The 2011 Mission Australia survey has found teenagers are stressing about school work, body image and coping with stress more than ever.
Teenagers are feeling the pressure to get good grades at school, particularly 15-19 year olds. The survey found that 41.8 are now listing school as their top priority, up from 28.7 last year. These concerns are probably coming from this generation watching people lose jobs due to the global financial crisis and anticipating the highly competetive job market they will be entering.
Teens, particularly girls, have reported increasing levels of concern with body image, this indicates that the messages about healthy liefstyles and realistic body images are not getting through. The quest to gain peer approval and to be popular seem to be over riding all attempts to make people aware of the dangers associated with the quest to be like "the girls on tv."
This age group also reported generally coping with stress as a stressor.
All in all these figures are concerning, the pressure youth are under and the pressure they put themselves under could lead to further mental health issues.
For more information, check out these articles from News.com and the Australian.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Social Inclusion Week 19th - 27th November
Social Inclusion Week encourages everyone to reconnent and be inclusive of all cultures, age groups, nationalities and the disadvantaged.
Social Inclusion Week is focused on making everyone feel valued and to give people the opportunity to participate fully in society. This includes connecting with local communities, work mates, family and friends to build relationships and networks, addressing isolation and exclusion by supporting people who may be unable help themselves.
Social Inclusion Week was launched in 2009 to encourage everyone to connect, to create awareness of groups that are often isolated. These groups include; young people 12-25 years of age, jobless families with children, disadvantaged Australians, people with a disability or mental illness, people who are homeless, older people and Indigenous Australians.
Who are YOU looking out for this week?
Social Inclusion Week is focused on making everyone feel valued and to give people the opportunity to participate fully in society. This includes connecting with local communities, work mates, family and friends to build relationships and networks, addressing isolation and exclusion by supporting people who may be unable help themselves.
Social Inclusion Week was launched in 2009 to encourage everyone to connect, to create awareness of groups that are often isolated. These groups include; young people 12-25 years of age, jobless families with children, disadvantaged Australians, people with a disability or mental illness, people who are homeless, older people and Indigenous Australians.
Who are YOU looking out for this week?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Attitudes towards mental illness
Negative attitudes towards mental illness are again in the spotlight with moves to stop plans for two housing facilities for people with mental illnesses in the Narre Warren area, reports the Casey Weekly.
Locals are concerned about increased traffic in the area, insufficent public transport and the site's location near a bus stop "where many young people congregate", as well as it being close to Scout and Guide halls. Their concerns are seen to be perpetuating old myths about mental illness. Locals and Australians in general are urged to quash outdated views on mental illness.
Similar points were raised during forums held in mental health week in October. Leaders in the field raised the point that increased awareness of mental illnesses and exposure to people with mental illness is the best way to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and normalise mental illness within the community. Considering one in five Australians will suffer from a mental illness at some stage in their lives, and all Australians will be affected by mental illness, this negative attitude towards mental illness needs to stop!
Locals are concerned about increased traffic in the area, insufficent public transport and the site's location near a bus stop "where many young people congregate", as well as it being close to Scout and Guide halls. Their concerns are seen to be perpetuating old myths about mental illness. Locals and Australians in general are urged to quash outdated views on mental illness.
Similar points were raised during forums held in mental health week in October. Leaders in the field raised the point that increased awareness of mental illnesses and exposure to people with mental illness is the best way to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and normalise mental illness within the community. Considering one in five Australians will suffer from a mental illness at some stage in their lives, and all Australians will be affected by mental illness, this negative attitude towards mental illness needs to stop!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
‘Sleep Soundly CD’ – Sarah Edelman
Sarah Edelman provides the listener of the ‘Sleep Soundly’ CD two tracks of different visualization exercises, guided imagery and meditation, which are effective for promoting sleep. The listener is provided with step-by-step assistance in each exercise by Sarah’s gentle voice that enables the listener to forget any troubling thoughts and become lost in what seems like a surreal world. This is further encouraged by the accompanying ambient music, which also allows you to relax. As you become immersed in Sarah’s voice your breathing starts to slow down and you can feel your muscles begin to relax and eventually find yourself in a state of mental calmness and deep physical relaxation.
