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Issue 1

SPINZ NEWS

Please contact Russell Tuffery, SPINZ Information Officer, at info "at" spinz.org.nz for more information on any of the resources in SPINZ News.

New Zealand news alerts

Conferences

INVOLVE '04 CONFERENCE
7th Biennial New Zealand Association of Adolescent Health & Development (NZAAHD) Conference and the 3rd Annual Australian - New Zealand Adolescent Health Conference Health AND Development: The Connection
20th September - 22nd September 2004 Venue: Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, 58 Waipuna Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland, see http://www.involve04.org.nz/

ACC's Bold Perspectives, Shared Objectives injury prevention and rehabilitation conference will be held in Auckland 21-23 March 2005, more at www.boldperspectives.co.nz

Resources & News

Older New Zealanders - 65 and beyond (2004) - Reference Reports The report presents a statistical picture of the population aged 65 and over and how it is changing. It covers the demographic characteristics of older people, where they live, their family and community participation, their health and disability status, their participation in the labour market and their economic well-being. 

A new national Family Services Directory is now available at www.familyservices.govt.nz
"Family and Community Services is a new service of the Ministry of Social Development, established 1 July 2004. Its role is to lead government and non-government organisations to work collaboratively to strengthen family support services and make them more effective for families"

Community Development Programme for Taitamariki Suicide Prevention: effectiveness audit, March 2004 (44 pages) is online at www.tpk.govt.nz

www.nzips.govt.nz for news on the NZ Injury Prevention Strategy

Pasifika community groups
- a new homepage has been designed to assist in accessing support services and funding in relation to their management, training and development needs Website

URGE Online directory for Youth Services http://www.urge.org.nz/onlineregion.asp

A Government bill establishing a Charities Commission to regulate the sector and register charities is before Parliament
Commission's roles

  • Approve and register charities.
  • Receive annual returns and monitor charity activities.
  • Educate, advise and support charity officers to ensure they understand and comply with regulations.
  • The Economic Development Ministry has a freephone (0508 242-748) and a website on the bill

Physical punishment of children is associated with the development of antisocial behaviour in children, as well as poorer academic achievement and adjustment to school, according to a review of research by Otago University's Children's Issues Centre. The review concludes physical punishment is a health risk for children.

The Children's Issues Centre surveyed more than 300 internationally published peer-reviewed research articles in its investigation, which was commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner.

Lead researcher Professor Anne Smith says the research found physical punishment has only limited success in making children compliant. Professor Smith says the long-term effects of physical punishment were all negative behaviour in children."

Effects include:

  • Aggression, disruptive, delinquent and antisocial behaviour, being the victim of violent offending, violent offending, and
    low peer status.
  • Poorer academic achievement including lower IQ, poorer performance on standardized achievement tests, poorer adjustment to school, more ADHD-like symptoms, and poorer self-esteem.
  • Diminished quality of parent-child relationships, with children likely to be less securely attached to parents and being more likely to feel that their parents do not love them, and to feel fearful or hostile towards parents.
  • Increased depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and psychiatric disorders.
  • Poorer conscience development and less internal control by children over their own behaviour.

In contrast the research suggests six principles of effective discipline:-

  • Parental warmth and involvement and attentive, caring and affectionate relationships.
  • Clear communication and messages to children, which are age-appropriate, about why their behaviour is acceptable or not.
  • Use of reasoning, explanation, setting up logical consequences and limit setting.
  • Providing fair, reasonable and clearly defined rules, boundaries and expectations for behaviour.
  • Consistently following behaviours with appropriate consequences rewards or mild non-physical punishments such as time-out and having a ratio of about eight or nine positive responses to children's behaviour, to one negative response.
  • Structuring the situation to avoid encouraging inappropriate behaviour, such as avoiding the provision of negative models and changing the physical environment.

Children's Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro says the research has found that an authoritative and firm parenting style, accompanied by warmth, responsiveness, involvement and reasoning is associated with children's healthy social adjustment.

"This is important research because it gives parents evidence-based information about the effects of physical punishment, as well as practical alternatives."

Dr Kiro points out a recent UNICEF report shows New Zealand had the third highest rate of deaths from child maltreatment in the OECD.

Lead researcher Professor Anne Smith says one of the problems highlighted by the review is the lack of agreement over when physical punishment steps over the line and becomes abuse. Professor Smith points out in cases of physical abuse, about two thirds of the time it is preceded by ordinary use of physical punishment for discipline. The danger of physical punishment is that it can easily escalate into physical abuse.

Suicide Researcher Database

The Suicide Research Database provides a summary of New Zealand suicide research from January 1990 onwards, including funding sources and research organisations, published work, unpublished work, and work in progress. Created by the Ministry of Health, the database will now be maintained by SPINZ. The current database includes entries to June 2003. SPINZ will be undertaking an updating shortly.

Database located at: http://www.moh.govt.nz/apps/suicideresearch.nsf
Entries were sourced through direct contact with known researchers and through a search of relevant search databases.

Inclusion criteria were:

  • major or moderate focus on suicide
  • a mention of New Zealand
  • English language, and
  • research from January 1990.

Exclusion criteria were:

  • articles focusing on euthanasia
  • non-researcher written articles
  • editorials
  • letters to the editor
  • discussion pieces, and
  • commentaries.

Research news

Top judged articles from vol 37 (2003) of Australian and NZ Journal of Psychiatry include

  • Annette Beautrais / Subsequent mortality in medically serious suicide attempts: a five year follow-up, 586-594
  • Shyamala Nada-Raja et al / A population-based study of help-seeking for self-harm in young adults, 600-605
  • David Reith et al / Repetition risk for adolescent self-poisoning, 212-218

Risk Factors

Aropax nation : a hard habit to break / Swinney, Clare
in Investigate, Apr 2004; 4(41)48-57

Looks at the growing controversy over the side effects and withdrawal symptoms of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as Aropax, used to treat depression in NZ.

