Individual care packages for people with severe mental illness: a description of their implementation in an English County

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-130
Author(s):  
R. Macpherson ◽  
N. Hovey ◽  
A. Khan ◽  
G. Riley ◽  
K. Taralipoyina
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Supported Accommodation ◽  
Individual Care ◽  
New Form

BackgroundThis paper includes a brief review of the historical and policy background to a new form of supported accommodation, the Individual Care Package (ICP). This is a co-ordinated, individualised and flexible method to support people with complex mental health problems in the community.MethodThe study aimed to describe the implementation of this new form of care in Gloucestershire, England, over a 5-year period. We aimed to audit the quality of care in the packages against six care standards, derived by a project steering group. Staff working in community mental health services and staff providing ICPs were asked to report their levels of satisfaction with care provision.ResultsA total of 35 ICPs were developed, mostly relating to service users with severe mental illness. Only 60% of the community mental health team key workers were aware of the expected level of care. In many cases, service users were accessing support from day services or family alongside the ICP. Four service users were admitted, and four moved accommodation after going into ICPs. Overall, levels of care provided within ICPs tended to remain static. Trust key workers were mostly satisfied with the support provided in ICPs, but a range of concerns were expressed. ICP staff reported mostly positive views about the support that they received from statutory services, but also reported some concerns.ConclusionsICPs appeared to be successful in enabling a number of service users with complex difficulties to obtain and maintain tenancies in the community. There were some concerns about the quality of monitoring of the ICPs and some uncertainty about whether ICP staff would have the skills, support and training to promote recovery and increasing independence of service users. There was little evidence of service users moving on or reduction in care over time. There is a need for good inter-agency working for the successful deployment of this new form of service. There is also a need for more research, comparing ICPs with other forms of supported accommodation and considering the service user experience through qualitative research.

scholarly journals Organization of Community Mental Health Services for Persons with a Severe Mental Illness and Comorbid Somatic Conditions: A Systematic Review on Somatic Outcomes and Health Related Quality of Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 462
Author(s):  
Nicolaas Martens ◽  
Marianne Destoop ◽  
Geert Dom
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

It is well established that persons with a severe mental illness (SMI) have a greater risk of physical comorbid conditions and premature mortality. Most studies in the field of community mental health care (CMHC) have only focused on improving cardiovascular health in people with a SMI using lifestyle approaches. Studies using organizational modifications are rather scarce. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and describe possible organizational strategies to improve physical health for persons with a SMI in CMHC. The primary outcome was Health-related Quality of Life (HR-QOL). Results suggested modest effects on quality of life and were inconsistent throughout all the included studies. Despite these findings, it appears that a more integrated approach had a positive effect on health outcomes, patient satisfaction and HR-QOL. The complexity of the processes involved in community care delivery makes it difficult to compare different models and organizational approaches. Mental health nurses were identified as possible key professionals in care organization, but no clear description of their role was found. This review could provide new insights into contributing factors for integrated care. Future research targeting the identification of the nurses’ role and facilitating factors in integrated care, in order to improve treatment and follow-up of somatic comorbidities, is recommended.

Community Families: Bridging the gap between mental health services and civil society – A qualitative study from users’ perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Væggemose ◽  
Stina Lou ◽  
Michal Frumer ◽  
Nanna Limskov Stærk Christiansen ◽  
Jørgen Aagaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
The Social

Background: Social interventions to support people with severe mental illness are important to improving the quality of life. The perspectives of users are essential in this process. This article explores users’ experiences, investments and concerns of a befriending programme. Material: Focus group and individual qualitative interviews with service users. Discussion: Overall, the experiences with the programme were positive, and the social interaction was highly valued. However, that the relationships were arranged and facilitated by mental health workers remained an unresolved concern even after several years. Conclusion: People with severe mental illness benefit from relationships despite the need of professional assistant.

scholarly journals Mobile Health for All: Public-Private Partnerships Can Create a New Mental Health Landscape

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Ben-Zeev
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
The U.S

