Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC)’s Post

Today, in a timely article for the Medical Journal of Australia InSight, DEA members Dr Cybele Dey, Dr Lai Heng Foong FACEM, and Dr Emma Skowronski discuss new research from UNSW Medicine & Health that reveals a troubling link between hot weather and increased suicidal thoughts/behaviours in young Australians. ED visits by young people for suicidal thoughts or behaviours increased by 1.3% for every 1°C rise in daily mean temperature (DMT). These findings relate to young people being physically too hot, not to their emotional response to or understanding of the scientific reality of climate change. Suicide is the leading cause of death in teenagers and young adults in Australia. Evidence-based suicide prevention must consider the clear evidence of increased suicidal thoughts and behaviours with hotter weather, especially given that global temperatures are rising. To protect youth mental health, we must take decisive action on climate change. This means rapidly phasing out fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - and transitioning to clean, renewable energy sources. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gqZt9ByA Psychology for a Safe Climate Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Climate Mental Health Network Climate and Health Alliance Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Parents for Climate Sweltering Cities Lifeline Australia

🏘️The Power of Community in Health: A Medical Perspective 🏥 Being part of a supportive community can profoundly impact our health and well-being. Here are some of the key benefits: 1. Mental Health Improvement: Communities can reduce stress and anxiety by providing emotional support and a sense of belonging. 2. Enhanced Physical Health: Group activities encourage regular exercise, and shared experiences help manage chronic diseases more effectively. 3. Improved Health Behaviors: Peer influence promotes healthier lifestyle choices and accountability. 4. Boosted Immune Function: Strong social ties enhance immune function, lowering infection risks. 5. Longevity: Research shows strong social connections lead to longer life expectancy. 6. Faster Recovery: Supportive communities aid quicker recovery from illnesses and surgeries. 7. Health Education: Communities share valuable health information, improving health literacy. 8. Emotional Well-being: Emotional support enhances coping mechanisms and overall emotional health. 9. Sense of Purpose: Shared health goals provide motivation and a sense of purpose. A study published in PLOS Medicine highlights that strong social connections can increase longevity by 50%, emphasizing the critical role of social support in health maintenance . At Sovi Health, we believe in the power of community to drive positive health changes. Join us in creating supportive environments where everyone can thrive. #CommunityHealth #MentalHealth #PhysicalHealth #Wellness #SoviHealth #HealthCommunity Reference: Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLOS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316. [Link to study](https://lnkd.in/gTmeXadZ). Brian Bourey

A new social prescribing report from the social biobehavioural research group (formerly WHO Collaborating Centre in Arts and Health). Pioneering insights into social prescribing pathways. Key Findings The research shows the importance of non-medical referral routes in addressing inequalities in social prescribing. Prioritising these pathways could play a crucial role in promoting fair and impartial access to social prescribing services. Additionally, the research calls for increased financial and infrastructural resources, alongside strategic planning, to address the low intervention rates and ensure more effective social prescribing delivery. Mental Health Focus: Mental health is the primary reason for social prescribing referrals, accounting for approximately 34% of all cases, showcasing its significant relevance to psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Equitable Reach: Social prescribing through non-medical referral routes effectively reaches diverse socio-demographic groups, particularly those from deprived areas, younger adults, men, and ethnic minority groups. Intervention Gaps: Despite 90% of referrals leading to contact with a link worker, only 38% resulted in any intervention. This highlights a shortage in community activities and resources, especially those related to mental health, practical support, and social relationships. Implementation Variability: The study revealed substantial differences in how social prescribing is implemented across the UK in line with differing healthcare design and care needs. In Wales and Northern Ireland, for example, there are higher referrals for children and young people under the age of 18, and individuals from deprived backgrounds, while Scotland and Northern Ireland exhibit higher rates of interventions. These key findings are detailed in the paper titled “Equal, equitable or exacerbating inequalities? Patterns and predictors of social prescribing referrals in 160,128 UK patients.“

Blackbird Health Secures $17M To Expand Youth Mental Health Model – MedCity News - MedCity News #Funding Announcement: Blackbird Health Secures $17M Blackbird Health, a youth mental health organization, has recently secured $17 million in funding to expand their innovative mental health model for young people. The funding will allow Blackbird Health to reach more youth in need of mental health support and services. #Innovative Mental Health Model for Youth Blackbird Health's mental health model for youth is centered around providing personalized and accessible mental health care to young people. By leveraging technology and innovative care delivery methods, Blackbird Health aims to make mental health services more accessible and effective for youth. #Expanding Reach and Impact With the $17 million in funding, Blackbird Health plans to expand their reach and impact by scaling up their ai.mediformatica.com #health #mentalhealth #this #blackbirdhealth #medcity #news #funding #seriesa #acce #behavioralhealth #community #fundinground #digitalhealth #healthit #healthtech #healthcaretechnology @MediFormatica (https://buff.ly/3IAB12d)

