.19). CONCLUSIONS Suicidal thoughts are prevalent among young people. Universal and indicated preventive interventions that address depression, as well as bullying and discrimination of minority groups would benefit all young people, particularly those more vulnerable to severe suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.HighlightsActive suicidal ideation (SI) was reported by 32.2% of our student sample aged 13-16 years.Active SI is linked to sex (female), Indigeneity status, sexual minority status, and greater depression severity.Improved bullying and discrimination policy within schools, and well-being programs targeting depression and promoting help-seeking, would benefit youth.
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Shou Y, Smithson M, Gulliver A, Murray K, Banfield M, Rodney Harris RM, McCallum SM, Farrer LM, Calear AL, Batterham PJ. Risk tolerance and changes in coronavirus disease (COVID) related health behaviors: A longitudinal study. Health Psychol 2022; 41:507-518. [PMID: 35759006 DOI: 10.1037/hea0001197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study examined behavioral responses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the role of dispositional risk tolerance in the Australian context. METHOD The study involved a six-wave longitudinal investigation with a nationally representative sample of Australians (N = 1,296). Dispositional risk tolerance was measured at Wave 1 and participants' anxiety level and self-report implementation of 10 COVID actions was assessed in each wave. Autoregressive multinomial regression models were estimated to assess the unique contribution of risk tolerance to the longitudinal change of participants' implementation of COVID actions. RESULTS The results revealed a high implementation rate for protective actions when Australia had a peak in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently declined with the easing threat of the pandemic. Individuals' dispositional risk tolerance significantly predicted transition to, and endorsement of, protective actions. Participants who had low risk tolerance were more likely to remain at the state of implementing COVID-19 measures than being in, or transitioning to, other states. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that when encouraging protective actions, governments and public authorities should acknowledge variability in the community in responding to risk and consider measures in addition to risk messaging to encourage protective actions among individuals with a high level of risk tolerance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, Australian National University
| | | | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Kristen Murray
- Research School of Psychology, Australian National University
| | - Michelle Banfield
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
| | | | - Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University
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McCallum SM, Batterham PJ, Christensen H, Werner-Seidler A, Nicolopoulos A, Newton N, Teesson M, Calear AL. Personality factors associated with suicidal ideation, plans and attempts in adolescents. J Affect Disord 2022; 310:135-141. [PMID: 35537543 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians, therefore identifying factors that increase risk is important. The aims of this study was to investigate the association between personality domains and suicidal ideation, plans and attempts in a community-based sample of adolescents. METHODS 1428 students from thirteen secondary schools in Australia completed a survey consisting of demographic information (gender and age), personality risk across four domains (Hopelessness, Impulsivity, Sensation Seeking and Anxiety Sensitivity) as measured by the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale, and psychological distress measured by the Distress Questionnaire 5 scale. Outcome measures included suicidal ideation, plans and attempts measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. RESULTS Students were aged between 11 and 17 years old (mean: 13.3, SD = 1.2) with 59% identifying as female. Proportions of participants reporting suicidal ideation, plans and at least one attempt were 14%, 9% and 7% respectively. Hopelessness was associated with twice the odds (OR = 3.1 and 2.9) of suicidal thoughts and plans respectively. Hopelessness also had 45% increased odds for suicide attempt (OR = 2.1), however this was not significant in the suicidal ideation sub-group. Impulsivity and sensation seeking were associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 1.3), while only impulsivity was associated with attempt (OR = 1.5). LIMITATIONS The study was cross-sectional, considered suicidal thoughts and behaviors in past 12 months only and used one measure of personality. CONCLUSIONS Personality traits may be important for determining suicide risk in adolescents. Developing screening and interventions targeting personality may have implications for the detection and prevention of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Ally Nicolopoulos
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicola Newton
- The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maree Teesson
- The Matilda Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
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Baffsky R, Ivers R, Cullen P, Batterham PJ, Toumbourou J, Calear AL, Werner-Seidler A, McGillivray L, Torok M. A cluster randomised effectiveness-implementation trial of an intervention to increase the adoption of PAX Good Behaviour Game, a mental health prevention program, in Australian primary schools: Study protocol. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 28:100923. [PMID: 35669488 PMCID: PMC9163694 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Baffsky
- School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Rebecca Ivers
