scholarly journals Mental Health Stigma in Department of Defense Policies: Analysis, Recommendations, and Outcomes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjorie Campbell ◽  
Jennifer L Auchterlonie ◽  
Zoe Andris ◽  
Denise C Cooper ◽  
Tim Hoyt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Department Of Defense ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Language Change ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
The Military

ABSTRACT Introduction Mental health stigma is one of the most frequently reported barriers to mental health help-seeking in the military. Previous research has identified that stigma-increasing language in the United States military policies was a potential deterrent to treatment-seeking. In response to a 2016 Government Accountability Office report recommendation, the current study conducted a comprehensive review of Department of Defense and military service-specific policies to identify stigmatizing language provisions and recommend appropriate language changes. Methods This review of policies comprised three sequential phases. First, a key-term search strategy was conducted on mental health (Phase 1) and substance misuse policies (Phase 2) to identify language that may contribute to stigma. Recommended language changes were identified, and the results of each phase were briefed to service-level Directors of Psychological Health. Approximately three years after initial identification, all mental health policies from Phase 1 for which language change recommendations had been made were examined to determine whether or not recommended changes had been incorporated (Phase 3). Results Out of 285 mental health and substance misuse policies, 191 (67%) contained potentially stigmatizing language. Subsequent review of implementation showed that partial or full recommended language changes had been made in 58.9% of 129 mental health-related policies that had been re-issued. Conclusions This collaborative effort to identify and modify potentially stigmatizing language contributed to a substantial reduction in problematic policies across the military services. Future efforts should focus on reviewing new and re-issued policies to ensure that stigma-increasing language is not present as part of routine issuance. These efforts are part of ongoing work to address the association that language and terminology have on stigma and barriers to care.

Can We Change the Culture to Promote Psychological Health?

Mood Prep 101 ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 255-266
Author(s):  
Carol Landau
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Young People ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
College Application ◽  
Individual Achievement ◽  
The Way

All of the issues in this book take place in the context of a competitive, overly individualistic environment. Many educators and journalists have suggested that this is stressful to students. A study of stress in in the United States confirms that students view college application stress as detrimental to their mental health. This chapter suggests that it is incumbent upon parents and educators to lead the way in reducing the pressure, to focus more on collaboration and less on competition and individual achievement. At the same time, we need to reduce the stigma of psychological problems in order to be more humane and to encourage young people to get help when they need it.

Performance-based Logistics

2012 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Asdecker ◽  
Wolfgang Kruck ◽  
Reinhold Kohler
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Department Of Defense ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
States Department ◽  
Success Stories ◽  
The Military

In Zeiten knapper Kassen und sinkender Budgets gab das US-Verteidigungsministerium 2001 bekannt, zukünftig verstärkt das Konzept der „Performance-based Logistics“ (PBL) zur Verschlankung der militärischen Supply Chain einzusetzen. Bestärkt durch die bisherigen Erfolge im angelsächsischen Raum, findet der Ansatz mittlerweile auch in Europa große Beachtung. Der vorliegende Beitrag verfolgt das Ziel, den PBL-Begriff zu erläutern und den Innovationsgehalt des Konzepts kritisch zu hinterfragen. Darauf aufbauend gelingt die Identifikation von Anwendungspotenzialen in der zivilen Logistik. In 2001, when money was tight and budgetary resources limited, the United States Department of Defense announced the further implementation of “Performance-based Logistics” (PBL), a concept which was supposed to streamline the military supply chain. After some quite impressive success stories in the Anglo-Saxon world, the concept now attracts some interest in Europe. Therefore, this article pursues the goal of answering the following three questions: (1) What does PBLactually stand for? (2) What is the innovative contribution of the concept? (3) What potentials exist for the application of PBL in civil logistics? Keywords: performance based logistics

scholarly journals Declining mental health among disadvantaged Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (28) ◽  
pp. 7290-7295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noreen Goldman ◽  
Dana A. Glei ◽  
Maxine Weinstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Epidemic ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Modest Improvement ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

