This article provides a brief overview of the mental health of young people aged 16-24 years in Australia. It includes information on the prevalence of mental disorders for people in this age group, as well as their socioeconomic characteristics, level of impairment and the health service usage of young people with mental illness. Data are sourced from the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (SMHWB). To view statistics on Comorbidity and severity click here
Alcohol and Crime
Commissioned by the South Australian Police, July 2010
This report focuses on the impact of alcohol misuse on violence, social disorder and drink driving in the late-night economy of the Adelaide Central Business District (CBD). The key issue addressed is whether the State of South Australia currently has the appropriate balance of policy settings to allow the beneficial aspects of alcohol consumption to be enjoyed in the CBD, while minimising the costs and harms.
On 1st of March 2008, at the request of the Norseman Aboriginal Community and following extensive consultation and negotiations with stakeholders and community members facilitated by the Drug and Alcohol Office (Department of Health, WA) and Population Health (Goldfields), the following voluntary restrictions were imposed on the sale of take away alcohol. This report collates quantitative and qualitative data gathered from a number of sources to evaluate the effect of the restrictions including: alcohol-related emergency department and hospital admission data; alcohol related offences; alcohol sales data; and the views of community members and other key stakeholders about the restrictions.
This qualitative study examines the experiences of those with co-existing issues engaging with mental health or alcohol and other drug services. Results found that engaging with specialist services was challenging for nearly all the clients interviewed, yet it appeared even more so for those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. This was largely due to additional challenges and pressures relating to their migration experiences, language barriers and not understanding the Australian healthcare system. Despite the challenges, clients spoke highly of the services and workers they were currently engaged with, identifying what they had found helpful, and providing recommendations for addressing co-existing issues and working with clients from CALD backgrounds. This research was conducted jointly by the Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC) and the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC). The project was funded by the NSW Health Department and supported by the Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA).
This Integration Insight provides a brief overview of the most popular modelling techniques used to analyse complex real-world problems, as well as some less popular but highly relevant techniques. The modelling methods are divided into three categories, with each encompassing a number of methods, as follows: 1) Qualitative Aggregate Models (Soft Systems Methodology, Concept Maps and Mind Mapping, Scenario Planning, Causal (Loop) Diagrams), 2) Quantitative Aggregate Models (Function fitting and Regression, Bayesian Nets, System of differential equations / Dynamical systems, System Dynamics, Evolutionary Algorithms) and 3) Individual Oriented Models (Cellular Automata, Microsimulation, Agent Based Models, Discrete Event Simulation, Social Network Analysis). Each technique is broadly described with example uses, key attributes and reference material.
The Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) monitors human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C (HCV) antibody prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia. The survey also monitors behavioural indices of risk and provides important information that can be used for planning prevention, treatment and support policies and services. Each year, all clients attending participating NSP services during the designated survey period are invited to complete a brief, anonymous questionnaire and to provide a capillary blood sample for HIV and HCV antibody testing. This report presents national, state and territory data for the period 2005 to 2009.
This 24-page Australian paper aims to identify and evaluate primary prevention programs and initiatives aimed at preventing alcohol and other drug harms in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
This research outlines some lessons from UK experiences of the promotion of consumer engagement in drug and alcohol treatment services for Australia and particularly in Tasmania.
This research explores UK models of consumer engagement in alcohol and drug treatment services. It involved a literature review, the collation of policy and strategy documents and interviews with informants including policy makers and planners, funders, academics, service providers, service users and activists. Traditionally services have involved consumers through consulting directly with them or their representatives about the services they receive. The emphasis in this report is on forms of consumer participation that go beyond consultation and which actively promote consumer-led provision and involvement in the design and delivery of services. The research draws out the lessons from the UK experience for promoting consumer engagement in drug and alcohol treatment services across Australia and particularly in Tasmania.
