scholarly journals Report review: Not for service: experiences of injustice and despair in mental health care in Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Michael Summers ◽  
Peter McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Summary Report ◽  
Current State ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Service Experiences

IT IS ONLY BY EXAMINING the impact of public policies on the lives of people that we can begin to assess the success or failure of those policies. With this as a starting point, Not for service presents an extensive (just over 1000 pages) and balanced picture of the impact of policies on the lives of people with mental illness and their families and friends. The authors take care to state that their research is not a rigorous examination of the extent to which the National Standards for Mental Health Services have been implemented, but do observe that the ?volume and consistency of the information demonstrate the gaps and difficulties governments have had in meeting these standards? (p 14). The report is lengthy, but is well laid out and ?easy? to read, although the content will leave any reader feeling uneasy about the current state of our mental health system. There is also a shorter (96 page) summary report available.

scholarly journals Integrating mental health into primary care: Evaluating the Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) pilot project

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theddeus Iheanacho
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Health Action ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Psychiatric Problems

Abstract Background The Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) project trains non-specialist and primary health care workers in Imo State, Nigeria, using the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme-Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) to treat common mental and neurological disorders in the primary care setting. This study evaluates the impact of the HAPPINESS pilot project training on trainees’ beliefs and attitudes about mental disorders and explores the perspectives of trainees, trainers, and health services officials on its implementation using a convergent, mixed-methods approach. Methods Trainees completed a 43-item questionnaire, before and after their 5-day training, to assess perceptions of mental disorders and attitudes towards people with mental illness. Paired-sample t-tests were conducted with respect to four subscales of the questionnaire: acceptance of socializing with people with mental illness, normalizing activities and relationships with people with mental illness, supernatural causation of mental illness, and endorsement of a biopsychosocial approach to mental illness. Semi-structured Key Informant Interviews with trainees, trainers, and local health officials who participated in or supported the HAPPINESS Project were also analyzed. Findings from the questionnaire and interviews were merged using a convergent, mixed method approach. Results Trainees showed significant improvements on socializing, normalizing, and supernatural causation subscales of the stigma questionnaire (p < 0.05). No significant effect was seen on the biopsychosocial subscale; however, evidence of biopsychosocial beliefs was found in interview responses. The HAPPINESS Project enhanced trainees’ diagnostic and treatment abilities, mental health awareness, and empathy towards patients. Misinformation, stigma, inadequate funding and lack of road access to clinics were identified as barriers to mental health care integration into general care in Imo State. Lastly, respondents suggested ways that the HAPPINESS Project could be improved and expanded in the future. Conclusion This study adds to the limited existing evidence on the impact of mhGAP-IG-based training for primary care workers in Nigeria. Notably, it quantitatively evaluates pre and post training change in stigma level among trainees. Future efforts should focus on clinical support, supervision and implementation outcomes as well as scaling up and assessing the cost-effectiveness of the HAPPINESS Project intervention.

An Exploratory Pilot Study Into Undergraduate Physiotherapy Students' Perceptions Of Working With Patients With Mental Illness And Working Within The Mental Health Sector Of Health Care

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Samantha McIver ◽  
Jane Toms
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Physiotherapy Students