The CD is considered to be most effective when heard at night whilst laying in bed or when you’re experiencing a slight case of insomnia. Some nights, you may not even get the chance to listen to the CD from start to finish as you could find yourself feeling sedated and soon enough drifting off to sleep before you know it. However, it could be suitable when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the endless thoughts and worries of the day, or when you might feel the need to release any tension and let go of any anxiety. The visualization exercises and the “Letting Go” imagery are appropriate at such times as they allow you to become distracted from the demands of the real world and engage in a dream-like state. Thus, Sarah Edelman’s ‘Sleep Soundly’ CD is highly recommended to people as it alleviates some of the stress and anxiety of daily pressures.
By Mary – ACAP Placement Student
Both these CD’s are available from ADAVIC’s online store for
the price of $24.95
CHECK IT OUT: http://www.adavic.org.au/product-view.aspx?Id=8
Sleeping…or not!
Unfortunately anxiety-producing thoughts may sometimes be hardest to deal with at the time when you most need some rest from them - when you are trying to sleep. On settling down in bed at night (or at some stage during the night) you may be hit with a very high level of anxiety. It is as though it has simply been lying in wait all day for the time when you are at your lowest points in terms of trying to work with those thoughts. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation are often useful at this time, since they are based around releasing the thoughts. But not everyone is able to put this into practice.
The least benefit is obtained, obviously, from simply lying in bed and turning the thoughts over and over in your head, which will only be added to the anxiety over not being able to sleep. Therefore, one method of taking some action, and hopefully relaxing enough to be able to sleep, is to take ‘’the bull by the horns’’ and deal with whatever is playing on your mind. It is best done by getting out of bed, sitting yourself in another room and attacking the problem with pen and paper in hand. If this is not possible, nor desirable, complete the exercise in the same way while lying in bed, making mental lists.
The first step is to define each situation which is causing anxiety, and then look at what can be done about it and when. If there is absolutely nothing you can do about it at the moment, consider briefly what action will be possible to resolve the situation, then add the action and the desired time-frame to your list.
As an example, let’s suppose you are having worrying thoughts about your health. If you consider that the symptoms are serious enough to need immediate attention, then call a doctor or take yourself to a hospital. If, on the other hand, you do not feel that the situation is that serious, then mark the action necessary (making an appointment with your GP) and when you need to do it (as soon as possible, the next day) on your list. Once you have taken either of these options, resolve that you will now be able to return to bed without continuing to worry about the situation as you have either taken immediate action, or have a plan as to what action you will take and when. A hint here is to try and confine the list to those particular situations which are causing most concern – it will not be helpful to stay up all night trying to deal with every issue you can bring to mind!
The final step is to return to bed and relax, reassuring yourself that you have either done what you can at the moment, or have prepared yourself for further action, in regard to those earlier worries. In this way you are making another move towards taking back the power over your disorder, since you no longer lying in bed at the mercy of your thoughts, but have done something positive. Hopefully, with a little practice, you will find it a useful option when trying to sleep.
By Sandy
The least benefit is obtained, obviously, from simply lying in bed and turning the thoughts over and over in your head, which will only be added to the anxiety over not being able to sleep. Therefore, one method of taking some action, and hopefully relaxing enough to be able to sleep, is to take ‘’the bull by the horns’’ and deal with whatever is playing on your mind. It is best done by getting out of bed, sitting yourself in another room and attacking the problem with pen and paper in hand. If this is not possible, nor desirable, complete the exercise in the same way while lying in bed, making mental lists.
The first step is to define each situation which is causing anxiety, and then look at what can be done about it and when. If there is absolutely nothing you can do about it at the moment, consider briefly what action will be possible to resolve the situation, then add the action and the desired time-frame to your list.
As an example, let’s suppose you are having worrying thoughts about your health. If you consider that the symptoms are serious enough to need immediate attention, then call a doctor or take yourself to a hospital. If, on the other hand, you do not feel that the situation is that serious, then mark the action necessary (making an appointment with your GP) and when you need to do it (as soon as possible, the next day) on your list. Once you have taken either of these options, resolve that you will now be able to return to bed without continuing to worry about the situation as you have either taken immediate action, or have a plan as to what action you will take and when. A hint here is to try and confine the list to those particular situations which are causing most concern – it will not be helpful to stay up all night trying to deal with every issue you can bring to mind!