Although there is little dispute about the impact of the US opioid epidemic on recent mortality, there is less consensus about whether trends reflect increasing despair among American adults. The issue is complicated by the absence of established scales or definitions of despair as well as a paucity of studies examining changes in psychological health, especially well-being, since the 1990s. We contribute evidence using two cross-sectional waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to assess changes in measures of psychological distress and well-being. These measures capture negative emotions such as sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, and positive emotions such as happiness, fulfillment, and life satisfaction. Most of the measures reveal increasing distress and decreasing well-being across the age span for those of low relative socioeconomic position, in contrast to little decline or modest improvement for persons of high relative position.

scholarly journals Employer costs of mental health claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Coduti
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

Mental health (MH) and disability management (DM) businesses and DM professionals are proficient at addressing employee physical health, yet promoting employee MH is often ignored. Individuals claiming long-term disability (LTD), 85% identified MH conditions as their primary disability (Carls et al., 2012). Mental health LTD expenses are often higher due to longer recovery and challenges in return to work (Salkever, Goldman, Purushothaman, & Shinogle, 2000). Financial burdens of depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders are among the greatest of any disease condition in the workforce (Johnston et al., 2009). Globally, a fifth to a quarter of employees go to work everyday with a mental illness (Lorenzo-Romanella, 2011). Health care research has shown the impact of mental illness on work performance, however many employers and researchers are unaware of the value quality MH care has on employees and costs (Langlieb, & Kahn, 2005). The American Psychological Association (APA) identified five categories of workplace practices that promote psychological health in employees including: employee involvement; work-life balance; employee growth and development; health and safety; and employee recognition (APA, 2014). Organizational benefits of the five elements include: improved quality, performance and productivity; reduced absenteeism, presenteeism and turnover; fewer accidents and injuries; improved ability to attract and retain quality employees; improved customer service and satisfaction; and lower healthcare costs (APA, 2014). The presenters will discuss employer costs of MH claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs, decreasing MH claims and costs. Opportunities for future research include the United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on MH (Mechanic, 2012) through provisions that encourage employers to adopt health promotion programs (Goetzel et al., 2012) and opportunities for research including comparisons of multinational employers regarding MH costs in countries with single payer systems, and in those without (United States), (Tanner, 2013).

scholarly journals Marketplace and Literature Review of Spanish Language Mental Health Apps

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alma Oñate Muñoz ◽  
Erica Camacho ◽  
John Torous
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spanish Language ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Language Differences ◽  
Health Apps ◽  
App Development ◽  
Published Research

Language differences between patients and providers remains a barrier to accessing health care, especially mental health services. One potential solution to reduce inequities for patients that speak different languages and improve their access to care is through the delivery of healthcare through mobile technology. Given that the Latinx community serves as the largest ethnic minority in the United States, this two-phased review examines Spanish app development, feasibility and efficacy. Phase 1 explored the commercial marketplace for apps available in Spanish, while phase 2 involved a literature review of published research centered around the creation, functions, and usability of these apps using the PubMed and Google Scholar electronic databases. Of the apps available on the database, only 14.5% of them had Spanish operability. The literature search uncovered 629 results, of which 12 research articles that tested or described 10 apps met the inclusion criteria. Of the 10 apps studied in this literature review, only four apps were translated to Spanish. Our study reveals that despite increasing interest in Spanish-language apps to address mental health, the commercial marketplace is not currently meeting the demand.

scholarly journals Cross cultural and global uses of a digital mental health app: results of focus groups with clinicians, patients and family members in India and the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Rodriguez-Villa ◽  
Abhijit R. Rozatkar ◽  
Mohit Kumar ◽  
Vikram Patel ◽  
Ameya Bondre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Specific Feedback

Abstract Background Despite significant advancements in healthcare technology, digital health solutions – especially those for serious mental illnesses – continue to fall short of their potential across both clinical practice and efficacy. The utility and impact of medicine, including digital medicine, hinges on relationships, trust, and engagement, particularly in the field of mental health. This paper details results from Phase 1 of a two-part study that seeks to engage people with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians in co-designing a digital mental health platform for use across different cultures and contexts in the United States and India. Methods Each site interviewed a mix of clinicians, patients, and their family members in focus groups (n = 20) of two to six participants. Open-ended questions and discussions inquired about their own smartphone use and, after a demonstration of the mindLAMP platform, specific feedback on the app's utility, design, and functionality. Results Our results based on thematic analysis indicate three common themes: increased use and interest in technology during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), concerns over how data are used and shared, and a desire for concurrent human interaction to support app engagement. Conclusion People with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians are open to integrating technology into treatment to better understand their condition and help inform treatment. However, app engagement is dependent on technology that is complementary – not substitutive – of therapeutic care from a clinician.

