P-OGC66 Mental Health and Wellbeing Services for Patients with Upper GI Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Coleman ◽  
Wendy Hickey ◽  
Cathy White

Abstract Background Cancer related distress has a major impact on quality of life. The psychosocial needs of patients post an oesophagectomy  are significant and exacerbate the physical burden. The Upper GI MDT at our hospital aim to provide holistic patient centred care that equips patients mentally and physically for their treatment pathway. Formal or structured pyschoncology services are not routinely available to our patient cohort. The aim of the audit undertaken was to assess awareness of and subsequent engagement with available mental health services in patients undergoing a curative resection for oesophagogastric cancer. Methods Patients who underwent either a gastrectomy or oesophagectomy in the Upper GI Centre between Nov 2018 and May 2019 were included. They each received a questionnaire to complete anonymously. Responses were via prepaid post. Responses were collated and analysed. Results 36 questionnaires sent out with 21 patients responding (Response rate 58%). Average age:69 (age range 40-84). 18 of the 21 responses were male Time diagnosed with cancer: 57% were between 12 to 18 months post diagnosis and 43% between 6 to 11 months. Source of Information received: 43% reported verbal information provided and 38% reported written information was provided Current engagement with Mental Health Services: National, Community, and Exercise programmes were used by a very small number of  patients - 6 in total out of 21 respondents  Reasons for not engaging with Mental Health Services responses included ‘Not being interested or required' to ‘fearful' ‘No knowledge of service' to ‘Cant remember ' or ‘Plans to engage' 93% of respondents would recommend use of wellbeing or mental health services to someone with a diagnosis of an Upper GI Cancer Suggestions for improvements varied from use of information packs, information on life post op and more guidance needed surrounding availability of current mental health supports  Conclusions Psychosocial issues need to be addressed and there is a huge deficit in current service provision. Current service is not meeting service user needs and not empowering patients how best to manage mental burden and thus contribute to maximising treatment outcomes. National Cancer Strategy acknowledges lack of access for cancer patients to pyschoncology services. The Cancer Centre is awaiting appointment of a Pyschoncology Consultant and Team in the coming months. The Upper GI MDT will seek access to this service once available for their patient cohort. In interim use limited national and community resources available. Provide education to wider team members to standardise approach providing both written and verbal information on available mental health and well being services, embed mental health awareness into daily practice with encouragement for early patient intervention if cancer related distress evident. Re Audit after introduction of these measures.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Nina Reinholt ◽  
Morten Hvenegaard ◽  
Anne Bryde Christensen ◽  
Anita Eskildsen ◽  
Carsten Hjorthøj ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) delivered in a group format could facilitate the implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> This study compared the efficacy of group UP and diagnosis-specific cognitive behavioral therapy (dCBT) for anxiety and depression in outpatient mental health services. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this pragmatic, multi-center, single-blinded, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial (RCT), we assigned 291 patients with major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or agoraphobia to 14 weekly sessions in mixed-diagnosis UP or single-diagnosis dCBT groups. The primary test was non-inferiority, using a priori criteria, on the World Health Organisation 5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) at the end of the treatment. Secondary outcomes were functioning and symptoms. We assessed outcomes at baseline, end-of-treatment, and at a 6-month follow-up. A modified per-protocol analysis was performed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At end-of-treatment, WHO-5 mean scores for patients in UP (<i>n</i> = 148) were non-inferior to those of patients in dCBT (<i>n</i> = 143; mean difference –2.94; 95% CI –8.10 to 2.21). Results were inconclusive for the WHO-5 at the 6-month follow-up. Results for secondary outcomes were non-inferior at end-of-treatment and the 6-month follow-up. Client satisfaction and rates of attrition, response, remission, and deterioration were similar across conditions. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> This RCT demonstrated non-inferior acute-phase outcomes of group-delivered UP compared with dCBT for major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia in outpatient mental health services. The long-term effects of UP on well-being need further investigation. If study findings are replicated, UP should be considered a viable alternative to dCBT for common anxiety disorders and depression in outpatient mental health services.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e049210
Author(s):  
Elisa Liberati ◽  
Natalie Richards ◽  
Jennie Parker ◽  
Janet Willars ◽  
David Scott ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo explore the experiences of service users, carers and staff seeking or providing secondary mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignQualitative interview study, codesigned with mental health service users and carers.MethodsWe conducted semistructured, telephone or online interviews with a purposively constructed sample; a lived experience researcher conducted and analysed interviews with service users. Analysis was based on the constant comparison method.SettingNational Health Service (NHS) secondary mental health services in England between June and August 2020.ParticipantsOf 65 participants, 20 had either accessed or needed to access English secondary mental healthcare during the pandemic; 10 were carers of people with mental health difficulties; 35 were members of staff working in NHS secondary mental health services during the pandemic.ResultsExperiences of remote care were mixed. Some service users valued the convenience of remote methods in the context of maintaining contact with familiar clinicians. Most participants commented that a lack of non-verbal cues and the loss of a therapeutic ‘safe space’ challenged therapeutic relationship building, assessments and identification of deteriorating mental well-being. Some carers felt excluded from remote meetings and concerned that assessments were incomplete without their input. Like service users, remote methods posed challenges for clinicians who reported uncertainty about technical options and a lack of training. All groups expressed concern about intersectionality exacerbating inequalities and the exclusion of some service user groups if alternatives to remote care are lost.ConclusionsThough remote mental healthcare is likely to become increasingly widespread in secondary mental health services, our findings highlight the continued importance of a tailored, personal approach to decision making in this area. Further research should focus on which types of consultations best suit face-to-face interaction, and for whom and why, and which can be provided remotely and by which medium.