The final step is to return to bed and relax, reassuring yourself that you have either done what you can at the moment, or have prepared yourself for further action, in regard to those earlier worries. In this way you are making another move towards taking back the power over your disorder, since you no longer lying in bed at the mercy of your thoughts, but have done something positive. Hopefully, with a little practice, you will find it a useful option when trying to sleep.
By Sandy
LAST EVENTS OF THE YEAR!
The end of the year is rapidly approaching and with it ADAVIC's final three lectures!
Tomorrow night (Thursday 17th November) ADAVIC presents a "Questions & Answers: For parents who have children / adolescents with Anxiety or Depression" which will be presented by Clinical Psychologist, Author & Mother, Sally-Anne McCormack and Author and Mother Nicky Johnston at the Balwyn Library (Meeting Room) from 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
Next week (Wednesday 23rd November) ADAVIC presents "Empowering your child to deal with School Bullying" Presented by Counselling Psychologist Evelyn Field at the Kew Library (Phyllis Hore Room) from 7:30 - 9pm.
Wednesday 30th November, ADAVIC presents "Hoarding problems: Diagnosis and management" Presented by Professor Mike Kyrios at the Northcote Town Hall (Ground Floor, Room 2)from 7:30 - 9pm.
For more information or to book, please check out the ADAVIC EVENTS CALENDAR.
Tomorrow night (Thursday 17th November) ADAVIC presents a "Questions & Answers: For parents who have children / adolescents with Anxiety or Depression" which will be presented by Clinical Psychologist, Author & Mother, Sally-Anne McCormack and Author and Mother Nicky Johnston at the Balwyn Library (Meeting Room) from 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
Next week (Wednesday 23rd November) ADAVIC presents "Empowering your child to deal with School Bullying" Presented by Counselling Psychologist Evelyn Field at the Kew Library (Phyllis Hore Room) from 7:30 - 9pm.
Wednesday 30th November, ADAVIC presents "Hoarding problems: Diagnosis and management" Presented by Professor Mike Kyrios at the Northcote Town Hall (Ground Floor, Room 2)from 7:30 - 9pm.
For more information or to book, please check out the ADAVIC EVENTS CALENDAR.
Weekly Quote
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Eating Disorders. Not just for women...
During November there is a focus on men's health, both mentally and physically, as promoted through Movember.
This is a good time to discuss other issues affect men that go unnoticed. Eating disorders have been traditionally stereotyped as a disorder for women, but men are also suffering from the disorder. In many men the disorder goes unnoticed. There are a few reasons for this, firstly we do not look for the symptoms in men. Secondly, the symptoms generally present differently. It is more common for anorexic males to over exercise rather than starve themselves. It is also more acceptable and normal for men to eat large meals, so binge eating is far less noticeable. These and many other factors lead to eating disorders in males going unnoticed and untreated. Eating disorders have many short and long term health problems, including high mortality rates.
Movemeber is aiming towards increased awareness of and discussion about men's health, this is the time to take notice and speak up.
This is a good time to discuss other issues affect men that go unnoticed. Eating disorders have been traditionally stereotyped as a disorder for women, but men are also suffering from the disorder. In many men the disorder goes unnoticed. There are a few reasons for this, firstly we do not look for the symptoms in men. Secondly, the symptoms generally present differently. It is more common for anorexic males to over exercise rather than starve themselves. It is also more acceptable and normal for men to eat large meals, so binge eating is far less noticeable. These and many other factors lead to eating disorders in males going unnoticed and untreated. Eating disorders have many short and long term health problems, including high mortality rates.
Movemeber is aiming towards increased awareness of and discussion about men's health, this is the time to take notice and speak up.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Let's talk about it - mental health and suicide forum
Mental health and suicide are often not spoken about. This needs to change. To try to make this change the ABC presented a 3 hour forum with many experts from the the mental health industry, including representatives from beyondblue, lifeline, headspace and SANE. The broadcast aimed to engage the community in conversation about mental health and suicide. For further information about what was discussed please visit the ABC website.
