Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
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Australas Psychiatry · Jan 2007
Dealing with suicidal thoughts in schools: information and education directed at secondary schools.
Current practice in Australia is to avoid discussing suicide or suicidal ideation directly with students in school suicide prevention programs. This paper examines why there is a strong argument to question this approach in the context of a continuing unacceptable rate of youth suicide in this country. ⋯ The ongoing tragedy of Indigenous adolescent suicide in Australia demands that all possible interventions should be considered. Taking a more direct approach to school suicide prevention and life-promoting programs using the brief intervention tool, the 'Toughin' it out' pamphlet, appeared to be associated with a positive impact on suicide in high-risk secondary schools in northern Australia. The positive experience in northern Australia would support a similar approach being considered in school programs nationally.
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The author, a mental health consumer, describes key elements of 'self-directed recovery' central to which was the writing of poetry. Examples of poetry through the recovery journey are presented and provide a means to identify other resources to this end. ⋯ The periodic reflection of poetry as a recovery tool, coupled with the support of family and peers and other recovery realizations such as self talk, can make the recuperation from mental illness less debilitating and something to embrace.
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Australas Psychiatry · Dec 2006
ReviewSpirituality, religion and psychiatry: its application to clinical practice.
Based on evidence obtained from recent Australian psychiatric patient surveys, a need to include the spiritual and religious dimension of patients in their psychiatric care has been identified. This paper aims to review the evidence for this need and to suggest the parameters in which this dimension might be applied. ⋯ In considering the spiritual dimension of the patient, the psychiatrist is able to send an important message that he or she is concerned with the whole person, a message that enhances the patient-physician relationship. This, in turn, is likely to increase the therapeutic impact of psychiatrists' interventions.
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Australas Psychiatry · Dec 2006
Psychiatric emergencies in children and adolescents: an Emergency Department audit.
To describe a cohort of children presenting to a paediatric emergency department with mental health problems. ⋯ Many children with mental health problems were seen for the first time in ED. With the growing awareness of mental health problems in this age group, it is likely that such presentations will increase. Paediatric and psychiatry services have an opportunity to work together to provide early intervention services for what is potentially a very accessible population.
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Australas Psychiatry · Mar 2006
ReviewExtended Matching Questions and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists written examination: an overview.
To provide an overview, for trainees and fellows, of the Extended Matching Question, a new question type recently introduced in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists written examination. The characteristics, technical aspects and construction of these question types are discussed. Some pointers for candidates and those setting questions are outlined. ⋯ Extended Matching Questions are now commonly used to test medical knowledge in many areas of medicine, including psychiatry. They represent a transparent, evidence-based approach to the assessment of medical knowledge, which lends itself to electronic marking and statistical analysis. These questions facilitate the development of question banks and provide an easily accessible oversight of what areas of the curriculum have been examined.