The mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults and the role of physical distancing interventions and social protection measures in 26 European countries

Aims and methodA national survey investigated the implementation of mental health crisis resolution teams (CRTs) in England. CRTs were mapped and team managers completed an online survey.ResultsNinety-five per cent of mapped CRTs (n = 233) completed the survey. Few CRTs adhered fully to national policy guidelines. CRT implementation and local acute care system contexts varied substantially. Access to CRTs for working-age adults appears to have improved, compared with a similar survey in 2012, despite no evidence of higher staffing levels. Specialist CRTs for children and for older adults with dementia have been implemented in some areas but are uncommon.Clinical implicationsA national mandate and policy guidelines have been insufficient to implement CRTs fully as planned. Programmes to support adherence to the CRT model and CRT service improvement are required. Clearer policy guidance is needed on requirements for crisis care for young people and older adults.Declaration of interestNone.

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The Role of Religiosity to Address the Mental Health Crisis of Students: A Study on Three Parameters (Anxiety, Depression, and Stress)

Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities ◽

10.47836/pjssh.29.4.40 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Rohmah Najihah Misran ◽

Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom ◽

Zul Azlin Razali

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Anxiety Depression

Religiosity is a construct that has interesting implications in the mental health issues of youths. This study examines the role of religiosity on anxiety, depression, and stress using 148 Muslim students studying Islamic studies at undergraduate provision in an Islamic University as sample. Results indicated that the level of religiosity among the participants ranged from moderately religious to highly religious. The mean levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among the participants were moderate, and a significant number of students suffered from severe psychological distress. Female students were reported to experience significantly slightly more stress than male students. Furthermore, the relationship between religiosity, anxiety, and depression was significantly negative but not stressful. Further analysis found that religiosity serves as a protective factor for depression. Meanwhile, some religiosity components (i.e., avoidance of sinful acts and frequent conduct of recommended acts) were found to be a significant protective factor against anxiety and depression, respectively. Thus, in retrospect, mental health and religion appear to converge on managing psychological distress. As so to speak, this is a vital point in the emerging mental health services in which the incorporation of religious components into clinical practice may show good promising results in aiding the recovery process of psychological health issues. Likewise, embedding religiosity in one’s life, or being religiously minded, reflected in daily life manifestation, is linked with better mental health outcomes.

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A looming mental health pandemic in the time of COVID-19? Role of fortitude in the interrelationship between loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction among young adults

South African Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1177/0081246321991030 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 008124632199103

Author(s):

Tyrone Pretorius ◽

Anita Padmanabhanunni

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South Africa ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Young Adults ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Self Report ◽

Satisfaction With Life Scale ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis

This study investigates loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction among a sample of young adults in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the role of fortitude in the interrelationship between these variables. Fortitude refers to the psychological strength to manage stress and stay well, and it is derived from positive appraisals of self, family, and support from others. Participants included 337 young adults who completed four self-report questionnaires: the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Satisfaction with Life scale, and the Fortitude Questionnaire. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to determine the direct, indirect, mediating, and moderating role of fortitude on psychological outcomes. The results demonstrated unprecedented levels of anxiety, loneliness, and reduced life satisfaction among the sample. These levels were significantly higher than those encountered in previous studies in other contexts, as well as in studies of similar populations conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women reported higher levels of psychological distress than men. The results confirmed the mediating role of fortitude; however, they also suggested that the predictors (loneliness and anxiety) are the mediated pathways and fortitude is causally antecedent to loneliness and anxiety. These findings suggest a looming mental health crisis among young adults in South Africa and identify potential targets for intervention efforts. A strengths-based approach that focuses on enhancing individuals’ appraisals of coping and support may serve to build fortitude and potentially mitigate adverse mental health outcomes.

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Understanding the role of service providers, land use, and resident characteristics on the occurrence of mental health crisis calls to the police

Journal of Community Psychology ◽

10.1002/jcop.22243 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 1961-1982 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clair White ◽

Victoria Goldberg ◽

Julie Hibdon ◽

David Weisburd

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Land Use ◽

Service Providers ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis

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Adolescents in mental health crisis: the role of routine follow-up calls after emergency department visits

Emergency Medicine Journal ◽

10.1136/emj.2008.062745 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 159-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. M. Hopper ◽

I. Pangestu ◽

J. Cations ◽

C. Stewart ◽

L. N. Sharwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis

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A Scoping Review of Police Involvement in School Crisis Response for Mental Health Emergencies

School Mental Health ◽

10.1007/s12310-021-09477-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kristen R. Choi ◽

Corey O’Malley ◽

Roya Ijadi-Maghsoodi ◽

Elyse Tascione ◽

Eraka Bath ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

Data Extraction ◽

School Mental Health ◽

Crisis Response ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

School Crisis ◽

Scoping Literature Review

AbstractThe purpose of this scoping literature review was to examine research on police involvement in school mental health crisis response. The search was conducted in PsychInfo, PubMed, and ERIC and initially identified 315 articles. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 47 articles remained. Detailed review and data extraction by three independent reviewers resulted in a final article count of nine. Three primary themes were identified across articles: (1) perceptions and consequences of law enforcement presence in schools; (2) the role of school-community partnerships in successful crisis response models; and (3) gaps in research and challenges of implementing and scaling existing models. Though in practice law enforcement officers are often involved in school mental health crisis response, there is limited empirical research supporting this approach. Our review did not return any randomized trials. In the absence of empirical evidence supporting the use of current models, there is a need for research on law enforcement involvement in school crisis response and, more broadly, community-partnered models of responding to student mental health needs.

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Public mental health crisis management and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act

Journal of Medical Ethics ◽

10.1136/medethics-2016-103994 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 349-353 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Aileen O’Brien ◽

Faisil Sethi ◽

Mark Smith ◽

Annie Bartlett

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis ◽

Mental Health Act ◽

Proper Role ◽

Current State ◽

Criminal Justice Professionals

The interface between mental health services and the criminal justice system presents challenges both for professionals and patients. Both systems are stressed and inherently complex. Section 136 of the Mental Health Act is unusual being both an aspect of the Mental Health Act and a power of arrest. It has a long and controversial history related to concerns about who has been detained and how the section was applied. More recently, Section 136 has had a public profile stemming from the use of police cells as places of safety for young, mentally disturbed individuals. This paper explores the current state of health of this piece of legislation. Specifically, we consider whether alternative approaches are more suitable for those individuals in crisis and/or distress who come into contact with the police. This requires careful thought as to the proper role of both health and criminal justice professionals who are daily grappling with an ethically contentious domain of multiagency work.

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