Research has already demonstrated that different mHealth approaches are feasible, acceptable, and clinically promising for people with mental health problems. With a robust evidence base just over the horizon, now is the time for policy makers, researchers, and the private sector to partner in preparation for the near future. The Lifeline Assistance Program is a useful model to draw from. Created in 1985 by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Lifeline is a nationwide program designed to help eligible low-income individuals obtain home phone and landline services so they can pursue employment, reach help in case of emergency, and access social services and healthcare. In 2005, recognizing the broad shift towards mobile technology and mobile-cellular infrastructure, the FCC expanded the program to include mobile phones and data plans. The FCC provides a base level of federal support, but individual states are responsible for regional implementation, including engagement of commercial mobile phone carriers. Given the high rates of disability and poverty among people with severe mental illness, many are eligible to benefit from Lifeline and research has shown that a large proportion does in fact use this program to obtain a mobile phone and data plan. In the singular area of mobile phone use, the gap between people with severe mental illness and the general population in the U.S. is vanishing. Strategic multi-partner programs will be able to grant access to mHealth for mental health programs to those who will not be able to afford them—arguably, the people who need them the most. Mobile technology manufacturing costs are dropping. Soon all mobile phones in the marketplace, including the more inexpensive devices that are made available through subsidy programs, will have “smart” capabilities (ie, internet connectivity and the capacity to host apps). Programs like Lifeline could be expanded to include mHealth resources that capitalize on “smart” functions, such as secure/encrypted clinical texting programs and mental health monitoring and illness-management apps. Mobile phone hardware and software development companies could be engaged to add mHealth programs as a standard component in the suite of tools that come installed on their mobile phones; thus, in addition to navigation apps, media players, and games, the new Android or iPhone could come with guided relaxation videos, medication reminder systems, and evidence-based self-monitoring and self-management tools. Telecommunication companies could be encouraged to offer mHealth options with their data plans. Operating system updates pushed out by the mobile carrier companies could come with optional mHealth applications for those who elect to download them. In the same manner in which the Lifeline Assistance Program has helped increase access to fundamental opportunities to so many low-income individuals, innovative multi-partner programs have the potential to put mHealth for mental health resources in the hands of millions in the years ahead.

The future of specialist community teams in the care of those with severe mental illness

2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Tyrer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Crisis Resolution ◽  
Crisis Resolution Teams

SummaryAims – Specialist interventions in community psychiatry for severe mental illness are expanding and their place needs to be re-examined. Methods – Recent literature is reviewed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of specialist teams. Results – Good community mental health services reduce drop out from care, prevent suicide and unnatural deaths, and reduce admission to hospital. Most of these features have been also demonstrated by assertive community outreach and crisis resolution teams when good community services are not available. In well established community services assertive community teams do not reduce admission but both practitioners and patients prefer this service to other approaches and it leads to better engagement. Crisis resolution teams appear to be more successful than assertive community teams in preventing admission to hospital, although head- to-head comparisons have not yet been made. All specialist teams have the potential of fragmenting services and thereby reducing continuity of care. Conclusions – The assets of improved engagement and greater satisfaction with assertive, crisis resolution and home treatment teams are clear from recent evidence, but to improve integration of services they are probably best incorporated into community mental health services rather than standing alone.Declaration of Interest: The author has been the sole consultant in two assertive outreach teams since 1994 and might there- fore be expected to be in favour of this genre of service. He has received grants for evaluation of different services models from the Department of Health (UK) and the Medical Research Council (UK).

Metabolic Syndrome Screening in People With Severe Mental Illness: Results From Two Spanish Community Mental Health Centers

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Fernández Guijarro ◽  
Carolina Miguel García ◽  
Edith Pomarol-Clotet ◽  
Elena Nunilón Egea López ◽  
Maria Dolors Burjales Martí ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Community Mental Health Centers ◽  
Mental Health Centers

BACKGROUND: The excess of mortality in people with severe mental illness is due to unnatural causes such as accidents or suicides and natural causes such as metabolic syndrome. The presence of modifiable risk factors like tobacco consumption increases cardiovascular and metabolic risk. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular risk factors in people with severe mental illness. This study also aimed to identify the prevalence of patients receiving treatment for any metabolic syndrome risk factor. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. A total of 125 participants from two community mental health centers in Spain were recruited. RESULTS: More than half of the participants (58.4%) were active smokers. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 60%. A total of 16.8% received previous treatment for hypertension, 17.6% for hypertriglyceridemia, and 11.2% for diabetes. No differences were found between centers (22.7% vs. 18.7%, p = .9). CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the importance of monitoring the physical health of patients on antipsychotic therapy. The identification and management of cardiovascular and metabolic risks factors is an essential part of nursing care for people with severe mental illness. Mental health nurses are ideally positioned to carry out this task by performing physical health screening, health education, and lifestyle interventions.