Weekly Quote
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa
My Journey Through Agoraphobia
Hi everyone,
It has been a while since I have written, and I apologise.
Overall my progress is coming along, still slow and steady for me.
I have had some changes in my life which I have found difficult to deal with, so the fact that I am still making progress, however slow it may be, is good!
A few months ago my long term partner and I separated.
We have been together for twenty years so this has been very, very hard for me. We have remained friends and that is something I am happy about. He just felt he needed time and space away from the relationship. Like most couples we had our ups and downs but my problems with agoraphobia, anxiety and depression took a big toll on him. He was very supportive but there is no doubt that living day and day out with an agoraphobic person can be difficult for partners.
I live on my own now and that has also been challenging for me.
Apart from the more personal aspects, it also has been hard for my progress with my agoraphobia. I was at the stage where I was trying new things and venturing further and I could do this as long as he accompanied me. I felt safe with him knowing he understood about my anxiety and knowing that if it became too much for me he would gently coax me along, or would take me home if need be. With that confidence I was doing more and more new things which I was totally enjoying.
The freedom of being able to go out! It felt so liberating to be finally able to go out. I felt like I was part of the world again, instead of being trapped inside by my fear. This may sound like I was just doing it easily. I wasn’t. I would often be anxious, sometimes very anxious but I was able to now cope better with this anxiousness and not let it overwhelm me.
Then when my partner left I had less opportunities to try to get out more. I am doing things on my own more and more but I am not at the stage yet where I can do a lot on my own. I can walk short distances on my own and I have started to drive again but I can only go around quiet streets near my home.
Another big change for me was one of my closest friends whom I have known since we were kids, and who has also been a great support to me, moved interstate.
Again, apart from purely missing her and her loving friendship, she was also a practical help to me as she would take me to my therapist every week. She would also take me out when she could. Thankfully her sister has been able to take me to my therapist for my sessions. She usually can’t take me every week but I am grateful that she can take me at all. My therapist and I do phone sessions when I can’t get there in person.
I must admit I have felt frustrated that just as I am ready to explore the world the two people I have relied on to do that with are not available!
I do have other friends but they generally live too far away to be able to help. It is times like these when I really miss having family for help and support. I am an only child and have no family. Still I know having a family is no guarantee of help and support!
However, I have kept on with my own work that I can do, which is trying to work further everyday and trying to drive again.
Getting in a car again has been very scary for me but I have taken it very slowly. At first I was only able to drive a few houses down and then turn around but I have gradually widened that to be able to drive a few streets away. I am lucky that the streets where I live are very quiet with hardly any traffic. My car is an old bomb that is falling apart and I had the experience of it breaking down when I was going on one of my drives. That was extremely challenging for me!
It actually happened twice. The first time the car just stopped in the middle of the road and thankfully a nice passerby helped me to get the car off the road. I was one street away from my house
He could tell I was shaken up so he offered to drive me home. I was so relieved that he was so kind.
The next time I had a bit of warning and I pulled over to the side of the road before the car stopped dead. This time there was no kind passerby so I had to walk home on my own. It was a little bit further than I was used to walking and I become quite anxious. I wanted to just run so I could get home quickly and not panic but I knew that running was not the answer!
With legs shaking I just started walking slowly but steadily trying to loosen my tight grip on myself and my muscles and let go of the tension. That helped enormously and I made it home.
I have kept up my meditation and truly believe that has been a huge factor in my progress in dealing with anxiety and panic.
I have had days and nights when I have felt so alone that I didn’t know how I would make it through. I have also had days when I have realized that being on my own is helping me know my self more, the good the bad and the painful.
I have had a lot of childhood issues that I have been working through with my therapist and this time alone has allowed me to really feel the pain of my past and my present.
More than my progress with going out, I think what I am most proud of is that I have let myself feel my pain, let my tears flow freely, and let the loneliness envelop me without being quite so afraid of all of it.
