scholarly journals (P1-90) Guidelines for Psychosocial Support for Uniformed Services

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s128-s128
Author(s):  
H. Te Brake ◽  
M. Rooze
Keyword(s):  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Support System ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
National Standard ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Psychosocial Support System

In the Netherlands in 2010, the multidisciplinary guidelines for the psychosocial support of uniformed services organizations (USOs) were developed. These guidelines are accepted as a national standard for psychosocial support for police, firebrigade, ambulance services, the Ministry of Defence, and coast guard. This presentation will focus on the backgrounds, development, and status of these guidelines, and an outline of the contents will be given. Members of USOs consistently are exposed to potentially shocking events. It was recognized that there is a need in the field for clarity and unambiguity about the organization of psychosocial care to this group. The goal of the guidelines is to guarantee optimal psychosocial support and care after experiencing disasters and shocking events, so that stress-related health problems among members of the emergency services are prevented. The guidelines are evidence-based, i.e., they are based on the results of the latest scientific studies, knowledge from experience (best practices), and other considerations. Consensus was reached that the promotion of the existing means of recovery of the USO member, and the facilitation of these means by peer support structures, are the key to a successful psychosocial support system. The peer support system has an important role in recognizing those affected with psychological and/or serious clinical symptoms that require diagnosis and/or treatment. Diagnosis and treatment should be exercised by mental health professionals. Therefore, they must be readily available, but should only be deployed when necessary. Three phases in the psychosocial support for USO members are discerned: (1) preparation (selection, information and training); (2) peer support and monitoring, (3) and referral for professional care (if necessary). The guidelines provide recommendations for the USO for each of these phases. National guidelines such as these should be discussed internationally to see whether they can provide a basis for further (international) implementation and use.

Use of a virtual community as a psychosocial support system in pediatric transplantation

2010 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina U. Bers ◽  
Laura M. Beals ◽  
Clement Chau ◽  
Keiko Satoh ◽  
Elizabeth D. Blume ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Support System ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Pediatric Transplantation ◽  
Psychosocial Support System

Psychosocial Intervention Model of Kerala, India During Pandemic COVID-19: “Ottakkalla Oppamundu (You’re not alone, we’re with you)”

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110192
Author(s):  
Rekha M. Ravindran ◽  
R. Anjali Krishnan ◽  
P.S. Kiran ◽  
Bindhu Mohan ◽  
K.S. Shinu
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Intervention ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Positive Thinking ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
Psychosocial Support System ◽  
Socioeconomic Strata ◽  
Descriptive Approach

Globally, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in several psychosocial manifestations across all socioeconomic strata. This study attempted to explore the details of a psychosocial support system implemented in Kerala, India, to address psychosocial issues during this pandemic. It employed a descriptive approach using qualitative and quantitative methods. The results can be summarized into 4 overarching themes: (1) process of implementation, (2) issues addressed, (3) experiences, and (4) success stories. This intervention targeted the whole population, with a specific focus on quarantined/isolated individuals and selected vulnerable groups. COVID pandemic has sowed several negative emotions, such as anxiety; and stigma and fearful thoughts, including suicidal ideations; trepidation regarding family members; and misinfodemics in general. Social and religious corollaries of the pandemic have intensified the psychological agony. The study provides an overview of the psychosocial intervention adopted by the state during the pandemic, which has helped both the beneficiaries and the providers. It has also helped to promote positive thinking and change the attitude toward the disease among the beneficiaries. It is highly commendable that timely intervention could obviate quite a few psychiatric emergencies, including suicides and aggressive behaviors. Considering its efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability, this model can be replicated in any setting.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Working with People Experiencing Suicidal Ideation: Mental Health Nurses Describe Their Experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lynley Murtagh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Work Place ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Graduate Studies ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Suicidal Crisis ◽  
The Impact

