Promoting appropriate health care in Europe - the case of psychiatry

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Musalek
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Case Managers ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Heath Care

Nowadays different professions are involved in mental heath care in Europe, e.g. general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, social-workers, case-managers, prevention specialists, health ministry bureaucrats etc. As mental health represents a weak concept with vague and ambiguous definitions and delimitations it remains quite unclear who should be responsible for mental health today and in the future. In the last decades psychiatrists gained high expertise in treating mental disorders (e.g. psychopharmacological, psychotherapeutic and social measures) but lost terrain in mental health matters because of a lack of interest in such questions leading to the hardly acceptable contemporary situation that professionals without any psychopathological knowledge and without clinical experiences in mental illnesses as well as in the various transitional states between mental health and disordered health have taken the leading positions in the field of mental health care. Of course, the main tasks of psychiatry are to diagnose and to treat mental disorders, but as the prognosis of mental disorders and the treatment efficacy highly depend on the time of recognizing the disorder (the earlier the recognition of a mental disorders and the earlier the start of therapy the better the treatment out-come and prognosis) early recognition of mental disorders and prevention measures (esp. secondary and tertiary prevention) have to become core fields of psychiatry. Therefore psychiatry cannot any longer restrict itself to the treatment of severe mental disorders but has to take again a crucial role in future mental health care system in cooperation with other mental health stake-holders. This implies that future training programs for psychiatrists have to take into account such considerations and have to include beside usual fields of interests (e.g. psychopathology, neurosciences, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, medical humanities, etc.) also topics like early recognition, transitional states and prevention of mental disorders as regular parts.

Are Mental Disorders Brain Disorders?

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-201
Author(s):  
Callie Joubert
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Category Mistake ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The U.S

The mission of the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health is to transform understanding and treatment of mental disorders. According to its former director, Dr. Thomas Insel, fundamental to its mission is the proposition that “mental illnesses are brain disorders.” The aim of this article is to examine this proposition and to argue that it does not make sense. As a scientific proposition, it is based on contentious empirical claims, and as a metaphysical proposition, it is consistent with those who claim that a person is a brain. A conceptual analysis is employed as a tool to show that it is a category mistake to ascribe psychological properties of a person to a brain. The article concludes with a brief indication of the ethical implications of Insel’s proposition for mental health care.

Religious advisors’ role in mental health care in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders survey

2009 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 989-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane Kovess-Masfety ◽  
◽  
Anne Dezetter ◽  
Ron de Graaf ◽  
Joseph Maria Haro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
European Study

The importance of peer support in the recovery process of persons with mental disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Stimac Grbic ◽  
I Pavic Simetin ◽  
A Istvanovic
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Community Intervention ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Hospital Treatment ◽  
Personal Recovery

Abstract Issue Care for people with severe mental disorders requires approach that is focused on a person's strengths, not his weaknesses, and is a shift from a deficit model that is often associated with mental illness. Care users and their family members play an important role in this approach. Description of the Problem Mental disorders are the leading group of diseases in Croatia, according to the number of days of hospital treatment. The number of hospitalizations is high, and the rate of hospitalization for depression has tripled in the last twenty years. Such indicators highlight the need for reorientation of mental health care, from hospital-based to community-based, by organizing mobile community intervention teams. Results In Croatia, psychosocial peer teams were established by the NGO Ludruga, financed by local government, to provide peer support to persons with mental disorders. The main activities are: development of a personal recovery plan, home visits and providing psychological support to persons with mental disorders, organizing support groups and education of peer workers. The teams consist of a peer worker, social worker, psychologist, and operate under the supervision of a psychiatrist. The teams have been operating for five years, have had over a hundred users so far and are a significant help to the healthcare system in preventing rehospitalizations. Lessons The goal of therapeutic interventions in mental health care should be recovery. Recovery involves empowering a person to take responsibility for themselves and their health. Peer workers play an important role in the recovery process, providing hope for recovery. Their role must also be recognized by the health system. Key messages People with mental disorders and their families should be co-creators of care and recovery-oriented interventions. Only by comprehensive interventions, tackling all determinants of health, therapeutic goal can be achieved.

