The Role of Peer Support and Its Contribution as an Effective Response to Addressing the Emotional Well-Being of Pilots

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Wendy Santilhano ◽  
Robert Bor ◽  
Lia M. M. Hewitt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Medical Certification ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract. The provision of pilot peer support in commercial aviation is a recent recommendation following the Germanwings pilot suicide–murder crash in 2015. Conducted in a South African aviation context, this study explored the phenomenon of peer support and its role and contribution as an effective response to addressing the emotional well-being of pilots. A qualitative phenomenological research design was followed using Rubin and Rubin’s in-depth, semi-structured interview technique to understand lived experiences of peer support. Nine interviews were held, six with airline pilots – a combination of peers and flight operations managers – and three with mental health professionals (MHPs). Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis (TA) method elicited themes in relation to peer support and the mental health and well-being of pilots. Four themes emerged relating to (a) the conceptualization of peer support, the role of the peer, and the principles on which the process is founded; (b) pilots’ experience of their workplace as emotionally “unsafe” and deficient in acknowledging the nature of different emotional stressors; (c) the well-being of pilots and medical certification of fitness for duty; and (d) the multidimensional contribution of peer support and factors critical to integrating successful and sustainable peer support. This study underscores the importance of developing a more integrated definition of safety in aviation that incorporates supporting the mental health and well-being of pilots. This paper addresses the role and contribution of peer support and considers some of the challenges to its integration as a safety initiative.

scholarly journals Compositional, Contextual, and Collective Community Factors in Mental Health and Well-Being in Australian Rural Communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Collins ◽  
Bernadette M. Ward ◽  
Pamela Snow ◽  
Sandra Kippen ◽  
Fiona Judd
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Geographic Variations ◽  
Community Factors ◽  
Health And Well Being

There are disproportionately higher and inconsistently distributed rates of recorded suicides in rural areas. Patterns of rural suicide are well documented, but they remain poorly understood. Geographic variations in physical and mental health can be understood through the combination of compositional, contextual, and collective factors pertaining to particular places. The aim of this study was to explore the role of “place” contributing to suicide rates in rural communities. Seventeen mental health professionals participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Principles of grounded theory were used to guide the analysis. Compositional themes were demographics and perceived mental health issues; contextual themes were physical environment, employment, housing, and mental health services; and collective themes were town identity, community values, social cohesion, perceptions of safety, and attitudes to mental illness. It is proposed that connectedness may be the underlying mechanism by which compositional, contextual, and collective factors influence mental health and well-being in rural communities.

School Climate, Deployment, and Mental Health Among Students in Military-Connected Schools

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kris Tunac De Pedro ◽  
Ron Avi Astor ◽  
Tamika D. Gilreath ◽  
Rami Benbenishty ◽  
Ruth Berkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
School Climate ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Student Demographics ◽  
Multiple Components ◽  
Lower Likelihood ◽  
Health And Well Being

Research has found that when compared with civilian students, military-connected students in the United States have more negative mental health outcomes, stemming from the stress of military life events (i.e., deployment). To date, studies on military-connected youth have not examined the role of protective factors within the school environment, such as school climate, in the mental health and well-being of military-connected adolescents. Given this gap in the research on military adolescents, this study draws from a large sample of military and non-military secondary adolescents in military-connected schools ( N = 14,943) and examines associations between school climate, military connection, deployment, and mental health. Findings show that multiple components of school climate are associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation and increased likelihood of well-being among students in military-connected schools, after controlling for student demographics, military connection, and deployments. The authors conclude with a discussion of school climate interventions for military-connected youth.

scholarly journals A Thematic Analysis of Multiple Pathways Between Nature Engagement Activities and Well-Being

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anam Iqbal ◽  
Warren Mansell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Perceptual Control Theory ◽  
Perceptual Control ◽  
Efficiency And Productivity