Depression in the elderly / Therese Kairuz and Monica Zolezzi, In Pharmacy Today, June 2004, 25-

Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of depression / Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Clinical Practice Guidelines Team for Depression,

in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 38(6), 389-407, June 2004

Does ethnicity affect need for mental health service among New Zealand prisoners? / Simpson, Alexander I. F., Brinded, Philip M., Fairley, Nigel, Laidlaw, Tannis M., Malcolm, Fiona,

in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 37(6), 728-734, 2003

The National Study on Psychiatric Morbidity in New Zealand Prisons identified undiagnosed mental illness and unmet treatment needs for mentally disordered offenders. As approximately 50% of prisoners are of Maori and 8.3% Pacific Island ethnicity, the authors analyzed the data to determine if there were any differences in the rates of major mental disorders between ethnic groups.

Moderators of the Relationship Between Alcohol Dependence and Suicide and Medically Serious Suicide Attempts: Analyses of Canterbury Suicide Project Data / Conner, Kenneth R., Beautrais, Annette L., Conwell, Yeates

in Alchoholism : clinical & experimental research, 27(7), 1156-1161, 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential moderators of the relationship between alcohol dependence and suicide and medically serious suicide attempts by using case-control data gathered in the Canterbury region of New Zealand for the Canterbury Suicide Project.

Problematising depression: young people, mental health and suicidal behaviours / Sara Bennett, Carolyn Coggan, Peter Adams

in Social Science and Medicine, 57(2), 289-299, 2003

Risk Factors for Suicide and Medically Serious Suicide Attempts among Alcoholics: Analyses of Canterbury Suicide Project Data / Conner, K R, Beautrais, A L, Conwell, Y

in Journal of studies on alcohol, 64(4),551-554, 2003

Unemployment and suicide. Evidence for a causal association? / T A Blakely, S C D Collings, J Atkinson

in Journal of epidemiology and community health, 57(8), 594-600, 2003

Asian/Pacific Islander Adolescent Sexual Orientation and Suicide Risk in Guam / Thomas K Pinhey et al

In American Journal of Public Health; Jul2004, Vol. 94 Issue 7, p1204-1206
"Examined the effects of same-sex orientation on suicide risks for Guam's Asian/Pacific Islander adolescents. Found that same-sex orientation was associated with a greater risk of suicide attempt, especially for boys" (PubMed)

Self-harm

note the Centre for Suicide Prevention, SIEC, defines Self-harm as "a deliberate and often repetitive destruction or alteration of one's own body tissue, without suicidal intent (adapted from Favazza 1987, and 1989, and Walsh & Rosen 1988") - SIEC Alert # 43, Jan. 2001 see http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/assets/alert43.pdf

Injury hospitalization and risks for subsequent self-injury and suicide: a national study from New Zealand / Kenneth R Conner, John Langley, Kenneth J Tomaszewski, Yeates Conwell

In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH , 93(7), 1128-1131, 2003

Risks for suicide and nonfatal self-injury hospitalizations associated with previous injury hospitalizations were investigated in a nationwide retrospective cohort study conducted in New Zealand.

Minor self-harm and psychiatric disorder: a population-based study / Karen Skegg, Shyamala Nada-Raja and Terrie E Moffitt,

In Suicide and life-threatening behavior, 34(2), Summer 2004, 187-196
"Little is known about the extent to which minor self-harm in the general population is associated with psychiatric disorder. A population-based sample of 980 young adults was interviewed independently about past-year suicidal and self-harm behavior and thoughts, and psychiatric disorders" (PubMed)

A population-based study of help-seeking for self-harm in young adults / Nada-Raja, Shyamala (Dunedin School of Medicine, Dept of Preventive and Social Medicine, Injury Prevention Research Unit) Morrison, Dianne (University of Otago, Dept of Psychology, Dunedin) Skegg, Keren (University of Otago, Dept of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin)

in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Oct 2003, 37(5), 600-605

Examines help-seeking for self-harm among young adults. Interviews 965 participants aged 26 years about help-seeking and barriers to it for a range of harmful behaviours. Includes traditional methods of suicide and other behaviours such as self-battery and self-biting.

Self-harmful behaviors in a population-based sample of young adults / Shyamala Nada-Raja, Keren Skegg, and others,

In Suicide and Life-threatening behavior, 34(2), Summer 2004, 177-186
Profiled in the August 2004 issue of NZ Injury Control Bulletin (Injury Prevention Research Centre, School of Population Health, University of Auckland), this study from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, surveyed 472 women and 494 men aged 26. It found that one in eight have deliberately harmed themselves.

