Christianity and mental health

2021 ◽  
pp. 167-182
Author(s):  
Alison J. Gray ◽  
Christopher C.H. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
History Of ◽  
Community Prayer ◽  
Consistent Treatment ◽  
The Impact

This chapter summarizes the impact of the Christian faith on mental health and illness. It provides an overview of the history of the Christian church founded in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the key beliefs and distinctions from other monotheistic religions. It considers the different beliefs and practices of the main Christian denominations: Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox. The church has a long and ongoing history of involvement in health care, and churches are at their best healing communities offering community, prayer, and, rituals such as Baptism and the Eucharist. Prospective studies have found that elements of Christian faith and practice benefit those with psychotic disorders and depression, increase happiness and resilience, and decrease the risk of substance abuse or suicide. Although teaching that over-spiritualizes or discourages timely interaction with health care and consistent treatment concordance is sometimes harmful, the evidence suggests that Christianity is generally a positive influence on mental health.

scholarly journals The Spiritism as therapy in the health care in the epilepsy

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 804-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Luiz Vancini ◽  
Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira ◽  
Cássia Regina Vancini-Campanharo ◽  
Dulce Aparecida Barbosa ◽  
Ricardo Mario Arida
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Complementary Treatment ◽  
Positive Coping ◽  
Health Dimension ◽  
Important Health ◽  
History Of ◽  
Patients With Epilepsy ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Objective: to present a brief history of Spiritism, the vision of epilepsy by Spiritism, and the potential of spirituality and religiosity care as complementary and coadjutants treatments in epilepsy. Method: this is a brief review about the impact of faith, spirituality, and religiosity, particularly the Spiritism philosophy as complementary treatment to neurological disorders (particularly focusing on epilepsy) and mental health. We conduct a review of published articles (about religion/spirituality and epilepsy) in the Pubmed and SciELO databases. Conclusion: the exercise of spirituality and religiosity can be a positive coping strategy to support the traditional therapy of patients with epilepsy and other neurological disorders. However, it is necessary to demystify myths and beliefs about the epilepsy and improve knowledge about this important health dimension among professionals, patients, and caregivers to explore their full treatment and supportive potential.

The impact of a history of poor mental health on health care costs in the perinatal period

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Chojenta ◽  
Jananie William ◽  
Michael A. Martin ◽  
Julie Byles ◽  
Deborah Loxton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Costs ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Care Costs

scholarly journals Mental health management of elite athletes during COVID-19: a narrative review and recommendations

2020 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-102884
Author(s):  
Claudia L Reardon ◽  
Abhinav Bindra ◽  
Cheri Blauwet ◽  
Richard Budgett ◽  
Niccolo Campriani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
New Methods ◽  
The Impact

Elite athletes suffer many mental health symptoms and disorders at rates equivalent to or exceeding those of the general population. COVID-19 has created new strains on elite athletes, thus potentially increasing their vulnerability to mental health symptoms. This manuscript serves as a narrative review of the impact of the pandemic on management of those symptoms in elite athletes and ensuing recommendations to guide that management. It specifically addresses psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and higher levels of care. Within the realm of psychotherapy, crisis counselling might be indicated. Individual, couple/family and group psychotherapy modalities all may be helpful during the pandemic, with novel content and means of delivery. Regarding pharmacotherapy for mental health symptoms and disorders, some important aspects of management have changed during the pandemic, particularly for certain classes of medication including stimulants, medications for bipolar and psychotic disorders, antidepressants and medications for substance use disorders. Providers must consider when in-person management (eg, for physical examination, laboratory testing) or higher levels of care (eg, for crisis stabilisation) is necessary, despite potential risk of viral exposure during the pandemic. Management ultimately should continue to follow general principles of quality health care with some flexibility. Finally, the current pandemic provides an important opportunity for research on new methods of providing mental health care for athletes, and consideration for whether these new methods should extend beyond the pandemic.

Stakeholders’ perspectives about the impact of training and sensitization of traditional and spiritual healers on mental health and illness: A qualitative evaluation in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 476-484
Author(s):  
Peter Badimak Yaro ◽  
Emmanuel Asampong ◽  
Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong ◽  
Sunday Atua Anaba ◽  
Sandow Stanislaus Azuure ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Mental Health And Illness ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Mental Health Care Providers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Spiritual Healers

Background: Prayer camps and traditional healers have emerged recently as alternative sources of mental health care in Ghana. To increase their knowledge and collaboration between formal and informal mental health care providers, training and sensitization was organized for them. Aims: This study aimed at assessing beneficiaries’ views about the impact of this intervention. Methods: We adopted narrative approach to qualitative enquiry using purposive sampling strategy to recruit formal and informal mental health care providers in Ghana for an in-depth interview. We analyzed the data thematically using QSR NVivo 12. Results: Participants enhanced their knowledge about mental health and illness. They reported increased collaboration between formal and informal health care providers. Community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) give injections to patients instead of chaining and using shackles as was initially practiced. There are also regular visits by CPNs to traditional and spiritual healers to discuss the care of the mentally ill patients in their facilities. Conclusion: There has been an increased collaboration among healers of mental illness resulting in quick recovery of patients who seek care at traditional and spiritual healers. There is also abolition of chaining and using of shackles by these healers, with increasing respect for the human rights of patients.