It hurt like nothing else to face my deepest pains. I had stuffed all the pain down, deep down inside and tried to ignore it. I used to be afraid that if I let myself feel all of that it would overwhelm me and I would have the ‘big’ panic attack that I had always dreaded. In fact it is the opposite, by letting all that out and feeling it all, the anxiety lessens.
I am still a work in progress in this regard but there is progress.
Sometimes it is easier to see how far I still have to go rather than how far I have come. But when I think back to the person I used to be…… so very frightened and existing with a level of anxiety most of the time… I see how far I have come.
By Janesse – September 2011
It has been a while since I have written, and I apologise.
Overall my progress is coming along, still slow and steady for me.
I have had some changes in my life which I have found difficult to deal with, so the fact that I am still making progress, however slow it may be, is good!
A few months ago my long term partner and I separated.
We have been together for twenty years so this has been very, very hard for me. We have remained friends and that is something I am happy about. He just felt he needed time and space away from the relationship. Like most couples we had our ups and downs but my problems with agoraphobia, anxiety and depression took a big toll on him. He was very supportive but there is no doubt that living day and day out with an agoraphobic person can be difficult for partners.
I live on my own now and that has also been challenging for me.
Apart from the more personal aspects, it also has been hard for my progress with my agoraphobia. I was at the stage where I was trying new things and venturing further and I could do this as long as he accompanied me. I felt safe with him knowing he understood about my anxiety and knowing that if it became too much for me he would gently coax me along, or would take me home if need be. With that confidence I was doing more and more new things which I was totally enjoying.
The freedom of being able to go out! It felt so liberating to be finally able to go out. I felt like I was part of the world again, instead of being trapped inside by my fear. This may sound like I was just doing it easily. I wasn’t. I would often be anxious, sometimes very anxious but I was able to now cope better with this anxiousness and not let it overwhelm me.
Then when my partner left I had less opportunities to try to get out more. I am doing things on my own more and more but I am not at the stage yet where I can do a lot on my own. I can walk short distances on my own and I have started to drive again but I can only go around quiet streets near my home.
Another big change for me was one of my closest friends whom I have known since we were kids, and who has also been a great support to me, moved interstate.
Again, apart from purely missing her and her loving friendship, she was also a practical help to me as she would take me to my therapist every week. She would also take me out when she could. Thankfully her sister has been able to take me to my therapist for my sessions. She usually can’t take me every week but I am grateful that she can take me at all. My therapist and I do phone sessions when I can’t get there in person.
I must admit I have felt frustrated that just as I am ready to explore the world the two people I have relied on to do that with are not available!
I do have other friends but they generally live too far away to be able to help. It is times like these when I really miss having family for help and support. I am an only child and have no family. Still I know having a family is no guarantee of help and support!
However, I have kept on with my own work that I can do, which is trying to work further everyday and trying to drive again.
Getting in a car again has been very scary for me but I have taken it very slowly. At first I was only able to drive a few houses down and then turn around but I have gradually widened that to be able to drive a few streets away. I am lucky that the streets where I live are very quiet with hardly any traffic. My car is an old bomb that is falling apart and I had the experience of it breaking down when I was going on one of my drives. That was extremely challenging for me!
It actually happened twice. The first time the car just stopped in the middle of the road and thankfully a nice passerby helped me to get the car off the road. I was one street away from my house
He could tell I was shaken up so he offered to drive me home. I was so relieved that he was so kind.
The next time I had a bit of warning and I pulled over to the side of the road before the car stopped dead. This time there was no kind passerby so I had to walk home on my own. It was a little bit further than I was used to walking and I become quite anxious. I wanted to just run so I could get home quickly and not panic but I knew that running was not the answer!
With legs shaking I just started walking slowly but steadily trying to loosen my tight grip on myself and my muscles and let go of the tension. That helped enormously and I made it home.
I have kept up my meditation and truly believe that has been a huge factor in my progress in dealing with anxiety and panic.
I have had days and nights when I have felt so alone that I didn’t know how I would make it through. I have also had days when I have realized that being on my own is helping me know my self more, the good the bad and the painful.
