The experimental research on well-being since 2004

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woody Caan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Officer ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Experimental Trials

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the claim by the Chief Medical Officer for England that “There is virtually no robust, peer-reviewed evidence to support a ‘well-being’ approach to mental health”. Design/methodology/approach – Secondary research using research literature from two widely available databases, Scopus and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts. Randomised controlled trials were sought that focused on “well-being” (including well-being or wellness), from 2004 to the present. Findings – With both clinical samples and non-clinical populations, a variety of experimental trials were found. Studies were identified with both positive benefits and no benefits from intervention. The most numerous type of paper reported positive benefits for clinical patients. Research limitations/implications – Only a single reader classified the studies in this investigation, so the inter-rater reliability may be limited. Only two databases were searched. However, future work (such as that in progress by the What Works Centre for Wellbeing) may find an abundance of evidence on mental well-being. Practical implications – In many settings, well-being can improve after intervention. Social implications – What is measured as “well-being” may need to take into account the perspective of the specific population being studied. Originality/value – This small-scale study was undertaken to inform policy in the new Public Mental Health Network.

Journey to diagnosis for women with autism

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dori Zener
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Autism Diagnosis ◽  
Mental Strain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Autism Phenotype

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the barriers that girls and women face in receiving an accurate and timely autism diagnosis. The journey to late-in-life diagnosis will be explored with a focus on mental health and well-being. The aim is to improve the awareness of the female autism phenotype to provide access to early identification and appropriate supports and services.Design/methodology/approachThe author’s clinical experience as an individual, couple and family therapist specializing in girls and women with autism informs the paper. Research on co-occurring mental health experience and diagnoses are reviewed and combined with case examples to outline the themes leading to and obscuring autism diagnosis.FindingsFemales with autism are less likely to be diagnosed or are identified much later than their male counterparts. Living with unidentified autism places significant mental strain on adults, particularly females. Achieving a late-in-life diagnosis is very valuable for adults and can improve self-awareness and access to limited support.Practical implicationsMental health professionals will develop a better understanding of the overlap between autism and psychiatric conditions and should consider autism in females who are seeking intervention.Originality/valueThis paper provides a clinical approach to working with autistic girls and women. This knowledge can complement the existing research literature and help build the foundation for a greater understanding of the female autism phenotype.

scholarly journals Utilising a MacIntyrean approach to understand how social enterprise may contribute to wellbeing

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Blake
Keyword(s):  
Participant Observation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Integration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential fruitfulness of the theory of Alasdair MacIntyre for understanding how social enterprises may facilitate well-being, using empirical evidence from doctoral research to illustrate this. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on findings from research conducted at a mental health training and employment organisation which used gardening as rehabilitative tool. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews with staff, volunteers and service users were used to generate the data, a MacIntyrean lens used to analyse the data, and some suggestions are made as to why social enterprises may be particularly suited to such an approach. Findings Practitioners encouraged the seeking of “internal goods” or “goods of excellence” within practices, as it was this which was understood to facilitate well-being. Service users shared in this view, perceiving their time on the case site primarily as “work” and choosing to engage with the service out of a desire to meaningfully contribute to the community project. Research limitations/implications This research is conducted on a small scale and therefore lacks generalisability. The lack of comparison with other organisational forms using the same practice is also a limitation. Originality/value This theory offers an alternative lens for considering how social enterprises might contribute to well-being. The data presented here also complement the growing body of research literature on Work Integration Social Enterprises, considering some of the wider well-being benefits beyond work integration, which thus far has received limited empirical attention.

Robust wellbeing

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woody Caan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
British Journal ◽  
Medical Officer ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Network Meeting ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Personal Wellbeing ◽  
Published Research

Purpose The purpose of this paper arose out of a Public Mental Health Network meeting in September 2015 and a suggestion then by the editor of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The British Journal of Psychiatry had just published an editorial by the chief medical officer for England that challenged the current concept of wellbeing, within health policy. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is structured around three key elements of the chief medical officer’s challenge to the concept of “wellbeing”: has wellbeing been scientifically defined? Does improving wellbeing prevent mental illness? Is there any robust, peer-reviewed evidence to support a wellbeing “approach” to mental health? Findings Wellbeing is definable provided there is recognition that it has multiple dimensions. At least some of these dimensions relate to health, with most published research focused on personal wellbeing. Originality/value This policy analysis addresses the three questions above, within the context of mental health improvement and training for public mental health.

scholarly journals Using complex systems mapping to build a strategic public health response to mental health in England

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jude Stansfield ◽  
Nick Cavill ◽  
Louise Marshall ◽  
Claire Robson ◽  
Harry Rutter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Complex System ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Systems Mapping ◽  
System Approaches