- School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Patricia Cullen
- School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Samuels Building, F25, Samuel Terry Ave, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 62 Mills Road, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - John Toumbourou
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, 62 Mills Road, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Aliza Werner-Seidler
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Lauren McGillivray
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Reily N, Tang S, Han J, Christensen H. Factors associated with professional mental health service use among adults with suicidal ideation. J Affect Disord 2022; 307:278-285. [PMID: 35398106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The uptake of professional mental health services among people with suicidal ideation remains low, yet few community-based studies have characterised modifiable individual barriers to service use. Our aims were (1) to identify factors associated with use of professional mental health services among people experiencing suicidal ideation, and (2) to distinguish subgroups with varying levels of service use. METHODS 1462 Australian adults (78.8% female) were recruited online to participate in a cross-sectional survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with professional service use. A decision tree model was used to identify subgroups with varying rates of professional service use. RESULTS Most participants (62%) had used professional services for mental health concerns in the past 12 months. Greater rates of service use were observed in participants who were middle aged, spoke English, disclosed to informal sources or helplines, met criteria for a mental health disorder, had higher levels of entrapment, psychological distress, and disinhibition, and lower levels of detachment and antagonism. At the terminal nodes of the decision tree analysis, service use ranged from 21% to 94%. The most important determinants of service use were meeting criteria for a mental disorder and disclosure of suicidal ideation to family/friends and helplines. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that interventions to support the safe disclosure of suicidal ideation may assist in increasing service use. There is also the need for services that meet the needs of individuals who do not meet criteria for a mental health condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Natalie Reily
- Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Samantha Tang
- Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jin Han
- Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Zhao Y, Leach LS, Walsh E, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Phillips C, Olsen A, Doan T, LaBond C, Banwell C. COVID-19 and mental health in Australia - a scoping review. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1200. [PMID: 35705931 PMCID: PMC9200373 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13527-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 outbreak has spread to almost every country around the world and caused more than 3 million deaths. The pandemic has triggered enormous disruption in people’s daily lives with profound impacts globally. This has also been the case in Australia, despite the country’s comparative low mortality and physical morbidity due to the virus. This scoping review aims to provide a broad summary of the research activity focused on mental health during the first 10 months of the pandemic in Australia. Results A search of the Australian literature was conducted between August-November 2020 to capture published scientific papers, online reports and pre-prints, as well as gaps in research activities. The search identified 228 unique records in total. Twelve general population and 30 subpopulation group studies were included in the review. Conclusions Few studies were able to confidently report changes in mental health driven by the COVID-19 context (at the population or sub-group level) due to a lack of pre-COVID comparative data and non-representative sampling. Never-the-less, in aggregate, the findings show an increase in poor mental health over the early period of 2020. Results suggest that young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions, and the financially disadvantaged, experienced greater declines in mental health. The need for rapid research appears to have left some groups under-researched (e.g. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations and Indigenous peoples were not studied), and some research methods under-employed (e.g. there was a lack of qualitative and mixed-methods studies). There is a need for further reviews as the follow-up results of longitudinal studies emerge and understandings of the impact of the pandemic are refined. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13527-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Zhao
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Liana S Leach
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Erin Walsh
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine Phillips
- The ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna Olsen
- The ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tinh Doan
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine LaBond
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- The Research School of Population Health (RSPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Williamson R, Banwell C, Calear AL, LaBond C, Leach LS, Olsen A, Phillips C, Walsh EI, Zulfiqar T. ‘I didn’t feel safe inside’: navigating public health advice, housing and living with bushfire smoke. Critical Public Health 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2022.2082923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Williamson
- Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine LaBond
- Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Liana S. Leach
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH), College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna Olsen
- ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine Phillips
- ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Erin I. Walsh
- Population Health Exchange (PHXchange), Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tehzeeb Zulfiqar
- Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Shou Y, Farrer LM, Murray K, Morse AR, Gulliver A, Slade T, Newton NC, Calear AL. Patterns and predictors of alcohol use during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Longitudinal cohort study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1248-1257. [PMID: 35567305 PMCID: PMC9348344 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions across many life domains. The distress associated with the pandemic itself, and with public health efforts to manage the outbreak, could result in increased alcohol use. This study aimed to quantify changes in alcohol use during the early stages of the pandemic and factors associated with different patterns of use. Methods Data were obtained from a longitudinal survey of a representative Australian adult sample (N = 1296, 50% female, Mage = 46.0) conducted from March to June 2020, during the first wave of the COVID‐19 outbreak in Australia. Change in alcohol consumption was examined using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test‐Consumption (AUDIT‐C) scores from waves one, three, five, and seven of the study, each 4 weeks apart. Factors associated with alcohol consumption were examined, including depression (PHQ‐9) and anxiety (GAD‐7) symptoms, health risk tolerance, stress and coping, work and social impairment (WSAS), COVID impacts, and sociodemographic variables. We tested changes in alcohol use across the full sample using a mixed effects repeated measure ANOVA model and a multinomial logistic regression to identify factors assessed at wave 1 that were independently associated with alcohol use. Results There was no significant change in AUDIT‐C scores across the study. For most participants, alcohol use did not increase during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. COVID‐19 exposure, higher perceived coping, depression symptoms, and male gender were associated with greater odds of increasing or elevated levels of alcohol use. Social changes, which included working from home, had mixed effects on alcohol consumption. Conclusions Although no evidence was found for increased alcohol use overall during the early months of the pandemic, several factors were associated with alcohol consumption at risky levels. Greater understanding of motivations for drinking across public and private contexts, along with targeted support for high‐risk groups, could assist in reducing harm associated with alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kristen Murray
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tim Slade
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicola C Newton
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Gulliver A, Kurz E, Farrer LM, Vis C, Schuurmans J, Calear AL. The Effect of Dissemination Pathways on Uptake and Relative Costs for a Transdiagnostic, Self-guided Internet Intervention for Reducing Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidal Ideation: Comparative Implementation Study. J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e34769. [PMID: 35522458 PMCID: PMC9123540 DOI: 10.2196/34769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Self-guided web-based programs are effective; however, inadequate implementation of these programs limits their potential to provide effective and low-cost treatment for common mental health problems at scale. There is a lack of research examining optimal methods for the dissemination of web-based programs in the community. Objective This study aimed to compare the uptake, reach, relative costs, and adherence associated with 3 community-based pathways for delivering a low-intensity web-based transdiagnostic mental health program. The 3 dissemination pathways were social media advertising, advertising in general practice, and advertising in pharmacies. Methods Participants were recruited on the web, from general practices, or from community pharmacies; completed a screener for psychological distress; and were offered the 4-week FitMindKit program—a 12-module psychotherapeutic intervention. Uptake was defined as the number of participants who enrolled in the web-based program; reach was defined as the rate of uptake per exposure; and costs were calculated based on staff time, equipment, and advertising. Adherence was assessed as the number of modules of FitMindKit completed by the participants. Results Uptake comprised 1014 participants who were recruited through the 3 dissemination pathways: on the web (991/1014, 97.73%), in general practice (16/1014, 1.58%), and in pharmacy (7/1014, 0.69%). Reach was highest for social media: 1 in every 50 people exposed to web-based advertising took up the intervention compared with 1 in every 441 in general practitioner clinics and 1 in every 1708 in pharmacies. The dissemination cost was US $4.87 per user on social media, US $557 per user for general practitioner clinics, and US $1272 per user for pharmacy dissemination. No significant differences in adherence were observed between the conditions, whereas all pathways showed an underrepresentation of men and linguistic diversity. Conclusions The web-based dissemination pathway was the most efficient and cost-effective for delivering a self-guided internet-based mental health program to people in the community. More research is needed to identify how best to engage men and those with culturally diverse backgrounds in web-based interventions. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001688279; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376113
