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This paper describes the nature and scope of protective factors that give older people reasons and experiences to live following a suicide attempt. In order to understand more about what protective factors influenced them, we conducted a multiple-case study of seven older people who attempted suicide. The main category from the within-case analysis was the self. Between-case analysis identified four main categories: interpersonal relationships, meaningful activities and interests, community engagement, and involvement of mental health services staff. These findings offer valuable insight into the meanings behind the reasons and experiences that promote survival of older people following a suicide attempt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intersecting gender and other social inequalities are pertinent to women's mental health across the life course. Gendered violence and other forms of gender inequality in particular play a key role in the higher burden of psychological distress carried by young women. However, the context of gendered violence is often minimised or overlooked entirely when young women seek help or advice around mental health concerns. This is especially the case for young women under the age of 30 years. This paper reports on a research study exploring how young women in Australia understand their mental health, and the scope for new approaches to support that better address their needs. A qualitative survey undertaken with 52 Australian young women was used to explore the nature of their mental health experiences, sought to learn about the strategies they used when experiencing poor mental health and the scope for mental health peer support as an alternative approach to intervention. Responses from a diverse group of young women demonstrated that they understood the role that gendered violence and gender inequality played in their mental health. Findings point to the risk of slippage between young women's understandings of their lived experience and those of traditional service providers, demonstrating the risks associated with minimising or ignoring of the gendered nature of young women's mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conceptualizing vulnerability, it is common for researchers to assume that some participants are more vulnerable on the basis of their membership of a particular group or because they exhibit particular characteristics. Older people are often viewed as inherently more vulnerable by ethics committees and the ethical guidelines committees construct. Because age alone does not confer or cause vulnerability, risk of harm to older research participants is not purely associated with their intrinsic connection to a vulnerable group, and classifying older research participants as vulnerable may not necessarily protect them from harm. Drawing on the preliminary findings of a qualitative study of older people who had survived a suicide attempt, we reflect on how the specific context of our study had the potential of framing older people as vulnerable, and describe ways in which these were managed and resolved. Specifically, we discuss potential for harm through the ethical principles of coercion and distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discussion paper identifies and examines several tensions inherent in traditional approaches to understanding older people's suicide. Predicted future increases in the absolute number of elderly suicides are subject to careful interpretation due to the underreporting of suicides in older age groups. Furthermore, a significant number of studies of older people's death by suicide examine risk factors or a combination of risk factors in retrospect only, while current approaches to suicide prevention in the elderly place disproportionate emphasis on the identification and treatment of depression. Taken together, such tensions give rise to a monologic view of research and practice, ultimately limiting our potential for understanding older people's experience of suicide and suicidal behaviour. New approaches are necessary if we are to move beyond the current narrow focus that prevails. Fresh thinking, which draws on older people's experience of attempting to die by suicide, might offer critical insight into socially-constructed meanings attributed to suicide and suicidal behaviour by older people. Specifically, identification through research into the protective mechanisms that are relevant and available to older people who have been suicidal is urgently needed to effectively guide mental health nurses and health-care professionals in therapeutic engagement and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective risk assessment and risk management is an important component of clinical mental health practice and is vital to people in crisis and at risk of an adverse outcome. This discussion paper reflects on key findings from a symposium addressing clinical risk assessment and risk management processes and methods. The focus of the symposium centred on the importance of shared learning in clinical practice to enable practitioners to reflect and learn from one another in relation to the complexities of modern-day mental health practice and the implications of the various mental health reform agendas to the provision of clinical care and treatment. The symposium provided an opportunity for clinicians to critically present and discuss risk assessment and risk management practices in an endeavour to develop a systematic approach to the effective assessment and management of suicide, aggression and violence in a range of mental health settings. Key findings from the symposium are discussed against a backdrop of contemporary literature in the field and form a practical framework for the assessment and management of risk regarding suicide, aggression and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian research indicates that post-parental care transitions are rarely planned and primarily occur following a crisis for a primary carer. This paper examines disability staff perceptions of transitions for people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers in rural South Australia. A focus group interview model was used, with a semi-structured interview guide initiating group discussions. A thematic analysis methodological approach was selected to analyse the data. This paper reports on the theme of Service Delivery, which has three sub-themes of Availability; Distance; and Individual Access. The key findings are presented and supported by the use of exemplar quotes. This research indicates a poor intersection of general and specialist services is inhibiting post-parental transitional care for rural people. Simply allocating money to the individual does not resolve the issues, and the interface between different services needs to be better considered at government level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procter N, Beutel J, Deuter K, Curren D, de Crespigny C, Simon M. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; : 254-261 A number of significant challenges face graduate mental health nurses entering the workforce. In response, Transition to Practice programs have been promoted as a potential strategy for improving recruitment and retention within the mental health system. This review explores the experience of transition for mental health nurse graduates and identifies key aspects of Transition to Practice programs that facilitate the transition to practising professional. A comprehensive review of qualitative research, which sought to provide insight into the experience of transition for graduate mental health nurses, was conducted. Nine studies were identified through a search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, PsychArticles, Psychology, AMED, EMBASE and Health Source: Nursing/academic edition. Findings showed a disparity between undergraduate perceptions of the mental health nurse role and what is actually observed during placement, highlighting the need for the positive contribution of preceptors and mentors within a transitional support model for newly graduated mental health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major public health concern of global significance. The illness diminishes overall quality of life and has been associated with significant distress and disability in physical, interpersonal, and social role functioning. Over the past few decades, a consensus has evolved that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for depression in older adults; however, little attention has been given to its effect on them. Aims: The purpose of this review was to examine the current use of CBT and its effect on older adults with depression. Method: A web-based literature search was performed to identify original research articles published from 2000 to 2013 using a three-step search strategy. Results: Evidence indicates that cognitive behavioural therapies are likely to be efficacious in older people when compared with treatment as usual. This is consistent with the findings of several systematic reviews and meta-analyses undertaken across a wider age range. Conclusions: Given that many older adults with depression are reluctant to accept antidepressant medication or unable to tolerate their side effects, CBT can be used as an option in treating depression in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]