Poster

Adolescence is a time of transition, when bullying and underage drinking are common. These behaviours often occur within a peer context and are heavily influenced by the peer group (Anderson & Brown, 2011; Salmivalli, 2010). However, despite the increasing influence of peers, parents still have an important role in this transitional phase, and in adolescents’ engagement in bullying and underage drinking. Bullying and substance use are often engaged in by adolescents who are poorly monitored by their parents and who experience high conflict and poor communication with their parents (Espelage & Swearer, 2003; Ryan, Jorm, & Lubman, 2010). While this parent-adolescent relationship is often conceptualised as the parent acting upon the adolescent, an agentic perspective on adolescent development focuses on how adolescents learn to manage their relationship with their father and mother. Caprara et al. (2005) found that adolescents’ filial self-efficacy, or their belief in their ability to discuss personal problems with their parents, to manage negative reactions, and to constructively influence parental attitudes impacted other parental-child factors, resulting in more open communication with their parents, less parental conflict, more parental monitoring and more family satisfaction. Filial self-efficacy is yet to be examined in relation to adolescents’ engagement in bullying and underage drinking. This study aims to address this omission. Objective: This study examined the across time relationship between adolescents’ filial self-efficacy, bullying and alcohol use. Methods: A sample 307 Grade 8 Australian students (52% female, Mage = 13.51) completed a survey three times, with eight months between each time point. Structural equation models examined the relationship between filial self-efficacy, adolescent bullying and underage drinking across these time points. Filial self-efficacy, for mothers and fathers, was examined separately in each model. Results: Bullying predicted alcohol use at each subsequent time point. Adolescents’ low belief in their ability to manage their relationship with their mother was predicted by previous bullying, and predicted to future bullying. A similar relationship was not found for fathers. Implications and Conclusion: Having been a perpetrator of bullying places an adolescent at an increased risk of drinking alcohol underage. Therefore, reducing bullying perpetration may be an effective way to reduce underage drinking. While there is already a strong emphasis on parental communication and alcohol use, it may be even more important to target parental communication, and managing parental relationships in the context of bullying, especially with mothers, when attempting to reduce both bullying perpetration and underage drinking.

"Background: Homelessness carries an increased risk of developing severe mental disorders and conversely psychosis is associated with homelessness. In Montreal, approximately 15% of homeless people suffer from psychosis. The young ones are even more at risk. It hits them at a crucial time of their development while they should consolidate their personality and life choices.This population’s life conditions make it more difficult for mental health teams to engage them in treatment. In 2012, an intensive community care team (EQIIP SOL) was set-up to address the specific needs of young homeless adults (YHA) suffering from psychosis. Objectives: To determine functional and symptomatic outcome of YHA suffering from early psychosis and treated by a specialized assertive outreach community care team in Montreal Canada. Method Prospective longitudinal study of the impact of the addition of an assertive outreach team to a specialised early psychosis intervention clinic. Symptomatic (eg. PANSS, CDS, CGI) and functional outcome (eg. GAF, SOFAS, QOL) as well as service utilisation data has been collected at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months ResultsAbout 50 young adults have enrolled in the project EQIIP SOL. The data on demographic, symptomatic and functional evolution of this sample will be discussed as well as challenges in implantation of such a team. ConclusionYHA psychotic patients can be helped by a specialized team offering intensive integrated treatment in the community, which increases accessibility of mental health services and its effectiveness. Further research is warranted to compare this treatment team to treatments already available. "

Hans Kai is a health program that began with adults in Japan that NorWest Co-op Community Health, a non-profit health agency in Winnipeg, Manitoba adapted to fit with youth living in Winnipeg. Hans Kai is based on the idea that people who spend time together monitoring their health will live longer, healthier lives. Using a strength-based approach that allows for individuals to take control over their health improves their resiliency and recovery.Hans Kai for youth includes objectives such as: creating social support networks; increasing youth knowledge around sexual health, drugs, alcohol, and smoking; increasing youth knowledge around physical and mental health and coping; and to support youth in making healthy choices around physical activity and diet. The overall goal for each Hans Kai group is that they continue to meet in a leaderless manner to support each other in good health.These objectives are carried out through Hans Kai Health Schools. Groups of youth meet for nine weeks, once a week for an hour each time and learn about various topics such as reproductive health, diet and exercise, mental health, drugs and alcohol, communication and relationships, and self-acceptance. Sessions are carried out by experts employed by NorWest Co-op Community Health such as kinesiologists, dieticians, nurses, and social workers. Sessions are interactive and include engaging activities and ample time for discussion. At the end of every session youth have the opportunity to provide written, anonymous feedback to help shape and inform the program. Youth Hans Kai has been running in Winnipeg for approximately one year the feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Youth are reporting increased awareness of health issues and are stating that their social support networks have increased. Youth engagement in the health schools has been high with many questions and lively discussions around each of the various topics. The adult Hans Kai program implemented by NorWest Co-op Community Health has shown statistically significant results in terms of increasing resiliency and recovery and it is our hope that this will be the case for the Youth Hans Kai program as well.

Transitions (http://teenmentalhealth.org/transitions) is a multi-platform resource that addresses issues such as Sexuality, Relationships, Financial Planning, Education & School work, Mental Health & Addictions and Suicide to name a few.In its second iteration, Transitions is currently making its away across post-secondary institutions across Canada, the United States and is now being sought after internationally with versions in French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish & Portuguese. A Grade 12 preparatory version has also been put forward as a request, along with an Aboriginal & First Nations version which hopes to address the diverse communities in Canada and elsewhere. Through initial research and evidence from the first iteration, to the design, development and multi-platform delivery channels, including Mobile (as an App and an as eBook), Web (as an online publication), Print (as a full printed book and as a smaller pocket version of the same), along with marketing collateral that has included video adverts to stickers to postcards to t-shirts, Transitions is not just being implemented as a Program across institutions but is also being recognized and sought by Youth, Parents, Educators & Healthcare Professionals alike. In a recent study conducted with high school students and at Dalhousie University the following were findings that came across loud and clear: 87.8% found Transitions helpful64.6% found more prepared for college or university after reading Transitions72% found that their knowledge about mental health and mental illness improved since reading Transitions89.1% indicated that they would recommend Transitions to someone they knew84.2% was now comfortable having someone with mental illness in their class. 83% felt more comfortable seeking out for help for a mental health concern after reading Transitions85.3% felt they could suggest to someone they knew to get help after reading Transitions should they need it for a mental health concern. Transitions is clearly making an impact in the community it is designed to support and is making its way internationally in it various forms. As it continues to evolve with varying versions for the various demographics it is hoped that Transitions will be available to every youth making this transition at this critical juncture in their life.