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ella Kurz
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christiaan Vis
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Christensen H, Calear AL, Werner-Seidler A, Kazan D. Rates and Predictors of Deterioration in a Trial of Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Reducing Suicidal Thoughts. Arch Suicide Res 2022; 26:937-947. [PMID: 33215554 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1848671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE It is necessary for suicide prevention interventions to demonstrate safety. One important aspect of safety is evidence that deterioration rates are low. No studies have examined deterioration of suicidal ideation in the context of an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention to reduce suicidal ideation. A secondary analysis of the outcomes of an online trial was conducted to determine rates of deterioration in a CBT intervention called Living with Deadly Thoughts, relative to an attention control condition, and to identify factors associated with deterioration. METHOD The randomized controlled trial included 418 adults with suicidal ideation at baseline (77% females, mean age 40.6 years). Deterioration was defined in two ways: a reliable increase in Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS score) of ≥6.0 units; or triggering the safety protocol during the trial as determined by high levels of suicidality. Analyses were repeated with multiply imputed data. Predictors of deterioration were identified using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS 30 (14%) participants in the control group and 15 (7%) in the intervention group met criteria for reliable deterioration (Fisher's exact p = 0.027). In a fully adjusted logistic regression model, greater initial severity of suicidal thinking was associated with lower odds of deterioration, while intervention condition, demographics, psychological factors and mental health factors had no significant association with deterioration. CONCLUSIONS Participation in an online suicide prevention intervention was associated with lower prevalence of reliable deterioration than participation in an attention-control intervention, providing further evidence that internet-based CBT interventions do not cause harm.HighlightsFirst study to assess deterioration in an internet suicide prevention interventionRates of reliable deterioration were higher in control (14%) than intervention (7%)No psychological or demographic factors were robustly associated with deteriorationFindings provide further evidence that internet based CBT programs are not harmful.
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Smithson M, Shou Y, Dawel A, Calear AL, Farrer L, Cherbuin N. The Psychological Benefits of an Uncertain World: Hope and Optimism in the Face of Existential Threat. Front Psychol 2022; 13:749093. [PMID: 35401326 PMCID: PMC8983926 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.749093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We examine how prior mental health predicts hopes and how hopes predict subsequent mental health, testing hypotheses in a longitudinal study with an Australian nation-wide adult sample regarding mental health consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak during its initial stage. Quota sampling was used to select a sample representative of the adult Australian population in terms of age groups, gender, and geographical location. Mental health measures were selected to include those with the best psychometric properties. Hypotheses were tested using generalized linear models with random intercepts, with the type of GLM determined by the nature of the dependent variable. Greater anxiety, depression, distress, and loneliness predict less hope, but impaired quality of life and stress positively predict hopes of gaining new skills. Distress and loneliness predict hopes for social connectedness and an improved society, suggesting that predictors of hope depend on what is hoped for. These findings suggest the need for more nuanced theories of hope. Greater hopes for societal improvement predict lower anxiety, depression, distress, and impaired quality of life, but greater hopes for skills and better mental health predict higher levels of these covariates. Moreover, when relevant prior psychological states are more intense, the impact of hope state declines. These findings indicate that the consequences of hope are heterogeneous, and suggest a possible explanation for the seemingly inconsistent therapeutic effectiveness of raising hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Smithson
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Amy Dawel
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Louise Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Shou Y, Farrer LM, Gulliver A, McCallum SM, Dawel A. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidal ideation in a representative Australian population sample-Longitudinal cohort study. J Affect Disord 2022; 300:385-391. [PMID: 34995704 PMCID: PMC8735855 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The direct and indirect mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are considerable. However, it is unclear how suicidal ideation was affected in communities during the acute lockdown phase of the pandemic, and over the longer-term. This study provides longitudinal data on the prevalence of, and risk factors for, suicidal ideation in the Australian national population, during the pandemic. METHOD The Australian National COVID-19 Mental Health and Risk Communication Survey assessed a nationally representative sample of Australian adults (N = 1296) fortnightly for 12 weeks from late-March to June 2020 (7 waves), and