Self-harm by poisoning, Factsheet no 33 from the University of Otago Injury Prevention Research Unit, June 2004 http://www.otago.ac.nz/ipru/FactSheets/FactSheet33.pdf

Sexual orientation and self-harm in men and women

Keren Skegg, Shyamala Nada-Raja, Nigel Dickson, Charlotte Paul, SHEILA WILLIAMS American Journal of Psychiatry, The , 160(3):541-546 2003

Prevention

Familial transmission of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: evidence from a general population sample / Renee D. Goodwin, Annette L. Beautrais and David M. Fergusson

in Psychiatry Research, 126, 2, 30 Apr 04
The goals of the study were (1) to determine the association between parental and offspring suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adult offspring in a general community sample, and (2) to examine the extent to which this association can be explained by mediating processes of mental disorders. Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey (n=8098), a representative household sample of adults aged 15-54 in the United States

Further Suicidal Behavior Among Medically Serious Suicide Attempters / Annette L. Beautrais,

in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 34(1) Spring 2004, 1 -11

Psychological and/or educational interventions for the prevention of depression in children and adolescents / Merry S, McDowell H, Hetrick S, Bir J, Muller N.

in Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;1
"Depression is the fourth most important disease in the estimation of the burden of disease (Murray 1996) and is a common problem with prevalence rates estimated to be as high as 8% in young people. Depression in young people is associated with poor academic performance, social dysfunction, substance abuse, suicide attempts, and completed suicide (NHMRC 1997). This has precipitated the development of programmes aimed at preventing the onset of depression. This review evaluates evidence for the effectiveness of these prevention programmes" (PubMed)

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of a School-Based Depression Prevention Program / Merry, Sally; McDOWELL, HEATHER PH.D.; Wild, Chris J PH.D.; Bir, Julliet M.SC.; Cunliffe, Rachel B.SC

in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(5),538-547, May 2004

Three hundred ninety-two students age 13 to 15 from two schools were randomized to intervention (RAP-Kiwi) and placebo programs run by teachers. RAP-Kiwi was an 11-session manual-based program derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Youth health assessments / Fleming, Terry, McClintock, Heidi, Watson, Peter

in Practice nurse : official journal of the New Zealand College of Practice Nurses, NZNO, Jul 2003; 3(3):22-23 part 3 of a series, part 2, Mar 2003, P.26-27

Outlines the widely-used HEADSS assessment model for psychosocial medical evaluation of adolescents. Examines the scope of the model, which includesquestions about home, education-employment, activities, drugs and alcohol, sexuality, suicide and mood. Offers guidelines to nurses in how to use the screening protocol, with an example of the types of questions to ask for each section.

Epidemiology

Knowledge and attitudes about suicide in 25-year-olds / Annette L. Beautrais , L. John Horwood, David M. Fergusson

in Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 38(4), 260, April 2004

Examines knowledge and attitudes about suicide in a New Zealand sample of young people aged 25 years. Method: The sample was a birth cohort of 1265 young people born in New Zealand in 1977 who have been followed in a longitudinal study for 25 years. At age 25, participants were asked a series of questions designed to assess their knowledge and attitudes about suicide.

Subsequent mortality in medically serious suicide attempts: a 5 year follow-up / Beautrais, Annette L.

In Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry , 37(5):595-599 2003
To document mortality in a consecutive series of 302 individuals who made medically serious suicide attempts and were followed-up for 5 years.

Resiliency

Resiliency, Connectivity and Environments: Their Roles in Theorising Approaches to Promoting the Well-Being of Young People / Tim McCreanor, Peter Watson

in International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6(1) February 2004
"Early theory and findings on resilience among young people emphasised individual differences and personality characteristics to explain different reactions to stress and risk. The 'modern' resilience literature views the possible explanatory variables for different outcomes in broader contexts such as family, schools and community. Despite this change over time, the individualising, problem-focused orientation of resilience approaches continues to obscure the environment, leaving it an under-interrogated factor in young people's well-being. This is important for its impact on policy and practice in youth development and health promotion"

Vulnerability and resiliency to suicidal behaviours in young people / Fergusson, D M, Beautrais, A L, Horwood, L J

In Psychological medicine, 33(1):61-73, 2003
Examines factors that influence vulnerability/resiliency of depressed young people to suicidal ideation and suicide attempt.

Bereavement

Grief as a transformative experience: weaving through different lifeworlds after a loved one has completed suicide / Jann M. Fielden

In Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2003 Mar;12(1):74-85

Graduate School of Nursing & Midwifery, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. jann-mf@paradise.net.nz

An exploration and interpretation of the lived experiences of family members since they lost a close family member to suicidal death

Deadly odds for problem gamblers / (from Martin Johnston health reporter NZ Herald 13 May 04)

For her master's degree thesis, psychotherapist and social worker Alison Penfold approached the 189 patients who attended North Shore Hospital's emergency department during nearly five months last year after harming or attempting to kill themselves.
Of the 70 who agreed to answer her questionnaire, 12 (17.1 per cent) were problem gamblers.
Nine of the problem gamblers (75 per cent) also had alcohol problems.
Most of the problem gamblers primarily played poker machines - the game of first choice for 86 per cent of people who attend face-to-face treatment services for problem gamblers.
Although a small study, it is the first of problem gambling incidence among self-harm/attempted suicide patients at a hospital.

Gambling and suicide

  • 17.1 per cent of 70 attempted suicide/self-harm patients at a hospital were problem gamblers.
  • 4 per cent to 31 per cent of problem gambling help agency clients have attempted suicide.
  • 17 per cent to 80 per cent of clients have thought about suicide.
  • 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the population are problem gamblers.
  • Gambling is deemed a problem when it harms the gambler's life, friendships, family or employment.
  • Last year, 6730 new problem gambling clients received counselling, a 9.1 per cent increase from 2002.

