APRIL,Edition # 23, 2001

Editor's Note

In this edition, Leigh Kibby temporarily departs from his corporate mode to comment and explore another dimension of his mentoring activities. We encourage pharmacists to take an interest in this serious social problem, particularly those with an interest in consultant pharmacy. The British model of pharmacy as discussed earlier in this newsletter, would encourage pharmacists to negotiate a service, to assist in providing a solution.
Perhaps our political masters could be encouraged to do something similar.

The "Unhealthy" Facts ":

Youth suicides have tripled during the past 30 years," and "Almost 70 per cent of young Australians know some-one who has attempted suicide or killed themselves."
We also know that the suicide rate for males aged 25-44 has continued to rise.
There is also an unmeasured ripple effect that can destabilise families and their communities and may even evoke copycat responses. "For each suicide there are many more suicide attempts and self harming acts," says Professor Ian Webster in the Draft National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention.
"Despite numerous drink driving campaigns, young people continue to binge drink and drink drive," says Dr John Kramer, Honorary Secretary of the Rural Faculty of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. "As a rural GP, I am well aware of incidents involving young people and the deadly combination of cars and alcohol."
"Our best medical efforts have little chance of saving a young person who has hit a tree whilst travelling in a car at speeds over 160 k/h," comments Dr. Phil Holz
another member of the Rural Faculty, from Newcastle. "We see young people in our practices and have a great opportunity to steer them in the right direction," comments Dr. Olga Ward, WA representative of the Rural Faculty Board. "Yet, many need something other than the school counsellor or a visiting psychologist who comes fortnightly."

Issues:

But why do these things happen to our youth?
Our teenagers and young adults are confronted with making life choices and decisions that would be difficult for many older and wiser adults whilst still exploring their personalities. According to Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, "….many young people are struggling to cope with every day demands."
"There is often a crisis of meaning - what does life mean?" - a question our youth are trying to answer for themselves, according to general practitioner Dr Robert MacNeilly, whilst coping with peer pressure, school exams and finding their place in their families and communities.
"Their problems will include disconnection, lack of communication, poor self image…" Depending on individual circumstances, the outcome of these factors will range from discomfort through to alcohol use, drug taking and suicide.
Variables that affect drug taking include peer pressure, self-esteem ….. rites of passage to adulthood.
Youth will enact a variety of responses depending on risk factors. Risk factors can be categorised into three major groups :
Individual, family and social factorsIndividual (mental illness), Family (abuse, violence, parental drug abuse), Social (interpersonal conflicts, relationship breakdowns, work, school).

Solutions:

Obviously, the mix of causes, vulnerability and risk factors make it impossible to develop a strategy that will work for all young people in all places at all times.
However, there are a number of underlying principles that can be combined to produce a successful intervention and prevention strategy, which in practice becomes a program for Mentoring youth.
"Training professionals or community members in identification of risk factors and effective intervention strategies appears to be effective…"
"Protective factors include a range of personal coping skills and moral values, feelings of self-esteem and belonging, connections to family or school …. social supports."
According to Dr MacNeilly, " Improving communication, help with self acceptance ….." while helping them explore their feelings will make "…. it easier to connect the adolescent with their resources and assist them to get through the experience. …. Treating adolescents as legitimate human beings and forming genuine relationships with them can be subtly yet powerfully helpful."
The United States Department of Justice believes that all children need caring adults in their lives.
It has evaluated Mentoring programs and concluded a 46 per cent lower risk of initiating drug usage and a 27 per cent lower alcohol usage as an outcome of one model of Mentoring.
These results have been achieved with Mentors who were largely untrained in the critical listening and communication skills included in an Australian communication model known as the ERA .
A small mentoring program based on the ERA model has been trialled in a school in metropolitan Victoria and now a larger pilot program is being launched in rural Victoria.
Over a two day period, 60 Mentors will be trained within the Cobden region and initial research shows the results could be promising.
The involvement of rural GPs and communities will be a key element in monitoring outcomes. In the long term, it is hoped that the ERA model will be made available to all rural GPs through the Rural Faculty, providing rural practitioners with essential skills to be able to support not only their young patients but also each other.
ends

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The comments and views expressed in the above article are those of the author and no other. The author welcomes any comment and interaction that may result from this and future articles, and can be contacted directly by
e-mail at kinematic@bigpond.com , or you can visit Leigh's website at http://www.kinematic.com.au .
Alternatively, the editor would be pleased to publish any responses directed to neilj@computachem.com.au .

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