Underutilization of Physical and Mental Health Services Prior to Nursing Home Admission

Purpose Physical activity is associated with both physical and mental health benefits for people with psychosis. However, mental health services have been criticised for failing to adequately promote physical activities. Occupational Therapy, with its focus on meaningful everyday occupations, is well placed to incorporate physical activity interventions. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of men with psychosis participating in an Irish community-based football programme. Design/methodology/approach Six men with psychosis participated in qualitative interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interview data were analysed thematically. Findings Participants identified many benefits of engaging in the programme. Football became a valued part of weekly routines and fostered re-engagement with previously valued roles. Participants identified improvements in social confidence and motor and process skills, as well as a positive impact on their mental and physical health. Originality/value This study highlights the value and meaning of participation in football for men with psychosis, as well as demonstrating the longer-term feasibility of football as a therapeutic medium in Occupational Therapy mental health service provision. Findings could help to promote the routine use of sports interventions to mental health services.

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Pharmacologic Treatment of Depression in Nursing Home Residents: A Mental Health Services Perspective

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology ◽

10.1177/089198870201500305 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 141-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Catherine J. Datto ◽

David W. Oslin ◽

Joel E. Streim ◽

Stephen M. Scheinthal ◽

Suzanne DiFilippo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Pharmacologic Treatment ◽

Treatment Of Depression

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Linking physical and mental health: Comparing users and non-users of mental health services in medical care utilization

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research ◽

10.1007/bf00706387 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 325-341

Author(s):

Deborah K. Padgett ◽

Cathleen Patrick ◽

Herbert J. Schlesinger ◽

Barbara J. Burns

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Medical Care ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Medical Care Utilization

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“Lost between the interface of physical and mental health”: focus groups exploring liaison psychiatry staff's perception about working during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.864 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (S1) ◽

pp. S329-S329

Author(s):

Saima Jehanzeb ◽

Muhammad Suleman ◽

Ella Tumelty ◽

Joanne Okusanya ◽

Laxsan Karunanithy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Community Mental Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Community Mental Health Services ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Liaison Psychiatry ◽

Mental Health Foundation

AimsAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues, increasing attention is being drawn to the welfare of healthcare providers who have endured many months of sustained exposure to the virus, disrupted working conditions and psychological stress. This project aimed to explore the subjective experiences of staff working in Liaison Psychiatry (LP) in the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, (BSMHFT) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have been used to devise recommendations for subsequent waves.MethodData collection occurred as part of a mixed method service evaluation project. We invited all clinical and non-clinical staff from LP departments across BSMHFT to participate in focus groups conducted via Microsoft Teams. The focus groups were video-recorded and facilitated by a moderator and an observer. Subsequent anonymised transcripts were coded and themes were generated by at least two evaluators, using thematic analysis.ResultThe focus groups, which ranged from 21 to 69 minutes, involved consultants, junior doctors and nurses from four hospitals within BSMHFT. Six major themes emerged including an initial reduction in number yet increase in acuity of patients seen by LP, with some perception that this resulted from reduced face-to-face contact with community mental health services. A feeling that LP was lost at the interface between the physical and mental health trusts emerged as another theme. Uncertainty in adapting to unprecedented working conditions, for example, unclear guidance concerning the use of personal protective equipment, was also described alongside anxiety about contracting and transmitting SARS-Cov-2. Additionally, increased pressure was felt due to staff shortages and inadequate inter-departmental communication. Participants reported differential uptake of remote working, as well as conflicting views regarding the feasibility of remote assessments in LP.ConclusionLiaison psychiatry staff within BSMHFT continued to provide a crucial service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus groups with thes staff indicate several recommendations for implementation within the Trust and provoke questions for future research. Due to the unique role that LP plays in providing mental health care within general hospitals, clear guidance for LP staff is key for effective service provision and supporting LP staff. Although used widely across community mental health services, the role of remote working in LP is contentious and requires further exploration. However, there are limitations to the use of focus groups and these findings may not fully represent the experiences of LP staff throughout BSMHFT. Different themes may have emerged through the use of anonymous questionnaires.

