Health Status of Homeless and Marginally Housed Users of Mental Health Self-Help Agencies

S. P. Segal; T. Gomory; C. J. Silverman

doi:10.1093/hsw/23.1.45

Who Goes to Grow?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3109/00048679009062891 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 96-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Peter J. Shannon ◽

David L. Morrison

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Family Life ◽

Response Rate ◽

Normal Population ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Self Help ◽

Individual Scores ◽

Self Help Group

GROW is a self help group which commenced in Sydney 30 years ago to assist mental patients rehabilitate. Some fear that this is not occurring. This study aimed to assess, by questionnaires, the mental health status of GROW at-tenders in Western Australia. There was a 93% response rate with demographic variables similar to an earlier Australia-wide survey. Individual scores on the GHQ and a Work, Leisure and Family Life Questionnaire showed a higher level of dysfunction than that in a “normal” population with men, on the average, scoring higher than women. Questions on medical care indicated that between 50—70% of attenders had previously been treated for a nervous condition. It is concluded that GROW is reaching a group of people with significant mental morbidity.

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Use of EMDR-Derived Self-Help Intervention in Children in the Period of COVID-19: A Randomized-Controlled Study

Journal of EMDR Practice and Research ◽

10.1891/emdr-d-20-00054 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. EMDR-D-20-00054

Author(s):

Mehmet Karadag ◽

Zehra Topal ◽

Ravza Nur Ezer ◽

Cem Gokcen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Status ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Attrition Rate ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Outbreak Period ◽

Self Help ◽

Reaction Index

Self-help treatments are an important intervention tool, with high accessibility and ease of application. To our knowledge, no research has previously been conducted on any self-help intervention derived from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. In this study, we evaluated the mental health status of children not directly affected by the pandemic and investigated the effects of using an EMDR-derived self-help intervention in children as a low-intensity treatment. The mental health status of 178 children was evaluated online via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Childhood Posttraumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTS-RI). Then, children were randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist. A booklet containing EMDR-derived techniques was sent via the school online portal and the intervention was conducted. Posttests were administered 4 weeks later. The attrition rate was 45.5%, with 97 children completing the trial (intervention: 52; waitlist: 45). At baseline, 76.4% of children showed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) above threshold. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in the posttest PTSS scores for the intervention group compared to waitlist. The intervention group had significant pre–post improvement on all but one subscale, while the waitlist group showed significant increase in state anxiety on the STAIC. In conclusion, posttraumatic stress was found to be high in children during the COVID-19 outbreak period, and EMDR-derived self-help intervention appeared to be an effective psychosocial intervention tool.

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Efficacy of path-oriented psychological self-help interventions to improve mental health of empty-nest older adults in the Community of China

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-019-2327-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Li-Na Wang ◽

Hong Tao ◽

Mi Wang ◽

Hong-Wei Yu ◽

Hong Su ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Status ◽

Coping Style ◽

Coping Styles ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

Empty Nest ◽

Positive Coping ◽

Self Help

Abstract Background China has the world’s largest aging population and the number of empty-nest older adults is on the rise. In comparison to the aging population in general, empty-nest older adults have a lower level of subjective well-being and poorer mental health status due to a lack of emotional support from their children. The aim of this study is to conduct an empirical study to evaluate the efficacy of the ‘Path-oriented Psychological Self-help Intervention’ (P-oPSI) led by nurses on the mental health of empty-nest older adults in the community, to provide a scientific foundation for improving their quality of life. Methods A Quasi-Experimental controlled intervention study was conducted from 2015 to 2017. A total of 76 empty-nest older adults from 2 districts were recruited using a convenience sampling and assigned to 2 groups based on their residential communities in the city of Chifeng in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. The wait list control group participated in a mental health lecture to gain knowledge and learn techniques of mental health promotion. The intervention group additionally received 1 month of training in a nurse-led ‘P-oPSI’ for a month. Both groups were followed-up for 3 months. Mental health status, coping styles, and psychological self-help ability of the participating empty nest older adults were assessed at the baseline, 1 month, and 3-months follow up, respectively. Two-way analysis of variance and a simple effect test were used to analyse the differences of the two groups. Results The P-oPSI yielded a greater benefit for the mental health status, coping styles, and psychological self-help ability of the participants in the intervention group. Combined with a simple effect test, the scores of the mental health status, positive coping style, and psychological self-help ability of those in the intervention group significantly increased at 1 month after the baseline (F mental health status = 7.59, F positive coping style = 7.24, F psychological self-help ability = 7.07); and the sustainable effect of this program lasted for 3 months after the intervention (F mental health status = 13.24, F positive coping style = 10.42, F psychological self-help ability = 10.45), which reached statistical significance (P < 0.01). Conclusions The P-oPSI program significantly improved the level of mental health of empty-nest older adults in China. This intervention provides a new approach of self-management to improve mental health of older adults in community settings. Trial registration chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR1900025552. Retrospectively registered 1 September 2019.

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