Workplace bullying and the association with suicidal ideation/thoughts and behaviour: a systematic review

The established links between workplace bullying and poor mental health provide a prima facie reason to expect that workplace bullying increases the risk of suicidal ideation (thoughts) and behaviours. Until now, there has been no systematic summary of the available evidence. This systematic review summarises published studies reporting data on workplace bullying and suicidal ideation, or behaviour. The review sought to ascertain the nature of this association and highlight future research directions. 5 electronic databases were searched. 2 reviewers independently selected the articles for inclusion, and extracted information about study characteristics (sample, recruitment method, assessment and measures) and data reporting the association of workplace bullying with suicidal ideation and behaviour. 12 studies were included in the final review-8 reported estimates of a positive association between workplace bullying and suicidal ideation, and a further 4 provided descriptive information about the prevalence of suicidal ideation in targets of bullying. Only 1 non-representative cross-sectional study examined the association between workplace bullying and suicidal behaviour. The results show an absence of high-quality epidemiological studies (eg, prospective cohort studies, which controlled for workplace characteristics and baseline psychiatric morbidity). While the available literature (predominantly cross-sectional) suggests that there is a positive association between workplace bullying and suicidal ideation, the low quality of studies prevents ruling out alternative explanations. Further longitudinal, population-based research, adjusting for potential covariates (within and outside the workplace), is needed to determine the level of risk that workplace bullying independently contributes to suicidal ideation and behaviour.PB is funded by a Future Fellowship provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) #FT13101444. LSL is funded by an Early Career Fellowship provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) #1035803

Development and psychometric properties of the Functioning and Recovery Scale: a new measure to assess psychosocial functioning after a suicide attempt

Objective: Few measures have been developed to assess the efficacy of community‐based suicide prevention and recovery services. The current study aimed to develop a scale to provide accurate assessment and monitoring of functional recovery for people following a recent suicide attempt at The Way Back Support Service in Australia. Method: The study was conducted in multiple iterative stages: (1) literature review to identify existing scales; (2) structured informant interview with people with lived experience of a suicide attempt; (3) expert survey of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience on relevance and acceptability of candidate items; and (4) quantitative survey of the pilot scale to assess psychometric properties. Results: An 11‐item scale assessing recovery in people who have recently attempted suicide was demonstrated to be a unidimensional measure with sound psychometric properties (α = 0.94). The scale was highly acceptable to researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience. A short‐form 6‐item scale was also developed. Conclusions: The Functioning and Recovery Scale is likely to be useful for evaluating suicide prevention programs. No existing scale captures the broad construct of psychosocial functioning with sound psychometric rigor and the involvement of people with lived experience of suicide attempt.ACT Health; beyondblue; National Health and Medical Research Council, Grant/Award Number: 1122544, 1150698 and 115870

Prevalence and course of anxiety disorders (and symptom levels) in men across the perinatal period: A systematic review

Background Men's experiences of anxiety within the perinatal period can adversely impact themselves, their partner and infant. However, we know little about the prevalence and course of men's anxiety across the perinatal period. The current review is one of the first to systematically review the published literature. Methods Five databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched to identify relevant papers published prior to April 2015. The literature search identified articles with data for expectant fathers (prenatal period) and/or fathers of an infant aged between 0 and 1 (postnatal period). The following data were extracted: (a) anxiety disorder prevalence (diagnostic clinical interviews), (b) 'high' anxiety symptom prevalence (above thresholds/cut-points on anxiety symptom scales) and (c) mean anxiety levels (anxiety symptom scales). Initially, 537 unique papers were identified. Subsequently, 43 papers met criteria for inclusion in the review. Results Prevalence rates for 'any' anxiety disorder (as defined by either diagnostic clinical interviews or above cut-points on symptom scales) ranged between 4.1% and 16.0% during the prenatal period and 2.4-18.0% during the postnatal period. The data reviewed suggest the course of anxiety across the perinatal period is fairly stable with potential decreases postpartum. Limitations Wide variation in study measurement and methodology makes synthesis of individual findings difficult. Anxiety is highly comorbid with depression, and thus measures of mixed anxiety/depression might better capture the overall burden of mental illness. Conclusions Anxiety disorders are common for men during the perinatal period. Both partners should be included in discussions and interventions focused on obstetric care and parent mental health during the perinatal period

Depression and anxiety in expectant and new fathers: Longitudinal findings in Australian men

