Change in clinical practice in Australia: impact of participation in MHPN webinars

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Barbara Murphy ◽  
Kate Hoppe ◽  
Chris Gibbs ◽  
Deepika Ratnaike ◽  
Harry Lovelock
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) was established to enhance collaborative care among health professionals working in mental health care in Australia. The MHPN has two primary arms: face-to-face network meetings and online webinars. The purpose of this paper is to investigate practice changes in health professionals who participated in one of MHPN’s live webinars. Design/methodology/approach Practice change was assessed by online survey with attendees from three MHPN webinars held in 2016. The survey link was e-mailed to webinar attendees three months after each webinar. Findings In total, 585 health professionals participated in the surveys. Four out of five respondents had made at least one practice change, particularly increased confidence in providing mental health care and increased discussions about other disciplines. General practitioners and psychologists were more likely than others to have made practice changes. Nine out of ten respondents rated the webinars as “very good” or “excellent.” Research limitations/implications MHPN’s webinar program positively impacts health professionals’ practice and represents an easily accessible and effective professional development opportunity for Australia’s mental health workforce. Originality/value The MHPN webinar program is unique in Australia. The MHPN provides opportunities for interdisciplinary professional development in the primary mental health sector. The model is highly cost effective and transferable to other settings and countries.

Implementing a collaborative mental health care model: the MHPN

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Gibbs ◽  
Barbara Murphy ◽  
Deepika Ratnaike ◽  
Kate Hoppe ◽  
Harry Lovelock
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and experience of the Mental Health Professionals’ Network (MHPN) in building and supporting a national interdisciplinary professional development platform in community mental health to enhance practitioner response to the needs of consumers. Design/methodology/approach The key components of the MHPN model are described highlighting effective ways of engaging practitioners and supporting interdisciplinary practice. The MHPN has two key programs – Face-to-Face Interdisciplinary Practitioner Networks and an Online Professional Development Program. Findings The MHPN model has had significant uptake in communities across Australia and continues to grow. Practitioners report positive outcomes in engaging with other practitioners, improving their professional knowledge and having gained increased confidence in the provision of mental health care to patients. Practical implications The progress and learnings to date offer some useful insights that can be applied to other settings to support integrated care for patients with mental health problems through enhancing collaborative care among practitioners at the primary care level. Originality/value MHPN is a unique, national, successful platform delivering opportunities for interdisciplinary professional development in the primary mental health sector. The model is cost effective, practitioner driven, and transferable to other settings.

Change in mental health collaborative care attitudes and practice in Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Murphy ◽  
Chris Gibbs ◽  
Kate Hoppe ◽  
Deepika Ratnaike ◽  
Harry Lovelock
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Collaborative Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Attitudes And Practices

Purpose The Mental Health Professionals Network (MHPN) was established to support and enhance collaborative care among health professionals working in primary mental healthcare. The MHPN has two primary arms: face-to-face network meetings and online webinars. The purpose of this paper is to investigate attitudinal and practice changes amongst health professionals after participation in MHPN’s network meetings. Design/methodology/approach In April 2016, an online survey was e-mailed to health professionals who had attended at least one network meeting during 2015. The survey asked about practice changes across seven key areas relating to increased awareness of and interaction with professionals from other disciplines. Interdisciplinary differences were investigated using the χ2 statistic (p<0.05). Findings A total of 1,375 health professionals participated in the survey. For each of the seven practice changes investigated, between 74 and 92 per cent of respondents had made the change. Those who attended more network meetings were significantly more likely to have made changes. General practitioners were significantly more likely than other professionals to have made changes. Research limitations/implications Attendance at MHPN network meetings has a positive impact on health professionals’ attitudes and practices towards a more collaborative approach to mental healthcare. Originality/value MHPN is a unique, national platform successfully delivering opportunities for interdisciplinary professional development in the primary mental health sector. The model is unique, cost-effective, practitioner driven and transferable to other settings.

Yoga and mindfulness for anxiety and depression and the role of mental health professionals: a literature review

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Butterfield ◽  
Tim Schultz ◽  
Philippa Rasmussen ◽  
Michael Proeve
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of yoga in the management of anxiety and depression, development of mindfulness and self-compassion and implications for mental health care delivery and mental health professionals, with a specific focus on nursing practice. Design/methodology/approach A search of electronic databases Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane Library was undertaken. Findings There is growing research evidence supporting the use of yoga as an adjunct or combination therapy for the management of stress, anxiety and depression. Mindfulness has been indicated as a potential mechanism of change but needs further research. Health care professionals may play an important role in supporting consumers to engage in yoga as part of their mental health care. Research limitations/implications Yoga research to date has been limited by methodological weaknesses including wide variation of yoga practices, styles and teaching methods; difficulties in double-blinding, suitable placebo-control; lack of randomised controlled trials and small sample sizes. The literature highlights that more high-quality yoga and mental health research is needed. Practical implications The paper introduces the potential role of yoga for anxiety and depression in the health care system and the role of mental health professionals in implementing and promoting holistic yoga-based therapies. Originality/value This paper proposes a yoga model for mental health and provides insight into a proposed new direction for future mental health care and the role of nursing practice and other mental health professionals.