Pathways to Mental Health Services and Perceptions about the Effectiveness of Treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 388-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirry M. Alang ◽  
Donna D. McAlpine
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Treatment Gap ◽  
Quality Outcomes ◽  
Effectiveness Of Care

The gap between need and effective treatment for mental health problems continues to be a challenge for researchers and policymakers. Much of the attention has been on differences in treatment rates, with insufficient attention to variation in pathways that people take into treatment. Individuals may choose to seek help but may also be substantially influenced by others or coerced into care. The chances of each type of pathway are influenced by social characteristics and may shape perceptions of effectiveness of care. This paper investigates variation in pathways into care and perceived effectiveness of care. We also examine whether choice or coercion into care are associated with whether individuals perceive care as effective and if severity of illness moderates this relationship. We use data from the 2010–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 10,020). Persons who independently sought mental health care were more likely to rate treatment as effective compared to persons ordered into care. Among people with severe mental illnesses, the probability of rating treatment as effective is lowest among those who were ordered into care. Entry into mental health care is not sufficient for closing the treatment gap if coerced care leads to poorer quality outcomes.

scholarly journals Cross-Sectional Study of Mental Health Related Knowledge and Attitudes Among Care Assistant Workers in Guangzhou, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Li ◽  
Xiao-Ling Duan ◽  
Hua-Qing Zhong ◽  
Wen Chen ◽  
Sara Evans‑Lacko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Additional Item ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background: Care assistant workers (CAWs) are a part of a new pattern of mental health care providers in China and play a significant role in bridging the human resource shortage. CAWs in China mainly include community cadres, community mental health staff and community policemen. The mental health related knowledge and attitudes of CAWs could influence their mental health care delivery. This study aimed to assess the mental health related knowledge and attitudes of CAWs in Guangzhou, China. Methods: In November 2017, a study was conducted among 381 CAWs from four districts of Guangzhou, China. Participants were assessed using the Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination Scale (PDD), the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), and the Mental illness: Clinicians’ Attitudes (MICA). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Bonferroni corrections and multivariable linear regression. Results: The mean scores (standard deviation) of PDD, MAKS and MICA were 36.45 (6.54), 22.72 (2.56), 51.67 (7.88), respectively. Univariate analyses showed that the older CAWs, community policemen and those who were less willing to deliver care had significant higher MICA scores when compared with other staff (P < 0.001). However, participants who disagreed additional item 1（views towards inpatients) and additional item 2 (affiliate stigma) had a significant lower MICA scores when compared with those who agreed (P < 0.001). Multivariable linear regression showed that after controlling some variables, care willingness and PDD total score were significantly positively associated with the MICA total score (all P < 0.05), while attitudes on additional items were significantly negatively associated with the MICA total score (all P < 0.01).Conclusion: These findings suggest negative attitudes towards people with mental disorders among CAWs are common, especially among older staff. Community policemen suggest that they applied stereotypes of ‘violent mentally ill’ people to all people they deal with who have mental disorders. The results also indicate human rights are being paid attention to now, but need to be improved in the future. Strategies to improve attitudes and to reduce stigma and discrimination should be conducted with particular staff groups.

scholarly journals Romanian GPs Involvement in Caring for the Mental Health Problems of the Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Sfetcu ◽  
Daciana Toma ◽  
Catalina Tudose ◽  
Cristian Vladescu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
National Society

The mental health of the elderly is a matter of increased concern in the context of an aging population since currently only a small fraction of this population is receiving adequate care. The provision of treatment in primary care by the General Practitioners (GPs) has been proposed for over a decade as a potential solution, as services offered by GPs are more accessible, less susceptible to stigma, and have a more comprehensive view of the other health care problems that the elderly might suffer from. In this study, we explored the perception of Romanian GPs regarding their practice and roles in caring for the mental health of the elderly as well as the willingness to increase their future involvement in the management of dementia and other mental health problems. Data was collected via an online questionnaire structured on four dimensions: (1) GPs' sociodemographic profile and practice characteristics, (2) GPs assessment of the services available for elderly with mental health problems, (3) GPs current involvement in mental health care for different categories of problems, and (4) factors that might influence the future involvement of GPs in providing care for elderly with mental health problems. The survey was sent via the member mailing lists of the National Society for Family Medicine. Results show that GPs are currently limited by prescribing possibilities, available resources and knowledge in the area, but they are willing to expand their role in the areas of early recognition and prevention of mental health problems as well as providing disease management and collaborative care. An improved communication with mental health care professionals, a better access to resources and having more financial incentives are the three most important categories for GPs to increase their involvement. In conclusion, increasing the access to personal and professional resources and setting up functional communication channels with specialized mental health care could motivate GPs to provide timely mental health support to elderly patients.

The next step: a strategic focus on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Irish mental health care

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Matthews ◽  
M. Cowman ◽  
S. Denieffe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Health Strategy

People with severe mental illnesses have dramatically reduced life expectancy compared with the general population, which is largely attributed to physical comorbidity. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions offer a safe and viable therapeutic resource for multi-disciplinary mental health care teams. The accumulating evidence supporting the role of these interventions has changed the focus of mental health strategy in some countries, with new developing roles for certain mental health professionals in this field. However, in Ireland the absence of specialised exercise practitioners places a leadership role for mental health nurses in this regard. National mental health strategy in Ireland should prioritise physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions, make recommendations for the integration of specialised exercise practitioners in all mental health multidisciplinary teams, and recommend the provision of training and awareness for mental health nurses and other multidisciplinary professionals who are already well placed to address this issue.

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