Reducing the burden of ageism, mentalism, and ableism: Transforming the narrative for older persons with mental health conditions and psychosocial disability

This article critiques the new Theory of Change (ToC) on mental health published by the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) in the last fortnight of its existence. The ToC offers development actors a framework for better support of beneficiaries with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities – given disappointingly scant attention by the sector to date. Yet, 70 per cent of mental disorders occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a 22 per cent prevalence in fragile and conflict-affected states. Globally, mental ill-health is estimated to affect almost one billion people. Its intersectionality with poverty and physical health has been brought into sharp focus by the current COVID-19 pandemic which has magnified the underlying social and environmental stressors of mental health. DfID’s ToC provides a conceptual framework for improving mental health globally, with an overarching vision of the full and equal exercise of all human rights by those affected by mental health conditions and psychosocial disability. The framework incorporates a rights-based approach with user-participation embedded in five critical change pathways to outcomes. The article analyses the ToC, provides an overview, highlights gaps and comments upon how DfID might have improved clarity for development actors seeking to realise its vision.

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THE HUMAN RIGHT TO JUSTICE FOR OLDER PERSONS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jagp.2021.07.007 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

William Mitchell ◽

Andrew Byrnes ◽

Anneliese Bergman ◽

Carmelle Peisah

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Persons ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Human Right ◽

Mental Health Conditions

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The human rights of older people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disability to a good death and dying well

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.jagp.2021.05.015 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Carmelle Peisah ◽

Elizabeth L Sampson ◽

Kiran Rabheru ◽

Anne Wand ◽

Maria Lapid

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Human Rights ◽

Older People ◽

Death And Dying ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Good Death ◽

Mental Health Conditions ◽

Psychosocial Disability

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The experience of older persons with mental health conditions who interact with healthcare robots and nurse intermediaries: The qualitative case studies

Belitung Nursing Journal ◽

10.33546/bnj.1541 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tetsuya Tanioka ◽

Feni Betriana ◽

Tomoya Yokotani ◽

Kyoko Osaka ◽

Rozzano C. Locsin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Case Studies ◽

Older Persons ◽

Humanoid Robots ◽

The Other ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Qualitative Case Studies ◽

Mental Health Conditions ◽

Intelligent Machines ◽

Persons With Schizophrenia

Background: Caring expressions between humans and nonhuman intelligent machines are futuristic prototypes with healthcare robots as major advocates. Objective: To examine the experience of older persons with mental health conditions, particularly patients with schizophrenia and with dementia in the interaction with healthcare robots and intermediaries in a transactive relational engagement.Methods: Two qualitative case studies were conducted using sophisticated audio-video technologies to record the conversation and activities that were carefully documented. Following the procedure for qualitative descriptive analysis, a framework based on the Transactive Relationship Theory of Nursing was employed to analyze and interpret the data. Results: Three themes were revealed, including feelings for the other, inspiring meaningful responses, and demonstrating expressions of joy. The description of the experience of older persons involved in the conversation with humanoid robots was feeling for the other while inspiring meaningful responses in demonstrating expressions of joy. Conclusion: This study provided initial evidence that the transactive engagements of robots with older persons with schizophrenia and dementia and nurse intermediaries in psychiatric and mental health settings can result in occasions of ‘joy’ for the patients. These findings suggest that transactive engagements with robots facilitate expressions of joy among older persons with schizophrenia and dementia. However, these findings are not intended to prescribe nursing care actions but to describe the experience of older persons who are in transactive engagements with intelligent machines, indicating the importance and value of healthcare robots in nursing older persons with schizophrenia and with dementia. Funding: This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17H01609.

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