The Singapore Mental Health Survey was undertaken to establish the prevalence of mental disorders in Singapore. This necessitated translation of several modules of the WHO's Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) into Bahasa Melayu. The aim in translation was to achieve a conceptually equivalent version to the original instrument. The translation procedure was a four-step process: 1) forward translation, 2) expert panel review, 3) pre-test and cognitive interview and 4) development of the final version. The translation procedure was effective in identifying and resolving translation problems, and adapting the language of the instrument to suit the local Malay-speaking population. We recommend this four-step process for future studies to attain a fair representation of minority groups in nation-wide studies.

Over recent years, I have engaged with mountains of media information dealing with the general subject of Global Warming and Climate Change and overall, the argument ‘for’ has been very convincing. So I pause at this point and own up to holding the view that the earth is indeed warming at an (alarmingly) accelerated pace, however I acknowledge this is by no means a universally shared perspective.

A peer-reviewed Cambridge University Press online journal, the Journal of Tropical Psychology has this rationale: While there continues to be argument as to how much climate change is due to human or corporate events, there is no disagreement that the earth is becoming warmer, leading to a climate with more moisture in the air, stronger storms, flooding, and a great change for all the inhabitants of the earth, particularly our human cousins in ever more nations. To understand the psychology of our planetary future, we may access the psychologists of tropical climates who are already successful in their adaptation to a daily life in an environment we may all share eventually. To provide a vehicle for these psychologists can be a valuable service, particularly since psychological journal articles originating in Europe or the United States have long provided the bulk of scientific and professional publications. Yet there is very substantial psychological work being done in tropical zone countries and regions. A few national and regional journals like the Australia's Psychological Science or the regional online Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology are examples. A Journal of Tropical Psychology is specifically circum-global and unites the rapidly growing torrid climate-related nations around the earth in the development and sharing of their psychological discoveries.

Burnout occurs among students when they suddenly lose interest in their studies due to feeling physically and emotionally drained. They experience further emotional depletion due to study demands, distrustfulness and detachment about their work. This study investigated the relationship between the Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality traits and burnout, as operationalised by Maslach's three dimensions of burnout, namely exhaustion, cynicism and reduced personal efficacy. Previous Western research was replicated in order to contribute to the cross-cultural literature on burnout. The Maslach Burnout Inventory – Student Survey University Form and the NEO – Personality Inventory Revised Form S were subjected to stepwise forward regression using FFM factors and facets to predict the scores on each burnout dimension. Five hundred and seventy-seven Filipino college students (age 17 to 24) from private universities and colleges within Metro Manila participated. Results revealed that neuroticism and conscientiousness predict all three burnout constructs. However, certain facets of neuroticism and conscientiousness are more important than others. At the facet level, facets of agreeableness and openness contributed to prediction of burnout as well.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) arising from a Western health model has generated much global debate about its relevance in Indigenous communities. More importantly, it has raised questions concerning acceptance of its diagnosis and intervention, hence affecting early identification and treatment compliance. The current study explored an Aboriginal perspective of diagnosis and treatment compliance of ADHD in an Australian Aboriginal community. Using a qualitative approach, 27 participants aged between 22 and 52 years from a Western Australian metropolitan Aboriginal community comprising community members, Aboriginal mental health and education professionals, and Aboriginal parents of children with ADHD, were interviewed either individually or in groups. Participants identified differences in child rearing practices, expectation of child behaviour in school, higher tolerance of hyperactive behaviour within the Aboriginal community and lack of information about ADHD as the main reasons for parents not seeking medical help for the child. Participants also saw the changes in a child's behaviour after medication as a loss of identity/self and this was reported to be the main contributor to treatment non-compliance. Overall, most participants recognised the detrimental effect of having ADHD. However, the current diagnostic process and treatment are not culturally appropriate to assist the Aboriginal community to effectively manage this disorder in their children.

Homelessness is a complex problem affecting Australian Indigenous women disproportionately compared to the rest of the Australian population. Homelessness service providers in Cairns and Mount Isa, Australia, provided their perceptions as to why Indigenous women were presenting to homeless services. The key reasons cited by service providers were: domestic violence; alcohol and other drugs; and financial hardship. Other reasons included racist real estate agents; avoiding alcohol and family; overcrowding; literacy and numeracy skills; difficulty returning home and; not enough public housing. Potential solutions to help break this cycle of homelessness are explored. This research suggests that an important overall goal in reducing homelessness is to ensure that Indigenous women are safe at home in their own communities.

“This is a new day, fresh and untouched. What will we do with it?” -Morning welcome, Native American Church.

These days my own mornings do not begin untouched. They come with finger prints.

On our planet's north and south hemispheres outside what we think of as the tropical zone, half the year is growing warmer in an accelerating manner. The other half of the year is marked with extreme changes: sometimes even colder with heavier snowfall. Climate change has put more moisture in the air, leading to a redistribution of water on a global scale. Millennial floods in some places, severe drought in others. Insect species should thrive under these new conditions while other species, note the current devastation in our oceans, may find the new conditions more than they can survive.

The present study aimed to develop a set of video clips to elicit positive, negative, and neutral affects in male and female Asian young adults growing up with the Internet. Based on the Internet rating and past literature, we selected 12 video clips as candidates. Results of three experiments (N = 155) showed that among these video clips, six clips, two clips for each affect, were particularly effective in eliciting target affects in both genders. This set of video clips can be used as a valid tool to induce affect in the iGeneration.