Knowledge and Uptake of Voting Rights By Psychiatric Inpatients in Westminster, London During the 2015 Uk General Election

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S454-S454
Author(s):  
J. Townell ◽  
T. MacLaren ◽  
L. de Ridder ◽  
S. Shanmugham ◽  
V. Argent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
General Election ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Staff Support ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionBeing able to vote empowers people with mental illness to have a political voice and promotes social inclusion. Evidence shows that patients with mental illness are less likely to vote compared to the general population.ObjectiveThis study explores the knowledge and uptake of the voting rights of adult patients in a psychiatric hospital in the 2015 UK general election.AimsTo understand patients’ eligibility and intentions to vote during the 2015 UK general election. To establish what assistance patients may require in order to vote.MethodsA staff-assisted survey was undertaken in all mental health wards in the Gordon Hospital, Westminster prior to the general election in May 2015.ResultsA total of 51 surveys were returned. Seventy-five percent thought they were eligible to vote, and 47% had already registered. Of those that had not yet registered, 37% wanted staff support to do so. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents intended to vote and of those 9 out of 10 intended to vote in person. Twenty-six percent of those intending to vote identified needing assistance in this process.ConclusionsThe majority of inpatients were aware of their eligibility to vote. Over half of the respondents planned to vote, which is lower than the UK average. As 1 in 4 patients intending to vote requested support, this suggests potential barriers impacting on their ability to exercise their right.Multidisciplinary teams can provide valuable assistance to patients in the voting process in many ways, including information provision, organisation of leave and providing staff escort.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Knowledge and Uptake of Voting Rights By Adults With Mental Illness Living in Supported Accommodation in Westminster (London) During the 2015 Uk General Election

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S453-S454
Author(s):  
J. Townell ◽  
T. MacLaren ◽  
V. Argent ◽  
L. de Ridder ◽  
S. Shanmugham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Population ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
General Election ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Supported Accommodation ◽  
Right To Vote ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionVoting is an essential human right. Being able to vote and participate in elections is an important component of social inclusion; empowering people with mental illness to have a political voice and in turn reducing stigma. Previous research indicates that patients with mental illness are less likely to vote compared to the general population.ObjectiveThis study explores knowledge and uptake of the voting rights of adults living in mental health supported accommodation in Westminster (London) in the 2015 UK general election.AimsUnderstand patients’ awareness of their eligibility to register and cast their vote. Identify patients’ interest in engaging in the voting process and strategies to overcome potential obstacles.MethodsA staff-assisted survey was undertaken in all mental health supported accommodation across Westminster prior to the general election in May 2015.ResultsA total of 142 surveys were returned. Nine out of 10 surveyed believed they were eligible to vote; over half wanted to exercise their right to vote & if registered, a third felt they required assistance to vote.ConclusionsThe majority of community patients were positively aware of the impending general election and their own eligibility to vote. Only half wanted to exercise their right to vote, which is lower than the general population. As a third of the patients requested assistance for voting, this shows us that there are potential barriers impacting on their ability to exercise their right to vote. Staffs have an important role in promoting patient's right to vote by providing assistance with both the registering and voting process.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Knowledge of Patients’ Voting Rights Amongst Mental Health Professionals Working in The London Borough of Westminster During The 2015 Uk General Election

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S450-S450
Author(s):  
T. MacLaren ◽  
J. Townell ◽  
S. Shanmugham ◽  
V. Argent ◽  
L. De Ridder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
General Election ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Inpatient Settings

