scholarly journals Best Practices for Working with Latinx Older Adults in Mental Healthcare

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 857-857
Author(s):  
Kendall Weber ◽  
Lisa Stone
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Background The number of older adults in the United States is growing rapidly. The percentage of individuals from ethnic minority groups that make up this population is also rapidly increasing, with Latinx older adults comprising the fastest growing subgroup. However, Latinx older adults historically underutilize mental health services, in large part due to the lack of culturally sensitive and informed care provided by mental health professionals (de Guzman et al., 2015). However, to date, comprehensive, evidence-based best practices for mental healthcare for Latinx older adults do not exist. Method: A literature review was conducted of research on the developmental, social, cognitive, biological, and affective bases of behavior among Latinx older adults. Results Taking an integrated, evidence-based psychological approach with cultural considerations, we found that the literature could broadly be organized into six best practice guidelines. We propose assessing for and incorporating the following topics into mental health treatment of Latinx older adults: immigration status, acculturation, attitudes towards mental health, physical and cognitive health disparities, discrimination, and unique preferences for care structure in later life. Discussion These guidelines are intended to represent basic principles to incorporate into practice and do not represent an exhaustive list of factors to consider for a heterogenous group of older adults. Instead, the six, empirically-based guidelines proposed in this study can serve as a starting point for increasing mental health providers’ awareness of the unique experiences of Latinx older adults, with the aim of improving the experience of this historically underserved population in mental healthcare treatment.

Cultural Diversity in Psychiatry

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Chambers ◽  
Mary Guerriero Austrom ◽  
Ryan Harris ◽  
Danielle Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Cultural Diversity ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Key Words Aging ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Manage Care ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Key Aspects

This purpose of this review is to provide general guidelines to practicing psychiatrists and psychologists on cultural diversity in the discipline. Diversity and mental health is a complex topic in a complex discipline, and our goal is to contribute to an understanding of how cultural identity affects our work. This review does not explicitly state how to treat any one cultural group. Rather, it is a tool for psychiatrists and other mental health providers to begin a sensitive and helpful conversation with patients of all backgrounds and a way to explore their own cultural identities. As our nation becomes increasingly diverse, providers are expected to understand how a patient’s cultural identity impacts the presenting problem and, ultimately, treatment. In addition, an ever-present opportunity remains for mental health professionals to explore their own cultural identity and how it may be involved in conscious and unconscious biases, which, in turn, also impact how they interpret, treat, and manage care. We explore key aspects of diversity with the goal of cultivating a deeper level of insight and awareness among psychiatrists in training and those currently in practice when caring for patients with diverse backgrounds. The guidelines offer a starting point toward delivering culturally competent care and, coupled with a commitment to lifelong learning from psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, can help minimize the stigma of traditionally marginalized groups.  This review contains 7 tables, and 67 references.  Key words: aging, diversity, LGBTQ, psychiatry, race, religion 

The Limitations and Strengths of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale as a Measure of Correctional Employees’ Attitudes: A Psychometric Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (12) ◽  
pp. 3947-3964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Breanna Boppre ◽  
Jody Sundt ◽  
Emily J. Salisbury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Correctional Staff ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Evidence Based Practices

Evidence-based practices (EBPs) hold tremendous potential for improving the outcomes of corrections interventions. The implementation of EBPs requires support from staff at all levels of an organization; however, the study of correctional staff attitudes toward organizational change and EBPs is in its infancy. The current study examines the psychometric properties of the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS), an instrument originally designed for mental health professionals, to measure correctional employees’ readiness to implement EBPs. The results indicate mixed conclusions regarding the use of the EBPAS with correctional staff. We found that the total scale and subscales are reliable and exhibit high internal consistency. However, the results of an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis failed to replicate the factor structure from previous research with mental health providers. The findings indicate potential drawbacks regarding the construct validity of the EBPAS for use with correctional personnel.