Professor Fergusson: bad behaviour can lead to hard times (reported in THE PRESS, 11 MAY 2004)

Badly behaved seven-year-olds are more likely to become criminals, to take drugs, to become teen parents and to suffer mental illness, says a leading Christchurch researcher.
Professor David Fergusson, addressing the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists yesterday, said the behaviour of young children was "the best indicator we have" for problems in adulthood. "Kids who have these differences are a high- risk population."
He said authorities who were "wringing their hands" over the social problems of crime, drug abuse and mental illness should instead be throwing money at early childhood intervention.
Fergusson leads the Christchurch Health and Development Study which has tracked more than 1000 Christchurch children from birth to the age of 25.
When these children were aged seven, eight, and nine, parents and teachers were asked to assess them for a range of behaviours including defiance of authority, fits of temper, aggression or cruelty, destruction of property and dishonesty.
The children were given a ranking from one, for those with no problem behaviours, to five for those with many.
By the age of 18, those who scored five were more than five times as likely to have a criminal conviction as those who scored one.
They were twice as likely to suffer depression or anxiety disorder and four times as likely to have made a suicide attempt. The high scorers were nearly four times as likely to use illicit drugs.
Researchers also found differences in those who left school with qualifications but when the statistics were adjusted for IQ, there was little correlation between early misbehaviours and school success.
Unfortunately, the errant teenagers did not grow out of their problems.
By the age of 25, the high- scoring misbehaving children were 10 times as likely to be violent offenders, four times as likely to have made a suicide attempt, and more than three times as likely to be illicit drug users.
The children with early conduct problems were twice as likely to have had more than 10 sexual partners -- frequently more than 40 or 50 -- and were more than four times as likely to have become parents as teenagers.
While the number who smoked was correlated to early behavioural problems, alcohol dependency was not. "My suspicion is there is so much drinking going on those who actually develop alcohol dependence do so because of individual susceptibility," Fergusson said.
Being unemployed or on a benefit was not related to early conduct problems, but more likely to be related to IQ and attention problems.
The research held true for both boys and girls. Overall boys were more likely to be badly behaved, but girls who misbehaved were as likely to go on to have problems as adults.
Fergusson stressed that the majority of badly behaved youngsters did not go on to become criminals, drug abusers or suicidal, they were simply at a higher risk.
Kids who were brighter, who were not "novelty seekers" and who had well-behaved friends were less likely to get into trouble, even if they showed early conduct problems.
Fergusson's study looked at primary school children but he said more recent research showed conduct problems could be accurately detected in pre-schoolers.
He said intervention programmes based on home visits had mixed success. Parenting programmes were significantly reducing childhood problem behaviours but may not be able to reach the parents most in need.

STATISTICS
Outcomes at age 25
Violent offending: 3.2% of lowest- scoring children cf 34.8% of highest-scoring kids
Imprisonment: 0.2% cf 14.3%
Nicotine dependence: 15.9% cf 41.3%
Illicit drug dependence: 5.2% cf 19.6%
Antisocial personality: 1% cf 17.4%
Suicide attempt: 4.4% cf 18.4%
More than 10 sexual partners: 12.3% cf 24.4%
Became parent aged less than 20: 4.4% cf 19.6%
Inter-partner violence: 5.2% cf 23.9%

Australian resources

New Advanced Studies in Suicidology programme begins at Griffith University (distance learning available) www.griffith.edu.au/aisrap

ACROSSnet: Australians Creating Rural Online Support Systems
The ACROSSnet web site aims to help members of rural and remote communities to access information, education and support regarding suicide and suicide prevention (a Queensland based pilot), www.acrossnet.net.au
For Australian school communities - drug education resources to focus on resilience building http://www.redi.gov.au/

Resources for journalism education: fact or fiction? Reporting mental illness and suicide (14 pages)

Partnerships in prevention: The Western Sydney Suicide and Depression Strategy 2003-2005 (86 pages)
PDF Document

Suicide Prevention for older people (222 pages)
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/s/pdf/suicide_prevent.pdf

Using the Internet for Suicide Prevention: A Guide / Miller, K.M., Cugley, J.A. & Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention (2004, 64 pages) / Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention, Perth. www.mcsp.org.au/

Suicide Prevention Stategy launched in Northern Territory Oct 2003
http://www.nt.gov.au/ocm/media_releases/2003/20031015_suicide.shtml

Queensland Govt Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2003
Website

The Prevention of substance use, risk and harm in Australia: A review of the evidence is a research monograph prepared by the National Drug Research Institute and the Centre for Adolescent Health by Wendy Loxley and others for the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (January 2004)
Website

NEW measures to make it a criminal offence to use the internet to counsel or incite suicide have been introduced into the Australian federal parliament.
The legislation includes a maximum penalty of $110,000 for an individual.
Parliamentary secretary for finance and administration Peter Slipper said the proposed new offences would cover use of a carriage service, including the internet, to access, transmit or make available material that counsels or incites suicide.
It would also cover material which promoted and provided instruction on a particular method of suicide. Possession, production or supply of that material would also be covered
(The Australian, 4 August 2004)

Deliberate Self-Harm Project, links below:

Project Report - 'Adolescent Self-Harm: An Exploration of the Nature and Prevalence in Banyule/Nillumbik'
Adolescent Self-Harm - Parent Information Pack
Adolescent Self-Harm - Student Information Pack

Advocating evidence-based health promotion: reflections and a way forward / Rychetnik L, Wise M

in Health Promotion Int. 2004 Jun;19(2):247-57.

Sydney Health Projects Group, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
This paper examines the following questions: (i) is the evidence that is available on the effectiveness of interventions actually relevant and useful to current policy and practice contexts?; and (ii) what is the researcher's or reviewer's role in interpreting the available evidence and advocating action based on their interpretations?

Association between antidepressant prescribing and suicide in Australia, 1991-2000: trend analysis / Hall WD, Mant A, Mitchell PB, Rendle VA, Hickie IB, McManus P.