Background Despite growing interest in men's perinatal mental health, we still know little about whether becoming a new father is associated with increases in psychological distress. Aims To use prospective longitudinal data to investigate whether becoming a first-time expectant (partner pregnant) and/or new father (child 51 year) is associated with increases in depression and anxiety. Method Men were aged 20-24 years at baseline (n = 1162). Levels of depression and anxiety were measured at four time points over 12 years. Over this time, 88 men were expectant fathers, 108 men were new fathers and 626 men remained non-fathers. Results Longitudinal mixed models showed no significant increase in depression or anxiety as a function of expectant or new fatherhood, as compared with pre-fatherhood levels. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, generally, expectant and new fathers are not at greater risk of depression or anxiety. Future epidemiological research should continue to identify men who are most (and least) at risk to focus resources and assistance most effectively

New Fatherhood and psychological distress: a longitudinal study of Australian men

Despite growing interest and concern about men's mental health during the perinatal period, we still do not know whether men are more vulnerable to mental health problems during this time. The current study is one of the first to use longitudinal, population-based data to investigate whether becoming an expectant and/or new father is associated with increases in psychological distress. We analyzed 10 waves of data collected annually (from 2001 to 2010) from the nationally representative Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. Over this time, 349 men were identified as new fathers (first child aged <1 year), and 224 of these men had been identified as "expectant fathers" during the previous wave. A total of 1,658 men remained "never fathers." Psychological distress was measured using the 5-item Mental Health Inventory before the partner's pregnancy, during the partner's pregnancy, and during the first year of fatherhood. Longitudinal mixed models showed no significant increase in psychological distress as a function of expectant or new fatherhood; instead, some improvement in mental health was observed. The finding suggests that expectant and new fathers are not at greater risk of poor mental health. Future epidemiologic research should continue to identify those men who are most (and least) at risk during the perinatal period in order to target resources and assistance most effectively.This work was supported by a 2011 beyondblue (Australia) national priority-driven research grant (grant LEAC11NPD), funded by the Movember Foundation. S.C.O. and L.S.L. are funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (early career fellowships 1035690 and 1035803, respectively). The Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia Project was initiated and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs and is managed by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Shift work and mental health: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Shift work is common. However, research findings are mixed regarding the impact of shift work on mental health. This systematic review sought to provide a comprehensive summary of existing research examining the association between different types of shift work and mental health. The review included large-scale, non-occupation-specific research. METHODS Four electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and SCOPUS were searched to identify studies that reported on the statistical association between shift work and mental health and that used population-based samples. Two reviewers extracted information about study characteristics and data on the association between shift work and mental health. A meta-analysis was performed for longitudinal studies adopting a ‘broad binary’ measure of shift work. RESULTS Thirty-three studies were included in the final review—10 cross-sectional studies, 22 longitudinal studies, and 1 study that included both. Findings were grouped based on whether the measure of shift work focussed on: (1) night/evening work, (2) weekend work, (3) irregular/unpredictable work schedule, or (4) a broad binary measure. There was a reasonable level of evidence that overall, when a broad binary measure was adopted, shift work was associated with poorer mental health—this finding was supported by the meta-analysis results. There was also some evidence that irregular/unpredictable work was associated with poorer mental health. There was less evidence for night/evening and minimal evidence for weekend work. Inconsistencies in study methodology, limited contrasting and combining the results. CONCLUSIONS The association between shift work and mental health is different across types of shift work. The evidence is strongest for a broad binary, general measure of shift work and for irregular or unpredictable shift work. There is a need for continued research that adopts consistent and clear measures of shift work.Peter Butterworth is funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship #FT13101444

The FarmWell study:Examining relationships between farm environment, financial status and the mental health and wellbeing of farmers

Despite growing research on the associations between environmental conditions and mental health, no previous study has collected both quantitative indicators of farm-scale ecology and validated measures of farmer mental health. We assessed whether on-farm factors of engaging in natural resource management (NRM), the environmental state of the farm, or perceived financial challenges were associated with mental health and wellbeing in farmers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an established cohort of farmers for whom ecological monitoring data were collected, with data linkage to vegetation and biodiversity indicators. Participants were 63 farmers residing or working in the Box-gum grassy woodlands ecological region of eastern Australia. Primary outcome measures were symptoms of depression, anxiety, life satisfaction and wellbeing. Based on both zero-order correlations and regression models, financial struggle or financial worry were associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes, as was younger age. There were no direct associations of vegetation cover, avian biodiversity or NRM engagement with mental health or wellbeing. There remain considerable challenges in quantifying the effects of farm ecology on mental health outcomes. Further investigation of the potential social and financial benefits of natural asset management may be warranted.</p

Systematic review of quantitative studies assessing the relationship between environment and mental health in rural areas

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.</p