<p>New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and mental health nurses are the most likely professionals to assess a person presenting with suicidal ideation. Managing a suicidal crisis is acknowledged as being one of the most difficult and frightening challenges facing mental health professionals. This research aimed to have mental health nurses who work in acute mental health settings describe the impact that working with people experiencing suicidal ideation has on their personal and professional lives. This study followed the tenets of fundamental qualitative description as presented by Sandelowski (2000). Five mental health nurses participated in individual semi structured interviews. The data collected under-went systematic thematic analysis and the extracted findings were presented as a straight description. The findings from this study revealed that personal philosophies of care, the work place culture, organisational and professional expectations and their personal concepts about suicide all influenced the experiences of these participants. Mental exhaustion, tension and feelings of isolation and alienation from family and society were universal experiences. Two recommendations have been made based on the insights gained from this research. These are; tertiary institutions should offer post graduate studies on the subject of suicide as it relates to mental health nursing and national guidelines for the provision of supervision to mental health nurses need to be developed.</p>

scholarly journals Stopping to Listen: Using Qualitative Methods to Inform a Web-Based Platform for Adults With Neurofibromatosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110496
Author(s):  
Ethan G. Lester ◽  
Paula J. Popok ◽  
Victoria A. Grunberg ◽  
Alejandro Baez ◽  
Farahdeba Herrawi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Efficient Access ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Life Context ◽  
Specific Factors

Introduction: Psychosocial care for people with neurofibromatosis (NF) is challenging to access. Therefore, we sought to develop a self-guided web-based treatment platform for people with NF based on the live video relaxation response resiliency program for NF (3RP-NF). Here we report on qualitative interviews with adult patients who participated in the 3RP-NF to: (a) understand participant perceptions of the 3RP-NF program and (b) gather feedback for a self-guided web-based treatment platform (i.e., NF-Web). Methods: We conducted individual semistructured interviews ( N = 23; videoconferencing). We utilized both the Framework method and a hybrid deductive and inductive approach to analyze qualitative data. Results: We examined findings within the following themes for both 3RP-NF and NF-Web: (a) general attitudes, (b) barriers and facilitators, and (c) program-specific factors. Participants endorsed positive attitudes towards the 3RP-NF and NF-Web and described unique barriers and facilitators to each and provided suggestions regarding technology, NF-specific needs, and ways to promote social support virtually. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of gathering participant feedback when designing novel, illness-specific interventions. In future studies, we aim to provide people with NF effective and efficient access to psychosocial support that matches their needs and life context. Results are informing NF-Web development.

scholarly journals Considerations in Designing Digital Peer Support for Mental Health: Interview Study Among Users of a Digital Support System (Buddy Project) (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazanin Andalibi ◽  
Madison K Flood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support System ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Coping Mechanisms ◽  
Interview Study ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Mental Health Diagnosis ◽  
Health Diagnosis

BACKGROUND Peer support is an approach to cope with mental illness, and technology provides a way to facilitate peer support. However, there are barriers to seeking support in offline and technology-mediated contexts. OBJECTIVE This study aims to uncover potential ways to design digital mental health peer support systems and to outline a set of principles for future designers to consider as they embark on designing these systems. By learning how existing systems are used by people in daily life and by centering their experiences, we can better understand how to design mental health peer support technologies that foreground people’s needs. One existing digital peer support system is Buddy Project, the case study in this paper. METHODS This paper reports on an interview study with Buddy Project users (N=13). Data were analyzed using the constant comparative approach. RESULTS Individuals matched through Buddy Project developed supportive friendships with one another, leading them to become each other’s peer supporters in their respective journeys. It was not only the mental health peer support that was important to participants but also being able to connect over other parts of their lives and identities. The design of Buddy Project provided a sense of anonymity and separation from pre-existing ties, making it easier for participants to disclose struggles; moreover, the pairs appreciated being able to browse each other’s social media pages before connecting. Buddy Project has an explicit mission to prevent suicide and demonstrates this mission across its online platforms, which helps reduce the stigma around mental health within the peer support space. Pairs were matched based on shared interests and identities. This choice aided the pairs in developing meaningful, compatible, and supportive relationships with each other, where they felt seen and understood. However, the pairs were concerned that matching based on a shared mental health diagnosis may lead to sharing unhealthy coping mechanisms or comparing themselves and the severity of their experiences with their peers. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study shed light on desirable features of a digital mental health peer support system: matching peers based on interests and identities that they self-identify with; having an explicit mental health–related mission coupled with social media and other web-based presences to signal that discussing mental health is safe within the peer support ecosystem; and not matching peers based on a broad mental health diagnosis. However, if the diagnosis is important, this matching should account for illness severity and educate peers on how to provide support while avoiding suggesting unhelpful coping mechanisms; allowing for some degree of anonymity and control over how peers present themselves to each other; and providing relevant information and tools to potential peers to help them decide if they would like to embark on a relationship with their matched peer before connecting with them. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals The Psychological Impact of Covid-19 on University Students: Their Expectations of Mental Health Professionals