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Referral patterns for specialist child and adolescent mental health services in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 2019 and 2018

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2021.48 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Fiona McNicholas ◽

Ian Kelleher ◽

Elma Hedderman ◽

Fionnuala Lynch ◽

Elaine Healy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Adolescent Mental Health ◽

Child And Adolescent ◽

Third Wave ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Significant Drop ◽

Catchment Population ◽

The Republic

Background Countries worldwide are experiencing a third wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Government-imposed restrictive measures continue with undetermined effects on physical and mental health. Aims To compare child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) referrals over 11 months (January–November) in 2020, 2019 and 2018 and examine any impact the different phases of the COVID-19 restrictions might have on referral rates. Method Monthly CAMHS Health Service Executive data were examined, covering a catchment population of 260 560 or 12.7% of all youth (age group 0–18 years) in Ireland. The total number of urgent and routine referrals, appointments offered, rates of non-attendances and discharge outcome are presented. Results There was a significant drop in referrals in 2020, compared with prior years (χ2 = 10.3, d.f. = 2, P = 0.006). Referrals in 2020 dropped from March to May by 11% and from June to August by 10.3%. From September, both routine and urgent referrals increased by 50% compared with previous years (2018/2019), with the highest increase in November 2020 (180%). Clinic activity also increased from September, with double the number of out-patient appointments offered, compared with previous years (χ2 = 5171.72, d.f. = 3, P < 0.001) and lower (6.6%) rates of non-attendance (χ2 = 868.35, d.f. = 3, P < 0.001). Conclusions In 2020, following an initial decline, referrals to CAMHS increased consistently from September. Such unprecedented increase in referrals places further strain on services that are already underresourced and underfunded, with the likelihood of increased waiting lists post COVID-19. It is envisaged that once the pandemic is over, resources will be even more constrained, and CAMHS will be urgently in need of additional ring-fenced funding.

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Loneliness and Isolation as Barriers to Mental Health Services in a Rural Community

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3704 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1046-1046

Author(s):

Robert Maiden ◽

Danielle Gagne ◽

Bert Hayslip

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New York ◽

Social Network ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Rural Community ◽

Health Risks ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Close Friendships ◽

Do So

Abstract As America grapples with COVID-19, issues regarding mental health have been of rising concern, particularly among those who are isolated. According to the May 2021 American Perspectives Survey, “Americans report having fewer close friendships than they once did, talking to their friends less often, and relying less on their friends for personal support1.” Additionally, 49% have three or fewer close friends in 2021, compared to 27% in 1990. 17% have no friends in their core social network. Loneliness has been associated with physical and mental health risks. We sought to explore whether loneliness was also a barrier to seeking mental health services. 90 surveys were collected from rural New York. Respondents were aged 51 to 90, Caucasian (96.6%), and female (73.3% vs, 26.7%). Overall, 34.8% said they lived alone. 29.2% would seek mental health services for feelings of loneliness, while 75.4% would do so if isolated from family. Those who felt detached or isolated from others were significantly less likely to seek help from a counselor (r = - 0.25) or MD (r = - 0.37). Isolation also negatively related to measures on the resiliency scale. Purpose: - 0.22, Perseverance: - 0.33, being ok alone: - 0.32), and positively related to depression (r = .65). Those scoring higher on the “okay with being alone” scale had an increased likelihood of seeking counseling (r = 0.22). Thus, isolation and loneliness are complex topics. Intervention ought to be based on perceptions of being alone. Further research is needed.

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Treating body, treating mind: The experiences of people with psychotic disorders and their general practitioners – Findings from the Australian National Survey of High Impact Psychosis

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867417728806 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (6) ◽

pp. 561-572 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Anna Waterreus ◽

Vera A Morgan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

General Practitioner ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Phase 1 ◽

General Practitioner Practice ◽

Physical And Mental Health

Objectives: To describe from the perspective of people living with psychotic illness their use of general practitioner services over a 12-month period and the experiences, attitudes and challenges general practitioners face providing health care to this population. Methods: A two-phase design was used. Phase 1, screening for psychosis, occurred in public specialised mental health services and non-government organisations within seven catchment sites across Australia. In Phase 2, 1825 people who were screened positive for psychosis were randomly selected for interview which included questions about frequency and reason for general practitioner contact in the 12 months prior to interview. General practitioners (1473) of consenting participants were also surveyed. Results: Almost all (90.3%) survey participants had consulted a general practitioner in the 12-month period, on average 8.9 times, and 28.8% of attenders had consulted 12 times or more. The majority (83.5%) attended one general practitioner practice. Most (77.6%) general practitioners wanted to be involved in the mental health care of their patient. Although 69.1% said the management of their patient was not problematic for their practice, one in five general practitioners reported issues related to patient non-compliance with treatment and non-attendance at scheduled appointments; time constraints; and lack of feedback from treating mental health services. Conclusion: People with psychotic disorders consult general practitioners, some very frequently. Most Australian general practitioners believe they have a responsibility to review the physical and mental health of their patients. Improved communication between general practitioners and mental health services, and easier access to mental health support, may help general practitioners manage the complex mental, physical and social problems of their patients.

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