Suicidal ideation and attempts among rural Chinese aged 16–34years — Socio-demographic correlates in the context of a transforming China

Background: The distinctive epidemiologic profile of suicide in China, with notably high rates among rural young adult females, invites examination of possible underlying risk factors. Although there are accumulating data regarding the epidemiology of suicide among youth and young adults in China, there are meager data on suicidal ideation and attempts despite its importance. Methods: Our study in 2005-06 sought to identify all potentially suitable rural participants, aged 16-34 years, from 10 representative villages in rural Sichuan Province. We conducted structured interviews regarding a range of socio-demographic characteristics and suicidal morbidity. Results: 1654 of a potential 3008 participants participated; lifetime and one-year prevalence were: suicidal ideation (18.8% and 5.2%), serious ideation (8.6% and 23%), planning (5.8% and 1.5%), and attempt (2.7% and 0.5%). Comparisons among strata of socio-demographic characteristics showed more prevalent suicidal ideation associated with: female gender, lower education, poorer financial perception, greater rurality of residence, and marital status of "never married" or "others". Suicidal attempt was associated with: female gender and a marital status of "others". Limitations: The study was carried out in one province and caution is required when considering other rural regions of China. There were a substantial number of unapproachable subjects because of their migrant work at distant sites. Conclusions: Our results revealed an apparently higher prevalence for suicide ideation and planning compared with residents of other countries, but a lower prevalence for attempts. These data suggests that the relatively high rate of suicide in rural China reflects an elevated case fatality ratio due to chosen methods. The results also revealed unique patterns for correlates with the occurrence of ideation and attempts. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Clinical NeurologyPsychiatrySCI(E)SSCI13ARTICLE3438-44613

Knowledge-Based Jobs and the Boundaries of Firms Agent-based Simulation of Firms Learning and Workforce Skill Set Dynamics

The article explores emergence and survival of human resource management strategies and organisational types in a knowledge-based job market. The analysis considers a dynamic environment in which skill requirements change rapidly. We built an agent-based model to simulate a market where firms post job offers to fill vacancies and decide how to select and reward employees; employees, bearing skills, select firms comparing job offers. Taking an evolutionary approach, we explore how hiring strategies, which guarantee survival, emerge from interconnected variation, selection and retention processes. The simulation experiments suggest that, as the rate of change of the environment increases, long-term employment and firm-specific knowledge building emerge as the survival strategy

Caring for clients with dual diagnosis in rural communities in Australia: the experience of mental health professionals

This paper identifies and describes the experiences of 13 rural mental health professionals who care for clients diagnosed with a mental illness and a coexisting alcohol and other drug disorder (dual diagnosis). Dual diagnosis is a common problem which is often poorly understood and managed by mental health professionals. The effect of excessive substance use on a person's mental well-being can present as a diagnostic challenge as each condition may mask symptoms of the other. The authors utilized a phenomenological approach to discover the experiences of a group of mental health professionals working in rural communities in Victoria, Australia. Caring for clients diagnosed with dual diagnosis was found to be a complex and stressful role that involved high levels of skill and knowledge. Despite the fact that health professionals in rural areas are expected to deliver the most appropriate care to individuals with a dual diagnosis, a number of these rural health professionals have limited preparation and experience in dealing with arising clinical diagnosis issues. Clinicians experience frustration, resentment and powerlessness in their attempt to understand their clients' drug misuse whilst simultaneously endeavouring to provide a quality mental health service. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.C