CW: Suicide 'Senior Psychiatrist, Professor Gin Malhi, explains the psychological risks for senior students during COVID-19 and gives advice to parents, family and friends of young adolescents'

Today is R U OK? Day and so we wanted to put a spotlight on youth mental health. We have with us, Professor Gin Malhi.

Professor Malhi is a senior psychiatrist within the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) and the Executive and Clinical Director of the CADE Clinic based at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Professor Malhi has conducted extensive research to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying emotional disorders primarily in healthy adolescent girls. From his clinical experience, Professor Malhi has identified the need for early detection and intervention in order to curb the development of disorders. Professor Malhi is also the current President of the International Society of Bipolar Disorders, Editor in Chief of two internationally renowned journals; the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry & Bipolar Disorders and has pioneered many initiatives within the University of Sydney and the NSLHD, including establishing neuroimaging as a core investigative tool for mental health research.

Professor Malhi shares his thoughts on the recent learning of the devastating cluster of high school student suicides on the North Shore and the predicted 12.5% increase in suicides in the 15-25 year age group directly related to COVID-19^. He explains the psychological risks for Year 11 and Year 12 students in this transitional period of life whilst in the middle of a global pandemic; his advice to parents, family and friends of young adolescents on how to help them through this period and outlines what he believes are the top priorities for the NSLHD to focus on in the next few years in effectively addressing Youth Mental Health.
#ruok #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #depression #suicideprevention #mentalhealthmatters #beyondblue

If you are thinking about suicide or experiencing emotional distress, help is available. Please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
^Modelling by Professor Ian Hickie from the Brain and Mind Research Institute, as discussed here https://www.2gb.com/the-group-at-most-risk-left-out-of-government-pandemic-response/