Suicide risk during antidepressant treatment
Simon GE, Savarino J, Operskalski B, Wang PS
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 163 (1): 41-47 JAN 2006

In March 2004 the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned physicians and patients regarding increased risk of suicide with 10 newer antidepressant drugs. Available data leave considerable uncertainty regarding actual risk of suicide attempt and death by suicide during antidepressant treatment. The authors used population-based data to evaluate the risk of suicide death and serious suicide attempt in relation to initiation of antidepressant treatment....

Conclusions: The risk of suicide during acute-phase antidepressant treatment is approximately one in 3,000 treatment episodes, and risk of serious suicide attempt is approximately one in 1,000. Available data do not indicate a significant increase in risk of suicide or serious suicide attempt after starting treatment with newer antidepressant drugs.

Adolescent risk: The co-occurrence of illness, suicidality, and substance use

Article in : JOURNAL OF YOUTH AND ADOLESCENCE 34 (6): 547-557 DEC 2005

Illness is rarely considered a "risk factor" in adolescence. This study tests illness, suicidality and substance use as outcome measures in a path analysis of 1028 Swiss adolescents in secondary prevention programs. The model showed that negative mood (depression and anxiety) predicted two paths. One path led from negative mood to suicidality and from there to substance use. The other path led directly from negative mood to illness. Traditional protective factors (good relationships, secure identity) protected against the negative mood-suicide-substance path, but not against the negative mood-illness path.

Suicide behaviour in a clinical sample of children and adolescents in New Zealand

Article in : NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, 34 (3): 164-170 NOV 2005
by: Fortune S, Seymour F, Lambie I

This study aimed to establish the prevalence of suicide ideation and suicidal behaviour in a child and adolescent mental health service and examine if children and adolescents with deliberate self-harm (DSH) were different from those who had not engaged in DSH in terms of individual and family risk factors.

A scoping study of depression among Indigenous peoples
Beyondblue The National Depression Initiative, 2005

"The specific objectives of this scoping study were to identify and collate information relating to: the level and nature of depression among Indigenous peoples; other potential sources of data about the incidence and prevalence of depression; awareness of depression among Indigenous people and their carers – including causes, treatment options, appropriate strategies and types of help available; and innovative programs and projects addressing depression among Indigenous peoples."

Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry): The contribution of youth development programs in preventing youth crime, drug and alcohol misuse and suicide. Griffith University

The Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance is seeking a PhD scholar to work fulltime on this ARC-funded Linkage project, in partnership with Impact: Youth Organisations Reducing Crime, and the Queensland Department of Communities.

The key question for the project is how much youth organisations (e.g., Scouts) promote positive development in at-risk youth and reduce crime and other problems. The effectiveness of youth programs in achieving this goal will be assessed through an audit of organisational activities, interviews and questionnaires with leaders and young people, and observation. The successful applicant will have an Honours 1 or 2A in one of the social sciences, specifically criminology, psychology, sociology, youth studies or related fields.

The scholarship pays a stipend of $25 118 p.a. (indexed annually) for up to three years. The scholarship also provides relocation and thesis allowance. For further information on application procedures please contact the Postgraduate Scholarships Coordinator on (07) 3735 6596 or m.mitchell@griffith.edu.au.
Applications close on 17 February 2006.
www.griffith.edu.au
Advertised on CareerOne website

School memorials after suicide: helpful or harmful?
SIEC Alert, 54, May 2004

We have had a few enquiries regarding memorials & have reposted this Siec Alert.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in Canada. School-aged Canadians are affected by the suicide death of a family member, friend, classmate, or peer. Schools have a role in supporting their students. Suicide can not and should not be ignored. After a death by suicide impacts one or more members of their student population, what is the role of the school to support grieving students? Is there a role for memorial activities at school and, if so, what form should that take?

Recent developments and current controversies in depression: review article
The Lancet, Volume 367, Issue 9505, 14 January 2006-20 January 2006, Pages 153-167

We cover epidemiology and basic science as well as the treatment of depression in adults in all its forms....
Moral panic about the claim that antidepressant serotonin reuptake inhibitors cause patients to commit suicide and become addicted to their medication may have disconcerted the public and members of the medical profession. We will try to describe the considerable effort that has gone into collecting evidence to enlighten this debate.