again in March 2021 (wave 8). Cox proportional hazards models examined demographic and pandemic-related risk factors for suicidal ideation over time. RESULTS Prevalence of suicidal ideation was high but steady at ∼18% across the acute lockdown phase of the pandemic, and 16.2% in March 2021. People who had direct experience with COVID-19 (tested, diagnosed, or contact with someone who was diagnosed) had increased risk for suicidal ideation. Higher pandemic-related work and social impairment, recent adversity, loneliness, and being younger were also associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation over time. CONCLUSION Both the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 were associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation over time, although prevalence did not vary over time. The high prevalence of suicidal ideation in our sample flags a critical need for accessible mental health support, and findings provide insights into the factors placing people at risk during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia,Corresponding author
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
| | - Louise M. Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
| | - Sonia M. McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
| | - Amy Dawel
- Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra Australia
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Williamson R, Banwell C, Calear AL, LaBond C, Leach LS, Olsen A, Walsh EI, Zulfiqar T, Sutherland S, Phillips C. Bushfire Smoke in Our Eyes: Community Perceptions and Responses to an Intense Smoke Event in Canberra, Australia. Front Public Health 2022; 10:793312. [PMID: 35284396 PMCID: PMC8907569 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.793312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2019–20 bushfires that raged in eastern Australia were an overwhelming natural disaster leading to lives lost or upended, and communities destroyed. For almost a month, Canberra, Australia's capital city in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), was obscured by smoke from fires which threatened the outer suburbs. While smoke itself is experientially different from many natural disasters, it nevertheless poses a significant public health threat. As the impact of extended bushfire smoke in an urban setting is relatively unexplored we aimed to capture the individual and community-level experiences of the event and their importance for community and social functioning. We responded rapidly by conducting semi-structured interviews with a range of Canberra residents who, due to their personal or social circumstances, were potentially vulnerable to the effects of the smoke. Three major themes emerging from the narratives depicted disruption to daily life, physical and psychological effects, and shifting social connectedness. This study highlighted the ambiguous yet impactful nature of a bushfire smoke event, and identified four simple key messages that may be critically relevant to policy making in preparation for similar smoke events in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Williamson
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Cathy Banwell
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- *Correspondence: Cathy Banwell
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine LaBond
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Liana S. Leach
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Anna Olsen
- Australian National University (ANU) Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Erin I. Walsh
- Population Health Exchange (PHXchange), Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tehzeeb Zulfiqar
- Australian National University (ANU) Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Stewart Sutherland
- The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine Phillips
- Australian National University (ANU) Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Batterham PJ, Brown K, Trias A, Poyser C, Kazan D, Calear AL. Systematic review of quantitative studies assessing the relationship between environment and mental health in rural areas. Aust J Rural Health 2022; 30:306-320. [PMID: 35189016 PMCID: PMC9303895 DOI: 10.1111/ajr.12851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Physical and natural environments might strongly influence mental health and well-being. Many studies have examined this relationship in urban environments, with fewer focused on rural settings. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise quantitative evidence for the relationship between environmental factors (drought, climate and extreme weather events, land use/environmental degradation, green space/vegetation, engagement in natural resource management activities) and mental health or well-being in rural areas. DESIGN Following a systematic search of three databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Web of Science), 4368 articles were identified, of which 28 met eligibility criteria for inclusion in the review. RESULTS Poorer mental health and well-being was typically found to have an association with extreme climate or weather events and environmental degradation. The observed relationships were largely assessed at area-wide or community levels. CONCLUSIONS Studies examining the relationship between the environmental condition of land and mental health at an individual level, particularly within farms, are lacking. Addressing this gap in research requires interdisciplinary expertise and diverse methodology. Few studies examined the effects of natural resource management practices/principles or biodiversity on mental health. While there is evidence that extreme climate or weather events have a negative impact on mental health in rural areas, there remain considerable gaps in our knowledge of how rural environments influence mental health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kimberly Brown