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
M.Siyabend KAYA ◽  
Yavuz KOŞAN
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Main Effects

The current study focused on exploring the psychological impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on university students and participants' expectations of mental health professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 university students aged 18 to 33 years from 19 cities in Turkey. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify important aspects of the students' experiences. According to the results, the main effects of the epidemic COVID -19 on the participants were depression and anxiety. We found that participants used various ways to cope with COVID -19 such as reading books and paying attention to hygiene. Participants also indicated that they perceived some positive situations, such as the value of nature and humanity, the importance of family, and various negative situations, such as mental exhaustion. Finally, participants stressed that they had different expectations regarding psychosocial support and the planning of individual activities by mental health professionals

766 Clinical Outcome Assessment of a Psychosocial Intensive Retreat for Girls with Severe Burns

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S217-S217
Author(s):  
Sarah A Stoycos ◽  
Ashley J Sammons ◽  
Lesia S Cartelli ◽  
Leigh Ann Price
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Support Groups ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Inflexibility ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Pediatric Burns

Abstract Introduction Burn camps and peer support groups are widely utilized for the psychosocial care of pediatric burn survivors, providing community and recreation. However, camps and support groups often do not involve psychological therapy to assist with potential distress. This abstract presents program development outcome assessments for an alternative approach to psychosocial care: a psychosocial intensive retreat for adolescent survivors of pediatric burns, led by trained mental health professionals, with group therapy interspersed with recreation. Methods A 6-day, residential psychosocial intensive was open to adolescent girls with disfiguring burns. Psychological assessments were administered for clinical utility at the start (T0) and end (T1) of the program and were used to guide programming. Assessments included: Posttraumatic Stress Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL), Satisfaction with Appearance Scale (SWAP), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) measuring psychological inflexibility. Bivariate correlations and univariate t-tests were used to assess program outcomes. Results Fifteen girls (Mage = 16, SD = 2.04; Mageofburn = 6.64, SD = 5.40) attended. At T0, girls reported subclinical scores (PCL (M = 23.53, SD = 20.20, range 1–65); SWAP (M = 44.93, SD = 11.88); RSES (M = 27.28, SD = 5.76); AAQ (M = 20.71, SD = 9.64) with a subset of 5 reporting clinical distress on PCL. Therapeutic programming was adjusted to primarily focus on typically developing adolescent issues such as communication, boundaries, identity formation, and healthy relationships, with some burns-specific groups (grief and loss, social exposures). Those with clinically significant distress participated in trauma and affect regulation training. AAQ at T0 was negatively associated with RSES (r = -.78, p = .003) and positively associated with PCL scores (r = .82, p &lt; .001). RSES was negatively associated with PCL (r = -.87, p &lt; .001). SWAP was not associated with any measures. From T0 (M = 26.70, SD = 6.07) to T1 (M = 30.18, SD = 5.74) girls reported a significant increase in RSES, t(10) = -3.15, p = .01. As expected given low symptoms reported at T0, no other pre to post changes occurred. TBSA, time since burn and age were not associated with outcome variables. Conclusions Overall, girls suffered burn injury before the age of 7 and current symptom profiles replicated prior literature supporting subthreshold, long-term psychological morbidity for pediatric burns. A brief, 6 day psychosocial intensive may facilitate growth in self-esteem. Use of clinical assessments to inform programming is emphasized. Applicability of Research to Practice Psychosocial intensives that intersperse empirically-supported, assessment-driven therapeutic programming with social connection may be useful in increasing adolescent self-esteem for girls with a history of disfiguring burns.

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