Objective: This study aimed to investigate hidden patterns in adolescent health behaviors and their associations with suicidality and healthcare service utilization.
Methods:
Data came from a national survey of 1,572 adolescents (ages 13-17) in the 2013-2014 Young Minds Matter: The Second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Leveraging the robustness of latent class analysis (LCA), the study delved into an intricate evaluation of health lifestyle behaviors. These behaviors were multifaceted, covering substance use, sedentary habits, media consumption, participation in extracurricular activities, sleep patterns, anthropometric measurements such as Body Mass Index (BMI), and the utilization of protective factors. The statistical methodology employed for analysis included logistic regressions and predictive margins analysis. These tools crucially explored connections between health lifestyle classes and key aspects. The utilization of LCA allowed for a nuanced understanding of how various lifestyle patterns interplay and impact the mental health outcomes of adolescents, providing a comprehensive insight into the complex relationship between health behaviors and mental well-being in this specific demographic.
Results:
The study revealed three distinct health lifestyle classes among the participants. Class 1 exhibited a health-conscious and active lifestyle characterized by minimal internet and gaming use, active involvement in extracurricular activities, sufficient sleep, a normal BMI, and low substance use. In contrast, Class 2 demonstrated a high risk of substance use, with a noteworthy proportion employing protective measures to cope with various challenges. Class 3 was characterized by high levels of internet and gaming engagement, elevated BMI, minimal use of protective factors, and limited involvement in extracurricular activities. Compared to Class 1, Classes 2 and 3 exhibited higher odds of suicidality (OR: 5.08, 95% CI: 2.91-8.88 for Class 2; OR: 6.07, 95% CI: 3.83-9.61 for Class 3) and greater mental health service utilization (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15-2.29 for Class 2; OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.22-2.14 for Class 3). These findings underscore the significant associations between distinct health lifestyle patterns and their impact on suicidality and mental health service utilization among the studied population.
Conclusions: Both Class 2 and Class 3 engagement in health-risk behaviors were associated with increased suicidality. However, Class 3 takes the lowest protective measures to help manage any emotional or behavioral problems. Suicide prevention initiatives that consider multiple aspects of adolescent lifestyles are vital for timely identification, provision of appropriate healthcare services, and overall prevention of suicide.

The mandatory lockdown and social distancing measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic isolated many individuals from accessing mental health services. In response, group psychotherapists and counsellors rapidly shifted to delivering their services online, many without the support of training or existing best-practice guidelines to help lead their practice. The aims of the current research were two-fold, seeking to: 1) synthesise what is currently known within existing literature for the efficacious delivery of online group therapy, and 2) explore facilitator experiences of delivering online group therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. This presentation will discuss the outcomes of this research, exploring what is known of current best practices, ethical considerations, and the challenges and advantages of group therapy within the online environment when compared to face-to-face therapy. Such discussions seek to answer the question of how the online space impacts the processes of group therapy, what is lost and what may be gained.