Background/Aims Mental illness is widespread throughout the United Kingdom with increasing prevalence. As mental illness affects such a large proportion of the population, it is likely that healthcare professionals, including qualified and student physiotherapists, will work with patients in all areas of healthcare, who have mental illness alongside co-morbidities. Physiotherapy students are placed into a wide range of placements throughout an undergraduate degree to develop skills and autonomy in rehabilitation. Understanding students' perspective appears relatively unexplored and was stimulated by personal experience of the first author where patients' rehabilitation could be impacted by mental illness. The impact varied depending on the severity of their illness, as well as the understanding of that illness by the multidisciplinary team involved in their care. The aim of this phenomenological study was to: explore physiotherapy students' lived experiences and perceptions of working with patients with mental illness, despite no mental health specific placement and understand their views of working in the mental health sector of healthcare Methods Ethical approval was obtained from Coventry University Ethics and a qualitative methodology was applied. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit six participants, who were all Undergraduate physiotherapy students at Coventry University, and data were collected via a focus group. The focus group explored their lived experiences, opinions and perceptions. Results A number of themes were discovered from the data, with associated sub-themes: ‘Lack of clarity’ with sub-themes: ‘Definitions, Terminology and understanding’, ‘Mental illnesses’ and ‘Physiotherapist role’ ‘Emotional Roller-Coaster’ with sub-themes: ‘Negative reactions’ and ‘Positive sentiments’ ‘Transferable skills’ with sub-themes: ‘Core competencies’ and ‘Core skills to elevate’ ‘Everyone has a story to tell’ with sub-themes: ‘Job’, ‘Placement’ and ‘Personal experience’ The themes influenced their ‘curious intrigue’, which related to their views of working in the mental health sector of health care. Conclusions All participants in the study had experiences to discuss and found it challenging to provide effective rehabilitation, appropriate to the patients' needs. Discussing these experiences evoked a complex range of perceptions and emotions.

scholarly journals Using simulation to educate police about mental illness: A collaborative initiative

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Stanyon ◽  
Bill Goodman ◽  
Marjory Whitehouse
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
The Impact

Mental illness is a major public health concern in Canada and also globally. According to the World Health Organization, five of the top ten disabilities worldwide are mental health disorders. Within Canada, one in five individuals is living with mental illness each year. Currently, there are 6.7 million Canadians living with mental illness and over 1 million Canadian youth living with mental illness. Police are frequently the first responders to situations in the community involving people with mental illness, and police services are increasingly aware of the need to provide officers with additional training and strategies for effectively interacting with these citizens.This study examined the effectiveness of four online, interactive video-based simulations designed to educate police officers about mental illness and strategies for interacting with people with mental illness. The simulations were created through the efforts of a unique partnership involving a police service, a mental health facility and two postsecondary institutions. Frontline police officers from Ontario were divided into one of three groups (simulation, face to face, control). Using a pre- and post-test questionnaire, the groups were compared on their level of knowledge and understanding of mental illness. In addition, focus groups explored the impact of the simulations on officers’ level of confidence in engaging with individuals with mental illness and officers’ perceptions of the simulations’ ease of use and level of realism. The study’s findings determined that the simulations were just as effective as face-to-face learning, and the officers reported the simulations were easy to use and reflected real-life scenarios they had encountered on the job. As mental health continues to be a major public concern, not only in Canada but also globally, interactive simulations may provide an effective and affordable education resource not only for police officers but for other professionals seeking increased knowledge and skills in interacting with citizens with mental illness.Keywords: policing, mental illness, education, computer-based simulation

Dentistry students’ views about mental illness and impact of a targeted seminar on knowledge and attitudes: a mixed-method study

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Patterson ◽  
Pauline Ford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to inform education of non-mental health professionals who provide care to people with severe mental illness; to describe dentistry students’ knowledge and views about mental illness, including willingness to engage in various social situations with a person hospitalised for mental illness; and to assess and understand the impact of a targeted lecture on views and attitudes. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employed mixed methods to examine dental students’ knowledge and views about mental disorder before and after a seminar covering mental disorder, disadvantage and oral health. Findings from a bespoke questionnaire administered to third-year dental students were triangulated with qualitative data gathered in interviews with a subsample. Findings – Students understood mental disorder broadly, employing diverse causal models. Although knowledge was typically grounded in media stereotypes, attitudes were benevolent and most students reported willingness to provide dental care to affected individuals. The seminar, especially the consumer delivered section, was valued and associated with increased appreciation of the impact of mental disorder on oral health and need for assertive action to promote access to care. However, students reported being reluctant to disclose their own mental health problems for fear of being considered a professional or personal failure. A minority knew how to seek support if a friend talked of suicide. Research limitations/implications – This study highlights the need for further investigation of the knowledge and attitudes of dentistry students pertinent to provision of care to people with mental illness and to examine the links between attitudes and practice. The paper also provides a useful foundation for development of brief educational interventions, particularly the value in integrating the service user perspective, and their evaluation. Research should also examine the impact of mental health education on practice. Practical implications – A single inexpensive educational session, such as the one the paper developed may support reconsideration of often unconscious views of mental illness which might affect practice. Social implications – If people with mental illness are to receive equitable access to health care, non-mental health professionals should be supported to develop knowledge and attitudes which are conducive to inclusive treatment. An education session such as this could be helpful. Originality/value – There is scant literature examining attitudes of dentistry students and no reports of mental health-specific education with this population.

