Supporting minority groups in schools – reflections on training education mental health practitioners

Purpose This study aims to reflect upon the first wave of training of Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), a new National Health Service role to provide support for Children and Young People (CYP) with low and moderate mental health needs in education settings in England. The study specifically focusses on the training for EMHPs in relation to their support for CYP who identify themselves as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME), refugees or from the traveller community. Design/methodology/approach A brief review of the policy and literature on the role and remit of EMHPs was undertaken, including an exploration of the current status of BAME, refugee and traveller community CYP in schools in England. The review was then related to the specific experience of the author within the context of teaching EMHP trainees in a higher educational setting and evaluated as developing outcomes in low-intensity school-based practice. Findings There are benefits for trainee EMHPs to have an understanding of the minority groups of CYP attending schools in the area their Mental Health Support Team (MHST) covers. There are benefits for the MHST to form relationships with minority groups at an early stage in the MHST formation. Adapting the EMHP curriculum at a local level to include specific training on the needs of minority groups supports the development of relationships between schools and the communities they engage with locally. Ongoing training should be provided by services focussing on the specific needs of minority groups in their MHST area. Originality/value Involving minority groups in education in the formation of MHST and the training of EMHPs may improve outcomes in developing therapeutic relationships with CYP. Developing engagement practices in MHSTs with higher education providers, begins the process early in the experience of EMHP trainees, providing a safe environment in which to develop engagement skills.

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Mental capacity legislation and its impact on parents with learning difficulties involved in childcare and family law proceedings assessments in England and Wales

The Journal of Adult Protection ◽

10.1108/jap-02-2017-0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 17-32

Author(s):

Daniel T. Wilcox ◽

Leam A. Craig ◽

Marguerite L. Donathy ◽

Peter MacDonald

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Family Law ◽

Good Practice ◽

Learning Difficulties ◽

Mental Capacity ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

England And Wales ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider the impact of mental capacity legislation when applied to parents with learning difficulties who lack capacity within childcare and family law proceedings in England and Wales. Design/methodology/approach The paper relies on a range of material including reports published by independent mental health foundations, official inquiries and other public bodies. It also refers to academic and practitioner material in journals and government guidance. Findings The paper critically reviews the application of the guidance when assessing mental capacity legislation as applied in England and Wales and offers by way of illustration several case examples where psychological assessments, and the enhancement of capacity, have assisted parents who were involved in childcare and family law proceedings. Research limitations/implications There has been little published research or governmental reports on the number of cases when parents involved in childcare and family law proceedings have been found to lack capacity. No published prevalence data are available on the times when enhancing capacity has resulted in a change of outcome in childcare and family law proceedings. Practical implications The duty is on the mental health practitioners assessing mental capacity that they do so in a structured and supportive role adhering to good practice guidance and follow the guiding principles of mental capacity legislation assuming that the individual has capacity unless it is established that they lack capacity. Guidance and training is needed to ensure that the interpretation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and its application is applied consistently. Social implications For those who are considered to lack mental capacity to make specific decisions, particularly within childcare and family law proceedings, safeguards are in place to better support such individuals and enhance their capacity in order that they can participate more fully in proceedings. Originality/value While the MCA legislation has now been enacted for over ten years, there is very little analysis of the implications of capacity assessments on parents involved in childcare and family law proceedings. This paper presents an overview and, in places, a critical analysis of the new safeguarding duties of mental health practitioners when assessing for, and enhancing capacity in parents.

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Personal reactions to sexual assault disclosures made by female clients diagnosed with serious mental illness

The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice ◽

10.1108/jmhtep-10-2017-0057 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 248-256

Author(s):

Charlotte Strauss Swanson ◽

Tracy Schroepfer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Sexual Assault ◽

Serious Mental Illness ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Content Type ◽

Study Results ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Female Clients

Purpose Mental health practitioners working with female clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) often face client disclosures of sexual assault. Research has shown that practitioners’ responses can be complicated by the diagnosis and lack of professional training; however, less is known about the role their personal factors may play. The purpose of this paper is twofold: to further understanding of practitioners’ personal reactions and investigate how these reactions affect their professional response. Design/methodology/approach Nine mental health practitioners participated in face-to-face interviews, in which they were asked to describe their personal reactions when faced with a disclosure and to discuss how these reactions influence client assessment, treatment and referral. Findings The study results show that lacking training, practitioners expressed feelings of uncertainty, fear and worry about how best to respond without causing further harm. Findings serve to inform future training to support practitioners and, as a result, improve care and treatment for this population. Originality/value This study is unique because it explores the personal reactions mental health practitioners’ experience when responding to disclosures of sexual assault among women diagnosed with an SMI and how these reactions may impact their professional response.

