scholarly journals Telemedicine and mental health: coming of age?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ohannessian ◽  
A Scardoni ◽  
L Bellini ◽  
S Salvati ◽  
A Amerio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Massachusetts General Hospital ◽  
Coming Of Age ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Remote Patient

Abstract Telemedicine is the practice of medicine from distance using information technology and include mainly teleconsultation via video and/or chat, teleexpertise to request the opinion of a specialist, and remote patient monitoring to improve the follow-up of patients. The use of telemedicine in mental health and most specially psychiatry has been one of the first use case described in the scientific literature, via video teleconsultation, due to the absence of physical patient examination. One of the oldest telepsychiatry case from the literature was published in 1973 for patients assessed from 1968 with the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, USA. Despite its medical and technical ease, telepsychiatry is still not widely spread and integrated into healthcare systems due to organisational and implementation challenges. More recently, telepsychology and other telemedicine interventions in mental health have been growing across the globe, including for mental wellbeing promotion and prevention of mental health conditions in specific environments. The rise of consumer digital healthcare directly through mobile app and dedicated websites is also to be considered in the wide opportunities of telemedicine opportunities to address mental health issues at a global scale. Various models needs thus to be considered between digital only care and blended approach mixing face-to-face and digital ways, as well as telemental health delivered only via the existing healthcare system or via new private digital players. The objective of the presentation is to describe the spectrum of existing telemedicine interventions in mental health, the digital features enabling its adoption and the assessment of its impact on clinical and public health outcomes.

scholarly journals A Mobile Health Approach for Improving Outcomes in Suicide Prevention (SafePlan)

10.2196/17481 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. e17481
Author(s):  
Conor O'Grady ◽  
Ruth Melia ◽  
John Bogue ◽  
Mary O'Sullivan ◽  
Karen Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Dialectical Behavior Therapy ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Target User

Background Suicide is a prominent cause of death worldwide, particularly among young people. It was the second leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 years globally in 2016. Treatment for patients with suicidal thoughts or behaviors often includes face-to-face psychological therapy with a mental health professional. These forms of interventions may involve maintaining and updating paper-based reports or worksheets in between sessions. Mobile technology can offer a way to support the implementation of evidence-based psychological techniques and the acquisition of protective coping skills. Objective This study aims to develop a mobile app to facilitate service users’ access to mental health support and safety planning. This process involved eliciting expert input from clinicians who are actively engaged in the provision of mental health care. Methods A survey was distributed to targeted health care professionals to determine what features should be prioritized in a new mobile app relating to suicide prevention. On the basis of the survey results, a clinical design group, comprising 6 members with experience in fields such as mobile health (mHealth), clinical psychology, and suicide prevention, was established. This group was supplemented with further input from additional clinicians who provided feedback over three focus group sessions. The sessions were centered on refining existing app components and evaluating new feature requests. This process was iterated through regular feedback until agreement was reached on the overall app design and functionality. Results A fully functional mobile app, known as the SafePlan app, was developed and tested with the input of clinicians through an iterative design process. The app’s core function is to provide an interactive safety plan to support users with suicidal thoughts or behaviors as an adjunct to face-to-face therapy. A diary component that facilitates the generalization of skills learned through dialectical behavior therapy was also implemented. Usability testing was carried out on the final prototype by students from a local secondary school, who are representative of the target user population in both age and technology experience. The students were asked to complete a system usability survey (SUS) at the end of this session. The mean overall SUS rating was 71.85 (SD 1.38). Conclusions The participatory process involving key stakeholders (clinicians, psychologists, and information technology specialists) has resulted in the creation of an mHealth intervention technology that has the potential to increase accessibility to this type of mental health service for the target population. The app has gone through the initial testing phase, and the relevant recommendations have been implemented, and it is now ready for trialing with both clinicians and their patients.

scholarly journals A Short Communication on Indoor-Based Therapies to Reduce Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-101
Author(s):  
Karam Daljit Singh ◽  
Rajoo Keeren Sundara ◽  
Muharam Farrah Melissa ◽  
Zulperi Dzarifah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Public ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Healthy Body

Preserving mental health during the COVID-19 crisis should be a priority for individuals worldwide. In this regard, mental health professionals should advise the general public on the actions/activities that they can take to prevent mental health issues from becoming the next pandemic. However, the general public should also actively take measures to improve their mental wellbeing. Music therapy, aromatherapy or indoor nature therapy may or may not have the potential to preserve mental wellbeing, but individuals should experiment with them to ascertain the effects on themselves. Moreover, the guidelines provided by WHO should also be adhered to, as a healthy mind starts with a healthy body.