In BMJ. 2003 May 10;326(7397):1008-1012

Sexual abuse and suicidality: gender differences in a large community sample of adolescents / Martin G, Bergen HA, Richardson AS, Roeger L, Allison S.

in Child Abuse Negl. 2004 May;28(5):491-503

Students aged 14 years on average (N = 2,485) from 27 schools in South Australia completed a questionnaire including items on sexual abuse and suicidality, and measures of depression.

Toward understanding youth suicide in an Australian rural community / Bourke LisaIn

In Social Science and Medicine. 2003 Dec, 57(12):2355-65.

Australia has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the western world, especially among rural men. This paper discusses the social construction of this issue in Australia and explores the issue through interviews with 30 young people and 12 key informants from a rural town in NSW.

Attempting suicide and help-seeking behaviours: using stories from young people to inform social work practice / Susan Gair & Peter Camilleri

In Australian social work, 56(2), 83-93, 2003

This small, qualitative study, undertaken in North Queensland, aims to offer a window into young people's lives concerning their suicide attempt(s) and their help-seeking behaviours

Telephone counselling for adolescent suicide prevention: changes in suicidality and mental state from beginning to end of a counselling session / King R, Nurcombe B, Bickman L, Hides L, Reid W.

In Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2003 Winter;33(4):400-11

Telephone counselling services were funded under Australia's National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy between 1997 and 2000. In this study, the effectiveness of telephone counselling for young people seeking help in the context of suicidal ideation or intent was evaluated in an investigation of calls made by suicidal young people to a telephone counselling service.

Risk factors for suicide and other deaths following hospital treated self-poisoning in Australia / David Reith and others

In Australian and NZ Journal of Psychiatry, 38(7), 520-525, July 2004

Risk-taking behaviour of young women in Australia: screening for health-risk behaviours / Carr-Gregg MR, Enderby KC, Grover SR.

in Med J Aust. 2003 Jun 16;178(12):601-4

The RUSH program -- real understanding of self-help: a suicide and self-harm prevention initiative within a prison setting / Lynne Eccleston and Laura Sorbello

in Australian Psychologist, 37(3), Nov 2002, 237-244

The RUSH (Real Understanding of Self-Help) Program is a recent Australian DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) adaptation targeting vulnerable offenders exhibiting borderline characteristics. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of RUSH, highlighting the modifications made to the original DBT framework.


International news alerts

World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 Sept 2004 "Saving Lives, Restoring Hope", an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation, see http://www.med.uio.no/iasp/wspd/WSPD2004brochure.pdf

 

Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network: new website www.tspn.org
The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network is the statewide organization responsible for implementing the Tennessee Strategy for Suicide Prevention, as defined by "The 1999 Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent Suicide." Divided into 8 regions under the direction of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Network Executive Director, working to eliminate the stigma of suicide, educate the community about the warning signs of suicide, and ultimately reduce the rate of suicide in the state of Tennessee.

 

Evidence-Based Practices Project (EBPP) for Suicide Prevention The Evidence-Based Practices Project (EBPP) for Suicide Prevention is a collaboration between the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to develop and implement a cross-disciplinary framework to review and identify effective suicide prevention programs. Starting in April 2004, programs will be reviewed for their quality and utility, using criteria adapted from guidelines developed by the National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs (NREPP).

 

United States Youth Suicide 1981-1998 report
The US Office of Juvenile Justice abd Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control released in its March 2004 Youth Violence Research Bulletin, a report, part of the Youth Violence Research Series, revealing that suicide was the fourth leading cause of death for juveniles ages 7-17, behind accidental deaths, homicides, and cancer. More than 20,000 juveniles committed suicide between 1981 and 1998, almost as many as were victims of homicide during the same period:
http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/196978/contents.html

 

US Survey on Youth Risk Behaviour (YRBS) released in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, May 21, 2004 (Dept of Health and Human Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

YRBS gathers information from 32 state and 18 local surveys of risk behavior among youth, and reports on six categories of youth and young adults' health-risk behaviour. The summary and YRBS data files as well as 'Youth 2003 Online' (a web-based data query system) are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/yrbss/

 

June 11, 2004 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Suicide and Attempted Suicide

Published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), featuring articles on youth suicide and attempted suicide. In this issue, CDC has summarized an analysis of 10 years (1992-2001) of data on the 10-19 year old age group and suicide method.

In this report, you will find data on suicide attempts and physical fighting among high school students; school-associated suicides; suicide among Hispanics; and suicide and attempted suicide in China. The suicide trends characterized in this bulletin can help in planning successful prevention programs
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5322.pdf

 

Archives of Suicide Research, abstract information available at www.journalsonline.tandf.co.uk

 

New SIEC Alert from the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Calgarry, Canada, Issue 54, May 2004: School memorials after suicide: helpful or harmful? www.suicideinfo.ca

 

Canadian Assn for Suicide Prevention Conference, Oct 20-23, 2004, Edmonton, Alberta www.buksa.com/casp

 

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
(full abstracts viewable here)

-articles noted in vol 34 no 2 Summer 2004 issue:

A Call for Research on Planned vs. Unplanned Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Dr. Kenneth R. Conner, PsyD, MPH

Dimensions of Impulsivity and Aggression Associated with Suicide Attempts Among Bipolar Patients: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Benjamin H. Michaelis, PhD, Joseph F. Goldberg, MD, Glen P. Davis, BA, Tara M. Singer, PhD, Jessica L. Garno, PhD and Susan J. Wenze, BA

Self-Harmful Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of Young Adults
Authors: Shyamala Nada-Raja, PhD, Keren Skegg, MB, FRCPsych, John Langley, PhD, Dianne Morrison, MA and Paula Sowerby, PhD