scholarly journals Social Distance from Mental Illness Among Counseling, Social Work, and Psychology Students and Helping Professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-37
Author(s):  
Douglas R. Tillman ◽  
David D. Hof ◽  
Aiste Pranckeviciene ◽  
Auksė Endriulaitienė ◽  
Rasa Markšaitytė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Helping Professionals ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

Negative stereotypes of people with mental illness may lead to stigma of those with mental illness, impacting their self-confidence and willingness to seek mental health treatment. Few studies have looked at the health professional’s role and the impact they may have on the stigmatization process of people with mental illness. The purpose of this article was to better understand the concept of social distance among individuals in the helping professions of counseling, social work, and psychology. A total of 305 students and 95 professionals from counseling, social work and psychology participated in this study. Results revealed that counseling, social work, and psychology students, and helping professionals do not differ in their need for social distance from people with mental illness. Helping professionals reported significantly more social distance from people with mental health problems in close personal relationships, compared to their social relationships. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in social distance observed as a function of professional experience.

香港社區精神健康照顧服務12個月的成效研究

2011 ◽  
Vol 45 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 59-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
日嵐 吳 ◽  
可如 尹 ◽  
景強 羅 ◽  
翠然 葉 ◽  
學榮 劉 ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Community Mental Health Care ◽  
Care Services ◽  
People With Mental Illness

社區精神復康服務在西方國家發展悠久，不同的相關文獻與實証爲本研究 ( evidence-based research) 顯示，該服務形式對生活於社區的精神病康復者有顯著成效。自2005年開始，在政府和非政府機構推動下，社區精神健康照顧服務在香港不同的地方推行。然而，有關本港社區精神健康照顧服務的研究卻相當貧乏。是次研究運用單組前測後測設計 (one group pre-test and post-test design) 方式，評估一個在本港推行的社區精神健康照顧服務，對離院後重返社區生活的服務使用者的成效。是次研究邀請了120名精神病康復者參與研究，共有87名研究對象完成所有測試。當中測試範疇包括精神病徵狀、生活質素、自我效能、社區生活技巧。研究發現在開始接受服務後的6至12個月，社區精神健康照顧服務減少精神病徵狀 ( p <.001)、提高生活質素 ( p <.05)、增強自我效能 ( p <.001)和提升社區生活技巧 ( p <.001) 能夠爲康復者帶來非常正面的效果。 Community mental health care services have been developing in Western countries for decades and have been proved to be effective in facilitating the rehabilitation of people with mental illness into the community in many evidence-based research studies. In Hong Kong, with the support of the government and non-government organisations, community mental health care services have been set up in different districts since 2005. However, research on the services is limited. By using the one-group pre-test and post-test design method, this study examines the effects of one Community Mental Health Care Services on the rehabilitation of people with mental illness discharged from hospitals. A total number of 120 service users participated in the study and 87 subjects completed all the assessments in different areas, including psychiatric symptoms, quality of life, self-efficacy and community living skills, before the commencement of intervention, 6 months after the intervention and at 12 months immediately after the intervention. Results showed that the subjects had lessened psychiatric symptoms ( p <.001), better quality of life ( p <.05), enhanced self-efficacy ( p <.001) and increased community living skills ( p <.001), after the services. The study revealed significant positive effects of the community mental heath care services on people with mental illness in the community.