Mental health services for individuals at risk of suicide in Peru: Attitudes and perspectives of mental health professionals

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402094678
Author(s):  
Dana Alonzo ◽  
Dafne Aida Zapata Pratto
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Specialized Training ◽  
Mental Health Care System ◽  
Care System

Background: Mental Health professionals often have to deal with at-risk individuals in crises and lack specialized training on suicide risk assessment and intervention. This study examined mental health professionals’ attitudes toward at-risk individuals and their perceptions of the quality of training and treatment available for assessing and intervening with this population. Methods: A total of 32 mental health professionals (13 psychiatrists, 16 psychologists, 2 psychiatric nurses; 1 social assistant) from highly vulnerable communities in Lima, Peru discussed their perceptions in four focus groups conducted by the authors. Results: Participants reported glaring deficiencies in all areas explored including training, knowledge and skills regarding suicide assessment and management. In addition, using ground theory analysis, three domains of findings emerged representing barriers and facilitators of treatment engagement, risk and protective factors of suicide and pros and cons of the current mental health care system including micro-, mezzo- and macro-level factors. The most frequently identified barrier was the perception that suicide is illegal; facilitator was family involvement; risk factor was poor parenting; protective factor was religious beliefs; pro of mental health care system was establishment of community-based services and con of mental health care system was lack of access to psychiatrists. Conclusion: The lack of specialized training available in the institutions that are designed to prepare mental health professionals for working with at-risk individuals is notable and has a direct and known impact self-identified by helping professionals. The need and desire for targeted training is palpable and essential to address growing rates of suicide, particularly among youth, in Peru.

scholarly journals Data Handling for E-Mental Health Professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 85S-91S
Author(s):  
Sandeep Grover ◽  
Siddharth Sarkar ◽  
Rahul Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Data Storage ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Fair Use ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Data Handling ◽  
Health Care Data

Digital psychiatry and e-mental health have proliferated and permeated vastly in the current landscape of mental health care provision. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated this digital transformation, and changes that usually take many years to translate into clinical practice have been implemented in a matter of weeks. These have outpaced the checks and balances that would typically accompany such changes, which has brought into focus a need to have a proper approach for digital data handling. Health care data is sensitive, and is prone to hacking due to the lack of stringent protocols regarding its storage and access. Mental health care data need to be more secure due to the stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Thus, there is a need to emphasize proper data handling by mental health professionals, and policies to ensure safeguarding patient’s privacy are required. The aim of useful, free, and fair use of mental health care data for clinical, business, and research purposes should be balanced with the need to ensure the data is accessible to only those who are authorized. Systems and policies should be in place to ensure that data storage, access, and disposal are systematic and conform to data safety norms.

scholarly journals Spirituality and Mental Health Care in a Religiously Homogeneous Country: Definitions, Opinions, and Practices Among Polish Mental Health Professionals

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edyta Charzyńska ◽  
Irena Heszen-Celińska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Spirituality In Therapy ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Insufficient Knowledge ◽  
Human Characteristic

Abstract This qualitative study involved a sample of 121 Polish mental health professionals who were interviewed about their definitions of spirituality and their opinions and practices concerning the inclusion of clients’ spirituality in therapy. Using inductive content analysis, we identified seven categories regarding the definitions of spirituality: (1) relationship, (2) transcendence, (3) dimension of functioning, (4) a specific human characteristic, (5) searching for the meaning of life, (6) value-based lifestyle, and (7) elusiveness and indefinability. The majority of respondents claimed to include elements of spirituality in therapy. However, some participants included spirituality only under certain circumstances or conditions, or did not include it at all, citing lack of need, lack of a clear definition of spirituality, their own insufficient knowledge, lack of experience, fear, or concern over ethical inappropriateness. Implicit techniques were primarily used when working on clients’ spirituality. This article deepens the knowledge on including spirituality in mental health care, with special consideration for a specific context of a highly religious and religiously homogenous culture.

Mental illness and medical aid in dying

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gali Katznelson ◽  
Jacek Orzylowski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Medical Assistance ◽  
Medical Assistance In Dying ◽  
Aid In Dying

A 2017 survey of 529 psychiatrists in Canada found that while 72% of psychiatrists supported medical assistance in dying (MAID) in some cases, only 29.4% supported MAID solely on the basis of mental disorders.  Understanding and addressing the concerns of mental health professionals will be crucial in deciding whether and how to expand MAID solely for a mental disorder in Canada. The report, “The State of Knowledge on Medical Assistance in Dying Where a Mental Disorder Is the Sole Underlying Medical Condition,” authored by The Council of Canadian Academies, highlights some concerns that mental health professionals might harbour. These include potentially feeling that there is a conflict between providing MAID and their duties as mental health care workers, the subjectivity of the current law, and Canada’s inequitable mental health care system.

Crisis in Army Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Care at Fort Hood

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 677-684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Breaking Point ◽  
Danger Signals ◽  
Fort Hood ◽  
Army Service

The recent shootings at Ft. Hood, allegedly by an army psychiatrist, have placed much needed focus on army mental health care. Questions are now being raised as to whether longstanding and severe shortages in the number of mental health professionals in the army may have led authorities to overlook danger signals in this psychiatrist, failing to remove him in order to retain a worker with rare and valuable psychiatric credentials for army service. Whether or not this is the case, examination of mental health care in the army shows a system that is indeed understaffed, under tremendous pressure, and near the breaking point.

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