Effects of brief training on mental health provider’s knowledge of working with youth at risk of suicide in Guatemala

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402098386
Author(s):  
Dana Alonzo ◽  
Marciana Popescu ◽  
Pinar Zubaroglu – Ioannides
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Youth At Risk

Background: Resources for mental healthcare are lacking in Guatemala, yet rates of mental illness and suicide are quite high. Mental healthcare providers often lack the knowledge needed to effectively work with young at-risk of suicide. To address this gap, we developed a training program for mental health professionals focused on increasing knowledge and understanding of engaging and working with youth at risk of suicide and present its acceptability and preliminary effectiveness. Methods: Mental health providers ( N = 17) from a low SES community participated in the training, Formacion CUIDAR (Comunidades Unidos para Individuales De Alto Riesgo; CARE Training; Communities United for Individuals at High Risk). Mixed methods were used to explore outcomes including, self-reported knowledge and understanding of warning signs; risk and protective factors; effective risk assessment; and, techniques for working with at-risk youth. Results: Findings indicate that the training was effective at increasing all targeted domains of knowledge ( t = 2.46, p < .05, Cohen’s d = .56). Acceptability was also rated as high. Conclusion: Scarcity of mental health specialists and lack of training on suicide assessment and management have resulted in inadequate resources for at-risk youth in need of mental health services in Guatemala. Results of our study demonstrate that our training is an acceptable, effective program for practicing mental health providers to address their lack of specialized training on how to work with individuals at risk of suicide. Further examination of the training in a larger RCT is required to attain more robust indictors of effectiveness and to assess long-term impact.

Are Older Adults Unique? Examining Presenting Issues and Changes in Therapy Across the Life Span

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-258
Author(s):  
Allen K. Sabey ◽  
Jakob Jensen ◽  
Samuel Major ◽  
Richard Zinbarg ◽  
William Pinsof
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Family Of Origin ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Individual Family ◽  
Changes Over Time

With the urgent need to increase and improve mental health care of the growing population of older adults in the United States, clinical research is warranted to further the knowledge and improve the relevant training for mental health professionals working with older adults. This study drew from two diverse clinical samples of adults ages 18 years to 80 years to examine whether and how initial clinical presentations and changes over time in individual, family-of-origin, and relational measures differed across the life span. Results indicated a variety of linear and curvilinear associations between individual, family-of-origin, and relational measures at intake and age, with some moderation by gender. There were no significant results between the amount of change on those measures and age, indicating that older adults may change in similar fashion to middle-aged and younger adults in psychotherapy. Relevant clinical implications are provided.

scholarly journals Language Discordance in Mental Health Services: An Exploratory Survey of Mental Health Providers and Interpreters

Societies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Mansha Mirza ◽  
Elizabeth Harrison ◽  
Jacob Bentley ◽  
Hui-Ching Chang ◽  
Dina Birman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Snowball Sampling

Global migration has contributed to greater language diversity in many parts of the world. Many migrants experience language barriers in their adopted countries. Language barriers hinder access to healthcare, including mental health. There exists little research on the extent of communication difficulties during language discordant mental health services. A cross-sectional observational study design was used to examine prevalence of communication challenges, use of communication best practices, and training needs among mental health providers and interpreters working with immigrants with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the United States. Using snowball sampling methods, 38 providers and 34 interpreters were recruited to complete online surveys. Challenges reported by interpreters pertained to technicalities of communication, while those reported by providers pertained to content of communication. Communication best practices such as pre-session briefings and post-session debriefings were used infrequently by providers in the sample. Providers with higher education levels were more likely to endorse some best practices. Fifty-four percent of the providers and 84% of the interpreters were interested in additional training in working with patients with LEP. Findings suggest the need for customized trainings for providers and interpreters to improve the quality of mental healthcare for patients with LEP.

Mutual Biases Underlying the Problematic Relationship between Older Adults and Mental Health Providers: Any Solution in Sight?

