Genetic and environmental influences on sleep-wake behaviors in adolescence.

Study Objectives: To investigate the influence of genetic and environmental factors on sleep-wake behaviors across adolescence.

Methods: Four hundred and ninety-five participants (aged 9-17; 55% females), including 93 monozygotic and 117 dizygotic twin pairs, and 75 unmatched twins, wore an accelerometry device and completed a sleep diary for 2 weeks.

Results: Individual differences in sleep onset, wake time, and sleep midpoint were influenced by both additive genetic (44%-50% of total variance) and shared environmental (31%-42%) factors, with a predominant genetic influence for sleep duration (62%) and restorative sleep (43%).

Continuity of Genetic Risk for Aggressive Behavior Across the Life-Course.

We test whether genetic influences that explain individual differences in aggression in early life also explain individual differences across the life-course. In two cohorts from The Netherlands (N = 13,471) and Australia (N = 5628), polygenic scores (PGSs) were computed based on a genome-wide meta-analysis of childhood/adolescence aggression. In a novel analytic approach, we ran a mixed effects model for each age (Netherlands: 12-70 years, Australia: 16-73 years), with observations at the focus age weighted as 1, and decaying weights for ages further away.

16Up: Outline of a Study Investigating Wellbeing and Information and Communication Technology Use in Adolescent Twins.

The '16Up' study conducted at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute from January 2014 to December 2018 aimed to examine the physical and mental health of young Australian twins aged 16-18 years (N = 876; 371 twin pairs and 18 triplet sets). Measurements included online questionnaires covering physical and mental health as well as information and communication technology (ICT) use, actigraphy, sleep diaries and hair samples to determine cortisol concentrations. Study participants generally rated themselves as being in good physical (79%) and mental (73%) health and reported lower rates of psychological distress and exposure to alcohol, tobacco products or other substances than previously reported for this age group in the Australian population.

Project Synergy: co-designing technology-enabled solutions for Australian mental health services reform.

Project Synergy aims to test the potential of new and emerging technologies to enhance the quality of mental health care provided by traditional face-to-face services. Specifically, it seeks to ensure that consumers get the right care, first time (delivery of effective mental health care early in the course of illness). Using co-design with affected individuals, Project Synergy has built, implemented and evaluated an online platform to assist the assessment, feedback, management and monitoring of people with mental disorders.

Nineteen and Up study (19Up): understanding pathways to mental health disorders in young Australian twins.

Purpose: The Nineteen and Up study (19Up) assessed a range of mental health and behavioural problems and associated risk factors in a genetically informative Australian cohort of young adult twins and their non-twin siblings. As such, 19Up enables detailed investigation of genetic and environmental pathways to mental illness and substance misuse within the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Sample (BLTS).

Participants: Twins and their non-twin siblings from Queensland, Australia; mostly from European ancestry.

Comparison of Self-Reported Telephone Interviewing and Web-Based Survey Responses: Findings From the Second Australian Young and Well National Survey.

Background: Web-based self-report surveying has increased in popularity, as it can rapidly yield large samples at a low cost. Despite this increase in popularity, in the area of youth mental health, there is a distinct lack of research comparing the results of Web-based self-report surveys with the more traditional and widely accepted computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).

Objective: The Second Australian Young and Well National Survey 2014 sought to compare differences in respondent response patterns using matched items on CATI versus a Web-based self-report survey.

The role of technology in Australian youth mental health reform.

This paper describes the extent and nature of Internet use by young people, with specific reference to psychological distress and help-seeking behaviour. It draws on data from an Australian cross-sectional study of 1400 young people aged 16 to 25 years. Nearly all of these young people used the Internet, both as a source of trusted information and as a means of connecting with their peers and discussing problems.

Young men's attitudes and behaviour in relation to mental health and technology: implications for the development of online mental health services.

Background: This mixed-methods study was designed to explore young Australian men's attitudes and behaviour in relation to mental health and technology use to inform the development of online mental health services for young men.

Methods: National online survey of 486 males (aged 16 to 24) and 17 focus groups involving 118 males (aged 16 to 24).

Results: Young men are heavy users of technology, particularly when it comes to entertainment and connecting with friends, but they are also using technology for finding information and support.

Reach Out Central: a serious game designed to engage young men to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Reach Out Central (ROC) is a serious game drawing on the principles of cognitive behaviour theory that has been designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people, particularly men. ROC was developed over a 3-year period from 2003 to 2006, in consultation with young people aged 16-25 years who use the Reach Out mental health website http://www.reachout.

The internet as a setting for mental health service utilisation by young people.

Objective: To explore patterns of internet use by young people in Australia and assess the usefulness of online resources for mental health problems, exploring functionality that may be relevant in the development of online mental health services.

Design And Participants: Cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of young people (2000 randomly selected participants aged 12-25 years), via telephone interview, conducted in January-March 2008.

Main Outcome Measures: Patterns of internet use including type of use, social networking, sources of information about mental health, alcohol or other substance use problems and levels of satisfaction with the information, and type of information accessed via websites.

Mental health of young people in the United States: what role can the internet play in reducing stigma and promoting help seeking?

One third of young Americans experience mental health difficulties, often without seeking help. More than 90% use the Internet. Reach Out (www.

Perspectives of young people on depression: awareness, experiences, attitudes and treatment preferences.

Aim: Ascertaining current knowledge and attitudes towards depression among young people is vital for developing campaigns promoting community awareness and early intervention.

Methods: Cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone interviews of persons aged 18-90 years were conducted by beyondblue in Australia in 2002 and 2004/05. Items assessed consideration of depression as a major general health or mental health problem, knowledge about prevalence of depression, usual age of onset for depression or anxiety and treatment preferences.

Positive relationships between public awareness activity and recognition of the impacts of depression in Australia.

Objective: This report records the level of exposure to depression-related information across the Australian community and explores associations with recognition of depression and relevant sociodemographic factors.

Method: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with a representative community sample. Participants consisted of 3200 respondents (400 respondents across each Australian State/Territory).

Overdose in young people using heroin: associations with mental health, prescription drug use and personal circumstances.

Objective: To identify patterns of mental health, prescription drug use and personal circumstances associated with heroin overdose in young people.

Design: Linkage of data on use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription drugs with data from a self-report questionnaire.

Setting: Inner metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.

Adolescent resilience: a concept analysis.

There is need for greater clarity around the concept of resilience as it relates to the period of adolescence. Literature on resilience published between 1990 and 2000 and relevant to adolescents aged between 12- and 18-years of age was reviewed with the aim of examining the various uses of the term, and commenting on how specific ways of conceptualizing of resilience may help develop new research agendas in the field. By bringing together ideas on resilience from a variety of research and clinical perspectives, the purpose of the review is to explicate core elements of resilience in more precise ways, in the hope that greater conceptual clarity will lead to a range of tailored interventions that benefit young people.

Depression in young people: what causes it and can we prevent it?

Cumulative adverse experiences, including negative life events and early childhood adversity, together with parental depression and/or non-supportive school or familial environments, place young people at risk for developing depression. Enhanced life skills and supportive school and family environments can mediate the effect of stressful life events. Programs that enhance the school environment are associated with improved behaviour and wellbeing.