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Objective: This study examined differences in the types of mental health research that were conducted in the states and territories of Australia in 2008. Differences in both the disorder focus (e.g. depression, psychosis) and goal or methodology (e.g. epidemiological, biological) of published papers were examined. The structural differences underlying research output were examined by comparing output with funding and research infrastructure.Method: A random sample of 1008 Australian-authored mental health research publications and all 126 competitive mental-health related research grants from 2008 were coded in terms of their state or territory of origin, disorder focus and research goal.Results: Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory had the highest per capita rates of mental health research publications in 2008, while Tasmania and the Northern Territory had less per capita output. Research in New South Wales had greater focus on substance use and anxiety disorders, while Victoria was dominant in research on affective disorders and psychosis. Research in Queensland and Western Australia was broader in scope. Research output was more closely linked with number of successful grants than amount of funding.Conclusions: State and territory support for mental health research may have important implications for research output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems for young Australians, many do not have ready access to treatment or are reluctant to seek help. Until recently there was a tendency for young Australians to fall between the gap of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Adult Mental Health Services, and this has contributed to low rates of service use for young people. In 2006, the Australian Government sought to redress this gap in service delivery with its establishment of the Australian National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace. This paper presents demographic data collected at headspace Gosford over a 5.5-year period.Conclusions: The data presented indicates that headspace Gosford has been successful in improving early access to mental health treatment for young people on the Central Coast, in particular for young people aged 14-18. Headspace Gosford has attracted young people of both sexes, with a higher proportion of females. The majority of young people access headspace for mental health problems, predominantly depression and anxiety; however, a significant proportion report physical health or alcohol and drug-related reasons. The likelihood of these referral reasons is informed by gender and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate restraint use in Australian emergency departments (EDs).Method: A retrospective audit of restraint incidents in four EDs (from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2011).Results: The restraint rate was 0.04% of total ED presentations. Males and females were involved in similar numbers of incidents. Over 90% of restrained patients had a mental illness diagnosis and were compulsorily hospitalised. Mechanical restraint with the use of soft shackles was the main method used. Restraint was enacted to prevent harm to self and/or others. Median incident duration was 2 hours 5 minutes.Conclusions: In order to better integrate the needs of mental health clients, consideration is needed as to what improvements to procedures and the ED environment can be made. EDs should particularly focus on reducing restraint duration and the use of hard shackles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the implementation of an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service at Flinders Medical Centre emergency department (IAPT@Flinders). IAPT, a population-based model of guided self-help for anxiety and depression delivered mainly by phone, was rolled-out nationally in the UK in 2010. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating its clinical effectiveness and efficiency that can improve treatment adherence, reduce stigma, remove appointment attendance barriers and improve access for hard-to-reach populations.Conclusions: IAPT@Flinders was the test site for the first IAPT in Australia and also the first IAPT service that was integrated with an emergency department (ED). IAPT@Flinders offers rapid access, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy, social prescribing and signposting to clients with adjustment disorders, anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Successful implementation within an Australian crisis setting has demonstrated that many IAPT structures and protocols are applicable to ED settings and the model can be implemented with fidelity. Adaption required consideration of positioning of the service within the Australian mental health framework; staff qualifications; the referral pathways; and exclusion criteria. It is recommended additional test sites and larger scale trials are conducted to provide further evidence of the applicability of large-scale adoption of the UK IAPT model into Australian ED settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article features the E-Mental Health Service for Young People Living With Cancer (YPLWC) service in Australia developed by CanTeen. Topics discussed include the service's purpose, outcome and value, the high incidence of mental illness in young people, statistical data on the number of young people suffering from cancer. Also discussed are cancer-related services offered through the Internet, teleconferencing and telephone counselling.