Communication of suicide intent by schizophrenic subjects: data from the Queensland Suicide Register

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Suicide in mentally ill subjects, like schizophrenics, remains unbearably frequent in Australia and elsewhere. Since these patients are known to constitute a high-risk group, suicide in them should be amongst the most preventable ones. The objective of this study is to investigate the frequency of suicide communication in subjects with reported history of schizophrenia who completed suicide.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The Queensland Suicide Register (QSR) was utilised to identify suicide cases. Frequency of suicide communication was examined in subjects with schizophrenia, and compared with persons with other psychiatric conditions and with subjects with no reported diagnosis. Socio-demographic variables, history of suicidal behaviour, pharmacological treatment and mental health service utilisation were also compared among the three groups.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>Subjects with a reported diagnosis of schizophrenia comprised 7.2% (n = 135) of the 1,863 suicides included in this study. Subjects with schizophrenia and those with other psychiatric disorders communicated their suicide intent more frequently than those with no psychiatric diagnosis, and persons with schizophrenia communicated their intent more than those with other psychiatric diagnoses. Seventy one per cent of schizophrenia subjects had contact with a mental health professional within the three months prior to suicide.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The fact that subjects with schizophrenia had the highest prevalence of suicide intent communication could offer concrete opportunities for suicide prevention.</p

The evidence needed to demonstrate impact: a synthesis of the evidence from a phased social and emotional wellbeing intervention

Policy decisions are based on evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of interventions; however, the quantity and type of evidence that is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention is not universally agreed upon. The aim of this study was to collaborate with researchers who have not been involved directly in Family Wellbeing interventions to lead a review of characteristics of the Family Wellbeing intervention evaluation output to date, and to assess for evidence of the FWB intervention's impact on participants and their communities. The study found that where it is not appropriate or viable to conduct research, such as randomised control trials, alternative ways of providing evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of an intervention is vital. This review suggests that Family Wellbeing interventions are having a positive impact and promoting change in the lives of participants, their families and their communities. Hence, for complex interventions, such as those with Indigenous populations, evidence should demonstrate effectiveness against prescribed outcomes, as well as critical aspects behind how and why a complex intervention was successful

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse School Environments – Exploring the Unknown

Abstract: Australian education policies aspire to meet the unique needs of all students including those from linguistically diverse backgrounds; however, a first step in achieving this aim is clear identification of such students. Many children from previous migrant families and new arrivals to Australia come from homes where at least one parent speaks a language other than English. This exploratory research utilises survey and interview responses from students and staff in five Queensland state high schools. Results showed that 79.5% of the 2,484 students surveyed were from English-only homes with only 10.5% classified as having English as Another Language/Dialect. The remaining 10% were also from bi/multilingual homes. While early identification of bi/multilingual students allows for appropriate assessment and strategic support, staff responses highlighted limited preservice training and/or understanding of how to support these students. Only 4.7% of staff surveyed had received any academic training, and 10.4% professional development, about teaching students from diverse backgrounds who, in the surveyed schools, accounted for 20.5% of the student cohort

“A safe haven to support me”: an evaluation report on the Central Coast Family Wellbeing Program

A significant proportion of young people in Australia including the NSW Central Coast region are not engaged in school, work and other social systems. The consequences of disengagement can be profound and are linked to higher rates of social and mental health problems, including suicide, alcohol and drug use. Being male and Indigenous are amongst the key factors identified as being risks for youth disengagement. This report presents an analysis of the Family Wellbeing (FWB) program on the NSW Central Coast. FWB implementation is designed to enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal men and improve engagement in education, employment and other social and cultural participation. The report draws attention to the need for more sustainable funding for promising programs such as the Central Coast FWB including properly resourced long-term evaluation. Insecurity and loss of funding means a loss of opportunity for future participants to be supported, mentored and engaged in learning and employment. It will also impact on those who have completed FWB and who rely on the FWB network for ongoing support

Who uses firearms as a means of suicide? A population study exploring firearm accessibility and method choice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The 1996 Australian National Firearms Agreement introduced strict access limitations. However, reports on the effectiveness of the new legislation are conflicting. This study, accessing all cases of suicide 1997-2004, explores factors which may impact on the choice of firearms as a suicide method, including current licence possession and previous history of legal access.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Detailed information on all Queensland suicides (1997-2004) was obtained from the Queensland Suicide Register, with additional details of firearm licence history accessed from the Firearm Registry (Queensland Police Service). Cases were compared against licence history and method choice (firearms or other method). Odds ratios (OR) assessed the risk of firearms suicide and suicide by any method against licence history. A logistic regression was undertaken identifying factors significant in those most likely to use firearms in suicide.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The rate of suicide using firearms in those with a current license (10.92 per 100,000) far exceeded the rate in those with no license history (1.03 per 100,000). Those with a license history had a far higher rate of suicide (30.41 per 100,000) compared to that of all suicides (15.39 per 100,000). Additionally, a history of firearms licence (current or present) was found to more than double the risk of suicide by any means (OR = 2.09, <it>P </it>< 0.001). The group with the highest risk of selecting firearms to suicide were older males from rural locations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Accessibility and familiarity with firearms represent critical elements in determining the choice of method. Further licensing restrictions and the implementation of more stringent secure storage requirements are likely to reduce the overall familiarity with firearms in the community and contribute to reductions in rates of suicide.</p