2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-546
Author(s):  
Lynne Jones ◽  
Alban Rrustemi ◽  
Mimoza Shahini ◽  
Aferdita Uka

BackgroundIn war-affected societies it is assumed that the major mental health problem facing the population will be stress reactions.AimsTo describe the creation of a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Kosovo after the military conflict ended in 1999, and to establish the range of problems and diagnoses that presented.MethodData were collected on 559 patients over 2 years, including their referring problems and diagnoses.ResultsStress-related disorders constituted only a fifth of the case-load in year 1. A substantial number of patients were symptom-free but attended because they had been exposed to atraumatic event, and believed it might make them ill. Non-organic enuresis and learning disability were the most common diagnoses in year 2. Many patients had a complex mix of social and psychological difficulties that did not fit conventional diagnostic categories.ConclusionsMental health services that only address traumatic stress may fail to meet the needs of war-affected children. A comprehensive, culturally appropriate CAMHS is needed to address a wide range of problems including learning disability. It should be developed through local actors, and build on existing local infrastructure. Services can also have an educational role in ‘depathologising’ normative responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahir Gopaldas ◽  
Anton Siebert ◽  
Burçak Ertimur

Purpose Dyadic services research has increasingly focused on helping providers facilitate transformative service conversations with consumers. Extant research has thoroughly documented the conversational skills that providers can use to facilitate consumer microtransformations (i.e. small changes in consumers’ thoughts, feelings and action plans toward their well-being goals). At the same time, extant research has largely neglected the role of servicescape design in transformative service conversations despite some evidence of its potential significance. To redress this oversight, this article aims to examine how servicescape design can be used to better facilitate consumer microtransformations in dyadic service conversations. Design/methodology/approach This article is based on an interpretive study of mental health services (i.e. counseling, psychotherapy and coaching). Both providers and consumers were interviewed about their lived experiences of service encounters. Informants frequently described the spatial and temporal dimensions of their service encounters as crucial to their experiences of service encounters. These data are interpreted through the lens of servicescape design theory, which disentangles servicescape design effects into dimensions, strategies, tactics, experiences and outcomes. Findings The data reveal two servicescape design strategies that help facilitate consumer microtransformations. “Service sequestration” is a suite of spatial design tactics (e.g., private offices) that creates strong consumer protections for emotional risk-taking. “Service serialization” is a suite of temporal design tactics (e.g., recurring appointments) that creates predictable rhythms for emotional risk-taking. The effects of service sequestration and service serialization on consumer microtransformations are mediated by psychological safety and psychological readiness, respectively. Practical implications The article details concrete servicescape design tactics that providers can use to improve consumer experiences and outcomes in dyadic service contexts. These tactics can help promote consumer microtransformations in the short run and consumer well-being in the long run. Originality/value This article develops a conceptual model of servicescape design strategies for transformative service conversations. This model explains how and why servicescape design can influence consumer microtransformations. The article also begins to transfer servicescape design tactics from mental health services to other dyadic services that seek to facilitate consumer microtransformations. Examples of such services include career counseling, divorce law, financial advising, geriatric social work, nutrition counseling, personal styling and professional organizing.


2003 ◽  
Vol 183 (06) ◽  
pp. 540-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Jones ◽  
Alban Rrustemi ◽  
Mimoza Shahini ◽  
Aferdita Uka

