Mental Health Services in Australia 2002-03
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Mental Health Services in Australia 2002-03 describes the characteristics and activity of Australia's mental health services including ambulatory and residential mental health-related care provided by hospitals, community-based services, general practitioners, private psychiatrists and some disability support services. Information on the broad trends in mental health care is presented in an easy-to-use summary. Detailed statistics show the hospital care of patients admitted with a mental health-related diagnosis, the services, beds, staffing and expenditure in psychiatric hospitals and community-based services, and mental health-related medications prescribed by general practitioners and private psychiatrists. A special theme chapter has been included which presents an overview of the available data on the mental health care of people with schizophrenia.
Click to review the media release and report.
AIHW Catalogue No. HSE-35; Available from CanPrint (ph: 1300 889 873); $34.00

SIEC Alert #57, January 2005

Suicide Prevention and the Internet
In the last decade, the Internet has experienced a phenomenal growth as technology costs continue to fall and more and more people have mainstream access to the network. Statistics show that the Internet represents an increasingly important medium, especially among adolescents and young adults who use it as a source of information and communication. A recent
study by Statistics Canada (2001) showed that 90% of 15-19 year old teenagers had used the Internet in 2000, compared to 53% for the overall population. Since the younger age group is characterized by high suicide rates, it would be wise for the suicide prevention community to capitalize on new Internet-based prevention opportunities while anticipating potential new challenges.

A guide for using the Internet for Suicide Prevention is available at http://www.mcsp.org.au/docs/guide_full.pdf

BMJ

This week in the BMJ
--------------------------------------------
Explaining suicide
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/330/7484/0-g?eaf

Suicide: age and deprivation matter in Scotland
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7484/0?etoc

Suicide: intelligence matters in Sweden
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7484/0-a?etoc

Suicide: nationality matters in Estonia
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7484/0-b?etoc

Suicide Rates Have Decreased With Increased Use of SSRIs, New-Generation Non-SSRIs
Laurie Barclay, MD

Suicide rates have dropped in association with increased use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and new-generation non-SSRIs, according to the results of an analysis of a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national vital statistics study published in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. However, the investigators acknowledge that this type of data cannot demonstrate causal relationships.

Medscape Medical News 2005. © 2005 Medscape

WA Eating Disorders Alliance
invites you to an

Eating Disorders Forum

Guest Speaker: Jan Cullis, Bronte's Mum, Director Bronte Foundation Australia and author of "A Journey Shared"
Panel of Speakers: Representing treatment and supportservices for people with eating disorders and theircarers/families.
Phone-In Results: Hear the concerns and issues of peoplecalling the recent eating disorders
Workgroups: Be involved and tell us what's needed in WA forpeople with eating disorders and their carers/families.

VENUE: Labouchere Road, South Perth
DATE: Tuesday 1st March 2005
TIME: 1.00pm to 4.45pm
COST: FREE
Perth Zoo Function Centre
(however places are limited - so please book quickly)
Refreshments & Afternoon Tea provided - please RSVP by 23/2/05 to Belinda
on 9444 5922 or email: belinda.tan@carerswa.asn.au