Also available online via ScienceDirect

STin2 Variant and Family History of Suicide as Significant Predictors of Suicide Completion in Major Depression

article in: Biological Psychiatry, Volume 59, Issue 2, 15 January 2006, Pages 114-120

...We aimed to identify predictors of suicide, considering genetic variation at the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene....the STin2 variant remained a significant predictor of suicide in major depression when jointly considered with a family history of suicide....

Also available online through ScienceDirect

Do films about mentally disturbed characters promote ineffective coping in vulnerable youth?

Article in Journal of Adolescence, In Press, Available online 5 January 2006

Suicidal youth tend to doubt the effectiveness of professional mental health treatment. This study examined whether exposure to films about suicidal and mentally disturbed persons supports this lack of belief....The findings suggest that exposure to fictional depictions of characters failing to get help for mental disorders may have long-term effects on depressed and suicidal youth.

Available online via ScienceDirect

Article: The relationship between media reporting of suicide and actual suicide in Australia • in Social Science & Medicine, In Press, Available online 4 January 2006

This study aimed to determine whether media items about suicide were associated with differential increases in actual suicides. Data were available on 4635 suicide-related items appearing in Australian newspapers and on radio and television news and current affairs shows between March 2000 and February 2001....We found that 39% of media items were followed by an increase in male suicides, and 31% by an increase in female suicides....

Full text available through ScienceDirect

YouthLink Workshop: Understanding and working with young people who self-harm

This workshop is designed to increase participants understanding, skills and confidence in responding to self-harming behaviour in young people.

Workshop aims:

• To define differences between self-harming, risk-taking and suicidal behaviour
• To outline factors that contribute to & maintain self-harming behaviours
• To provide a model for understanding the 'cycle of self-harm'
• To provide participants with skills in raising the issue and assessing behaviours in young people
• To introduce ideas about responding to self-harm in ways that are appropriate to work roles and the needs of young people

Date: Monday 10th April 2006. Time: 9am - 4 pm. Cost $22. Venue: Health Department, East Perth. Booking are on a first come first serve basis, and need to include payment with the enrolment form. Please contact YouthLink for further information on: 9227 4300

YouthLink Workshop: Understanding and responding to suicidal behaviour in young people

This workshop is designed for participants to develop knowledge and skills in assessing and responding to young people who may be at risk of suicide.

Workshop aims:

• To provide an increased understanding of suicidal and self harming behaviour in young people
• To assist participants to acquire skills in suicide risk assessment
• To enable participants to develop knowledge of intervention strategies
• To provide participants with information about a range of resources in the community that can assist to manage young people at-risk of suicide

Date: 24th April 2006, from 9am - 4 pm, cost $22. Enrolment is on a first come first serve basis and must include payment with the form. Venue: Health Department of WA, East Perth. For further information phone: 9227 4300

Community Educator
Sydney - North Wesley Mission
We are seeking a skilled & proficient person for our National Suicide Prevention Program which aims to significantly reduce the high rate of suicide.

Please contact Kirsty D’Bias, Senior Operations Coordinator 9874 2111 for an information package. Applications in writing, should be forwarded to Cate Sydes, National Manager LifeForce, Dalmar Child and Family Care, PO Box 2446, 3 Dalmar Place Carlingford NSW 2118
Applications close: Friday 17th February 2006
Advertised on the Seek website

Cultural disconnect behind Maori suicides
Massey News, Massey University, New Zealand, January 2006

Cultural disconnection is a key factor behind the high rates of suicide and attempted suicide among Maori, a Massey University researcher has found. Dr Nicole Coupe focused on Maori suicide prevention for her Doctorate of Philosophy in Maori Studies. In her five-year study, Dr Coupe (Kai Tahu, Te Atiawa, Ngati Toa, Rangitane, Raukawa) looked at the reasons for suicidal behaviour among Maori, whose rate of suicide and suicide attempts far exceeds that of non-Maori.

Statistics for Maori males aged between 15 and 24, for example, showed 34 per cent higher rate of suicide than non-Maori (38.9 per 100,000 compared with 29.2), while for young Maori women, the rate is 142 per cent higher than non-Maori (17.2 per 100,000 compared with 6.6). Dr Coupe interviewed 250 Maori aged between 16 and 50 treated at hospitals in the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties-Manukau districts after suicide attempts, and a control group of 250 Maori selected at random from the same communities.....