Minor Self-Harm and Psychiatric Disorder: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Keren Skegg, MB, FRCPsych, Shyamala Nada-Raja, PhD and Terrie E. Moffitt PhD

articles noted in vol 34 no 1 Spring 2004 issue:

Further Suicidal Behavior Among Medically Serious Suicide Attempters
Authors: Annette L. Beautrais, PhD

An Investigation of Differences Between Self-Injurious Behavior and Suicide Attempts in a Sample of Adolescents
Authors: Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp, MA and Peter M. Gutierrez, PhD

Completed Suicides Among Quebec Adolescents Involved with Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Services
Authors: Lambert Farand, MD, PhD, François Chagnon, PhD, Johanne Renaud, MD, MSc, FRCPC and Michèle Rivard, ScD

Suicidality and Its Relationship to Treatment Outcome in Depressed Adolescents
Authors: Rèmy P. Barbe, MD, Jeffrey Bridge, PhD, Boris Birmaher, MD, David Kolko, PhD and David A. Brent, MD

Young Adults' Support Strategies when Peers Disclose Suicidal Intent
Authors: Katherine Dunham, PhD

Suicidal Behavior in Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: Examining the Role of Depression
Authors: Jill M. Harkavy-Friedman, PhD, Elizabeth A. Nelson, PhD, David F. Venarde, PsyD and J. John Mann, MD

Suicidality and Psychosis: Beyond Depression and Hopelessness
Authors: Debbie M. Warman, PhD, Evan M. Forman, PhD, Gregg R. Henriques, PhD, Gregory K. Brown, PhD and Aaron T. Beck, MD

 

Crisis : the journal of crisis intervention and suicide prevention

(full abstracts at http://www.hhpub.com/journals/crisis/index.html)

articles noted in vol 25 no 2 2004 issue:

Janja Še¡ok , Sa¡ka Ro¡kar , Andrej Maru¡ič
The Burden of Suicide and . . . Have We Forgotten the Open Verdicts?

Antoon A. Leenaars, David Lester
The Impact of Suicide Prevention Centers on the Suicide Rate in the Canadian Provinces

Lars Mehlum
A Suicide Prevention Strategy for England

David Lester
Denial in Suicide Survivors

H.M. van Praag
Stress and Suicide: Are We Well-Equipped to Study this Issue?

Robert D. Goldney
Finland's Contribution to Suicide Prevention

articles noted in vol 25 no 1 2004 issue:

Andrea P. Chioqueta, Tore C. Stiles
Suicide Risk in Patients with Somatization Disorder

Jenny Morgan, Keith Hawton
Self-Reported Suicidal Behavior in Juvenile Offenders in Custody: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Ann M. Mitchell, Yookyung Kim, Holly G. Prigerson, MaryKay Mortimer-Stephens
Complicated Grief in Survivors of Suicide

Barry Hall, Peter Gabor
Peer Suicide Prevention in a Prison

Frank R. Campbell, Louis Cataldie, John McIntosh, Kari Millet
An Active Postvention Program

David Lester, Priscilla Wood, Christopher Williams, Janet Haines
Motives for Suicide--A Study of Australian Suicide Notes

 

Partnerships for Change: Advancing Suicide Prevention Services & Practice, April 13-16 2005, 38th Annual Conference American Assn Suicidology, Colorado www.suicidology.org

 

Intl Assn for Adolescent Health
http://www.iaah.org/
"The IAAH is a multidisciplinary, non-government organization with a broad focus on youth health. IAAH was established in 1987 and is committed to the principles of youth empowerment in all aspects of its affairs and supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)"

 

Prevalence of and reactions to fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior: a national study of mental health social workers

In Omega: the journal of death and dying, vol 49 no 3, 2004

 

Antidepressants and the Risk of Suicidal Behaviors / Hershel Jick, James A. Kaye, Susan S. Jick

In Journal of the American Medical Assn (JAMA) 2004, 292, 338-343

 

US Food and Drug Administration Updates Its Review of Antidepressant Drugs in Children
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2004/ANS01306.html

 

An outcome evaluation of the SOS Suicide Prevention Program /Aseltine RH Jr, DeMartino R.

In American Journal of Public Health. 2004 Mar, 94(3):446-51.

Examines the effectiveness of the Signs of Suicide (SOS) prevention program in reducing suicidal behavior, in five US high schools

 

Mental Health Need and Access to Mental Health Services by Youths Involved With Child Welfare: A National Survey / Barbara Burns et al

in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 43(8):960-970, August 2004.

 

School-Based Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: a 6-Month Follow-up / Patrick Possel et al

In Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(8):1003-1010, August 2004.

 

School-Based Youth Health Nurses: Roles, Responsibilities, Challenges, and Rewards
Margaret Barnes et al

in Public Health Nursing, 21(4), 316, July 2004

 

Building a case for understanding the lived experiences of males who attempt suicide in Alberta, Canada / Cutcliffe JR, Joyce A, Cummins M

in Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 2004 Jun,11(3),305-12.

