1. Prof Graham Martin OAM FRANZCP, DPM Professor & Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Sarah Swannell Bpsych(Hons) GradCertSci(Stats) Senior Research Technician Suicide Prevention through Mental Health Promotion Suicide Prevention through Mental Health Promotion 12th European Symposium on Suicide & Suicidal Behaviour Thistle Hotel Glasgow, Scotland 27th – 30th August 2008

2. Outline Introduce ADFC Introduce ADFC Youth suicide in Australia Youth suicide in Australia CADETLiFe theory CADETLiFe theory Describe program Describe program Discuss challenges Discuss challenges 39%

3. Australian Defence Force Cadets www.cadetnet.gov.au www.cadetnet.gov.au n 24,450 Cadets aged 12-20 in 461 units n Volunteer and community based n Defence customs, traditions and values -Leadership, communication, team building, confidence, pride, self-discipline n Technical skills n Regular once a week parades plus bivouacs, camps, promotion weekends n Get a taste of Defence Force

4. Source: ABS (2007). Suicides 2005 (cat. no. 3309.0). http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/952361A2A29BDBB4CA25729D001C09CF/$File/33090_2005.pdf http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/952361A2A29BDBB4CA25729D001C09CF/$File/33090_2005.pdf Australian Suicide Rates per 100,000 per year, 15-19 years, 1995-2005

5. RISK FACTORS PROTECTIVE FACTORS Resilience Self esteem School Achievement Connectedness Childhood and family adversity Stress Psychopathology SES Disadvantage Borowsky IW, Ireland M, Resnick MD. 2001. Adolescent suicide attempts: risks and protectors. Pediatrics 107(3): 485−93. Blum RW, Halcon L, Beuhring T, et al. 2003. Adolescent health in the Caribbean: risk and protective factors. American Journal of Public Health 93(3): 456−60. Resnick MD, Bearman PS, Blum WR, et al. 1997. Protecting adolescents from harm: findings from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association 278(10): 823−32. Gutierrez, P. M., Osman, A., Kopper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2000). Why young people do not kill themselves: The Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 29, 177–187. Fergusson DM, Beautrais AL, Horwood LJ. 2003. Vulnerability and resiliency to suicidal behaviours in young people. Psychological Medicine 33: 61−73.

6. Resilience Social Competence Problem Solving Skills Autonomy Sense of Purpose and Future Benard, B. (2004). Resiliency: What we have learned. San Francisco: WestEd. Benard, B. (1991). Fostering Resiliency in Kids: Protective Factors in the Family, School, and Community. Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development.

7. CADETLiFe Goals Enhance Protective Factors ResilienceConnectedness Improve Pathways to Care Recognising Mental Health Problems Knowing where to go and how to ask for help National, state and local resources Universal Mental Health Promotion

8. CADETLiFe Workshops n 13 ‘scenarios’ raise issues pertaining to resilience, connectedness and pathways to care n In groups of 8-12, facilitated by 2 senior cadets/staff members, cadets watch a scenario, discuss the issues, and complete an activity n Ideal dosage: 13 scenarios in 12 months -one per month, 2 every second month, several on a camp etc

9. Challenges – physical size of Australia

10. Challenges n Diversity and rivalry across services n Diversity across units, states/territories n Hierarchical military system n Volunteer organisation n Central administration problems n Evaluation

11. We struggle on!