The effects of a community mental health intervention project upon family caregivers of persons with suspected mental illness in the Chinese cultural context

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petrus Ng ◽  
Daniel KW Young ◽  
Jiayan Pan ◽  
King-Keung Law
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention

Family members play an important role in caregiving with more emphasis on early intervention for people suffering from mental illness. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, this study examines the effects of a community mental health intervention project (CoMHIP) on burdens of caregivers who have family members with suspected mental illness. Results showed that family caregivers’ burden and psychological stress level had been reduced ( p < .001). The caregivers subjectively experienced a significant reduction in stress regarding the caregiving subscales, supervision, tension, worrying and urging after seeking CoMHIP service. Findings for the study have implications on social work interventions regarding family caregiving of people with suspected mental health problems.

scholarly journals Impact of Jointly Using an e–Mental Health Resource (Self-Management And Recovery Technology) on Interactions Between Service Users Experiencing Severe Mental Illness and Community Mental Health Workers: Grounded Theory Study

10.2196/25998 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e25998
Author(s):  
Anne Williams ◽  
Ellie Fossey ◽  
John Farhall ◽  
Fiona Foley ◽  
Neil Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Discovery Process ◽  
Mental Health Resource

Background e–Mental health resources are increasingly available for people who experience severe mental illness, including those who are users of community mental health services. However, the potential for service users (SUs) living with severe mental illness to use e–mental health resources together with their community mental health workers (MHWs) has received little attention. Objective This study aims to identify how jointly using an interactive website called Self-Management And Recovery Technology (SMART) in a community mental health context influenced therapeutic processes and interactions between SUs and MHWs from their perspective. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data were collected through individual semistructured interviews with 37 SUs and 15 MHWs who used the SMART website together for 2 to 6 months. Data analysis involved iterative phases of coding, constant comparison, memo writing, theoretical sampling, and consultation with stakeholders to support the study’s credibility. Results A substantive grounded theory, discovering ways to keep life on track, was developed, which portrays a shared discovery process arising from the SU-worker-SMART website interactions. The discovery process included choosing to use the website, revealing SUs’ experiences, exploring these experiences, and gaining new perspectives on how SUs did and could keep their lives on track. SUs and MHWs perceived that their three-way interactions were enjoyable, beneficial, and recovery focused when using the website together. They experienced the shared discovery process as relationship building—their interactions when using the website together were more engaging and equal. Conclusions Jointly using an e–mental health resource elicited recovery-oriented interactions and processes between SUs and MHWs that strengthened their therapeutic relationship in real-world community mental health services. Further work to develop and integrate this novel use of e–mental health in community mental health practice is warranted.

scholarly journals Perceived Support for Recovery and Level of Functioning Among People With Severe Mental Illness in Central and Eastern Europe: An Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Roth ◽  
Michel Wensing ◽  
Jan Koetsenruijter ◽  
Ana Istvanovic ◽  
Antoni Novotni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Perceived Support ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Level Of Functioning

Background: Many people with severe mental illness experience limitations in personal and social functioning. Care delivered in a person's community that addresses needs and preferences and focuses on clinical and personal recovery can contribute to addressing the adverse impacts of severe mental illness. In Central and Eastern Europe, mental health care systems are transitioning from institutional-based care toward community-based care. The aim of this study is to document the level of functioning and perceived support for recovery in a large population of service users with severe mental illness in Central and Eastern Europe, and to explore associations between perceived support for recovery and the degree of functional limitations.Methods: The implementation of community mental health teams was conducted in five mental health centers in five countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The present study is based on trial data at baseline among service users across the five centers. Baseline data included sociodemographic, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) for functional limitations, and the Recovery Support (INSPIRE) tool for perceived staff support toward recovery. We hypothesized that service users reporting higher levels of perceived support for their recovery would indicate lower levels of functional limitation.Results: Across all centers, the greatest functional limitations were related to participation in society (43.8%), followed by daily life activities (33.3%), and in education or work (35.6%). Service users (N = 931) indicated that they were satisfied overall with the support received from their mental health care provider for their social recovery (72.5%) and that they valued their relationship with their providers (80.3%). Service users who perceived the support they received from their provider as valuable (b = −0.10, p = 0.001) and who reported to have a meaningful relationship with them (b = −0.13, p = 0.003) had a lower degree of functional limitation.Conclusion: As hypothesized, the higher the degree of perceived mental health support from providers, the lower the score in functional limitations. The introduction of the community-based care services that increase contact with service users and consider needs and which incorporate recovery-oriented principles, may improve clinical recovery and functional outcomes of service users with severe mental illness.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document