Great to connect with Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children staff today. I shared my PhD research findings on CAMHS support for young people involved with Oranga Tamariki. So encouraging to hear about the work being done to strengthen relationships between CAMHS and OT 💪 My research showed that all the stories of good practice involved CAMHS clinicians bending the rules for young people aka ✨responsible subversion✨ 💡 Wouldn’t it be better if we could change the rules to better meet the needs of young people involved with Oranga Tamariki 💡 Instead of: ❌ One assessment/choice appointment with a clinician. ❌ Followed by 6 sessions of talking therapy with a different clinician. ❌ File closed after 3 missed appointments. ❌ File closed if the young person moves placement. It would be great if CAMHS teams were resourced and equipped to: ✅ Take the time needed to engage at a young person’s pace. ✅ Have a consistent care team, ideally co-working or team-working model. ✅ Smaller caseloads of 8 families to enable intensive support. ✅ Allocate 50% of the time to work with whānau and interagency liaison. ✅ Community-based mobile assertive outreach approach. Care-experienced young people deserve good mental health care that is tailored to their needs and to be recognised as a priority population. Ministry of Health New Zealand Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

On the eve of the Social Prescribing Panel at the Fostering Creative Health conference, we share this new research paper by Prof Genevieve Dingle et al. A controlled evaluation of social prescribing on loneliness for adults in Queensland: 8-week outcomes. Results: Retention was high (79.4%) in the SP condition. Time × condition interaction effects were found for loneliness and social trust, with improvement observed only in SP participants over the 8-week period. SP participants reported significant improvement on all other outcomes with small-to-moderate effect sizes (ULS-8 loneliness, wellbeing, psychological distress, social anxiety). However, interaction effects did not reach significance. https://buff.ly/4aDNq1s

#MentalHealth issues are on the rise among 🇪🇺 youth, and the situation has drastically worsened after the #COVID19 pandemic. So, what can & should be done to address the situation and better protect the mental well-being of young Europeans? Read my article to find out the answer▶️ https://lnkd.in/eRf_5HWs #MentalHealth #MentalWellbeing #YouthMentalHealth #YouthWellBeing #EuropeanYouth #YoungPeople EuroHealthNet OECD - OCDE Hannes Jarke Francisca Vargas Lopes European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) EU Health and Food Safety EU Science, Research and Innovation European Conference on Mental Health European Journal of Mental Health Youth For Mental Health Youth Mental Health Canada Mental Health Europe Euro Youth Mental Health European Health Parliament World Health Organization WHO Regional Office for Europe

I have always believed that the online events that I run at Carers NSW have a strong social prescription element to them. Pre and post session feedback would (almost always) show increased levels of self-identified levels of wellbeing, and social connection. Participants would say that Art Space was ‘not a therapy session, but always felt therapeutic’. I identify with points made in the conclusion, that the results should not be ‘viewed as a single intervention, but as a set of relationships and intervention components that may together help the individual address social and non-medical needs more effectively over time.’ Reducing social isolation is so important, not just in the carer community, and that the continued running of online and face-to-face events can help break down these feelings of isolation, whilst improving levels of wellbeing.

The Importance of Patient/Provider Matching in Combating the Youth Mental Health Crisis - HIT Consultant Summary: #PatientProviderMatching: In the fight against the youth mental health crisis, patient/provider matching plays a crucial role. Matching patients with the right providers can lead to better outcomes and improved access to care. #ChallengesinMentalHealthCare: There are several challenges in mental health care, including stigma, limited resources, and a shortage of mental health providers. These challenges can make it difficult for youth to access the care they need. #ImportanceofMatching: Matching patients with providers who have the right expertise and experience is essential for effective mental health treatment. It can lead to better communication, trust, and ultimately, improved outcomes for patients. #TechnologySolutions: Technology solutions, such as telehealth platforms and AI-powered matching algorithms, ai.mediformatica.com #health #mentalhealth #this #provider #providers #healthcare #loneline #medical #suicide #chiefmedicalofficer #research #rulahealth #digitalhealth #healthit #healthtech #healthcaretechnology @MediFormatica (https://buff.ly/4eLCEYC)

An 80-year Harvard Study showed that "embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier." One of the directors of the study said, "Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too." It helps people delay mental and physical decline. With the aftermath of covid and the surgeon general calling loneliness a public health epidemic, it's a critical part of our health that most people probably don't understand can help their chances of living longer. The report says, "the people who were most satisfied with their relationships at age 50, were the healthiest at age 80." Women wellness practitioners....Do you talk to your clients/patients/participants about the quality of their relationships? Do you know the signs and symptoms when people feel disconnected? What is our role as wellness practitioners to help people create healthy relationships? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Reply back and let me know what you think. How can we put "relationships and connection" on the same list as carrots and kale? See a summary of the study in the The Harvard Gazette. https://lnkd.in/eUuJHE3i