PurposeThis paper aims to use systems mapping as a tool to develop an organisation-wide approach to public mental health to inform strategic direction within a national public health agency. Design/methodology/approachTwo workshops were facilitated with internal staff from a wide range of public health policy teams working in small groups to produce paper-based maps. These were collated and refined by the project team and digitised. FindingsThe approach engaged a range of teams in forming a shared understanding and producing a complex system map of the influences on population mental health and well-being, where current policy initiatives were addressing them and what the gaps and priorities were. Participants valued the approach which led to further study and organisational commitment to the whole system working as part of national public mental health strategy. Research limitations/implicationsThe approach was limited to internal stakeholders and wider engagement with other sectors and community members would help further the application of complex system approaches to public mental health. Originality/valueIt was a valuable process for developing a whole-organisation approach and stimulating thinking and practice in complex system approaches. The paper provides a practical example of how to apply systems mapping and its benefits for organising public mental health practice.

Current perspectives on public mental health training provision: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Ortega Vega ◽  
Chris Attoe ◽  
Hannah Iannelli ◽  
Aleks Saunders ◽  
Sean Cross
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Training ◽  
Health Training ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Public mental health training can effectively support well-being at a population level. The application of this type of training is increasingly prevalent, however, training evaluation is currently limited and inconsistent. This paper aims to summarise the characteristics of public mental health training available in England, presents key quality criteria for this training and identifies gaps in training provision. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a pragmatic mixed-methods approach including database and Google Searches, focus groups and survey methods. The data analysis included a structured data extraction template for the training availability scoping and thematic analysis of the survey and focus groups. Findings This paper identifies a total of 74 training courses targeting workplace employees, young people and the general population. Most courses were delivered face-to-face (54), followed by e-learning (16) and blended modalities (4). This paper derives four core quality principles, focussing on the training approach, key features of training, trainer attributes and evaluation. There were no significant gaps in training provision, although areas for future development included consistency in public mental health terminology, systems and populations requiring additional training and the logistics of training delivery, etc. Originality/value The results contribute to the evidence base of interventions that are currently available, supporting the efforts to evaluate the impact of training provision in this area. This paper provides a novel approach to assessing training quality and discuss areas for development and innovation in this field.

The creative artist support group: a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot Benjamin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Humanistic Psychology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Artistic Theory ◽  
Creative Artists

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the therapeutic benefits of a community-based creative artists support group. The author is also the participant/facilitator of the group, which has been ongoing for the past eight months. The relevant experiences of three participants in the group have been chosen, to briefly illustrate the diverse kinds of social and therapeutic value that people with creative artistic inclinations may benefit from. Design/methodology/approach – The philosophy of the author's facilitation of this creative artist support group is based upon the humanistic psychology foundations of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, as well as the author's previous work on the relationship of the creative artist to mental disturbance and mental health. Findings – The pragmatic illustrations of therapeutic benefit from participation in this creative artist support group are directly related to the humanistic supportive atmosphere that is described in this paper as a cornerstone of the Artistic Theory of Psychology. Originality/value – This paper is highly original in the context of the author's description of his Artistic Theory of Psychology, which utilizes the foundation for the “successful creative artist” as being successful in both one's chosen artistic realm as well as making a satisfactory adjustment to day-to-day life. It should also be noted that this paper has been written in the context of a “brief case study” as discussed in August 2013 with the Journal of Public Mental Health editor.

Health literacy and mental health of school principals. Results from a German cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Dadaczynski ◽  
Claudia Kotarski ◽  
Katharina Rathmann ◽  
Orkan Okan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Work Characteristics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

PurposeSchool principals are generally seen as key facilitators for the delivery and long-term implementation of activities on school health promotion, including health literacy. However, there is little evidence on the health literacy and health status of this occupational group. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the health literacy of school principals and its association with mental health indicators.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional online survey with German school principals and members of the management board (vice principals) was conducted (n = 680, 68.3% female). Demographic (gender, age) and work characteristics (type of school, professional role) as well as health literacy served as independent variables. Mental health as a dependent variable included well-being, emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Next to uni- and bivariate analysis, a series of binary logistic regression models was performed.FindingsOf the respondents, 29.2% showed a limited health literacy with significant differences to the disadvantage of male principals. With regard to mental health, respondents aged over 60 years and those from schools for children with special educational needs were less often affected by low well-being as well as frequent emotional exhaustion and psychosomatic complaints. Taking into account demographic and work characteristics, regression models revealed significant associations between a low level of health literacy and poor mental health across all indicators.Research limitations/implicationsThe cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow to draw conclusions about the causal pathways between health literacy and mental health. Although the sample has been weighted, the results cannot be generalized to the whole population of school principals. There is a need for evidence-based interventions aiming at promoting health literacy and mental health tailored to the needs of school principals.Originality/valueThis is the first study to investigate health literacy and its association with health indicators among school principals.

