Subclinical psychotic experiences (SPEs) are non-clinical, transient and benign but can become severe along the psychosis continuum pathways. The SPEs pathway is precipitated by bio-psychosocial underpinnings (stress, peer and family functioning, bullying, depression and anxiety), fundamentally during adolescence. Therefore, this research aimed to understand the association between stress and SPEs, how this association is moderated by peer and family functioning, possible subtypes of SPEs in this population and their prevalence and association with bullying. Common psychopathologies in adolescence, such as depression and anxiety, were also investigated in Britain and Trinidad. The research found elevated levels of stress to be associated with higher levels of SPEs and bullying was associated with specific types of SPEs, particularly, perceptual abnormalities-delusional ideas (PADI), persecutory ideation (PI) and magical thinking (MT). Adolescents with high levels of depression and anxiety are at an increased risk of decline in peer relations and reduce academic achievement both in Trinidad and Britain. The findings of this research informs that stress and bullying are possible risk factors in the onset of SPEs and the dysfunctional impact of depression and anxiety symptoms on peer relations and school life. This signals the need to reconstitute the cognitive and behavioural aspects of adolescence by early intervention of cognitive and behavioural therapy.

Ireland has a comprehensive yet complex, statutory framework for the resolution of employment disputes. Various bodies offer conciliation, mediation, arbitration and regulation, however the processes are taking too long. The focus of this dissertation is on another form of dispute resolution – collaborative law and its suitability to the resolution of Irish employment disputes. The overarching question of this research is: Can a dispute resolution model based on collaborative practice be a useful addition to alternative dispute resolution in Irish employment law? A review of ADR and employment literature provides a context for this research. The first phase of the primary research consisted of a survey of collaborative practitioners in Ireland to identify the current usage and success of collaborative law and whether practitioners felt collaborative law was suitable for the resolution of Irish employment disputes. TheaThis thesis will outline the incidence of suicide and self-harm in today’s society.  It will examine methodology and the impact on the family unit and significant others.  It will explore the various causative factors from obtaining a mental illness diagnosis to gender, age, marital status, physical illness, unemployment, occupation, trauma, abuse and bullying.  It will analyse the main theories of suicide, past and present, and the influence of modern society on suicide and self-harm.  It will refer to the research findings as discussed in this paper and focus on a proactive approach. Such a direction will be validated by the research findings as this MPhil will focus on the principle of positive risk management by analysing the principles a person has for living as opposed to reasons for dying.  It will challenge previous suicide and self harm strategies focused on a negative risk assessment.  Interventions therefore were defensive rather than defensible. The impetus towards a “Recovery” orientated delivery in mental health services will be highlighted.  It will put forward an innovative and practical initiative from the research findings that re individually centred and have the service user at its core.  This approach called “STRENGTH” has the potential to be a leading pathway towards a service that has recovery at its centre that will improve the safety and quality of services and promote consistency and standardisation of best practice.
second phase entailed depth interviews with key employment stakeholders to verify the findings from phase A. Analysis of the findings indicate that collaborative law could be a successful method of dispute resolution and that practitioners feel it is an appropriate method of dispute resolution for employment disputes.