A cross-sectional, face-to-face, community survey of mental health and deprivation in post-recession Ireland: a rising tide lifts all boats?

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
G. M. Sorin ◽  
C. Darker ◽  
L. Whiston ◽  
A. O’Callaghan ◽  
J. M. Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Positive Mental Health ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Face To Face

Objective To assess community mental health in suburban Dublin in 2018, 5 years after Ireland’s economic recession ended. Methods A cross-sectional, face-to-face, household survey was conducted in a random cluster sample of 351 households in Tallaght, a deprived suburb of Dublin. Results A majority of respondents (61.3%) reported stress over the previous 12 months, with a higher rate in areas of high (66.9%) compared to lower deprivation (55.5%). Deprivation was not related to rates of loneliness (20.2%), feeling depressed (20.2%), loss of interest (19.7%) or anxiety (22.5%). Mean score for positive mental health (59.3/100, with a higher score indicating better mental health) was lower than that reported in a national sample in 2007 (68/100); positive mental health was associated with not living with a person with chronic illness, self-identifying as ‘non-Irish’ and greater age. Mean score for psychological distress (76.7/100, with a higher score indicating less distress) was also lower than that in 2007 (82/100); less psychological distress was associated with not living with a person with chronic illness or disability, greater age and identifying as non-Irish. The rate of ‘probable mental illness’ over the previous 4 weeks (13.1%) was higher than in 2007 (7%). Conclusions Our findings emphasise the high prevalence of stress, especially in deprived suburban areas; the centrality of carer burden in determining mental wellbeing; and associations between positive mental health on the one hand and greater age and identifying as non-Irish on the other.

scholarly journals Using Heartfulness Meditation and Brainwave Entrainment to Improve Teenage Mental Wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghazal Suhani Yadav ◽  
Francisco José Cidral-Filho ◽  
Ranjani B. Iyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Meditation Group ◽  
Brainwave Entrainment

Teenagers are highly susceptible to mental health issues and this problem has been exacerbated by the quarantine restrictions of COVID-19. This study evaluated the use of Heartfulness Meditation and Audio Brainwave Entrainment to help teenagers cope with mental health issues. It used 30-min Heartfulness meditation and 15-min brainwave entrainment sessions with binaural beats and isochronic tones three times a week for 4 weeks. Using a pretest-posttest methodology, participants were asked to complete a survey battery including the Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index, Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Question-9, Profile of Mood States, and Cambridge Brain Health assessment. Participants (n = 40) were divided into four experimental groups: the control group (n = 9), Audio Brainwave Entrainment group (n = 9), Heartfulness Meditation group (n = 10), and a combined group (n = 12), for a 4-week intervention. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests. The singular Audio Brainwave Entrainment group did not see statistically significant improvements, nor did any of the intervention groups for brain health (p > 0.05). This study, however, proved the efficacy of a 4-week Heartfulness Meditation program to regulate overall mood (p = 0.00132), stress levels (p = 0.0089), state depression (POMS; p = 0.0037), and anger (p = 0.002). Results also suggest adding Audio Brainwave Entrainment to Heartfulness Meditation may improve sleep quality (p = 0.0377) and stress levels (p = 0.00016).

scholarly journals Co-Designing a Mobile Application to Improve Mental Health and Well-being: Focus Group Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felwah Alqahtani ◽  
Andrea Winn ◽  
Rita Orji
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
End Users ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Relaxation Exercises ◽  
Health And Well Being

