Mental Health and the PhD: Insights and Implications for Political Science

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Nasir Almasri ◽  
Blair Read ◽  
Clara Vandeweerdt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dropping Out ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Original Survey ◽  
Phd Program

ABSTRACT There is a severe mental health crisis among graduate students in political science. We present findings from an original survey on the mental health of political science PhD students at seven US universities. Our results are concerning: 15.8% expressed thoughts of suicide in the two weeks prior to taking the survey. About 30% of respondents met the criteria for depression and only a third of those were receiving treatment. Approximately 32% met the criteria for anxiety and fewer than half were receiving treatment. We also found that students with poorer mental health were more isolated, had fewer friends in their department and fewer people to turn to for help, and were more likely to contemplate dropping out of their program. Our study raises important questions about the experiences of graduate students during the PhD program and serves as an urgent call to action to address the well-being of our colleagues.

Pediatric Residency Education and the Behavioral and Mental Health Crisis: A Call to Action

PEDIATRICS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. e20162141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia A. McMillan ◽  
Marshall Land ◽  
Laurel K. Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Residency Education ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Pediatric Residency

scholarly journals Acute day units in non-residential settings for people in mental health crisis: the AD-CARE mixed-methods study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 1-122
Author(s):  
David Osborn ◽  
Danielle Lamb ◽  
Alastair Canaway ◽  
Michael Davidson ◽  
Graziella Favarato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Work Package ◽  
Crisis Resolution ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Crisis Resolution Teams

Background For people in mental health crisis, acute day units provide daily structured sessions and peer support in non-residential settings as an alternative to crisis resolution teams. Objectives To investigate the provision, effectiveness, intervention acceptability and re-admission rates of acute day units. Design Work package 1 – mapping and national questionnaire survey of acute day units. Work package 2.1 – cohort study comparing outcomes during a 6-month period between acute day unit and crisis resolution team participants. Work package 2.2 – qualitative interviews with staff and service users of acute day units. Work package 3 – a cohort study within the Mental Health Minimum Data Set exploring re-admissions to acute care over 6 months. A patient and public involvement group supported the study throughout. Setting and participants Work package 1 – all non-residential acute day units (NHS and voluntary sector) in England. Work packages 2.1 and 2.2 – four NHS trusts with staff, service users and carers in acute day units and crisis resolution teams. Work package 3 – all individuals using mental health NHS trusts in England. Results Work package 1 – we identified 27 acute day units in 17 out of 58 trusts. Acute day units are typically available on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing a wide range of interventions and a multidisciplinary team, including clinicians, and having an average attendance of 5 weeks. Work package 2.1 – we recruited 744 participants (acute day units, n = 431; crisis resolution teams, n = 312). In the primary analysis, 21% of acute day unit participants (vs. 23% of crisis resolution team participants) were re-admitted to acute mental health services over 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference in the fully adjusted model (acute day unit hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.54 to 1.14; p = 0.20), with highly heterogeneous results between trusts. Acute day unit participants had higher satisfaction and well-being scores and lower depression scores than crisis resolution team participants. The health economics analysis found no difference in resource use or cost between the acute day unit and crisis resolution team groups in the fully adjusted analysis. Work package 2.2 – 36 people were interviewed (acute day unit staff, n = 12; service users, n = 21; carers, n = 3). There was an overwhelming consensus that acute day units are highly valued. Service users found the high amount of contact time and staff continuity, peer support and structure provided by acute day units particularly beneficial. Staff also valued providing continuity, building strong therapeutic relationships and providing a variety of flexible, personalised support. Work package 3 – of 231,998 individuals discharged from acute care (crisis resolution team, acute day unit or inpatient ward), 21.4% were re-admitted for acute treatment within 6 months, with women, single people, people of mixed or black ethnicity, those living in more deprived areas and those in the severe psychosis care cluster being more likely to be re-admitted. Little variation in re-admissions was explained at the trust level, or between trusts with and trusts without acute day units (adjusted odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.80 to 1.15). Limitations In work package 1, some of the information is likely to be incomplete as a result of trusts’ self-reporting. There may have been recruitment bias in work packages 2.1 and 2.2. Part of the health economics analysis relied on clinical Health of the Nations Outcome Scale ratings. The Mental Health Minimum Data Set did not contain a variable identifying acute day units, and some covariates had a considerable number of missing data. Conclusions Acute day units are not provided routinely in the NHS but are highly valued by staff and service users, giving better outcomes in terms of satisfaction, well-being and depression than, and no significant differences in risk of re-admission or increased costs from, crisis resolution teams. Future work should investigate wider health and care system structures and the place of acute day units within them; the development of a model of best practice for acute day units; and staff turnover and well-being (including the impacts of these on care). Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 18. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Crisis assessment and management