IntroductionBeing able to participate in elections and to vote are important components of social inclusion; empowering people with mental illness to have a voice.It is important that mental health professionals understand the voting rights of adults with mental illness in order to be able to provide appropriate advice and support.ObjectivesTo explore knowledge of the voting rights of adults living with mental illness amongst mental health professionals working in both community and inpatient settings in Westminster, London.AimsTo understand the level of knowledge amongst mental health professionals regarding the voting rights of patients with mental illness in order to identify unmet training needs.MethodsA survey, in the form of a staff quiz was undertaken in all community and inpatient teams prior to the May 2015 general election. All multidisciplinary team members were included.Resultsin total, 211 surveys were completed. Ninety-eight percent of staff correctly identified that being a psychiatric inpatient does not change an individual's right to vote. Less than 50% of the staff members demonstrated correct understanding of the rights of patients detained under forensic sections, and the rights of the homeless to vote.ConclusionsIt is encouraging that knowledge of voting rights amongst staff appeared higher in our survey than in some published surveys. However, despite the development of a Trust Voting Rights Policy and Educational Film prior to the 2015 general election further staff education, particularly the rights of those detained under forensic sections or who are homeless, is required.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mental Health Stigma: What's Been Done? Where to Go?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s245-s245
Author(s):  
P. Macedo ◽  
M. Silva ◽  
A. Fornelos ◽  
A.R. Figueiredo ◽  
S. Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionNegative attitudes towards psychiatric patients still exist in our society. Persons suffering from mental illness frequently encounter public stigma and may internalize it leading to self-stigma. Discrimination occurs across many aspects of economic and social existence. It may represent a barrier for patients to receive appropriate care. Many anti-stigma campaigns have been taken to decrease people's prejudice, but its effects are not well documented.ObjectivesTo characterize anti-stigma initiatives and its effects on diminishing negative consequences of stigma.MethodsBibliographical research using PubMed using the keywords “stigma” and “mental illness”.ResultsDespite several approaches to eradicate stigma, it shows a surprising consistency in population levels. It was expected that focus on education would decrease stigma levels. The same was expected following concentration on the genetic causation of pathology. Most studies have revealed that education has little value and endorsing genetic attributions has led to a greater pessimism on the efficacy of mental health services, sense of permanence and guilty feelings within the family.ConclusionPublic stigma has had a major impact on many people with mental illness, especially when leading to self-stigma, interfering with various aspects in life, including work, housing, health care, social life and self-esteem. As Goffman elucidated, stigma is fundamentally a social phenomenon rooted in social relationships and shaped by the culture and structure of society. Social inclusion has been pointed as a potential direction of change.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Social stigma in severe mental illness in Tunisia: Clinical and socio-demographic correlates

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S577-S577 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Ouali ◽  
R. Jomli ◽  
R. Nefzi ◽  
H. Ouertani ◽  
F. Nacef
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionMental patients generally internalize some of the negative conceptions about how most people view them: they might be considered incompetent or untrustworthy or believe that people would not want to hire, or marry someone with mental illness. A lot of research on stigma has been conducted in western countries; however, little is still known on the situation in Arab-Muslim societies.ObjectivesTo evaluate social stigma as viewed by patients suffering from severe mental illness (SMI)MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study on clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (BD) according to DSM IV, who were interviewed in our out-patients clinic with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire, containing 8 opinions on the social inclusion and stigmatization of psychiatric patients, with special reference to the local cultural context (e.g.: “It is better to hide mental illness in order to preserve the reputation of my family”)ResultsWe included 104 patients, 51% with schizophrenia and 49% with BD. Mean age was 38.4 years (18–74 years); 59.6% were males. Overall social stigma scores were high. Social stigma in patients was correlated with gender, age, place of residence and diagnosis. Patients with BD showed significantly less social stigma than patients with schizophrenia.ConclusionOur results show the need for a better understanding of this phenomenon in patients with SMI, but also within Tunisian society, in order to elaborate anti stigma strategies adapted to the local context.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Mental Capacity Act and mental healthcare in prison: opportunities and challenges

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 241-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Davies ◽  
Claire Dimond
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Mental Capacity ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Capacity Act 2005 ◽  
Mental Capacity Act ◽  
The Uk

SummaryThe UK Mental Health Act 1983 does not apply in prison. The legal framework for the care and treatment of people with mental illness in prison is provided by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We raise dilemmas about its use. We highlight how assessing best interests and defining harm involves making challenging judgements. How best interests and harm are interpreted has a potentially significant impact on clinical practice within a prison context.

scholarly journals Voting and mental illness: the silent constituency

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
Voter Registration ◽  
The Political ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Political Spectrum

Mental illness has been long associated with denial of certain human rights, social exclusion and political disempowerment. Too often, the effects of adverse social, economic and political circumstances, along with stigma, constitute a form of ‘structural violence’, which impairs access to psychiatric and social services, and amplifies the effects of mental illness in the lives of sufferers and their families. Existing literature indicates that voting rates are low among people with mental illness and, whereas voting preferences in the mentally ill may tend towards the liberal end of the political spectrum, they do not differ dramatically from the overall population. Rates of voting could be improved by mental health service users, service providers, advocacy services and others through (a) improved awareness of voting rights; (b) provision of information, especially to inpatients; (c) assessments of voting capacity, where indicated, using standardised, well-proven tools; and (d) pro-active voter-registration programmes.

scholarly journals Care of older people with mental illness

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Jolley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Major Health ◽  
Health And Social Services ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
The Uk

Older people comprise an increasingly significant proportion of the population of the UK and other developed countries. Most remain fit and able to make continuing contributions to their families and society, but they are at risks of periods of ill health and other stresses. Dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease, is one of the major health problems of our times and particularly affects older people. Mental ill health, physical ill health and social difficulties are often intertwined, calling for close working between health and social services to provide appropriate help for patients and their carers.

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