Psychologist or Social Worker or Occupational Therapist
(Early Intervention Project Officer) - Suicide Prevention, District Mental Health Service, Community Health Services, Longreach, Central West Health Service District, Queensland

Duties/Abilities: Promote and facilitate the development of a range of early intervention strategies targeting known high risk groups who are at elevated risk or vulnerable to self-harming and/or suicidal behaviour. Requires advanced knowledge of shared care and collaborative models of mental health service delivery between primary care providers.

Enquiries: Paul Smith (07) 4658 3344 Fax: (07) 4658 32496.
Application Kit: Kathy Moulds (07) 4651 1311 Fax: (07) 4651 2249 or
email: kathy_moulds@health.qld.gov.au (Please specify discipline)
Closing Date: 5.00 p.m. Monday, 6 February 2006
Advertised on Seek

On the tail of the black dog
Article in The Australian, January 21, 2006 by Leigh Dayton

WHEN Geoff Gallop stepped up to the microphone last week and announced he was quitting politics to tackle the "black dog" of depression, he earned sympathy nationwide. Inevitably, he triggered speculation about the cause: job, gender, genes? Experts can point to risk factors for depression - from personality, life history, illness, injury and genetic susceptibility - they can't say for certain what causes depression generally, let alone in someone like the departing WA premier.

That's why geneticist Simon Easteal is delving into the DNA of adults in Canberra and Queanbeyan in the ACT. He wants hard information about which types of which genes put people like Gallop at risk of major depression. He also seeks to untangle the complex knot of nature and nurture: that is, to discover how those genetic variants interact with life events to trigger depressive illness.

Seminar: Perspective on Intentional Harm to Self and Others in Indigenous Communities

Wednesday, 15 February 2006
12.30 Light lunch provided - 1.00 pm seminar
Seminar Room 3, Gascoyne House, Graylands Hospital

Professor Ernest Hunter, Professor of Public Health (Mental Health)
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Queensland, CAIRNS

Professor Hunter is the author of many articles with his areas of expertise on Aboriginal and Torres Strait island mental health and public health witha particular focus on alcohol use and interventions from a public health perspective, and accidents and injuries from intentional harm (to self or others) in Indigenous communities.

Flyer sent out by: State Forensic Mental Health Service. TEL: 9347 6500

Barkly Region Life Promotion Officer (Based in Tennant Creek) - Part/time

The Program Officer will primarily be responsible for establishing an interagency response to suicide and attempted suicides in the Barkly Region. Ongoing funding for this position is dependent on the program successfully establishing this response function. The position requires an understanding of the issues affecting indigenous communities and an ability to work in collaboration with local organisations, government and the community to respond to suicides and self-harming behaviour. This position will be well supported with training.

$40,182 - $42,477 - 20 hrs/wk - funded until 30 June 2006 (with the possibility of ongoing funding).
To obtain a job description contact MHACA on (08) 8952 3311. Applications must address the selection criteria and include a resume and contact details of three current referees. Send to MHACA, PO Box 2326 Alice Springs, NT 0871 or email mhaca@iinet.net.au
Closing date Friday 3 February 2000
Advertised on CareerOne website

Plans to curb suicide rate in farming families
ABC Rural Country Hour By Genine Unsworth
Thursday, 12/01/2006

The Mental Health Council of Australia says the increase of suicide of young men in rural and remote communities is one of the greatest challenges facing our State and Federal politicians. Council Chair, Keith Wilson met with WA National Party Leader, Brendan Grylls this week to begin work on a mental health strategy for Western Australia's farming community. Mr Wilson says many country MP's are looking for new ways to support country people experiencing remoteness and isolation. "Another factor is the drift to urban areas of young people and the less intense interconnectedness of rural communities as a result of that," he says. "I think all of those pressures are bearing heavily on people living in rural communities in terms of their mental health," Wilson says. "And of course the delivery of services is very meagre," he says.

Antidepressants still the answer despite 'risks'
Article in The Australian, January 16, 2006 by Adam Cresswell

People with moderate to severe depression are still better off taking antidepressant drugs despite "panic" over reports that they can lead some patients to commit suicide.

Report of article from The Lancet: Antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy are the best treatment options for depression, Volume 367, Number 9505, 14 January 2006.
Despite public and professional misgivings, antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are the most effective treatments for moderate to severe depression, state Klaus Ebmeier and colleagues in a Seminar which reviews recent developments and current controversies in depression