Trauma and Children: A Refugee Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabrulla Shukoor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Ripple Effect ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Psychological Disturbances ◽  
Neurological Effects ◽  
The Impact

Post-traumatic stress affects both the mental and physical health of individuals, giving rise to various psychological disturbances. The neurological effects of these disturbances are similar across age groups, irrespective of race or culture. However, the perception of psychological disturbances differs from culture to culture depending on issues such as the stigma that attaches to mental illness and the ability or willingness to seek assistance. While much research has been undertaken on the impact of trauma on both adults and children, research to explore the effect of trauma on people in the context of their various cultures, especially people of refugee background, remains at an early stage. Mental health professionals working with refugees encounter various challenges. They range from dealing with resistance by individuals to the notion of counselling itself, to barriers such as the perceived stigma that prevents some individuals from acknowledging mental health problems. Other challenges in providing mental health services in such cases are contributed to by government policies and the limited resources available. All this exacerbates the mental health of traumatised parents and caregivers, and has a ripple effect on their children, who exhibit the effects of trauma in their own ways. This paper aims to highlight and discuss these issues through the presentation of two case studies, suggest a workable recovery model, possible ways to deal with the challenges, and to propose recommendations for working with non-Western children and their families.

scholarly journals Does the Type of Exposure to Workplace Violence Matter to Nurses’ Mental Health?

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Farinaz Havaei
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Violence Exposure ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Indirect Exposure ◽  
The Impact

Workplace violence is a prevalent phenomenon in healthcare, particularly among nursing professionals. Exposure to workplace violence may be direct through firsthand involvement, indirect through secondhand witnessing, or both. Even though implications for victims of workplace violence have been well-studied, less is known about the various types of exposure and their effects on nurse mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of workplace-violence exposure types on the mental health of nurses, while accounting for the intensity of the incident/s. This study employs an exploratory correlational design with survey methods. Nurses from British Columbia (BC), Canada, were invited by the provincial nurses’ union to complete an electronic survey in Fall 2019. A total of 2958 responses from direct-care nurses in acute-care settings were analyzed using logistic regression. The results showed that mental-health problems increased with cumulative exposure; even though nurses with solely indirect exposure to workplace violence did not report greater mental-health problems, those experiencing solely direct exposure, or both direct and indirect exposure, were two to four times more likely to report high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and burnout compared to their counterparts with no exposure. There is an urgent need for better mental-health support, prevention policies and practices that take into account the type of workplace-violence exposure.

Educational Project: Learning From The Patient

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S436-S436
Author(s):  
P. Flores ◽  
M. Soro ◽  
O. Orejas ◽  
C. Masferrer ◽  
A. Fernandez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Training Activity ◽  
Patient Voice ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Expert Patients

IntroductionLearning from the patient presents a pedagogical experience where patients expert in mental health participate as teachers in the teaching-learning processes.This training activity is a pilot aimed to assess the impact and integration in the study plan of the students following the training course in auxiliary nursing care, Barcelona.ObjectivesTo offer a global vision on mental health problems in order to break the stigma, being the persons affected the main actors.Stress the value of the patient voice and its particular way of living and suffering the illness in order to offer a suitable attention.Promote the integration of expert patients as teachers in the education programs.MethodologyThe training activity starts with the evaluation of the previous mental health knowledge and believes of the students.Round table with the participation of:– 2 expert patients explain their history of life and how the illness affects their day-to-day life;– 2 mental health professionals explain how they help patients to recover and empower them.Four groups about the impact of illness on a personal, educational, working and social level.ResultsThe expert patients were very optimistic and reinforced their own self-esteem. The students show a more positive attitude towards mental illness and express that patients’ are first PEOPLE, then patients’ConclusionsThe expert patients collaborating with professionals are ready to become teachers in the health care academic programs and, specifically, in mental health.Taking into account the patient voice and vision improves the technical, personal and social competences of professionals.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Mental Health in The Context of The COVID 19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ravinder Yadav ◽  
Varinder Saini
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Global Action ◽  
Psychological Pressure ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

We explore the global evidence of major health crisis potential impacts and the factors influencing the mental health outcomes among the population during the outbreak of COVID-19. Preparation measures for a COVID-19 focus on rapid quarantine of social isolation and economic concerns have risen metal health considerations that become an integrated part of the pandemic outbreak. This outbreak of novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is swayed an overall 213 countries, areas or territories, with over 2,921,439 confirmed cases and 203,289 confirmed deaths reported till 26 April 2020. This created a lot of strain and fear; fear of falling ill and dying of being infected leading to heightened levels of insurmountable psychological pressure. This scrutiny attempt to assess the widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 on mental health professionals, healthcare workers and general population in association with adverse mental health sequelae like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depressive symptoms, insomnia, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, OCD, suicidal behavior, delirium, psychosis, harmful alcohol consumption, and drug use. There is a need for more evocative exploration to intensify awareness to address the potential psychological and behavioral risks that will remain elevated as long as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the community. In conclusion, incessant surveillance of the subsyndromal mental health problems for outbreaks should be part of galvanized global action during the quarantine.