 

Ignoring the evidence dictating the practice: sexual orientation, suicidality and the dichotomy of the mental health nurse / S. Mcandrew & T. Warne

In Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 11(4) 428, August 2004

 

Short shrift for the sane? The hospital management of self-harm patients with and without mental illness / W. Barr, M. Leitner, J. Thomas

In Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 11(4) 401, August 2004

 

Parasuicide online: can suicide websites trigger suicidal behaviour in predisposed adolescents? / K Becker et al

In Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 58(2), April 2004, 111-114

 

Struggling for hopefulness: a qualitative study of Swedish women who self-harm / B. M. Lindgren et al

In Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11(3), June 2004, 284-

 

Predictors of complicated grief among adolescents exposed to a peer's suicide / Melhem, Nadine M. Et al

In Journal of Loss & Trauma; Jan-Mar 2004, Vol. 9 Issue 1, p21, 14p

 

Suicidality and depression among youth gamblers: a preliminary examination of three studies / Lia Nower et al

In International Gambling Studies, Volume 4, Number 1 / June 2004 69 - 80

 

Suicide trends in South Africa, 1968-90 / Alan J Flisher et al

in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, upcoming

Bereaved by Suicide Support Groups are self-help support groups that provide a "powerful and constructive means for people to help themselves and each other". Research has shown that survivors (those left behind) of suicide grieve differently and with more intensity. Preventing suicide: how to start a survivors' group, from the World Health Organization (22 pages, 2000) says "the group can provide:

  • a sense of community and support;
  • an empathetic environment and give a sense of belonging when the bereaved person feels disassociated from the rest of the world;the hope that "normality" can be reached eventually;
  • experience in dealing with difficult anniversaries or special occasions;
  • opportunities to learn new ways of approaching problems;
  • a sounding board to discuss fears and concerns;
  • a setting where free expression of grief is acceptable, confidentiality is observed, and compassion and nonjudgemental attitudes prevail;
  • an educational role, providing information on the grief process, on facts relating to suicide, and on the roles of various health professionals.
  • empowerment - providing a positive focus enabling the individuals to regain some control over their lives.

One of the most devastating aspects of a suicidal or accidental death is that there is invariably much unfinished business and many unanswered questions, and yet the individual can see no way of resolving the situation. The support of a group can often gradually dissolve the feelings of hopelessness and provide the means whereby control can be regained" (page 6). This publication is available online at http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/61.pdf

In Auckland, the Solace Support Group gives support "to those who have experienced the traumatic loss of a loved one to suicide". Mark Wilson from Solace writes:

Solace is Auckland based and provides group support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Solace hosts monthly meetings which are open to anyone who has experienced loss by suicide. Each meeting is facilitated by a trained counselor in a warm friendly and confidential environment. Participation depends entirely on the comfort levels of attendees. Solace encourages new people to attend our meetings no matter what stage you are at in your grief journey.

Solace is happy to receive phone calls from people to talk through any issue around loss by suicide. Although not a counseling service, Solace believes that the shared experience of loss by suicide can be particularly helpful for those early on in their grief.

Solace also produces a monthly newsletter. This newsletter contains articles and information on grief and loss support. Contact Solace if you wish to be placed on the mailing list for this.

Each year prior to Christmas, Solace hosts a candle lighting ceremony to remember loved ones lost to suicide.

To find out the time and location of upcoming meetings, or if you wish to be placed on the newsletter mail list please contact Mark Wilson on 09 845-3350 or email Solace at solacesupport@paradise.net.nz

A "support in Loss through Suicide" group had also been running through Raeburn House on Auckland's North Shore. Unfortunately this is now not available.

Recently launched in Palmerston North is the Manawatu Bereaved by Suicide Support Group - a group providing a support network in the community for those who experience grief through the suicide of a family member, friend or associate. Facilitator, Rose Allan writes:

This group is supported by Public Health Services, MidCentral Health Board. The group will seek to provide a safe place for people bereaved by suicide to enter into their grief and to be supported in their feelings of loss and grief. There is the opportunity to share with others who have had a similar experience, in an environment in which support and encouragement is offered.

A six week program will be offered in which some information around issues of grief will be shared. Information about grief and some of what people might encounter along the way is provided, along with facts relating to suicide, and the role of various health professionals. Also as part of the group sessions, participants will be invited to share some of their experience as they are able. There is a belief that the sharing of experience and the listening to that of others can be helpful in the grief journey.

Following the six week group there is an invitation for participants to be involved in an ongoing support group where they can continue to share in the support and encouragement of one another.

The venue for the six week group is St David's Church Lounge and groups will be held on Thursday evenings. The support group is facilitated by Rosemary Allan (Rose) Dip.Couns.Ucol, Cert. Couns.Theory, Massey University. Rose has had four years experience facilitating groups for those struggling with issues of loss and grief and two years as a counselor working mainly in the area of loss and grief. She currently offers counselling at the Women's Health Collective and also works part-time as a Family Support Worker at Barnardos. Any enquiries about the group are very welcome. Please phone (06) 357-2533 or e-mail roseal@inspire.net.nz

In Wellington, and nationwide, Skylight is available for support, ph 0800 299 100. Skylight provides support to children, young people and their families through tough times of change, loss and grief - whatever the cause, www.skylight.org.nz Also see separate article this issue.

Sadly, in Christchurch, the Canterbury Bereaved by Suicide Support Group, has gone into recess. Reported in the Christchurch Star of 13 August, the group voted in May to hold its last meeting for the year due to lack of members willing to serve on its committee. The Group advises that their phone number (03) 3777-233 will continue, with information suggesting alternative contacts and the current status of the group. The answer phone and P.O. Box will be cleared several times a month only and their website will continue. The website includes support information. See the notice on the Group's website at http://www.supportfind.com/cbssg/notice.htm

SPINZ is currently updating its Support Group contact information throughout the country.

