A collaboration with the Australian Disease Management Association (ADMA), Bolton Clarke Research Institute, Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH), Melbourne School of Population & Global Health (MSPGH), Monash Partners, and the Western Alliance has developed an extensive network of stakeholders researching or developing programs of support for social isolation.
Primary care physicians and specialists often have difficulty distinguishing between neurological and psychiatric disorders due to the overlap in symptoms. The availability of a simple blood test that gauges the degree of brain cell injury (high in neurological disorders, low in psychiatric disorders) would be invaluable for clinicians.
One in seven women experience postnatal depression, yet only 10 percent receive adequate treatment. Postnatal depression screening is mainly conducted by time-poor Maternal & Child Health Nurses (MCHNs) who are not mental health specialists and receive limited clinical guidance for ongoing management and referrals. Current paper-and-pencil procedures are inconsistent and error-prone.
Older adults with poor mental and cognitive health are particularly vulnerable during self-isolation. Physical activity (PA) offers physical, cognitive and mental health benefits, and the Australian Government advises all self-isolating Australians to create a home-based exercise routine. PA guidelines for older adults are available, and there is an urgent need for implementation.
The progressive loss of kidney function leading to end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a severe and debilitating health problem, with the prevalence of CKD in Australians steadily increasing. Aside from the physical effects, CKD patients experience high rates of comorbid depression and anxiety.