Project Summary

This is a longitudinal study of 1800 households across rural and remote NSW, focusing on determinants of mental health as influenced by individual, family and community factors. The project has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and is conducted from the four sites of Orange, Broken Hill, Lismore and Moree. The study is currently collecting its third round of survey data. Genetic ‘saliva’ samples have been collected from over 1000 participants.

Project Background

Investgators

Kelly, B
Stain, H
Carr, V
Lewin, T
Fragar, L
Fuller, J
Perkins, D

Project Officers

Coleman, C
Wilson, J
Killen, E
Prasad-Ojha, G
Saurman, E
Munro, T

Student Researchers

Allen, J
Wilson, J
Handely, T

Past Student Researchers

Green, A - University of Sydney
Novello, D - Charles Sturt University
Bode, A - Australian National University

Collaborating Organisations

Australian Rural Health Research Collaboration
Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, The University of Newcastle
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle

Time frame

July 2006 to June 2013

Publications

Journals

Please click on the link for the journal abstract.

Kelly, B. J., Stain, H. J., Coleman, C., Perkins, D., Fragar, L., Fuller, J., Lewin, T. J., Lyle, D., Carr, V. J., Wilson, J. M. and Beard, J. R. (2010). "Mental health and well-being within rural communities: The Australian Rural Mental Health Study." The Australian Journal of Rural Health 18: 16-24. Abstract
Fragar, L., Stain, H. J., Perkins, D., Kelly, B., Fuller, J., Coleman, C., Lewin, T. J. and Wilson, J. M. (2010). "Distress among rural residents: Does employment and occupation make a difference?" The Australian Journal of Rural Health 18: 25-31. Abstract
Novello, D., Stain, H. Jl, Lyle, D. & Kelly, B. (2011). Psychological distress of rural parents: Family influence and the role of isolation. Australian Journal of Rural Health 19: 27–3. Abstract

Kelly, B. J., Lewin, T. J., Stain, H. J., Coleman, C., Fitzgerald, M., Perkins, D., Carr, V. J., Fragar, L., Fuller, J., Lyle, D.. & Beard, J. R. (in press). Determinants of mental health and well-being within rural and remote communities. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Abstract
Handley T, Inder K, Kelly B. J, Attia J, Lewin T, Fitzgerald M, Kay-Lambkin F. (in press) You’ve got to have friends: The predictive value of social integration and support in suicidal ideation among rural communities. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. Abstract
Handley T, Inder K, Kelly B, Attia J, Kay-Lambkin F. (in press) Urban-rural influences on suicidality: Gaps in the existing literature and recommendations for future research? Australian Journal of Rural Health. Abstract

Abstracts

Bode A., Berry H. L., Kelly B. Patterns and correlates of drinking and smoking in a rural sample reporting very low levels of psychological distress Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) Annual Conference 2009, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Novello, D., Stain, H., Murrell, E. Mallard, D. (2009). The relationship between family functioning, social contact and mental wellbeing in rural and remote Australian families. Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) Annual Conference 2009, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
Fragar, L., Stain H. J., Perkins D, Kelly B., Fuller J., Coleman C., Lewin T.J and Wilson J. M. Quality of life for rural residents – does employment and occupation make a difference? Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) Annual Conference 2009, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Kelly B., Lewin T., Stain H., Fitzgerald M., Coleman C. and ARMHS Investigators Determinants of Mental H ealth in Rural and Remote Communities: The Australian Rural Mental Health Study (ARMHS). Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) Annual Conference 2009, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
Kelly, B., Stain, H. J., Carr, V., Beard, J., Fragar, L., Lyle, D., Lewin, T., Tarren-Sweeney, M., & Hourihan, F. Living in a rural community: Determinants and consequences of mental health and wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005;39(Suppl):A117-A118.
Kelly, B. Physical illness and mental health/substance use disorders: Patterns of co-morbidity and treatment implications. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005;39(Suppl.2):A44.
Hourihan, F., Lewin, T., Stain, H., Kelly, B. The mental health and wellbeing of rural people: a pilot study measuring community factors. Acta Neuropsychiatrica 2006;18(6);255.
Bode, A., Berry, H.L., Kelly, B., Coleman, C., Stain, H.J. Alcohol, tobacco, and mental health in a rural sample. Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Conference 2008, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008;42(Supplement 3):A113 (Poster)
Coleman, C., Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Lewin, T., Lyle, D., Perkins, D., Lesjak, M., Beard, J. Rural socio-environmental factors and mental health. Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Conference 2008, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008;42(Supplement 3):A70
Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Lyle, D., Perkins, D., Fragar, L, Fuller, J., Lewin, T., Carr, V., Beard, J. Living in a rural community: Determinants and outcomes of mental health: Australian Rural Mental Health Study. Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Conference 2008, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008;42(Supplement 3):A69
Lewin, T.J., Nunn, K.P., Carr, V.J., Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Sly, K.A. Hopes revisited - introducing a 12 item scale for measuring personal hopefulness (HOPES-12). Abstracts from the Australian Society for Psychiatric Research Annual Conference 2008, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2008;42(Supplement 3):A94 (Poster)
Kelly, B. Physical illness and mental health/substance use disorders: Patterns of co-morbidity and treatment implications. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005;39(Suppl.2):A44.
Hourihan, F., Lewin, T., Stain, H., Kelly, B. The mental health and wellbeing of rural people: a pilot study measuring community factors. Acta Neuropsychiatrica 2006;18(6);255.
Kelly, B.J., Stain, H.J., Carr, V.J., Beard, J.R., Fragar, L., Lewin, T.J., Lyle, D. and Hourihan, F. (2005). Measuring the mental health of rural communities: How can we do it better? Abstracts of the RANZCP Joint CINP/ASPR Scientific Meeting. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Suppl 39, A82
Kelly, B., Stain, H. J., Carr, V., Beard, J., Fragar, L., Lyle, D., Lewin, T., Tarren-Sweeney, M., & Hourihan, F. Living in a rural community: Determinants and consequences of mental health and wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 2005;39(Suppl):A117-A118.