History of Sexual Orientation and Mental Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 9-24
Author(s):  
Kristin A. Hancock ◽  
Douglas C. Haldeman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Movements ◽  
International Policy ◽  
Psychological Science ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
The Impact

Psychology’s understanding of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people has evolved, become more refined, and impacted the lives of LGB people in profound ways. This chapter traces the history of LGB psychology from the nineteenth century to the present and focuses on major events and the intersections of theory, psychological science, politics, and activism in the history of this field. It explores various facets of cultural and psychological history that include the pathologizing of homosexuality, the rise of psychological science and the political movements in the mid-twentieth century, and the major shifts in policy that ensued. The toll of the AIDS epidemic on the field is discussed as is the impact of psychological research on national and international policy and legislation.

scholarly journals Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2093
Author(s):  
Tina Vilovic ◽  
Josko Bozic ◽  
Marino Vilovic ◽  
Doris Rusic ◽  
Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

Roles of Psychological Distress and Social Support in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Perceived Needs for Mental Health Care

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110063
Author(s):  
Tingting Gao ◽  
Songli Mei ◽  
Muzi Li ◽  
Carl D’ Arcy ◽  
Xiangfei Meng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Perceived Needs ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue worldwide. It increases a range of health-risk behaviors, psychological and physical problems, which are associated with an increased need for mental health services in adulthood. Identification of mediating factors in the relationship between maltreatment and seeking mental health care may help attenuate the negative consequences of childhood maltreatment and promote more appropriate treatment. This study aims to examine whether the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care is mediated by psychological distress and/or moderated by social support. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health 2012 are analyzed. A total of 8,993 participants, who had complete information on childhood maltreatment and diagnoses of mental disorders or psychological distress, are included in this study. Structural equation modeling and the PROCESS macro were used to identify relationships among childhood maltreatment, perceived needs for mental health care, and psychological distress. Hierarchical linear regression was then used to verify the moderated mediation model. We found that psychological distress partially mediated the effect of childhood maltreatment on perceived needs for mental health care in adulthood. Social support played an important role in terms of moderating the relationship between maltreatment and perceived needs for care. For those with a history of childhood maltreatment, those who perceived a low level of social support were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress and perceived need for mental health care. This is the first study to identify the separate and combined roles of psychological distress and social support in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care. Selective prevention strategies should focus on social support to improve mental health services among people with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Costs of Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses in Urban Australia: Findings from the Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders Study

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaughan J. Carr ◽  
Amanda L. Neil ◽  
Sean A. Halpin ◽  
Scott Holmes ◽  
Terry J. Lewin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Societal Costs ◽  
Metropolitan Regions ◽  
Lost Productivity ◽  
Average Patient ◽  
The Government ◽  
Low Prevalence

Objective: To estimate the costs associated with the treatment and care of persons with psychosis in Australia based on data from the Low Prevalence Disorders Study (LPDS), and to identify areas where there is potential for more efficient use of existing health care resources. Method: The LPDS was a one-month census-based survey of people with psychotic disorders in contact with mental health services, which was conducted in four metropolitan regions in 1997–1998. Mental health and service utilization data from 980 interviews were used to estimate the economic costs associated with psychotic disorders. A prevalencebased, ‘bottom-up’ approach was adopted to calculate the government and societal costs associated with psychosis, including treatment and non-treatment related costs. Results: Annual societal costs for the average patient with psychosis are of the order of $46 200, comprising $27 500 in lost productivity, $13 800 in inpatient mental health care costs and $4900 in other mental health and community services costs. Psychosis costs the Australian government at least $1.45 billion per annum, while societal costs are at least $2.25 billion per annum (including $1.44 billion for schizophrenia). We also report relationships between societal costs and demographic factors, diagnosis, disability and participation in employment. Conclusions: Current expenditure on psychosis in Australia is probably inefficient. There may be substantial opportunity costs in not delivering effective treatments in sufficient volume to people with psychotic disorders, not intervening early, and not improving access to rehabilitation and supported accommodation.

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