Preschool educators' readiness to promote children's emotional competence

The development of children's emotional competence (EC) throughout the preschool period is critical for supporting their future social competence, transition to school and long-term academic success. This paper reports on survey responses of 78 Australian preschool educators to the scale Preschool Educators' Readiness for Promoting Children's Emotional Competence modified from Bouillet, Ivanec &amp; Miljevic-Ridicki (2014) and a short open response section. This scale sought the views of educators regarding aspects such as their competence, willingness to promote children's emotional competence and the influence of institutional environment and conditions, with response variations explored across different locations, centre type and also respondent age. While responses indicated strong agreement regarding ability to successfully conduct activities to promote emotional competence and also respondent's prioritization of activities for emotional competence before cognitive skills, there also were differences observed across respondents. For example, almost half responded that they were not adequately prepared by their undergraduate education to promote emotional competence. A small number of open responses were supplied (n=24). Given the small sample, these were used as additional evidence to support and explain the findings from the quantitative analysis. Overall findings highlight the need for strategies to support these educators. These include additional information and practical strategies within undergraduate training, the development of a shared language that defines these issues, ongoing professional development in their workplaces and a greater availability of practical strategies and programs to support them in delivering this important role.</p

Quantitative research : a viable option for music researchers

This chapter presents a rationale for researchers to consider in making a choice of whether to use quantitative techniques in their research. The use of such approaches opens many options that may not have been considered – the options of exploring previously unexplored research questions in established areas of investigation, of communicating with previously uninvolved audiences or of gaining insights into unchartered territories in music research. Such approaches have the potential to widen the profile of music as a discipline, demonstrating its known and also often unknown contributions to society

Selection and mating strategies risks and rewards

Best Linear Unbiassed Prediction provides a valuable mechanism through which effective selection practices can operate, potentially enhancing performance and producing significant increases in productivity and thus, frequently in profitability. However, current recognition of the potential risks associated with this enhanced performance through the impacts of risks such as inbreeding depression, offer a challenge to the effectiveness with which selection can operate. The broadening of the selection objective to address issues of risk in the selection process as described in this thesis integrates genetic objectives with economic perspectives. This is addressed through several areas. An initial consideration of this impact of accuracy in the selection process is undertaken from a single generational perspective. Longer term selection is addressed through the analysis of a range of selection and mating strategies including mate selection strategies that integrate increased genetic merit with the control of inbreeding (or similar risk factors). An assessment of long term strategies is undertaken through an adapted use of benefit cost methodology. ... The strategies were compared across a range of weightings on inbreeding (linked to decline in response). The results showed a preference for MS₀ (a mate selection option with no loss in response) over the selection and mating strategy (Pr) - however this preference was mediated when the additional cost of managing mate selection was taken into account and the weighting on inbreeding was low. Interestingly, the relative value of the MS₅ strategy was seen across all alternatives. This marked a reasonable point at which the benefits from reduced inbreeding might outweight the costs associated with some decline in potential response. While this analysis was undertaken for two levels of interest rate (0.6 and 1.0) and for two variations in the model, with one including an additional weighting on mate selection strategies to reflect the additional management costs they impose, the final results were not highly sensitive to these factors, indicating the strength of this approach for this assessment

Tertiary students’ perceptions of hospitality careers in Vietnam

Abstract Background Hospitality personnel are often prepared through vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE) providers, taking different emphases. In Vietnam’s hospitality workplaces, HE graduates compete with VET graduates for the same basic operational positions, with limited managerial positions available. Given the different educational pathways taken for similar career opportunities in the current labour market, it is important to understand students’ views of hospitality workplaces as their future career environment. The aim of this study is to identify and examine underlying factors that determine tertiary students’ overall career perceptions in hospitality in the Vietnamese context. Methods A quantitative study utilising an online survey was conducted with 234 hospitality students from different higher education institutes and VET colleges in the South of Vietnam. Chi squared statistics and logistic regression were performed to assess the views and significant educational level differences. Results The analyses show marked differences in views between the HE and VET participants on several aspects of hospitality workplaces, including pay/promotion opportunities, management, and commitment to the industry. The HE participants appeared less positive, and indicated a lower commitment to a future in the hospitality industry. Conclusion The results of this study have important implications for various stakeholder groups. Students’ negative perceptions, associated with their internship experiences in different aspects of hospitality workplaces, currently appear to result in detrimental consequences for HE students, with many not planning on remaining in the hospitality sector. This has both short-term and long-term implications for hospitality employers, hospitality educational providers, and Vietnam’s HE system