The Hunter Region | ScienceGate

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) are key health professionals for referrals to mental health specialists. Youth mental health issues are particularly challenging, requiring a competent assessment and understanding of appropriate referral pathways. We surveyed local GPs about their understanding of youth mental health problems and needs to competently look after young patients. Methods: GPs working in the Hunter region were contacted via email, fax and post over a 6-month period in 2019. Results: Seventy-five GPs participated. They reported 577 of 1698 (34%) of young people seen 2 weeks prior to being surveyed presented with a mental health problem. Predominantly, referrals were to private practice psychologists and Headspace. Almost a third (31%) reported having limited understanding of ‘at-risk mental state’ and are ‘not always comfortable’ when facing a young person with a mental health problem. Nearly all (95%) expressed interest in attending specialised training. GPs identified treatment costs, scarce access to psychiatrists and limited patient engagement as the main obstacles to help young people. Conclusions: Effective treatment of a mental health problem relies on early identification. GPs are seeing young people on a regular basis but don’t feel well equipped for this task and are keen to up-skill, which needs to be addressed by targeted training.

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Mental Health Status of a Latin American Community in New South Wales

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3109/00048679609065017 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 457-462 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Robert McDonald ◽

Carmen Vechi ◽

Jenny Bowman ◽

Robert Sanson-Fisher

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Latin American ◽

Employment Status ◽

New South ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

New South Wales ◽

Independent Variables ◽

South Wales ◽

Threshold Score ◽

Hunter Region

Objective: To determine the levels and predictors of psychological distress within a Latin American community in the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. Method: Participants (n=184) were interviewed in their homes by a bilingual interviewer using a specially prepared questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Results: Of the 13 independent variables examined, two demographic and two immigrant-related variables were significantly associated with an above-threshold score: marital status, employment status, perceived discrimination, and dissatisfaction with life in Australia. Conclusions: Compared to results from other community surveys, the levels of psychological distress within this Latin American community appear to be relatively high.

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Air quality and resource management — a risk assessment in the hunter Region of Australia

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/0048-9697(88)90390-7 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 68 ◽

pp. 291-292

Author(s):

Michel Benarie

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Resource Management ◽

Air Quality ◽

Hunter Region

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Open-cut coal mining in Australia's Hunter Valley: Sustainability and the industry's economic, ecological and social implications

International Journal of Rural Law and Policy ◽

10.5130/ijrlp.i1.2014.3844 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Drew Cottle ◽

Angela Keys

Keyword(s):

Coal Mining ◽

New South ◽

New South Wales ◽

Mining Industry ◽

Social Implications ◽

Coal Mining Industry ◽

South Wales ◽

Hunter Region ◽

Critical Social

This article questions the sustainability of open-cut coal mining in the Hunter Valley region of Australia. The issue of sustainability is examined in relation to the economic, ecological and social implications of the Hunter Valley’s open-cut coal mining industry. The article demonstrates that critical social and ecological ramifications have been overshadowed by the open-cut coal mining industry’s importance to the economy of the Hunter region and of New South Wales.

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