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Laganà ◽  
Sheri Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mental Health Provider ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers

As the size and diversity of the older population increases, mental health providers will be called upon to deliver high-quality services to the elderly. However, many of these professionals hold negative attitudes toward the elderly; psychotherapy conducted with older adults by clinicians with such biases could represent a waste of time and energy, as well as money, for these clients. This article reviews studies conducted within the past three decades on the biases held by mental health professionals (primarily psychiatrists and psychologists) toward older patients and vice versa. It also discusses possible solutions to the conflicts within the elderly-mental health provider relationship, based on the contributions made by professionals from various health care disciplines on this topic. Moreover, this article takes into account various ethnicity-related issues that are often at play in the relationship in question, and provides research and clinical recommendations for the enhancement of the quality of this relationship. It is time to find successful and interdisciplinary ways to improve how older adults and mental health professionals deal with one another. These efforts should creatively enhance the quality of the mental health services offered to older patients, in addition to dispelling age-related myths and corresponding obstacles to the utilization of these needed services by older adults.

Refining Evidence-Based Treatments for Late-Life Depression

GeroPsych ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Grace C. Niu ◽  
Patricia A. Arean
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments

The recent increase in the aging population, specifically in the United States, has raised concerns regarding treatment for mental illness among older adults. Late-life depression (LLD) is a complex condition that has become widespread among the aging population. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions and psychotherapies, few depressed older adults actually receive treatment. In this paper we review the research on refining treatments for LLD. We first identify evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for LLD and the problems associated with efficacy and dissemination, then review approaches to conceptualizing mental illness, specifically concepts related to brain plasticity and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoc). Finally, we introduce ENGAGE as a streamlined treatment for LLD and discuss implications for future research.

Addressing COVID-19 Worry and Social Isolation in Home-Based Primary Care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Elizabeth Weiskittle ◽  
Michelle Mlinac ◽  
LICSW Nicole Downing
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Providers ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Home Based Primary Care ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Socially Isolated

Social distancing measures following the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to a rapid shift to virtual and telephone care. Social workers and mental health providers in VA home-based primary care (HBPC) teams face challenges providing psychosocial support to their homebound, medically complex, socially isolated patient population who are high risk for poor health outcomes related to COVID-19. We developed and disseminated an 8-week telephone or virtual group intervention for front-line HBPC social workers and mental health providers to use with socially isolated, medically complex older adults. The intervention draws on skills from evidence-based psychotherapies for older adults including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Problem-Solving Therapy. The manual was disseminated to VA HBPC clinicians and geriatrics providers across the United States in March 2020 for expeditious implementation. Eighteen HBPC teams and three VA Primary Care teams reported immediate delivery of a local virtual or telephone group using the manual. In this paper we describe the manual’s development and clinical recommendations for its application across geriatric care settings. Future evaluation will identify ways to meet longer-term social isolation and evolving mental health needs for this patient population as the pandemic continues.

scholarly journals Sexuality in Later Life and Mental Health Among Older Black Gay Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 313-314
Author(s):  
Darlingtina Esiaka ◽  
Alice Cheng ◽  
Candidus Nwakasi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Black Gay Men

Abstract Self-acknowledgement and integration of racial and sexual identities are significant to one’s overall sense of identity because of their implications for mental health and wellbeing. These issues are important as one ages because older people experience a wide range of factors that add layers to their ability to (re)integrate subsets of their identity into their overall self-identity such as age and age-related disabilities. This study examined the intersection of race and sexual identities on overall health status in older Black gay men, a demographic group that has historically received less attention. Data from the Social Justice Sexuality (SJS) survey of LGBTQ+ people of color which occurred over a 12-month period in the United States were analyzed. Participants (N=160), 50 years and over, responded to questions about their sexuality, social identity, family dynamics, community connection and engagement, and mental and physical health. Results show an association of mental wellbeing with racial and sexual identities. Further, results show that a strong sense of connection to other sexual minorities is positively associated with mental health in older Black gay men. We discuss the implication of findings for mental health interventions targeting this gendered population.

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