Targeted primary care-based mental health services for young Australians

Raven, Melissa

doi:10.5694/mja12.10570

Topics

Statistics, epidemiology and research design

To the Editor: The study of headspace attendees by Scott and colleagues1 illustrates problems common in articles being used for lobbying purposes in the Australian mental health policy arena. These include misrepresentation of evidence, inappropriate medicalisation, and undeclared competing interests.

Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.

Correspondence: melissa.raven@flinders.edu.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Scott EM, Hermens DF, Glozier N, et al. Targeted primary care-based mental health services for young Australians. Med J Aust 2012; 196: 136-140. <MJA full text>
2. Hamilton BA, Naismith SL, Scott EM, et al. Disability is already pronounced in young people with early stages of affective disorders: data from an early intervention service. J Affect Disord 2011; 131: 84-91.
3. Meadows G, Burgess P, Bobevski I, et al. Perceived need for mental health care: influences of diagnosis, demography and disability. Psychol Med 2002; 32: 299-309.
4. Mayze T. Servier Foundation depression masterclass conference review. Nov 2010. Geelong: Research Review Australia, 2010.
5. Servier Foundation. NSW depression masterclass; 2011 Feb 19-20. Melbourne: Servier Foundation, 2011.

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.