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Angelica Trias
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Carmel Poyser
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Dominique Kazan
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Calear AL, McCallum SM, Christensen H, Mackinnon AJ, Nicolopoulos A, Brewer JL, Werner-Seidler A, Morse AR, Kazan D, Farrer LM, Kampel L, Batterham PJ. The Sources of Strength Australia project: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-connectedness school-based program to promote help-seeking in adolescents. J Affect Disord 2022; 299:435-443. [PMID: 34952104 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is a significant public health problem and there is a clear need for interventions to improve help seeking for suicide and psychological distress in young people. This trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of the school-based Sources of Strength program in increasing help-seeking intentions and behaviours in adolescents. METHODS A cluster, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 13 Australian secondary schools (N = 1633), with each school randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 7) or wait-list control condition (n = 6). Participants in the intervention condition received the Sources of Strength program over two years and all participants completed self-report measures of help-seeking intentions and behaviour at four time-points. Staff and students in the intervention condition also provided qualitative feedback on the perceived impact of the program. RESULTS Mixed model repeated measures analyses demonstrated no significant effect of the Sources of Strength program on help-seeking intentions or behaviour at post-intervention or 6- or 18-month follow-up. Staff and students reported, through qualitative feedback, that the program increased awareness of and openness to help seeking and promoted a common language and school community. LIMITATIONS The current study only included self-report measures that may have been influenced by situational factors or biases. CONCLUSIONS Although the Sources of Strength program may have increased awareness of help seeking, there was no evidence that it is effective in increasing help-seeking intentions or behaviours in this cohort. The program may be more suitable for schools in disadvantaged areas where there may be limited existing connections to trusted adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
| | - Sonia M McCallum
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew J Mackinnon
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Jacqueline L Brewer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Dominique Kazan
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Laura Kampel
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Tang S, Reily NM, Arena AF, Batterham PJ, Calear AL, Carter GL, Mackinnon AJ, Christensen H. People Who Die by Suicide Without Receiving Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review. Front Public Health 2022; 9:736948. [PMID: 35118036 PMCID: PMC8804173 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.736948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The majority of people who die by suicide have never seen a mental health professional or been diagnosed with a mental illness. To date, this majority group has largely been ignored, with most existing research focusing on predictors of suicide such as past suicide attempts. Identifying the characteristics of people who die by suicide without receiving services, often with a fatal first attempt, is crucial to reduce suicide rates through guiding improvements to service pathways and “just in time” interventions. Methods In this systematic review, PsycInfo, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed articles published from 1980 to 1st March 2021. Included studies examined predictors of non-receipt of formal mental health services among people who died by suicide. Data were extracted from published reports and the quality of included studies was assessed using a modified version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies. This review was registered with PROSPERO, CRD 42021226543. Results Sixty-seven studies met inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 39 to 193,152 individuals. Male sex, younger or older age, and rural location were consistently associated with non-receipt of mental health services. People not receiving mental health services were also less likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis, past suicidal behavior or contact with general health services, and more likely to use violent means of suicide. There was some evidence that minority ethnicity and psychosocial stressors were associated with service non-receipt. Conclusion People who die by suicide without receiving mental health services are likely to have diverse profiles, indicating the need for multifaceted approaches to effectively support people at risk of suicide. Identifying the needs and preferences of individuals who are at risk of suicide is crucial in developing new support pathways and services, and improving the quality of existing services. Systematic Review Registration http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42021226543.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Tang
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Samantha Tang
| | - Natalie M. Reily
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew F. Arena
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J. Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alison L. Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Gregory L. Carter
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Helen Christensen
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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