Conference Presentations

Papers

Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Lyle, D. et al. (2009). Mental health, physical health and substance use among a rural Australian sample. Symposium: Technology and Innovations in Treating Co-morbid Depression and Substance Use. International Society for Affective Disorders, Regional Congress, Brisbane, QLD.
Kelly B. Mental Health and Ageing – The Impact of Drought. Invited Plenary Lecture Australian Association of Gerontology NSW Division, Rural Conference. Broken Hill, 1-2 April 2009.
Stain, H.J. (2009) Keeping abreast of mental health problems in a rural community – caring for self and others. Invited keynote, Rural Women’s Conference, Condobolin, NSW, Australia.
Stain, H.J. (2009) The mental health challenges for rural youth in Australia. Invited keynote, ANZ Mental Health Association conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Kelly, B., Stain, H. J., Carr, V., Beard, J., Fragar, L., Lyle, D., Lewin, T., Tarren-Sweeney, M., Hourihan, F. Measuring the mental health of rural Australians: A methodological dilemma? The World Psychiatric Association Section of Epidemiology and Public Health Meeting, Brisbane, QLD, 5-7 July 2005.
Hourihan, F. Measuring the Mental Health of Rural Communities: What's Rural? 10th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Tweed Heads, NSW, 16-18 November 2005.
Kelly, B. Addressing the mental health needs of people in rural and remote areas. (Invited keynote address), RANZCP Section of Social and Cultural Psychiatry Triennial Conference Cairns, QLD, 4-7 September 2006.
Hourihan, F., Stain, H. J., Lewin, T., Kelly, B. Rural community environment and mental health. 11th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Orange, NSW, 29 November - 1 December 2006.
Hourihan, F., Stain, H. J., Lewin, T., Kelly, B. The mental health & wellbeing of rural people: A pilot study measuring community factors. Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research, Sydney, NSW, 6-8 December 2006.
Coleman, C., Bennett, C., Bowler, J., Sidford, J., Ogle, J., Holdsworth, L., O'Driscoll, K., Munroe, T., Strachan, A. , Kelly, B. , Stain, H.J. , Lyle, D., Fragar, L., Fuller, J., Lewin, T., Carr, V. & Beard, J. Living in a Rural Community: The Australian Rural Mental Health Study. 13th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Hunter Valley, NSW, 26-28 November 2008.
Holdsworth, L. Kelly, B, Stain, H., Fuller, J. Coleman, C. The importance of community connectedness to mental well-being. 13th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Hunter Valley, NSW, 26-28 November 2008.
Sidford, J., Ogle, J., Lyle, D., Perkins, D., Coleman, C., Stain, H., Kelly, B. Notes from the Outback: lessons in conducting mental health research in a remote region. 13th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Hunter Valley, NSW, 26-28 November 2008.
Coleman, C., Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Lewin, T, Lyle, D., Perkins, D, Lesjak, M., Beard, J. Rural socio-environmental factors and mental health. Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Conference, Newcastle, NSW, 2-5 December 2008.
Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Lyle, D., Perkins, D., Fragar, L, Fuller, J., Lewin, T., Carr, V., Beard, J. Living in a rural community: Determinants and outcomes of mental health: Australian Rural Mental Health Study. Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Conference, Newcastle, NSW, 2-5 December 2008.
Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Lyle, D. et al. Mental health, physical health and substance use among a rural Australian sample. Symposium: Technology and Innovations in Treating Co-morbid Depression and Substance Use. International Society for Affective Disorders, Regional Congress, Brisbane, QLD, 28 February-March 2, 2009.
Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Carr, V., Beard, J., Fragar, L., Lewin, T., Lyle, D., Tarren-Sweeney, M. and Hourihan, F. (2005). Living in a rural community: Determinants and consequences of mental health and wellbeing. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Conference. Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Coleman, C., Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Carr, V., Lewin, T., Beard, J., Fragar, L. and Lyle, D. (2006). Australian Rural Mental Health Study: A unique household study across rural and remote New South Wales. The 11th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Orange, NSW, Australia.

Posters

Fragar, L., Stain H. J., Perkins D, Kelly B., Fuller J., Coleman C., Lewin T.J and Wilson J. M..(2009) Quality of life for rural residents – does employment and occupation make a difference? Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) Conference, Canberra, ACT.
Bode, A., Berry, H.L., Kelly, B., Coleman, C., Stain, H.J. Alcohol, tobacco, and mental health in a rural sample. Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Conference, Newcastle, NSW, 2-5 December 2008.
Lewin, T.J., Nunn, K.P., Carr, V.J., Kelly, B., Stain, H.J., Coleman, C., Sly, K.A. Hopes revisited - introducing a 12 item scale for measuring personal hopefulness (HOPES-12). Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research Conference, Newcastle, NSW, 2-5 December 2008.
Coleman, C., Kelly, B., Stain, H., Carr, V., Lewin, T., Beard, J., Fuller, J., Fragar, L. and Lyle, D. (2007, 15-17 May). Australian Rural Mental Health Study: Individual, household and community level determinants of mental health.
Coleman, C., Kelly, B., Stain, H., Carr, V., Lewin, T., Beard, J., Fuller, J., Fragar, L., & Lyle, D. (2007, 4-5 December). Australian Rural Mental Health Study: Methodology and research design.

Menu

Australian Rural Mental Health Study (ARMHS)