Research studies have identified various different mechanisms in the effects of nature engagement on well-being and mental health. However, rarely are multiple pathways examined in the same study and little use has been made of first-hand, experiential accounts through interviews. Therefore, a semi-structured interview was conducted with seven female students who identified the role of nature engagement in their well-being and mental health. After applying thematic analysis, 11 themes were extracted from the data set, which were: “enjoying the different sensory input,” “calm nature facilitates a calm mood,” “enhancing decision making and forming action plans,” “enhancing efficiency and productivity,” “alleviating pressure from society's expectations regarding education,” “formation of community relations,” “nature puts things into perspective,” “liking the contrast from the urban environment,” “feel freedom,” “coping mechanism,” and “anxious if prevented or restricted.” The results indicate complementary mechanisms for how nature-related activities benefit mental health and well-being that may occupy different levels of experience within a hierarchical framework informed by perceptual control theory.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Role and Needs of Classroom Teachers in Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-415
Author(s):  
Emily Furness ◽  
Ian W. Li ◽  
Lisa Patterson ◽  
Christopher G. Brennan-Jones ◽  
Robert H. Eikelboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hard Of Hearing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Classroom Teachers ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Hearing Children ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
Health And Well Being

Purpose Children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) face a wide array of issues that can impact their mental health and well-being. This study aimed to explore the role of schools and classroom teachers in supporting the mental health and well-being of DHH children. Method A qualitative study comprising telephone and semistructured interviews with 12 mainstream school classroom teachers who directly support the education and well-being of DHH children was conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Result Classroom teachers indicated they play an important role in supporting the mental health and well-being of DHH children but identified a range of constraints to providing this support. Four themes were identified: (a) “culture of professional practice,” (b) “operationalized practice,” (c) “constraints to practice,” and (d) “solutions for constraints.” Conclusions Classroom teachers play an important role in supporting the mental health and well-being of DHH children but face several constraints in their practice, including limited training and awareness and access to resources. While further research is needed, this study suggests that classroom resources and teacher professional development are needed to enhance classroom teachers' understanding of how to support the mental health and well-being of DHH children.

Breaking Out of the Mainstream: The Evolution of Peer Support Alternatives to the Mental Health System

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Adame ◽  
Larry M. Leitner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
The United States

The consumer/survivor/ex-patient (c/s/x) movement has been instrumental in the development of a variety of peer-support alternatives to traditional mental health services in both the United States in Canada. This article explores the role of the c/s/x movement in the creation of such alternatives and discusses the various ways peer support is defined and has been put into practice. We also discuss the potential for future alliances and dialogues between progressive mental health professionals and the c/s/x movement as both groups seek ways to reconceptualize mental illness and recovery outside of the medical model paradigm.

scholarly journals Culturally-tailored Peer Support for Doctors and Nurses of Indian Origin

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sunil Daga ◽  
Viju Varadarajan ◽  
Manasvi Dwaraknath ◽  
Saraswati Hosdurga ◽  
Rajeev Metri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Culturally Tailored ◽  
Indian Origin ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health And Well Being

The mental health and well-being needs of healthcare workers have risen sharply, fuelled by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Migrant healthcare workers are affected not only by events in the country where they work but also by events in countries where their family and friends reside. Despite, increase in psychological distress, migrant HCWs don’t use the existing resources to support their needs.   This paper summarises discussions from the workshop focusing on reasons/barriers in uptake of mental health and well-being resources in the UK, the scope of peer support initiatives and its boundaries in supporting colleagues in the UK and India. Finally, it makes recommendations on the governance structure and checklist when organising peer support for healthcare workers. 

scholarly journals Mathematics anxiety – where are we and where shall we go?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Cipora ◽  
Flávia H. Santos ◽  
Karin Kucian ◽  
Ann Dowker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Construct Validity ◽  
Mathematics Anxiety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Settings ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Opposite Pole ◽  
Health And Well Being

In this paper we list ten fairly undisputed claims about Mathematics Anxiety (MA) and propose where MA research should focus on. The areas future MA research should focus on comprise (a) theoretical clarifications on what MA is, and what constitutes its opposite pole, (b) construct validity – specifically relations between self-descriptive, (neuro)physiological and cognitive measures, (c) discrepancy between state and trait MA and its theoretical and practical consequences, (d) prevalence of MA and call for establishing external criteria for estimating prevalence and proposal of such criteria, (e) exploring role of MA in different groups, e.g., highly anxious and high match performing individuals, (f) classroom applications of MA knowledge, (g) effects of MA outside educational settings, (h) consequences of MA on mental health and well-being.

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