scholarly journals Mental health of healthcare professionals during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia

BJPsych Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yimenu Yitayih ◽  
Seblework Mekonen ◽  
Ahmed Zeynudin ◽  
Embialle Mengistie ◽  
Argaw Ambelu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

Background The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic causes healthcare professionals to suffer mental health problems such as psychological distress, anxiety, depression, denial and fear. However, studies are lacking related to Ethiopia and to Africa in general. Aims To study the mental health of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. Method A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center among 249 healthcare professionals. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires between 22 and 28 March 2020. The psychological impact was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) and symptoms of insomnia were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Social support was evaluated using the three-item Oslo Social Support Scale. Data were analysed using logistic regression to examine mutually adjusted associations, expressed as adjusted odds ratios. The psychosocial status of the healthcare professionals was predicted using a classification tree model supported by the genetic search method. Results The prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals was 78.3%. The mean IES-R score was 34.2 (s.d. = 19.4). The ISI score indicated that the prevalence of insomnia was 50.2%. Higher psychological distress was associated with younger age, having insomnia, not having a daily update on COVID-19, and feeling stigmatised and rejected in the neighbourhood because of hospital work. Conclusions This study indicates that, in Ethiopia, the prevalence of psychological distress among healthcare professionals is high and associated with specific sociodemographic risks.

Mental health of unaccompanied asylum-seeking adolescents previously held in British detention centres

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly A Ehntholt ◽  
David Trickey ◽  
Jean Harris Hendriks ◽  
Hannah Chambers ◽  
Mark Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Aim: To investigate whether the mental health of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) was negatively affected by having their ages disputed and being detained. Method: Participants within this cross-sectional study were 35 UASC, aged between 13 and 17 when they were detained. Some years later, a team of child mental health professionals interviewed them to assess their current mental health and to determine, as far as possible, the impact that having their age disputed and being detained may have had on their mental health. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-IV), Reactions of Adolescents to Traumatic Stress (RATS), Stressful Life Events (SLE) and Detention Experiences Checklist–UK version (DEC-UK) were administered. Results: The vast majority of UASC reported being negatively affected. Based on diagnostic interviews using the SCID-IV, self-report measures and contemporaneous records, the professionals reported a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) developing in 29% ( n = 10), PTSD exacerbated in 51% ( n = 18), major depressive disorder (MDD) developing in 23% ( n = 8) and MDD exacerbated in 40% ( n = 14). A total of 3 years post-detention, 89% ( n = 31) met diagnostic criteria for psychiatric disorders and reported high PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of psychiatric disorder. The additional stress of age dispute procedures and detention was judged to have been harmful.

The impact of criminal victimization

2012 ◽  
pp. 1984-1991
Author(s):  
Gillian C. Mezey ◽  
Ian Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Crime Victims ◽  
Economic Consequences ◽  
Voluntary Organizations ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

The impact of crime on the individual victim is profound but is frequently underestimated by mental health professionals. Wide-ranging personal, social, and economic consequences could be prevented if a range of appropriate interventions were available. Most post traumatic stress treatment programmes in the United Kingdom have developed in response to specific disasters, which may not be relevant to or as effective with crime victims. In order to provide appropriate treatment to crime victims, mental health professionals need to recognize the importance of active interagency liaison with the police, the courts and with voluntary organizations such as victim support schemes. Crime victims tend to be relatively invisible and disempowered; they are less likely to be supported by active campaigning groups than survivors of major disasters and, because of associated feelings of shame and stigmatization, they may be reluctant to claim their entitlement to proper care and treatment. The fact that their plight is often used as a political football is likely to reinforce feelings of helplessness and insecurity. Given its prevalence, crime represents both an ordinary and an extraordinary event; it is likely to affect everyone at some point in their lives and the fact that most crime victims recover from the experience should not deprive those who need it, to proper care.

scholarly journals Psychological Responses According to Gender during the Early Stage of COVID-19 in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3731
Author(s):  
Lucía del Río-Casanova ◽  
Milagrosa Sánchez-Martín ◽  
Ana García-Dantas ◽  
Anabel González-Vázquez ◽  
Ania Justo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Psychological Responses ◽  
Impact Of Event Scale ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