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Kapoor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Correctional Settings ◽  
Many Sources

Crisis calls are a common occurrence in correctional settings. Psychiatrists are often called upon to triage and manage such events. Requests for urgent psychiatric evaluations can come from many sources, including security staff, non-psychiatric physicians, mental health staff, courts, attorneys, and family members. Psychiatrists responding to these requests for evaluation may feel tremendous pressure to reach a conclusion that is consistent with the opinions of the requesting party. However, maintaining an independent and therapeutic stance when conducting crisis evaluations is crucial. Some aspects of psychiatric evaluations in crisis situations are unique to the correctional environment: evaluations at cell-side, video recording, and leadership by security staff rather than medical professionals. Nonetheless, correctional psychiatrists should be guided by the same principles of medical ethics that apply to patient care in the community, placing the patient’s well-being above all other concerns. They should strive, when possible, to conduct a thorough assessment in a confidential setting. In considering how best to resolve the crisis and care for the patient, they should err on the side of caution and recommend placement in a safe and therapeutic setting, at least until a multidisciplinary team can consider other options. Finally, they should document the encounter carefully, articulating the rationale for the chosen course of action. This chapter reviews the pragmatics of evaluating and managing many common correctional events that lead to mental health crisis calls and discusses the range of concerns, the typical practices and procedures used in correctional settings, and the types of interventions that are best used.

scholarly journals Does COVID-19 pose a challenge to the diagnoses of anxiety and depression? A psychologist's view

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Johnstone
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Way Of Thinking ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

Summary The COVID-19 pandemic has led to predictions of a widespread mental health crisis. However, this makes little sense when fear and anxiety are so understandable in context. The individualisation and medicalisation of normal human reactions disconnects us from our feelings and from the appropriate solutions, in relation to the pandemic and more generally. We have an opportunity to challenge this pervasive way of thinking, and thus be in a position to create a fairer society that is better for everyone's emotional well-being.

The Minds Behind the Technology

2021 ◽  
pp. 481-492
Author(s):  
Jessica Carson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Entrepreneurial Culture ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health And Well Being

Over the past few years, there has been a surge of interest in entrepreneur mental health and well-being. Research has shown 72% of entrepreneurs self-report a lifetime history of mental health concerns (depression, substance abuse, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar), and countless others incur varying degrees of emotional, physical, and spiritual distress. While many have been quick to declare a mental health “crisis” or “epidemic” among entrepreneurs, the reality may not be so simple. Entrepreneurs with mental health challenges may in fact have a competitive advantage—they may self-select into entrepreneurial work as a result of the adaptive qualities conferred onto them by their diagnosis. This article explores the myriad reasons for these high rates (from self-selection to diathesis–stress), including the hypermasculinized nature of entrepreneurial culture, the high-stress nature of entrepreneurial work, and the hidden superpowers embedded in the genetics of entrepreneurs. To conclude, the ways in which the entire ecosystem can become healthier through self-understanding and self-care are discussed.

Capitalism and Mental Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 49-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health It ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Erich Fromm ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Human Need ◽  
Mental Well Being

The psychoanalytical framework developed by Marxist Erich Fromm strongly challenges the dominant biological and individualistic explanations of the mental-health crisis that is now sweeping the globe. Fromm emphasized that all humans have certain needs that must be fulfilled in order to ensure optimal mental health. It follows that capitalism is crucial to determining the experience and prevalence of mental well-being, as its operations are incompatible with true human need.

scholarly journals Mental health crisis in midlife – a proposed research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Bettina Moltrecht ◽  
George Ploubidis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk

There is a growing amount of evidence indicating increased levels of psychological distress, suicide rates and decreased well-being in midlife (age 45-55). We refer to this phenomenon as the ‘midlife mental health crisis’. As there is little empirical evidence or theoretical grounds to explain the midlife mental health crisis, we propose a research agenda. In order to facilitate further research, we consulted members of public, mental health professionals and researchers on potential reasons for the midlife mental health crisis. Subsequently, we translated those into research questions testable with the British birth cohorts. We propose a series of studies using three statistical modelling approaches: descriptive (what is the midlife mental health crisis?), predictive (who is at increased risk of experiencing the midlife mental health crisis?) and explanatory (what are the processes leading to the midlife mental health crisis?).

scholarly journals Addressing the COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis: A Perspective on Using Interdisciplinary Universal Interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Przybylko ◽  
Darren Peter Morton ◽  
Melanie Elise Renfrew
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Lifestyle Medicine ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Health And Well Being

Mental health is reaching a crisis point due to the ramifications of COVID-19. In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus and circumvent health systems from being overwhelmed, governments have imposed regulations such as lockdown restrictions and home confinement. These restrictions, while effective for infection control, have contributed to poorer lifestyle behaviors. Currently, Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine are two distinct but complimentary disciplines that offer an array of evidence-based approaches for promoting mental health and well-being across a universal population. However, these strategies for improving mental health are typically used in isolation. This perspective calls for a new paradigm shift to create and rollout well-designed interdisciplinary universal multicomponent mental health interventions that integrates the benefits of both disciplines, and uses innovative digital mental health solutions to achieve scalability and accessibility within the limitations and beyond the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions.

scholarly journals Public Policy Responses to Address the Mental Health Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias Irarrazaval ◽  
Pablo Norambuena ◽  
Cristian Montenegro ◽  
Olga Toro-Devia ◽  
Belen Vargas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Policy Responses

Objectives: This paper reviews the mental health policies that have been implemented in Chile in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the international context of countries' responses. Even before the start of the pandemic, there were significant barriers to access mental health services in Chile, coupled with a scenario of nationwide social unrest and protests that questioned the legitimacy of public institutions; now the rapidly worsening outbreaks of COVID-19 are exacerbating the pre-existing mental health crisis.Methods: We conducted a bibliometric and content analysis of the Chilean mental health public policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and then compared these policies with international experiences and emerging scientific evidence on the mental health impact of pandemics.Results: Our analysis of the policies identifies five crucial points of action developed in Chile: (i) an established framework to address mental health in emergency and disaster situations; (ii) a timely COVID-19 Mental Health Action Plan; (iii) inclusion of mental health in the public health agenda; (iv) development of a presidential strategy during the pandemic for comprehensive mental health and well-being; and (v) emerging research assessing the mental health implications of COVID-19.Conclusions: In Chile, the public policy responses to address the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by the coordinated implementation of mental health plans, ranging from a health sectoral initiative to inter-agency and intersectoral efforts. However, it is imperative that increased funding is allocated to mental health, and efforts should be made to promote the participation of people with lived experiences and communities in the design and implementation of the proposed actions. This aspect could be of key importance to social peace and community recovery after the pandemic.

Promoting family inclusive practice in home treatment teams

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 261-273
Author(s):  
Maria Griffiths ◽  
Jo Allen ◽  
Krisna Patel ◽  
Victoria Bell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Home Treatment ◽  
Treatment Team ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Approach

Purpose Families play an instrumental role in helping relatives experiencing mental health issues to stay well. In the context of wider initiatives promoting family and carer needs, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential benefits of bespoke training to develop clinicians’ skills in working with families in crisis. Design/methodology/approach The study was an uncontrolled evaluation of a one-day workshop for home treatment team staff using pre- and post-questionnaires. Findings In total, 83 staff members participated. Overall, there was a strong agreement for the involvement of families, which increased marginally after training. There were significant changes in views about talking to family members without service user consent (p = 0.001) and keeping them informed of their relative’s well-being (p = 0.02). Qualitative feedback indicated that participants enjoyed the interactive elements, particularly role-playing. Training provided an opportunity to practice skills, share knowledge and facilitate the integration of family work into their professional role. Research limitations/implications Confident support for families contributes to effective mediation of crisis and continuation of care; factors important in reducing admission rates and protecting interpersonal relationships. Overall, the consistency of responses obtained from participants suggests that this workshop offers a helpful introduction to a family approach at times of a mental health crisis. Originality/value This pilot evaluation suggests this new one-day workshop, is a feasible and acceptable training program, which is beneficial in developing clinicians’ skills in working with families in a crisis.

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