I have had a lot of childhood issues that I have been working through with my therapist and this time alone has allowed me to really feel the pain of my past and my present.
More than my progress with going out, I think what I am most proud of is that I have let myself feel my pain, let my tears flow freely, and let the loneliness envelop me without being quite so afraid of all of it.
It hurt like nothing else to face my deepest pains. I had stuffed all the pain down, deep down inside and tried to ignore it. I used to be afraid that if I let myself feel all of that it would overwhelm me and I would have the ‘big’ panic attack that I had always dreaded. In fact it is the opposite, by letting all that out and feeling it all, the anxiety lessens.
I am still a work in progress in this regard but there is progress.
Sometimes it is easier to see how far I still have to go rather than how far I have come. But when I think back to the person I used to be…… so very frightened and existing with a level of anxiety most of the time… I see how far I have come.
By Janesse – September 2011
Participate in Research!
SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
CONSENT INFORMATION STATEMENT
Title: Obsessive compulsive disorder: attachment and beliefs about the self.
Investigators
Dr Richard Moulding, Supervisor
Jude Allamby, Student Investigator
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by the repeated occurrence of intrusive thoughts and by compulsive actions. The purpose of the current study is to extend research into the current models of OCD through asking about beliefs about self and relationships.
Please note we are seeking people without a diagnosis of OCD to do this research. If you have OCD you are free to continue although you may find some questions to be confronting.
Participation in this research involves completing an anonymous survey. The survey involves a series of questions about yourself in relation to others and some demographic details. It should take around 30 minutes to complete. Please note that some questions about sensitive topics will be asked in this study. If you are uncomfortable with this you may wish not to participate (e.g., symptoms of depression and OCD, experiences of close relationships, and views you have about yourself).
If you decide to participate in this research, please complete the anonymous online survey. It is important that you understand that your participation in this study must be voluntary. You are free to discontinue participation at any time.
The results of this study will form the basis for the thesis of the student investigator. It may also be published in an academic journal or presented at academic conferences. Only grouped results would be published and no individual’s responses would be identifiable. Data for this study will be securely stored for a period of seven years before being destroyed.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact:
Dr Richard Moulding, Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology, (03) 9214 4686, rmoulding@swin.edu.au.
If you experience any discomfort that you would like to discuss with a counsellor, possible services include:
Swinburne Student Services, Hawthorn campus, phone: 9214 8025
Swinburne Student Services, Lilydale campus, phone: 9215 7101
Swinburne Psychology Clinic, phone: 9214 8653
Lifeline, 13 11 14.
This project has been approved by or on behalf of Swinburne’s Human Research Ethics Committee (SUHREC) in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this project, you can contact:
Research Ethics Officer, Swinburne Research (H68),
Swinburne University of Technology, P O Box 218, HAWTHORN VIC 3122.
Tel (03) 9214 5218 or +61 3 9214 5218 or resethics@swin.edu.au
Faculty of Life and Social Sciences
CONSENT INFORMATION STATEMENT
Title: Obsessive compulsive disorder: attachment and beliefs about the self.
Investigators
Dr Richard Moulding, Supervisor
Jude Allamby, Student Investigator
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by the repeated occurrence of intrusive thoughts and by compulsive actions. The purpose of the current study is to extend research into the current models of OCD through asking about beliefs about self and relationships.
Please note we are seeking people without a diagnosis of OCD to do this research. If you have OCD you are free to continue although you may find some questions to be confronting.
Participation in this research involves completing an anonymous survey. The survey involves a series of questions about yourself in relation to others and some demographic details. It should take around 30 minutes to complete. Please note that some questions about sensitive topics will be asked in this study. If you are uncomfortable with this you may wish not to participate (e.g., symptoms of depression and OCD, experiences of close relationships, and views you have about yourself).
If you decide to participate in this research, please complete the anonymous online survey. It is important that you understand that your participation in this study must be voluntary. You are free to discontinue participation at any time.
The results of this study will form the basis for the thesis of the student investigator. It may also be published in an academic journal or presented at academic conferences. Only grouped results would be published and no individual’s responses would be identifiable. Data for this study will be securely stored for a period of seven years before being destroyed.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact:
Dr Richard Moulding, Lecturer, Swinburne University of Technology, (03) 9214 4686, rmoulding@swin.edu.au.