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How can organisations help employees thrive? The development of guidelines for promoting positive mental health at work

International Journal of Workplace Health Management ◽

10.1108/ijwhm-01-2016-0001 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 411-427 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Lauren J. Davenport ◽

Amanda F. Allisey ◽

Kathryn M. Page ◽

Anthony D. LaMontagne ◽

Nicola J. Reavley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Positive Mental Health ◽

Expert Consensus ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Consensus Method ◽

Content Type ◽

Workplace Mental Health ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Health And Well Being

Purpose Benefits of positive mental health have been demonstrated across work and non-work domains. Individuals reporting positive mental health experience better work performance, better social relationships and better physical health. Additionally, positive work environments can contribute to employee mental health. The purpose of this paper is to develop “expert” consensus regarding practical, actionable strategies that organisations can implement to promote positive mental health in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach A Delphi consensus method was used to establish expert consensus on strategies to promote positive workplace mental health. A 278-item questionnaire was developed and strategies were rated over three survey rounds by two panels comprising 36 workplace mental health practitioners and 36 employer representatives and employees (27 and 9, respectively), employees with experience of promoting positive mental health and well-being in the workplace (total – 72 panellists). Findings In total, 220/278 strategies were rated as essential or important by at least 80 per cent of both panels. Endorsed strategies covered the topics of: mental health and well-being strategy, work environment that promotes positive mental health, positive leadership styles, effective communication, designing jobs for positive mental health, recruitment and selection, supporting and developing employees, work-life balance, and positive mental health and well-being initiatives. Originality/value The guidelines arising from this study represent expert consensus on what is currently appropriate for promoting positive mental health at work from the perspectives of workplace mental health practitioners, employers and employees, and constitute a resource for translating the growing body of knowledge in this area into policy and practice.

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Recovery from schizophrenia: developing context utilising the literature

Mental Health and Social Inclusion ◽

10.1108/mhsi-01-2016-0003 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 187-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keith Ford

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Service Providers ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Service Users ◽

Content Type ◽

Stakeholder Groups ◽

Health Practitioners ◽

Definition Of ◽

Traditional Approaches

Purpose – Recovery has been debated in mental health for some time. Attempts to clarify and make recovery operational have served to add confusion and uncertainty. This has failed to unite service users and service providers due to differing approaches, despite the rhetoric. The purpose of this paper is to offer an overview and to position the context from a humanistic and salutogenic perspective appreciating new approaches and influences for people in their journey of recovery having been given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Design/methodology/approach – All literature available could not be included and therefore the author did not select papers purely demonstrating outcome statistics. The preference was to address papers looking at the connections people have and the important factors they feel contribute towards recovery. Findings – An agreed definition of recovery cannot be established, but differing perspectives need to be appreciated and considered if recovery is to be successfully achieved. Some mental health practitioners may feel they have an understanding of recovery, yet evidence continues to point to the uncertainty in practice and delivery of services. Newer incentives and recovery networks are establishing themselves to meet areas missed by traditional approaches. Originality/value – The value of this literature review is to highlight some of the areas already observed and to provoke the potential for fresh thinking in relation to a salutogenic approach taking into account the perceptions of the stakeholder groups. This would enable people to re-evaluate their thoughts and practice and contextualise where we are in relation to recovery for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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Firearms and cultural competence: considerations for mental health professionals

Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research ◽

10.1108/jacpr-01-2017-0268 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 61-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Gianni Pirelli ◽

Philip Witt

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cultural Competence ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Mental Health Practitioners ◽

Conceptual Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Forensic Practice ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Health Practitioners

Purpose Although cultural competence is gaining increased attention among mental health practitioners, such primarily has centered on race, religion, ethnicity, language, and nationality. Thus far, there has been relatively little recognition of specific socialized subcultures aside from the aforementioned groups, and virtually no discussion regarding those associated with various firearm-related subcultures. This topic is particularly relevant to mental health practitioners, as positions on firearm use and ownership frequently split across political party lines, and mental health professionals and academics are more likely to espouse liberal rather than conservative views. It follows that practitioners may understand little about firearms culture and, therefore, are at increased risk for biased decision making when working with clients for whom firearms have relevance. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper takes a conceptual approach to reviewing potential areas of bias in both clinical and clinical-forensic practice in the US context. Findings The authors detail the prevalence of firearm-related issues in the USA, contextualize firearm-related issues in forensic treatment and evaluation scenarios, delineate a number of firearm subgroups, and recommend considerations for mental health professionals to develop cultural competence as it relates to firearms and associated subcultures. Originality/value This is an original conceptual study of cultural competence and various firearm-related subcultures.

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