BACKGROUND Recent advances in mobile technology have created opportunities to develop mobile applications (apps) to aid and assist people in achieving various health and wellness goals. Mental health apps hold significant potential to assist people suffering from various mental health issues at any time they may need it, considering the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones. However, there is a need for research exploring and understanding end-users’ perceptions, needs, and concerns with respect to such technologies. OBJECTIVE The goal of this paper is to explore the opinions, perceptions, preferences, and experiences of people who have experienced some forms of mental health issues based on self-diagnosis to inform the design of a next-generation mental health app that would be significantly more engaging and effective than currently available apps at improving mental health and well-being. METHODS We conducted six focus-group sessions with people who have experienced mental health issues based on self-diagnosis (Average age= 26.7, N = 32, 50% male, 50% female). We asked participants about their experiences with mental health issues and their viewpoints regarding two existing mental health apps (Happify app and the Self-Help Anxiety Management app). Finally, participants engaged in a design session where they each sketched a design for their ideal mental health and well-being mobile app. RESULTS Our findings revealed that participants used some strategies to deal with their mental health issues: 1) doing something to distract themselves from their current negative mood, 2) using relaxation exercises and methods to relieve symptoms, 3) interacting with others to share their issues, 4) looking for an external source to solve their problem, and 5) motivating themselves by repeating motivational sentences to support themselves or by following inspirational people. Moreover, regarding the design of mental health apps, participants identified that 1) general design characteristics, 2) personalization of the app, including 3) tracking and feedback, 4) live support, and 5) social community, and providing 6) motivational content and 7) relaxation exercises are the most important features users want in a mental health app. In contrast, including 8) games, 9) relaxation audio, 10) the Google map function, 11) personal assistance to provide suggestions, 12) goal setting, and 13) privacy preserving were surprisingly the least requested features. CONCLUSIONS Understanding end-users’ needs and concerns about mental health apps will inform the future design of mental health apps that are useful and used by many people. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Self-harm and the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of factors contributing to self-harm during lockdown restrictions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Hawton ◽  
Karen Lascelles ◽  
Fiona Brand ◽  
Deborah Casey ◽  
Liz Bale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Characteristics Method ◽  
Suicide Intent ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic and resulting public health measures may have major impacts on mental health, including on self-harm. We have investigated what factors related to the pandemic influenced hospital presentations following self-harm during lockdown in England.MethodMental health clinicians assessing individuals aged 18 years and over presenting to hospitals in Oxford and Derby following self-harm during the period March 23rd to 17th May 2020 recorded whether the self-harm was related to the impact of COVID- 19 and, if so, what specific factors were relevant. These factors were organized into a classification scheme. Information was also collected on patients’ demographic characteristics, method of self-harm and suicide intent.ResultsOf 228 patients assessed, in 46.9% (N=107) COVID-19 and lockdown restrictions were identified as influencing self-harm. This applied more to females than males (53.5%, N=68/127 v 38.6%, N=39/101, χ2 = 5.03, p=0.025), but there were no differences in age, methods of self-harm or suicide intent between the two groups. The most frequent COVID-related factors were mental health issues, including new and worsening disorders, and cessation or reduction of services (including absence of face-to-face support), isolation and loneliness, reduced contact with key individuals, disruption to normal routine, and entrapment. Multiple, often inter- connected COVID-related factors were identified in many patients.ConclusionsCOVID-related factors were identified as influences in nearly half of individuals presenting to hospitals following self-harm in the period following introduction of lockdown restrictions. Females were particularly affected. The fact that mental health problems, including issues with delivery of care, predominated has implications for organisation of services during such periods. The contribution of isolation, loneliness and sense of entrapment highlight the need for relatives, friends and neighbours to be encouraged to reach out to others, especially those living alone. The classification of COVID-related factors can be used as an aide-memoire for clinicians.