Background In war-affected societies it is assumed that the major mental health problem facing the population will be stress reactions. Aims To describe the creation of a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Kosovo after the military conflict ended in 1999, and to establish the range of problems and diagnoses that presented. Method Data were collected on 559 patients over 2 years, including their referring problems and diagnoses. Results Stress-related disorders constituted only a fifth of the case-load in year 1. A substantial number of patients were symptom-free but attended because they had been exposed to atraumatic event, and believed it might make them ill. Non-organic enuresis and learning disability were the most common diagnoses in year 2. Many patients had a complex mix of social and psychological difficulties that did not fit conventional diagnostic categories. Conclusions Mental health services that only address traumatic stress may fail to meet the needs of war-affected children. A comprehensive, culturally appropriate CAMHS is needed to address a wide range of problems including learning disability. It should be developed through local actors, and build on existing local infrastructure. Services can also have an educational role in ‘depathologising’ normative responses.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Gillard ◽  
Rhiannon Foster ◽  
Kati Turner

Purpose – A range of one-to-one, group and online approaches to peer support are increasingly complementing formal mental health service delivery. Evidence is emerging of the potential benefits and challenges of peer support for individuals, communities and organisations. There is more limited evidence describing peer-led peer support networks. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – In an evaluation of Prosper, a peer-led, peer support network and social movement, members of the network played a participatory role in the design, conduct and interpretative work of the evaluation. An online survey, one-to-one interviews and group discussions were used. Findings – The evaluation describes an evolving network with planning and development meetings constituting core activity for many members alongside a monthly training programme supporting people to set up their own activities. There were strong shared values, and consensus that Prosper could strengthen social networks, improve individual well-being and impact on the way people used mental health services. Challenges were identified around feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability in relation to involvement in the network. Research limitations/implications – The participatory nature of the evaluation adds value to the learning offered. This was a descriptive evaluation; potential is indicated for the more formal modelling and testing of peer-led network and social movement initiatives. Practical implications – Clarity is needed on the relationship of the network to statutory mental health services – specifically around taking on a “service provider” role – and on the advantages and challenges of a “hybrid” organisational model that combines traditional, hierarchical and new distributed forms of leadership and structure. Social implications – Prosper demonstrated potential to create a sense of common culture based on sharing lived experience and mutual peer support, providing an alternative to the traditional culture of mental health services. Originality/value – This paper offers wider learning derived from evaluation of a highly original initiative in peer leadership, network structure and interface with statutory mental health services.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 269-275
Author(s):  
G. Shoval ◽  
I. Mansbach-Kleinfeld ◽  
I. Farbstein ◽  
R. Kanaaneh ◽  
G. Lubin ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the utilization of mental health services by adolescent smokers, the presence of untreated mental disorders in this young population and the associated emotional and behavioral difficulties. We performed a nationwide survey study of an Israeli representative sample of 906 adolescents and their mothers. Mental disorders were assessed using the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) Inventory. Emotional and behavioral difficulties were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Mental health services use and smoking habits were evaluated by relevant questionnaires. Adolescent smokers were using significantly more mental health services than non-smokers (79% vs. 63%, respectively, P < 0.001), independently of their mental health status or ethnic group. Adolescent smokers also reported more emotional and behavioral difficulties in most areas (P < 0.001), which are consistent with their mothers’ reports, except in the area of peer relationships. The treatment gap for the smoking adolescents was 53% compared to 69% in the non-smokers (P < 0.001). This is the first study characterizing the use of mental health services and the related emotional and behavioral difficulties in a nationally-representative sample of adolescents. The findings of a wide treatment gap and the rates of the associated emotional and behavioral difficulties are highly relevant to the psychiatric assessment and national treatment plans of adolescent smokers.