Background: Current research has pointed out an increased risk of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in women compared to men, however the reason for this difference remains unclear. The aim of this research is to study early psychological responses to the pandemic in the Spanish general population, focusing on gender differences. Methods: Nine to 14 days after the declaration of a state of emergency an online survey was conducted assessing sociodemographic, health, behavioral and COVID-19-related variables. Mental health status was evaluated by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Self-Care Scale (SCS). Results: The study included 3520 respondents: 2611 women and 909 men. Women scored significantly higher in DASS-21 and IES-R (p < 0.05) and were more likely to somatize, suffer from hypochondriasis, sleeping disturbances and claustrophobia (p < 0.05). Being a woman can be considered a risk factor for intrusive thoughts, avoidance mechanisms, stress and anxiety (Odd Ratio = 2.7/2.3/2.3/1.6). The risk of presenting posttraumatic symptoms and emotional distress was greater in women (Odd Ratio = 6.77/4.59). General linear models to predict IES-R and DASS-21 scores clarified which variables were gender specific, such as main concerns. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that at early stages of the pandemic, women mental health was more impacted and that both genders show different concerns. Gender perspective in secondary and tertiary prevention strategies must be taken into account when facing the distress associated with the pandemic.

scholarly journals Serious games for mental health: Are they accessible, feasible, and effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Lau ◽  
JH Smit ◽  
Theresa Fleming ◽  
H Riper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Cd Rom ◽  
The Impact

© 2017 Lau, Smit, Fleming and Riper. Introduction: The development and use of serious games for mental health disorders are on the rise. Yet, little is known about the impact of these games on clinical mental health symptoms. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of serious games on symptoms of mental disorder. Method: We conducted a systematic search in the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase databases, using mental health and serious games-related keywords. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review, and nine studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results: All of the serious games were provided via personal computer, mostly on CD-ROM without the need for an internet connection. The studies targeted age groups ranging from 7 to 80 years old. The serious games focused on symptoms of depression (n = 2), post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 2), autism spectrum disorder (n = 2), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 1), cognitive functioning (n = 2), and alcohol use disorder (n = 1). The studies used goal-oriented (n = 4) and cognitive training games (n = 6). A total of 674 participants were included in the meta-analysis (380 in experimental and 294 in control groups). A meta-analysis of 9 studies comprising 10 comparisons, using a random effects model, showed a moderate effect on improvement of symptoms [g = 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.28-0.83); P < 0.001], favoring serious games over no intervention controls. Discussion/conclusion: Though the number of comparisons in the meta-analysis was small, these findings suggest that serious gaming interventions may be effective for reducing disorder-related symptoms. More studies are needed in order to attain deeper knowledge of the efficacy for specific mental disorders and the longer term effects of this new type of treatment for mental disorders.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a school-based intervention for adolescents and teachers to promote mental health among refugee and migrant adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Osman ◽  
A Sarkadi ◽  
I Feldman ◽  
A Tökés ◽  
A Perez-Aronsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Cluster Randomised Trial ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Refugee Youth ◽  
School Based Intervention ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Refugee youth have often experienced trauma during relocation and continue to face adversity in their host country in the form of acculturation stress, residence insecurity, social isolation, and experiences of discrimination. These experiences are associated with a significant risk of developing mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This cluster randomised trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based intervention that provides a manualized, trauma-focussed programme called Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) to target refugee and migrant youth and an In-Service Teacher Training (INSETT) programme to teachers. The study will consider the impact of the intervention on the mental health of adolescent refugees and their guardians who participate in the TRT programme. It will also consider the intervention's impact on the interrelationships between teachers and parents and teachers' cultural competence, as well as the social support and school belonging experienced by adolescents who do not participate in TRT but whose teachers receive INSETT training. Further details on TRT and INSETT, trial design and preliminary findings will be presented at the workshop.

scholarly journals IMMIGRATION AND MENTAL DISORDERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Lambrini Kourkouta ◽  
Konstantinos Koukourikos ◽  
Ioanna V. Papathanasiou ◽  
Areti Tsaloglidou
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Support Methods ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Immigration is the movement of people into a country where they will remain as its permanent residents or future citizens without having citizenship. Purpose: The purpose of this review study is to highlight the impact of immigration on the mental health of immigrants and to identify the mental disorders from which immigrants are at risk of getting ill. Methodology: The study material consisted of articles on the topic, found in Greek and international databases such as: Google Scholar, Mednet, Pubmed, Medline and the Hellenic Academic Libraries Association (HEAL-Link), using the appropriate keywords: mental illness, immigrants, treatment. Results: It is estimated that two-thirds of refugees - migrants experience anxiety and depression. Studies show that these are populations with severe social problems, unmet needs, and a range of mental health problems such as depression, panic attacks, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conclusions: Addressing the mental health problems of immigrants and refugees can only be holistic. It requires much more psychosocial interventions and practical solutions, always combined with culturally appropriate psychological support methods.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document