2015 Wesley report: facing financial stress

Overview: This Wesley report sheds new light on the impact financial stress is having on individuals and families in New South Wales. While Australia has benefited from a strong economy since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), it seems the afterglow of the resources boom has worn off. Consumer confidence is at its lowest ebb in 10 years, and Australians remain concerned about job prospects, their own day-to-day personal finances, and our national economic outlook. This report has found that an alarming 44 per cent of households in New South Wales are suffering financial stress and 38 per cent are spending more than they earn. Furthermore, financial hardship and financial anxiety are impacting upon the health, safety and wellbeing of individuals and their families. Since 2010 there has been a seven per cent increase in the number of New South Wales households who are experiencing financial stress. During that time disposable income has decreased and more households are spending more than they earn. When there are no savings to fall back on if an illness or misadventure hits, hardship usually follows

Pressure-dependent fragilities for piping components: Pilot study on Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station

The capacities of four, low-pressure fluid systems to withstand pressures and temperatures above the design levels were established for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. The results will be used in evaluating the probability of plant damage from Interfacing System Loss of Coolant Accidents (ISLOCA) as part of the probabilistic risk assessment of the Davis-Besse nuclear power station undertaken by EG G Idaho, Inc. Included in this evaluation are the tanks, heat exchangers, filters, pumps, valves, and flanged connections for each system. The probabilities of failure, as a function of internal pressure, are evaluated as well as the variabilities associated with them. Leak rates or leak areas are estimated for the controlling modes of failure. The pressure capacities for the pipes and vessels are evaluated using limit-state analyses for the various failure modes considered. The capacities are dependent on several factors, including the material properties, modeling assumptions, and the postulated failure criteria. The failure modes for gasketed-flange connections, valves, and pumps do not lend themselves to evaluation by conventional structural mechanics techniques and evaluation must rely primarily on the results from ongoing gasket research test programs and available vendor information and test data. 21 refs., 7 figs., 52 tabs

Probabilistic evaluation of main coolant pipe break indirectly induced by earthquakes: Savannah River Project L and P Reactors

A probabilistic evaluation of seismically-induced indirect pipe break for the Savannah River Project (SRP) L- and P-Reactor main coolant (process water) piping has been conducted. Seismically-induced indirect pipe break can result primarily from: (1) failure of the anchorage of one or more of the components to which the pipe is anchored; or (2) failure of the pipe due to collapse of the structure. The potential for both types of seismically-induced indirect failures was identified during a seismic walkdown of the main coolant piping. This work involved: (1) identifying components or structures whose failure could result in pipe failure; (2) developing seismic capacities or fragilities of these components; (3) combining component fragilities to develop plant damage state fragilities; and (4) convolving the plant seismic fragilities with a probabilistic seismic hazard estimate for the site in order to obtain estimates of seismic risk in terms of annual probability of seismic-induced indirect pipe break. 6 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs

Community and mental health

Contemporary mental health policy and practice has been based on two basic principles – the need for an evidence-based approach to practice and a recognition of the importance of understanding the lived experience of mental illness. Beyond the symptoms of the various disorders is the range of personal and social consequences of illness. These include disruptions to a sense of self, relationships, economic security, work, and housing. The social context and social consequences of mental disorder are central to social work practice in the mental health area. This chapter has explored a number of theoretical perspectives including the concept of lived experience, recovery theory, stigma, shame, and empowerment. A practice focusing on these social dimensions of mental illness demands an engagement both with the broader evidence base shared by all disciplines, and a specific concern for individuals and their families, and the experience of mental illness and its consequences in their lives