Achieving Better Mental Health For Maltreated Children: Translating Population Data Into Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,706.00
Summary
This project uses linked population data to determine (a) the earliest indicators of risk of harm, and (b) mental health outcomes and health-care costs associated with children receiving child protection services, in partnership with the NSW department of Family and Community Services. The findings will ensure timely and effective responses to the most vulnerable children to mitigate adverse mental health and other outcomes associated with early life adversity.
Learning Clubs To Improve Women’s Health And Infant’s Health And Development In Vietnam: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Low-cost, Evidence-informed, Structured Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,372,748.00
Summary
Poor physical and mental health among women in resource-constrained settings and the flow-on consequences for their infants are international priorities. No intervention to improve early childhood development in these settings has addressed more than two (of eight) major risk factors. Our aim is to establish in a cluster RCT in rural Vietnam the impact of a comprehensive, integrated, low-cost, accessible, universal program addressing all eight risks, for women’s health and infant development.
The Built Environment's Influence On Child Mental Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,982.00
Summary
A neighbourhood's physical environment plays an important role in shaping the health of its community. It provides paths for walking, parks for playing, and opportunities for social interaction and cohesion. The aim of this research is to identify what elements of the physical environment children have relationships with, and understand how these elements influence their mental health.
Identifying New Targets For Primary School Mental Health Interventions Using Population Data
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$798,882.00
Summary
This project assesses the mental health and well-being of ~87,000 children aged 10 years in New South Wales, and links this information (anonymously) with data on school-based mental health interventions, and data on health, education, and welfare collected from birth. We will identify factors that promote mental health and reduce ill-health. We hope to improve child health by developing new ways to detect early vulnerability for ill-health, and by identifying new health promotion opportunities.
Testing A Transgenerational Cycles Of Violence Model In Timor-Leste: Impact Of Maternal Anger On Childhood Aggression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$881,002.00
Summary
We will examine ways in which war trauma can cause mental disorder and behavioural disturbances in the next generation. We will examine the problem of extreme anger amongst mothers caused by war trauma, domestic violence and other stresses. Mothers with anger may have difficulties parenting their children, resulting in behavioural disturbances in the next generation. In the longer term, these children may show aggressive behaviour that leads to ongoing family and social instability.
Young Carers: Investigation of the Psychosocial Impact of Caregiving on Youth Who Have a Parent with an Illness or Disability. This project addresses a growing national public health concern; the welfare of youth affected by parental illness/disability. There is a projected increase in reliance on unpaid care, and young carers are an important but hidden and neglected carer group. Although young carers have recently emerged on the political agenda, the research in this field is at an early descr ....Young Carers: Investigation of the Psychosocial Impact of Caregiving on Youth Who Have a Parent with an Illness or Disability. This project addresses a growing national public health concern; the welfare of youth affected by parental illness/disability. There is a projected increase in reliance on unpaid care, and young carers are an important but hidden and neglected carer group. Although young carers have recently emerged on the political agenda, the research in this field is at an early descriptive stage resulting in a lack of empirical data to inform policy and service development. There is a critical need for data that elucidates young caregiving in Australia. This project will establish new methodologies and frameworks and provide data that will inform policy and services that promote the healthy development of youth affected by parental illness/disability.Read moreRead less
Mental Health First Aid Training for Teachers: Development, Evaluation and Dissemination. The project aims to provide teachers with training that will assist them to recognize mental health problems which are developing in students and to take appropriate action so that the student gets professional help.
The impact of illicit drug users on family members and non-using siblings. This research is a continuation and expansion of the pilot study conducted in 2001 that focussed on the effect on siblings of illicit drug use by a family member from the Vietnamese community. This research will include other ethnic groups and seek to discover the availability of and demand for drug and family support services for non-using family members. Additionally, the research will draw on the knowledge of drug an ....The impact of illicit drug users on family members and non-using siblings. This research is a continuation and expansion of the pilot study conducted in 2001 that focussed on the effect on siblings of illicit drug use by a family member from the Vietnamese community. This research will include other ethnic groups and seek to discover the availability of and demand for drug and family support services for non-using family members. Additionally, the research will draw on the knowledge of drug and family workers, in order to develop guidelines on how they can improve services for young people who have a sibling with an illicit drug addiction.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of An Early Parenting Intervention To Reduce Maternal Mood Disorder And Infant Behavior Disturbance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,503.00
Summary
Over 242,000 women give birth annually in Australia and up to 20% experience significant psychological distress in the baby's first year. Severe fatigue, worrying and depression interfere with the development of maternal confidence. If a baby does not sleep well or feed easily or cries for prolonged periods, mothers can feel ineffective and helpless. Assistance early in the baby's life is important to avoid long-term emotional and behavioral problems for mother and child. Nationally, health and ....Over 242,000 women give birth annually in Australia and up to 20% experience significant psychological distress in the baby's first year. Severe fatigue, worrying and depression interfere with the development of maternal confidence. If a baby does not sleep well or feed easily or cries for prolonged periods, mothers can feel ineffective and helpless. Assistance early in the baby's life is important to avoid long-term emotional and behavioral problems for mother and child. Nationally, health and social policy focuses on assisting families including those with parental mental health and early parenting problems and children at risk of developmental difficulties. Australia's residential early parenting services are unique, offering brief treatment to mothers with difficulties and infants with unsettled behaviour. Parents are educated in infant care and provided with emotional support and assistance to adjust to the demands of parenting. In past studies by CIA and CIB women reported marked improvements in emotional distress, maternal confidence and infant manageability after completing this treatment and six months later. The education and emotional support were rated as acceptable and very effective. This project is a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate whether brief admission to a residential early parenting service has sustainable benefits for mild to moderate maternal mental health problems and for infant behaviour disturbance. Mothers with a diagnosable mental health condition and with four-month-old infants reported to have unsettled infant behaviour will be randomly assigned to a residential treatment program at an early parenting service or to routine care. Mothers and infants will be assessed with standardized psychological measures one month after treatment and when the baby is one year old. An effective and acceptable intervention will provide an important alternative to available treatments for postnatal psychological disturbance.Read moreRead less
Development of a comprehensive model and programmed intervention for emotion processing deficits in childhood-onset mental health problems. This research is in the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health. Mental health problems cost Australia millions of dollars every year as well as creating immeasurable social adversity for individuals and families. The proposed research represents a significant step towards reducing these costs and improving the effectiveness of earl ....Development of a comprehensive model and programmed intervention for emotion processing deficits in childhood-onset mental health problems. This research is in the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health. Mental health problems cost Australia millions of dollars every year as well as creating immeasurable social adversity for individuals and families. The proposed research represents a significant step towards reducing these costs and improving the effectiveness of early intervention and prevention. The research will lead to improvements in methods for early detection of child psychopathology with potential for implementation in both community health and educational services nation-wide. The research partnership will build Australia's capacity for innovative research in the development, early intervention and treatment of mental health problems.Read moreRead less