scholarly journals Newspaper depictions of mental and physical health

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 308-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Chen ◽  
Stephen Lawrie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Advocacy Groups ◽  
Media Portrayals ◽  
Daily Newspapers ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Disorders ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Aims and methodMedia portrayals of mental illness have long been recognised as being misleading and stigmatising. Following the campaigns of several advocacy groups to address this issue, we aimed to evaluate the impact on mental health reporting over time. We repeated a survey we did 15 years ago using the same methods. Nine UK daily newspapers were surveyed over a 4-week period and coded with a schema to analyse the reporting of mental health compared with physical health.ResultsIn total, 963 articles – 200 on mental health and 763 on physical health – were identified. Over half of the articles on mental health were negative in tone: 18.5% indicated an association with violence compared with 0.3% of articles on physical health. However, there were more quotes from patients with mental disorders than physical disorders (22.5% v. 19.7%) and an equal mention of treatment and rehabilitation.Clinical implicationsMental health in print media remains tainted by themes of violence, however some improvement in reporting in recent years is evident, in particular by providing a voice for people with mental illness.

scholarly journals Preferences of people with mental illness for engaging in exercise programs under COVID-19 restrictions

2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622097529
Author(s):  
Justin J Chapman ◽  
Emily Hielscher ◽  
Sue Patterson ◽  
Nicola Reavley ◽  
Wendy J Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Physical Activity Program ◽  
Exercise Programs ◽  
Activity Program ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: People with mental illness may be vulnerable to decline in mental health and reduced physical activity because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions. The aim of this study was to inform the design of physical activity interventions for implementation under these conditions to improve/maintain well-being and physical activity in this population. Methods: People with mental illness who had participated in a physical activity program prior to the pandemic were invited to complete a survey about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and physical activity and their preferences for engaging in a physical activity program under pandemic-related restrictions. Results: More than half the 59 respondents reported worse mental health and lower physical activity during the pandemic. The preferred format for a physical activity program was one-on-one exercise instruction in-person in a park. Program components endorsed as helpful included incentivization, provision of exercise equipment and fitness devices, and daily exercise programs. About a third of the participants reported limitations in using technology for a physical activity program. Conclusions: In-person exercise support is preferred by people with mental illnesses during pandemic-related restrictions. Enablement strategies such as providing equipment and self-monitoring devices should be utilized; assistance may be needed to incorporate the use of technology in exercise programs.

scholarly journals BARRIERS TO ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE OF SOUTH AFRICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Strümpher ◽  
R.M. Van Rooyen ◽  
K. Topper ◽  
L.M.C. Andersson ◽  
I. Schierenback
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Professional Nurses

The aim of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of professional nurses concerning barriers to care for people with mental illness in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study was based on a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design.  A total of nine professional nurses working in primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities were purposively selected. Unstructured interviews were conducted to collect data. Participants’ responses were captured on an audio recorder and later transcribed verbatim.Participants’ responses were then analysed thematically. Two main themes and their related sub-themes were identified. The first theme concerns the perceptions of professional nurses regarding the societal barriers that may hinder people with mental illness from accessing and utilising mental health services. These barriers include socioeconomic hardships, lack of knowledge and insight, lack of family support, embedded cultural beliefs and practices and stigma. The second theme highlights the barriers that professional nurses perceive within the health care system that influence access and utilisation of mental health services. These barriers include inadequate support from stakeholders and leaders in the mental health sector and lack of financial, human and infrastructure resources. Professional nurses made recommendations to improve mental health care. Those of high priority included enhanced mental health literacy among members of the public and a need for mental health stakeholders and leaders to increase their support of the mental health sector in an effort to improve access to mental health care.

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