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Objectives: This study was undertaken to evaluate the views of New Zealand clinicians regarding a proposed national child and adolescent mental health research network.Methods: Child psychiatrists, child psychologists and child psychotherapists were invited to participate in an electronic survey describing their previous experience of research, current interest in research, barriers to undertaking research and interest in a national research network.Results: Responses were received from child psychiatrists (N = 33), child psychologists (N = 58) and child psychotherapists (N = 8), many of whom were clinicians and few of whom were researchers. Although most clinicians were interested in participating in future research, areas of interest differed between clinical groups. Clinician barriers to research included lack of time, lack of confidence and lack of research skills. Researcher barriers included lack of funding, time and administrative support. All groups were supportive of the development of a national research network.Conclusions: Despite some different areas of interest, there appears to be sufficient combined support from New Zealand child psychiatrists, child psychologists and child psychotherapists to pursue the establishment of a national child and adolescent mental health research network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and impact; they cause widespread disruption and adversity throughout the world. The Canterbury earthquakes of 2010-2011 were devastating for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is important to understand the impact of this disaster on the mental health of children and adolescents.Aims: To report psychiatric medication use for children and adolescents following the Canterbury earthquakes.Method: Dispensing data from community pharmacies for the medication classes antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, sedatives/hypnotics and methylphenidate are routinely recorded in a national database. Longitudinal data are available for residents of the Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) and nationally. We compared dispensing data for children and adolescents residing in Canterbury DHB with national dispensing data to assess the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on psychotropic prescribing for children and adolescents.Results: After longer-term trends and population adjustments are considered, a subtle adverse effect of the Canterbury earthquakes on dispensing of antidepressants was detected. However, the Canterbury earthquakes were not associated with higher dispensing rates for antipsychotics, anxiolytics, sedatives/hypnotics or methylphenidate.Conclusions: Mental disorders or psychological distress of a sufficient severity to result in treatment of children and adolescents with psychiatric medication were not substantially affected by the Canterbury earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite growing awareness of increasing rates of youth suicide and self-harm in New Zealand, there is still little known about self-harm among rural youth. Aim: This study compared: (1) rates of youth self-harm presentations between a rural emergency department (ED) and nationally available rates; and (2) local and national youth suicide rates over the decade from January 2008 to December 2017. Methods: Data were requested on all presentations to Ashburton Hospital ED coded for 'self-harm' for patients aged 15–24 years. Comparative data were obtained from the coroner, Ministry of Health and the 2013 census. Analyses were conducted of the effects of age, time, repetition, method, ethnicity and contact with mental health services on corresponding suicide rates. Results: Self-harm rates in Ashburton rose in the post-earthquake period (2013–17). During the peri-earthquake period (2008–12), non-Māori rates of self-harm were higher than for Māori (527 vs 116 per 100 000 youth respectively), reflecting the national trend. In the post-earthquake period, although non-Māori rates of self-harm stayed stable (595 per 100 000), there was a significant increase in Māori rates of self-harm to 1106 per 100 000 (Chi-squared = 14.0, P < 0.001). Youth living within the Ashburton township showed higher rates than youth living more rurally. Discussion: Youth self-harm behaviours, especially self-poisoning, have increased since the Canterbury earthquakes in the Ashburton rural community. Of most concern was the almost ninefold increase in Māori self-harm presentations in recent years, along with the increasing prevalence among teenagers and females. Possible explanations and further exploratory investigation strategies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Exposure to a large natural disaster can lead to behavioural disturbances, developmental delay and anxiety among young children. Although most children are resilient, some will develop mental health problems. Major earthquakes occurred in Canterbury, New Zealand, in September 2010 and February 2011. A community screening tool assessing behavioural and emotional problems in children, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, has been reported by parents (SDQ-P) and teachers (SDQ-T) of all 4-year-olds in the region since 2008.Methods: Mean total and subtest scores for the SDQ-P and SDQ-T were compared across periods before, during and after the earthquakes in sequential population cohorts of children. Comparisons across the periods were made in relation to the proportions of children defined by New Zealand norms as 'abnormal'. Results were also compared between zones considered to have been exposed to higher or lower impact from the earthquakes.Results: Parent mean total SDQ scores did not change between periods before, during and after the earthquakes. Teacher mean SDQ total scores significantly reduced (improved) when compared between baseline and post-earthquake periods. Mean SDQ pro-social scores from both teachers and parents increased (strengthened) when compared between baseline and post-earthquake periods. Results did not significantly vary according to a measure of impact from the earthquakes.Conclusion: The main finding that a population-based measure of behavioural and emotional problems among children was not deleteriously impacted by the earthquakes is surprising and is not consistent with other research findings. Further work is needed to explore the health needs of children in Canterbury based on methodological improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on availability of psychiatry workforce for children in Australia and New Zealand. Topics discussed include increase in prevalence of mental health problems during infancy, childhood and adolescence, disability adjusted life years caused by mental and behavioral disorders, and low treatment rates for major childhood mental disorders.

The aims of this study were to examine parental views on the onset of symptoms, impact on functioning and meanings attributed to their child's bipolar disorder. Early onset bipolar disorder impacts on development and functioning across multiple domains. Psychosocial disability fluctuates in parallel with changes in affective symptoms and may significantly affect family members. This study utilized descriptive statistical data and qualitative data from parental self-reports of 85 participants in a trial of psychotherapy for young people (15-34 years) with bipolar disorder. A content analysis was conducted on the written self-reports. Most parents identified the onset of depressive symptoms in their child by early adolescence, but it was not until late adolescence, or later, that parents noted symptoms of mania. The onset of symptoms during a crucial period of development had a considerable impact on social and occupational functioning. Without prompting, the parents took the opportunity to attempt to make sense of the diagnosis by attributing its onset to childhood adversity, parenting or substance misuse. Parents often blame themselves for the development of bipolar disorder in their child. Nursing care for clients with bipolar disorder could include interventions for the family to help them understand and manage the disorder. Such interventions could include: psycho-education, communication enhancement and problem-solving skills training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]