The Arts as Public Service

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
Pauline Etim-Ubah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Community Arts ◽  
Mental Health Practice ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The People ◽  
Arts And Health

This paper will argue that the arts can contribute to wellbeing by supporting positive mental wellbeing as demonstrated in the breadth and quality of current arts and mental health practice. This practice challenges existing notions of evidence-based policy used to inform the development of public services. The exploration of relationship between arts and mental health highlights the specific interventions that demonstrate effective engagement with people experiencing mental health issues. The paper outlines the contextual background of arts and mental health and makes reference to the ongoing influence of earlier art movements like Outsider art. Then, the following examples of practice: art therapy, social prescribing, community arts projects and art in public spaces, will be brought together in order to classify arts and mental health as a distinct field which can be compared and contrasted to the wider arts and health movement. Finally this paper will deconstruct and analyze what arts and mental health practice means in terms of understanding mental health; challenging what is accepted as artwork and the role of people with mental health needs as artists. This paper asks for new and appropriate ways to measure the outcomes of the arts as a public service that recognize the expertise of the people and communities creating and experiencing the art.

The Arts as Public Service

2015 ◽  
pp. 2065-2077
Author(s):  
Pauline Etim-Ubah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Mental Health Practice ◽  
The Arts ◽  
The People ◽  
Arts And Health

This paper will argue that the arts can contribute to wellbeing by supporting positive mental wellbeing as demonstrated in the breadth and quality of current arts and mental health practice. This practice challenges existing notions of evidence-based policy used to inform the development of public services. The exploration of relationship between arts and mental health highlights the specific interventions that demonstrate effective engagement with people experiencing mental health issues. The paper outlines the contextual background of arts and mental health and makes reference to the ongoing influence of earlier art movements like Outsider art. Then, the following examples of practice: art therapy, social prescribing, community arts projects and art in public spaces, will be brought together in order to classify arts and mental health as a distinct field which can be compared and contrasted to the wider arts and health movement. Finally this paper will deconstruct and analyze what arts and mental health practice means in terms of understanding mental health; challenging what is accepted as artwork and the role of people with mental health needs as artists. This paper asks for new and appropriate ways to measure the outcomes of the arts as a public service that recognize the expertise of the people and communities creating and experiencing the art.

scholarly journals Further evidence that singing fosters mental health and wellbeing: the West Kent and Medway project

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Clift ◽  
Sharon Manship ◽  
Lizzi Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Community Singing

Purpose Clift and Morrison (2011) report that weekly singing over eight months for people with enduring mental health issues led to clinically important reductions in mental distress. The purpose of this paper is to test the robustness of the earlier findings. Design/methodology/approach Four community singing groups for people with mental health issues ran weekly from November 2014 to the end of 2015. Evaluation place over a six-month period using two validated questionnaires: the short Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10) questionnaire, and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Findings In all, 26 participants completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. CORE-10 scores were significantly reduced, and WEMWBS scores significantly increased. Comparisons with the earlier study found a similar pattern of improvements on CORE items that are part of the “problems” sub-scale in the full CORE questionnaire. There was also evidence from both studies of participants showing clinically important improvements in CORE-10 scores. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of the study are a small sample size and the lack of a randomised control group. Originality/value No attempts have been made previously to directly test the transferability of a singing for health model to a new geographical area and to evaluate outcomes using the same validated measure.

scholarly journals Overcoming Mental Health Challenges during Pandemic: Arguing in favour of Incorporation of Community Mental Health in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-4
Author(s):  
Baijayanti Baur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Medical Curriculum ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Home Culture ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Social Wellbeing ◽  
Travel Restrictions

The rapid and progressing Covid-19 pandemic is building an upsurge of fear, anxiety and stress globally. Repeated episodes of lock down, physical distancing norms, work from home culture in the new normal scenario, travel restrictions, school shutdown, home isolation and quarantine, bed and oxygen crisis, prolonged hospitalization, post Covid morbidities and deaths, Covid orphans, loss of job, lack of recreation, loneliness and the others cumulatively are contributing to tremendous stress on individual mental health. Though by definition ‘Health’ includes “mental wellbeing” apart from physical and social wellbeing but the mental health issues have largely been pushed into backstage in this current pandemic conundrum.

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