Recently added to the SPINZ library is:

Support group survival kit: a guide to setting up and facilitating support groups from the Mental Health Association of NSW (Oct 2001). It includes an 85 page book and 30 minute video

Also available from the SPINZ Library, & other resources

Group intervention for widowed survivors of suicide / Rose E Constantino and others, in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 31(4), 428-441, Winter 2001

Suicide survivors groups: results of a survey / Rubey, Charles T.; McIntosh, John L in Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior, 26(4), 351-8, Winter 1996

The value of a group in dealing with grief (p. 9-12); and ch 3: Leaders of a grief group (p.13-14); p.46-47; 128-129 in Helping teens work through grief / Perschy, Mary Kelly (1997)

Helping suicide survivors, ch. 11 in Suicide prevention : resources for the millennium / edited by David Lester, Brunner Routledge, 2001, pages 189-212 / Farberow, Norman L

Healing after suicide: the legacy of suicide: support groups for the bereaved / Lyn Bender for Lifeline Melbourne and The Victorian State Coroner's Office, 1999 (14 pages)

Support After a Suicide, SPINZ Information Sheet 4

The SOS Handbook for suicide survivors, from the American Association of Suicidology

http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/assets/alert38.pdf Supporting Suicide Survivors

http://www.sossd.org/home.htm Survivors of Suicide Loss, San Diego, California

http://www.nalag.org.nz/ National Association for Loss and Grief (NZ)

Role of Traumatic Incident Teams, Ministry of Education, Special Education - contributed by Sarah Williams, Regional Lead Practitioner - Traumatic Incidents Ministry of Education - Special Education, Northern Region, Sarah.Williams@minedu.govt.nz

From time to time, schools and early childhood centres experience events that are traumatic and potentially difficult to manage. Situations such as the death or serious injury of a student or staff member, physical or sexual violence within the school or centre community, serious fraud, theft or vandalism that affect the continued operation of the facility, accidents on school excursions, flood, fire, earthquake, community crisis or epidemic all fit into this category. These traumatic incidents can cause sudden and significant disruption to the day to day operation of a school or early childhood centre. They may also create significant risks to the well-being of children, young people or adults within the school or centre.

Traumatic incidents must be managed in a way that facilitates the recovery of the children, young people and adults within the school or centre community. In the event of a serious attempt at self harm or death by suicide it is critical that the situation is effectively managed given the potential risk for other students to become more likely to consider suicide as a solution for their distress (the contagion affect).

The Ministry of Education (MOE) provides management support to schools and early childhood centres following suicide and other traumatic incidents. Traumatic Incident Teams of specialist staff are based in MOE Special Education offices in each district around the country. The teams respond quickly to requests for assistance.

It is not the Traumatic Incident Team's role to take over management of the situation. Team members work alongside school or centre personnel to help identify risks and develop a plan to manage the situation.

Support may include assistance with:

  • Establishing a school / centre crisis team and identifying appropriate cultural support.
  • Implementing a management plan.
  • Implementing internal and external communication strategies.
  • Reviewing environments to ensure that on-going risks are identified and removed.
  • Ensuring policies and procedures are relevant and implemented.
  • Appropriately discussing the incident with children and young people.
  • Identifying children and young people who may be particularly at-risk.
  • Providing immediate support to those who have witnessed or been part of the traumatic situation (and referral to external agencies as appropriate).

Suicide postvention management is based on the recommended guidelines outlined in the Ministry of Education and National Health Committee publication Young People at Risk of Suicide: a Guide for Schools (1998).

Schools and Early Childhood Centres can contact the Traumatic Incident Team in their area by phoning the local MOE Special Education district office

Community News


GETTING THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES...
www.skylight.org.nz

From Tricia Irving of Skylight, rs@skylight-trust.org.nz

skylight provides unique support to children, young people and their families through tough times of change, loss and grief - whatever the cause. A recent skylight initiative has been collaboration with the Wellington Mental Health Consumers Union, to begin a support group in Wellington for children of parents with a mental illness. This is an acknowledgement of the unique and often challenging times many young people face as they live with a parent who is sometimes unwell. The group will meet for 8 weeks and be involved with a range of activities to explore feelings and experiences arising from their situation.

Another recent initiative has been the publication of THE ANGER TOOLBOX, a handbook for parents and carers supporting their children and teens through angry times. Anger is a common response to experiencing tough times, and this very practical NZ resource presents a wide range of anger management options for families, as well as quotes from kiwi parents. It has received outstanding feedback and endorsement from national agencies, community groups and families alike. skylight is very committed to making a difference by producing relevant and needed NZ books and resources and is proud to have produced THE ANGER TOOLBOX.

skylight continues to target its expertise as effectively as possible. Its services fall into four strands:

  1. skylight operates the most extensive specialist Resource And Information Centre in New Zealand focusing on change, loss and grief.
  2. Provides Specialist Counselling, Education and Support for individuals, groups and families. (Support groups currently just in Wellington at present.)
  3. Undertakes Customised Knowledge and Skill Development on change, loss and grief for individuals, families, professionals and agencies.
  4. Advocates for Increased Awareness of the massive impact of change, loss and grief issues on society, and offers strategic solutions.

skylight is a national not-for-profit charitable trust. Each year, it receives over 4,000 calls about children, young people and their families who are living with tough times and who need help. The calls cover a myriad of life issues, however the most common subjects are suicide, anger and anxiety, death, illness, disability, family break up, step parenting and other family change.

While the issues may differ, the common factor in most calls is the concern and distress expressed - emotions that reflect the significant difficulties that many young people, even very young children, can experience when they face change, loss or grief in their lives.

"skylight was founded to provide that much needed support for young people and their families who are finding things particularly tough," says chief executive, Bice Awan.

skylight's head office is in Wellington but it provides services nationwide. Phone skylight on 0800 299 100 or 04 939 6767, info@skylight-trust.org.nz


Your grief
is like your fingerprint
- unique to you.

 

Top Page last updated: 16 November 2009