Fostering the Emotional Well-Being of Our Youth: A School-Based Approach is an edited work that details best practices in comprehensive school mental health services based upon a dual-factor model of mental health that considers both psychological wellness and mental illness. In the introduction, the editors respond to the question: Are our students all right? Then, each of the text’s 24 chapters (five sections) describes empirically sound and practical ways that professionals can foster supportive school climates and implement evidence-based universal interventions to promote well-being and prevent and reduce mental health problems in young people. Topics include conceptualizing and framing youth mental health through a dual-factor model; building culturally responsive schools; implementing positive behavior interventions and supports; inculcating social-emotional learning within schools impacted by trauma; creating a multidisciplinary approach to foster a positive school culture and promote students’ mental health; preventing school violence and advancing school safety; cultivating student engagement and connectedness; creating resilient classrooms and schools; strengthening preschool, childcare and parenting practices; building family–school partnerships; promoting physical activity, nutrition, and sleep; teaching emotional self-regulation; promoting students’ positive emotions, character, and purpose; building a foundation for trauma-informed schools; preventing bullying; supporting highly mobile students; enfranchising socially marginalized students; preventing school failure and school dropout; providing evidence-based supports in the aftermath of a crisis; raising the emotional well-being of students with anxiety and depression; implementing state-wide practices that promote student wellness and resilience; screening for academic, behavioral, and emotional health; and accessing targeted and intensive mental health services.


2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suman Fernando ◽  
Chamindra Weerackody

There are several issues to be faced in developing mental health services in South Asia if they are to be culturally and socially appropriate to the needs of the communities in the region. The meanings of mental health relevant to culturally appropriate service development can be obtained by exploring local notions of well-being, systems of care available to people and current practices among those seeking help for mental health problems. Participatory research carried out in communities in Sri Lanka affected by prolonged armed conflict and by the 2004 tsunami clarified the nature of well-being as perceived by communities themselves. Subsequent development of mental health services for Sri Lanka can be based on community consultation, using methodologies and interventions that involve the participation of the communities and their local institutions, and adapting relevant western approaches to the Sri Lankan context.


2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Baker ◽  
Jason Fee ◽  
Louise Bovingdon ◽  
Tina Campbell ◽  
Elaine Hewis ◽  
...  

SummaryMental health services are increasingly supporting recovery-oriented practice as a basis for service delivery. There is considerable overlap between the values and approaches associated with recovery-based practice and those already endorsed as good psychiatric practice. However, these agreed principles may not be consistently applied and further steps may be needed if the reorientation of the relationship between psychiatrists and people using psychiatric services is to fully reflect recovery principles. This article describes ways in which psychiatric practice could develop, including conceptualising medication as one of many possible recovery tools that a person can actively use to support their well-being, and a range of practices available to professionals to support people in taking up an active stance in relation to medication. It also identifies recovery-supportive practices for when someone is unable to fully participate in decision-making, owing to crisis, loss of capacity or concerns about safety.


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