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This study investigated help-seeking intentions and use of mental health services within a sample of 1128 Mainland Chinese college students (630 males and 498 females; mean age = 20.01 years, SD = 1.48). Results of structural equation modeling and logistic regression analysis suggested that social-cognitive variables had significant effects both on students' intentions to seek professional mental health care and their actual service use. To promote help-seeking, practitioners should consider marketing campaigns and psycho-education for students and communities, enhancing knowledge and acceptance of mental health problems and effective treatment options.

Over 20% of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients have a comorbid mental health disorder, resulting in an increased risk of recurring major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality. Despite the higher risk, patients with comorbid depression or anxiety disorders are twice as likely to be non-adherent to secondary prevention. Therefore, better understanding of the adherence experiences of this subgroup is needed to inform service delivery and enhance adherence for this higher risk group. This study aims to explore the perceptions, understandings, and experiences of adherence to secondary prevention amongst 33 cardiac patients with diagnosed depression and/or anxiety disorder. Participants were recruited as part of the Cardiovascular Health in Anxiety or Mood Problems Study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data were analysed via inductive thematic analysis. Patient understandings of adherence to secondary prevention were limited, with medication compliance considered the marker of adherence. Further, participants did not perceive unintentional non-adherence to constitute non-adherence, rather an intent to engage was viewed as defining adherence. Participants also reported that a lack of practitioner understanding and management around their mental health negatively impacted the practitioner–patient relationship and their engagement with secondary prevention. Results highlight that unique barriers, especially around management of comorbid mental health exist for this subgroup. Additionally, adherence to secondary prevention might be limited by patients' narrow understandings of adherence as the intent to engage and as medication compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As Australia becomes more diverse it is essential for the psychology profession to examine training, cultural competency, and professional development needs of psychologists working in languages other than English. In this exploratory study of bilingual/multilingual psychologists in Australia, we aimed to investigate their self‐perceived language skills, multicultural counselling competency, and professional development needs; understand their training and practice experiences; and seek recommendations for policy and practice. Method: An online survey including demographic and practice information, the Multicultural Counselling Inventory and open‐ended text questions was completed by 38 bilingual/multilingual psychologists working in Australia in 2015. Eleven participants undertook supplementary telephone interviews which along with survey responses were transcribed for qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Most participants trained in English. They expressed concerns about their application of psychological concepts in other languages, despite good conversational fluency. Participants highlighted language barriers to entering the profession; limited multicultural and multilingual training and supervision in Australia; and the need for more transcultural mental health resources, particularly for small/new migrant communities and people outside large cities. Conclusion: To effectively serve clients, significant changes are required to psychology training in Australia, including but not limited to bilingual and multilingual psychologists. These include enhanced training and competency standards in MCC and using interpreters. The profession must actively support supervision, professional development, and practice in community languages. The Psychology Board of Australia and the universities need to examine policies operating as barriers to the admission of culturally and linguistically diverse people to the psychology profession in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is associated with increased cardiac morbidity and mortality in people with and without cardiac risk factors, and this relationship is, in part, mediated by heart rate variability (HRV). Increased heart rate and reduced HRV are common in depressed patients, which may explain their higher cardiac risk. This pilot study investigated whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) promoted objective changes in (1) HRV, and (2) depressive symptoms and quality of life, in mental health outpatients. Twenty-seven adults meeting criteria for DSM-IV Axis I disorders completed an 8-week MBCT program. Data were collected on three occasions, 8 weeks apart; twice before and once after MBCT. Participants completed the Short Form-36 and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at each test period. Heart rate and HRV were measured during electrocardiographic monitoring before and after a cognitive stressor. At baseline, 78% of participants met criteria for depression (CES-D ≥16). Multivariate analyses revealed a significant treatment effect for SF-36 physical summary score and depression (as a dichotomous variable), but not for HRV. This pilot study highlights the immediate psychological and health benefits of MBCT. Low power may have influenced the lack of a finding of an association between HRV and MBCT. However, the feasibility of the study design has been established, and supports the need for larger and longer-term studies of the potential physiological benefits of MBCT for cardiac health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Our study explored the relationships between baby boomer grandparents' mental health and the multiple roles they commonly fulfil: Grandchild care, other family care, home duties, and paid work. There is limited research on non-custodial grandparenting. Studies to date have suggested that psychosocial distress may be more associated with satisfaction levels than with actual time spent on activities, but these studies are mainly qualitative and have not always excluded grandparents who only provide secondary grandchild care. Our on-line survey asked 148 non-custodial Australian boomer grandparents (90 female, 58 male) providing regular sole or primary childcare for at least one grandchild about their experiences. Spearman correlations confirmed significant correlations between satisfaction and psychological health (distress and self-esteem), whereas time spent providing care was not significantly related to psychological health. Unlike previous researchers we identified few significant gender differences, perhaps because we focussed on grandparents providing sole or primary care. These outcomes provide direction for parents, grandparents, and policy makers addressing the needs of this social group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Mothers who are primary carers of children with disabilities experience more mental health problems than mothers of typically developing children. We aimed to update and extend research into mothers' perceptions of grandparent support with care, and impacts for maternal psychological well-being, because although contemporary grandparents live longer they also work longer.Methods: Surveys were completed by 72 mothers of clients (aged ≤8 years) of an Australian non-government disability agency. Mothers reported levels of practical and emotional support, face-to-face contact, and affectional solidarity with maternal and paternal grandparents. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was the dependent variable.Results: Mothers indicated high to very high levels of psychological distress. As in previous comparable surveys, most support was offered by maternal grandmothers who had more contact and closest relationships with mothers. Maternal distress was related to maternal grandmothers' health and relationships with maternal grandfathers. Face-to-face contact and closeness of relationships were strongly linked to provision of support.Conclusions and Implications: Grandparents are important supports for mothers of children with disabilities: mothers lacking support from their own parents are particularly vulnerable. Clinicians should actively facilitate grandparent involvement, and promote extended family relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]