Can a community empowerment intervention improve health and wellbeing in a post-industrial UK town?

Abstract Background 'Local People' programme operates in 29 UK communities experiencing disadvantage and economic stressors that impact on population wellbeing. The programme uses a community empowerment approach to increase social connections, and collective control, improve health, and reduce inequalities. This links to SDGs 3 and 11. Mechanisms include a decision-making group led by residents, a project lead, funding, and support from a national charity. Methods A mixed method evaluation was conducted (2017-19) to identify processes and assess outcomes and impacts. This presentation outlines the findings from five in-depth qualitative case studies (c140 interviews) with emphasis on one post-industrial UK town suffering from the effects of industrial decline. A within case and cross case qualitative analysis was undertaken using a thematic framework. Results Priorities set by local areas focused on increasing community involvement and connections between people. A wide range of activities took place including regular classes and community events. The five case studies found strong qualitative evidence of increased social connectedness, community spirit and a sense of purpose, along with the area becoming a better place to live. People involved in project delivery gained confidence and skills, improved their wellbeing and gained a sense of control. There is, as yet, limited evidence that increased involvement has influenced the wider determinants of health. In the post-industrial town, people's social networks expanded, enriching their lives and providing missed companionship. Participants in the programme reported improved mental and physical health, as well as increased confidence and skills. Involvement gave a voice to marginalised older people in the area. Conclusions Empowering communities and putting residents in control can lead to improvements in connectedness and some aspects of health and wellbeing, even in post-industrial towns facing considerable and complex challenges. Key messages The community empowerment programme increased social connectedness. The programme led to improved mental and physical health in participants.

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Perceived mental health, wellbeing and associated factors among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers: A qualitative study

10.1101/2020.11.23.20236794 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽

Bishnu Bhandari ◽

Pratik Adhikary

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Physical Health ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Migrant Workers ◽

Health Condition ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Physical Work ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Mental And Physical Health

AbstractBackgroundPoor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socio-economic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and identify their perception on the risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility for them.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions (n=25) and 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.ResultMigrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours’ hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers’ poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers’ poor mental health condition.ConclusionBoth migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health condition largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and adherence to unhealthy life styles. It is needed to ensure the compliance of work agreement by employers and promotion of labor rights in relation to worker’s health and safety. In addition, policy interventions on raising awareness on occupational health risk and effective safety training to all migrant and non-migrant workers are recommended.

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“A Soul-Searing Process”: Trauma in the Civil Service

The Second Red Scare and the Unmaking of the New Deal Left ◽

10.23943/princeton/9780691153964.003.0007 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Landon R. Y. Storrs

Keyword(s):

Physical Health ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Civil Service ◽

Civic Participation ◽

Economic Security ◽

Personal Relationships ◽

Ethical Decisions ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mental And Physical Health

This chapter looks at private letters and other unpublished sources about defendants other than the Keyserlings to recapture the subjective experience of being investigated, not as an exercise in voyeurism but to explain why the effects were so profound. The experience of being under loyalty investigation produced a wide range of responses from individuals and had many long-lasting effects—on their economic security, mental and physical health, personal relationships, and civic participation. Many loyalty defendants preferred to remain silent about these humiliating experiences, but examining them is necessary to establish the context in which these people made difficult strategic and ethical decisions about how best to protect themselves.

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COVID-19 and Mental Stress among the Urban Youths of Dhaka City

10.35542/osf.io/pnuvw ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Farheen Khan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Dhaka City ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Wide Range ◽

Negative Affects ◽

Age Range ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed threats on both physical and mental health since its outbreak. This paper aims to highlight the mental and physical health challenges amongst the home-quarantined youths of Dhaka city. A total of 150 young adults were surveyed, within the age range of (12-30). The participation was voluntary and was completed online.The findings suggest, many youngsters are currently suffering a wide range of mental health issues related to anxiety, fear, isolation, depression, feeling lonely, emotional outburst, insomnia, and other sleeping/ eating habit disturbances during COVID 19 pandemic. Many are emotionally vulnerable after losing their close ones, losing jobs, uncertain education or by staying indoors for months. Many get agitated wearing protective gear like masks or using sanitizers. The panic caused by the infection from physical proximity has reached such a level that everything now is shifted from physically going out to virtual conferences and many other significant shifts in people's behavior. But, in spite of all the trauma and negative affects the pandemic has put us through, there is some hope that the new focus on mental health issues may reduce stigma and increase availability of support services. Finally the paper recommends some way forward for effective mitigation against the harmful effects of limited or indoor physical activity on mental and physical health due to social distancing and quarantine based on the collected data.

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Continuous traumatic stress as a mental and physical health challenge: Case studies from South Africa

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/1359105316642831 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (8) ◽

pp. 1038-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Debra Kaminer ◽

Gillian Eagle ◽

Sarah Crawford-Browne

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South Africa ◽

Physical Health ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Case Studies ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

African Continent ◽

Stress Models ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Very High

This article discusses the condition of continuous traumatic stress as common on the African continent and in other international settings characterised by very high levels of ongoing violence and threat of community, political or war-related origin. Through consideration of three case studies from South Africa, contexts of continuous traumatic stress are described, and the mental health and physical health effects of living in such contexts are elaborated. Cautions are raised about attempting to transpose existing posttraumatic stress models onto individuals exposed to situations of continuous traumatic stress, and guidelines for optimal interventions with such cases are proposed.

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