If you experience any discomfort that you would like to discuss with a counsellor, possible services include:
Swinburne Student Services, Hawthorn campus, phone: 9214 8025
Swinburne Student Services, Lilydale campus, phone: 9215 7101
Swinburne Psychology Clinic, phone: 9214 8653
Lifeline, 13 11 14.
This project has been approved by or on behalf of Swinburne’s Human Research Ethics Committee (SUHREC) in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this project, you can contact:
Research Ethics Officer, Swinburne Research (H68),
Swinburne University of Technology, P O Box 218, HAWTHORN VIC 3122.
Tel (03) 9214 5218 or +61 3 9214 5218 or resethics@swin.edu.au
Link between Alcohol and Mental Illness
During the Salvation Army's Annual Alcohol Awareness Campaign, they've released new, Roy Morgan research that focused on the links between alcohol misuse and mental health. The research included a random national sample of 638 Australians, aged 14 and older. It focused on alcohol consumption and attitudes towards alcohol, particularly regarding mental health.
The study found that 81% think that drinking alcohol has a negative impact on a person's mental health. 21% reported drinking more than they intended to, and 10% reported drinking as a way of dealing with negative emotions.
These findings are very concerning! The Salvos are urging all Australians to think about how they use alcohol and its effects, and ask everyone to make it a topic of conversation with friends and family. For more information about this study, please check the Salvation Army Media Release.
The study found that 81% think that drinking alcohol has a negative impact on a person's mental health. 21% reported drinking more than they intended to, and 10% reported drinking as a way of dealing with negative emotions.
These findings are very concerning! The Salvos are urging all Australians to think about how they use alcohol and its effects, and ask everyone to make it a topic of conversation with friends and family. For more information about this study, please check the Salvation Army Media Release.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mobember!
It's Movember again, the month of the MO! Movember is an annual fundraiser, raising money and awareness for men's health, particularly for prostate cancer and depression.
To be a part of Movember, start the month with a cleanly shaven face, then for the rest of the month have friends and family sponsor your efforts to grow your mo! Participating men are called Mo Bros, and their female supporters are Mo Sistas! To get involved in Movember visit the website.
Mens health issues are often a topic thats kept quiet and ignored. It's time this changed!
To be a part of Movember, start the month with a cleanly shaven face, then for the rest of the month have friends and family sponsor your efforts to grow your mo! Participating men are called Mo Bros, and their female supporters are Mo Sistas! To get involved in Movember visit the website.
Mens health issues are often a topic thats kept quiet and ignored. It's time this changed!
New e-tool to catch youth depression before it takes hold.
Australian researchers have received funding to develop a customised Internet program to equip young people, especially those at risk, with the skills and resilience to avoid depression. The web-based program will aim to prevent depression by building resilience. The service will be focused towards young people (aged 18-24)who fall into high risk groups such as strong family history of mood disorders, and other factors relating to environment, lifestyle, personality and stress management.
The need for this type of preventative approach is vital. Studies indicate that about 50 percent of all life-long psychiatric disorders start by the age of 14, and about 75 percent of disorders are present by the age of 24. If people within this age group have been better equip with better coping strategies and resilience, the hope is that the severity of disorders will be reduced and that prevalence rates might reduce.
The current system of treating disorders after symptoms emerge has been likened to only treating heart disease patients when they have a heart attack. It is important that everyone has access to mental health services and strategies and that everyone practices mentally healthy habits.
For more information, read the full article.
The need for this type of preventative approach is vital. Studies indicate that about 50 percent of all life-long psychiatric disorders start by the age of 14, and about 75 percent of disorders are present by the age of 24. If people within this age group have been better equip with better coping strategies and resilience, the hope is that the severity of disorders will be reduced and that prevalence rates might reduce.
The current system of treating disorders after symptoms emerge has been likened to only treating heart disease patients when they have a heart attack. It is important that everyone has access to mental health services and strategies and that everyone practices mentally healthy habits.
For more information, read the full article.
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