The relationship between transport and mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand
Wild, K., Woodward, A., Herbert, S., Tiatia-Seath, J., Collings, S., Shaw, C., & Ameratunga, S. (2021). Research Report 675. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
This report highlights the positive contribution that walkable environments, reducing long commutes, increasing active commuting, and reducing the cost and increasing the comfort of public transport can make to mental wellbeing.
Early-onset and recurrent depression in parents increases risk of intergenerational transmission to adolescent offspring
Jaffee, S. R., Sligo, J. L., McAnally, H. M., Bolton, A. E., Baxter, J. M., & Hancox, R. J. (2020). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines, advance online publication. doi.10.1111/jcpp.13356
Recurrent depression in both fathers and mothers increases offspring risk for depression, particularly when it starts in childhood or adolescence, but a single lifetime episode does not. Health practitioners should be aware of age-of-onset and course of depression in both parents when assessing their children's risk for depression. Read the media release here.
New network for leaders and innovators launches
(2021, March). Wise Group.
Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga (Whāriki) is a new network for leaders, innovators and influencers in mental health and addiction services.
Intersex adolescents seeking help for their depression: The case study of SPARX in New Zealand
Lucassen, M., Perry, Y., Frampton, C., Fleming, T., Merry, S. N., Shepherd, M., & Stasiak, K. (2021). Australasian Psychiatry: Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, advance online publication. doi.10.1177/1039856221992642
These results suggest that intersex adolescents seeking help from an online resource have high mental health needs compared with other young people, possibly because they defer seeking help.
Mā te rongo ake: Through listening and hearing
(2021, March). Wellington: Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
The Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's progress report assesses progress of the Government's response to He Ara Oranga, the inquiry into mental health and addiction.
A content analysis of Reddit users' perspectives on reasons for not following through with a suicide attempt
Mason, A., Jang, K., Morley, K., Scarf, D., Collings, S. C., & Riordan, B. C. (2021, February 18). Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking, online ahead of print. doi.10.1089/cyber.2020.0521
These findings provide a broad overview about the proximal protective factors that directly stopped people from making a suicide attempt. They also illustrate the potential for Reddit as platform through which to better understand factors that may help to identify and support those in suicidal crisis. See the media release here.
The evidence on Covid-19 risk for people experiencing mental health and addiction issues
(2021, March). Te Pou.
This position statement concludes that there is strong evidence to support adults with mental health and addiction issues being prioritised for Covid-19 vaccination within the population group 'people with relevant underlying health conditions'.
Mental health and wellbeing: Quarter two update (October-December 2020) Year two of delivering the Government's response to He Ara Oranga
(2021). Wellington: Ministry of Health.
An update to share progress on changes called for through He Ara Oranga, the Report of the Government's Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, for the second quarter of 2020/21, and a summary of progress over the past 18 months.
The potential of school-based physical education to increase physical activity in Aotearoa New Zealand children and young people: A modelling study
Mizdrak, A., Shaw, C., Lynch, B., & Richards, J. (2021, March 12). New Zealand Medical Journal, 134 (1531).
Regular physical activity contributes to the development of healthy cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, and is associated with positive psychological and cognitive benefits.
"It's how the world around you treats you for being trans": Mental health and wellbeing of transgender people in Aotearoa New Zealand
Schmidt, J. M., Ellis, S. J., Veale, J. F., & Byrne, J. L. (2021, February 28). Psychology and Sexuality, online. doi.10.1080/19419899.2021.1897033
The current findings indicate the importance of exploring mental health outcomes for transgender people in relation to cisgenderism and resultant gender minority stress.
Adolescent stress, help‐seeking intentions, subjective achievement and life satisfaction in New Zealand: Tests of mediation, moderated mediation and moderation
Sotardi, V. A., Watson, P., Swit, C., Roy, D., & Bajaj, M. (2020). Stress and Health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, advance online publication. doi.10.1002/smi.3021
Young New Zealanders who are experiencing stress are more likely to seek help from friends and families than from counsellors or other specialists, according to a new study. See media release here.
Interventions for self-harm in children and adolescents
Witt, K. G., Hetrick, S. E., Rajaram, G., Hazell, P., Taylor Salisbury, T. L., Townsend, E., & Hawton, K. (2021). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, CD013667. doi.10.1002/14651858.CD013667.pub2
Evidence assessing the effectiveness of interventions in the treatment of self-harm in children and adolescents is lacking, especially when compared with the evidence for psychosocial interventions in adults.
Fit for what purpose? Exploring bicultural frameworks for the architectural design of acute mental health facilities
Jenkin, G., McIntosh, J., & Every-Palmer, S. (2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2343. doi.10.3390/ijerph18052343
It was found that the general underpinning philosophy of mental health care in Aotearoa New Zealand was that of recovery. The authors state that the CHIME principles of recovery, with some modifications, could be translated into design principles for an architectural brief.