Introduction to Military Suicide

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Elvin Sheykhani ◽  
Lori Holleran ◽  
Kasie Hummel ◽  
Bruce Bongar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Us Military ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Multiple Deployments ◽  
Military Suicide ◽  
Suicide Behaviors ◽  
The Military

This chapter examines suicide within the United States military as a whole. A cultural and historical perspective is used to understand the context of current policies regarding the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions of those within the military. Suicide base rates as well as service utilization within the armed forces are discussed and recommendations regarding current practices are presentenced. Currently, perceived stigmas, traumatic exposure, multiple deployments as well as other barriers to care are thought to have contributed to the overall increase in suicide behaviors within the US military. Although policies are currently in place which help reduce stigma and bolster mental health service utilization, suicide continues to be an issue within the military as a whole.

Engaging South Asian youth and families: A clinical review

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 584-592
Author(s):  
Neha Sharma ◽  
Deepika Shaligram ◽  
Grace H Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asian Immigrants ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Mental Health Stigma

Objective: South Asians (SAs), a rapidly growing minority group in the United States are underrepresented in mental health research. They represent a unique sub-group of Asian immigrants in that their journey to the United States in the last 50 years was driven by the pursuit of academic and career opportunities. Our goal is to provide a topical overview of factors contributing to the mental health challenges of South Asian American (SAA) youth and to describe culturally sensitive approaches that would provide effective treatment for SAA youth and their families. Methods: We conducted a review of published literature in PubMed and PsycInfo search engines using the key words South Asian immigrants, South Asian Americans, psychological, psychiatric, mental health treatment, therapy and interventions. Results: The challenges faced by these highly educated families are distinctive in that there is a struggle to maintain ethnic identity based on collectivism while embracing American ideals of individualism. These opposing values along with model minority expectations put SAs at high risk for mental health concerns and acculturative family distancing. Furthermore, mental health stigma impedes help-seeking. Mental health practitioners must navigate the different value systems of the parent–child dyad without ostracizing either generation and deliver effective care. Hence, culturally adapted family therapy and community-based approaches may be particularly relevant in SA youth. Conclusion: Our article outlines common family attitudes and issues pertinent to mental health in youth and discusses useful clinical approaches to dealing with SAA youth and their families.

Evaluating Social Marketing Messages in New Zealand’s Like Minds Campaign and Its Effect on Stigma

2021 ◽  
pp. 152450042110058
Author(s):  
Joya Kemper ◽  
Ann-Marie Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Moral Norms ◽  
Institutional Norms ◽  
Social Marketing Campaigns

Background: A key objective of government and social marketers is to remove the institutionalized stigma of mental illness, increasing mental health service uptake. While research has evaluated past campaigns based on changes in attitudes and beliefs, very little research has examined the communication messages used in social marketing campaigns. Focus of the Article: This impact evaluation research identifies the institutionalized cultural-moral norms incorporated into New Zealand’s Like Minds mental health advertisements and examines how attitudes and beliefs changed over time in response to these norms. Importance to the Social Marketing Field: This research offers a new approach to social marketing evaluation and demonstrates the importance of consistent incorporation of cultural-moral institutional norms in social marketing campaigns. Method: Using macro-social marketing theory, thematic analysis is used to identify the cultural-moral institutional norms in the Like Minds campaign advertisements over a 10-year period (2002–2012). Results: The Like Minds campaign was found to have multiple cultural-moral institutional norms, such as Mental illness as a villain, Personal responsibility, and Inherent human dignity, as well as utilizing two different institutionalization processes of Socialization and Identity Formation. However, these norms were inconsistently and sometimes contradictorily presented and as a result, not all changes in mental health stigma beliefs and attitudes show long term change. Rates for service uptake also had mixed results during the campaign duration, though overall an increase in uptake was found. Recommendations for Research and Practice: The research highlights the importance of understanding the underlying institutionalized cultural-moral norms presented in communications and aligning those with the overall objectives of a social marketing campaign. Limitations: Like Minds campaign phases 2 to 5 are analyzed, phase 1 was inaccessible for analysis and advertisements after 2012 are not analyzed.

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