Recovery college features and context: advancing a recovery and well-being policy agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amadene Woolsey ◽  
Gillian Mulvale
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health System ◽  
Mental Health System ◽  
Well Being ◽  
System Reform ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
Mental Health Association

Purpose Internationally, there has been a move towards more recovery-oriented mental health policies for people living with mental illness, and some countries have included well-being as a population-level objective. In practice, these policy objectives can be difficult to achieve because of deeply rooted policy legacies, including a biomedical approach to care and the stigma associated with mental illness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how interventions that operate outside the formal mental health system, such as recovery colleges (RCs), may advance these policy objectives more easily than efforts at broader system reform. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a scoping review to explore the features and context of RCs that make the model an attractive and feasible opportunity to advance a recovery and well-being agenda. Our research is motivated by the initial and growing adoption of RCs by the Canadian Mental Health Association. This paper applies the consolidated framework for implementation research to analyse features of the model and the context of its implementation in Canada. Findings The RC’s educational approach, adaptability, coproduced nature and positioning outside the formal mental health system are key features that facilitate implementation without disrupting deeply entrenched policy legacies. Other facilitators in the Canadian context include the implementing organisation’s independence from government, its federated structure and the model’s alignment with national policy objectives. Originality/value This paper highlights how interventions outside the formal mental healthcare system can promote stated recovery and well-being policy goals.

scholarly journals How managers experience situations involving employee mental ill-health

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 442-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Martin ◽  
Megan Woods ◽  
Sarah Dawkins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Issue ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Mental health conditions such as depression are prevalent in working adults, costly to employers, and have implications for legal liability and corporate social responsibility. Managers play an important role in determining how employees’ and organizations’ interests are reconciled in situations involving employee mental ill-health issues. The purpose of this paper is to explore these situations from the perspective of managers in order to develop theory and inform practice in workplace mental health promotion. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 Australian managers who had supervised an employee with a mental health issue. Interview transcripts were content analyzed to explore themes in managers’ experiences. Findings Managing an employee with a mental health issue involves becoming aware of the issue, taking action to understand the situation and develop an action response, implementing the response and managing the ongoing situation. Each of these tasks had a range of positive and negative aspects to them, e.g., managing the situation can be experienced as both a source of stress for the manager but also as an opportunity to develop greater management skills. Practical implications Understanding line managers’ experiences is critical to successful implementation of HR policies regarding employee health and well-being. HR strategies for dealing with employee mental health issues need to consider implementation support for managers, including promotion of guiding policies, training, emotional support and creating a psychosocial safety climate in their work units or teams. Originality/value The insights gained from this study contribute to the body of knowledge regarding psychosocial safety climate, an emergent theoretical framework concerned with values, attitudes and philosophy regarding worker psychological health. The findings also have important implications for strategic human resource management approaches to managing mental health in the workplace.

scholarly journals WHO Parents Skills Training (PST) programme for children with developmental disorders and delays delivered by Family Volunteers in rural Pakistan: study protocol for effectiveness implementation hybrid cluster randomized controlled trial

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. U. Hamdani ◽  
P. Akhtar ◽  
Zill-e-Huma ◽  
H. Nazir ◽  
F. A. Minhas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Hybrid Cluster ◽  
Rural Pakistan

Background.Development disorders and delays are recognised as a public health priority and included in the WHO mental health gap action programme (mhGAP). Parents Skills Training (PST) is recommended as a key intervention for such conditions under the WHO mhGAP intervention guide. However, sustainable and scalable delivery of such evidence based interventions remains a challenge. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and scaled-up implementation of locally adapted WHO PST programme delivered by family volunteers in rural Pakistan.Methods.The study is a two arm single-blind effectiveness implementation-hybrid cluster randomised controlled trial. WHO PST programme will be delivered by ‘family volunteers’ to the caregivers of children with developmental disorders and delays in community-based settings. The intervention consists of the WHO PST along with the WHO mhGAP intervention for developmental disorders adapted for delivery using the android application on a tablet device. A total of 540 parent-child dyads will be recruited from 30 clusters. The primary outcome is child's functioning, measured by WHO Disability Assessment Schedule – child version (WHODAS-Child) at 6 months post intervention. Secondary outcomes include children's social communication and joint engagement with their caregiver, social emotional well-being, parental health related quality of life, family empowerment and stigmatizing experiences. Mixed method will be used to collect data on implementation outcomes. Trial has been retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02792894).Discussion.This study addresses implementation challenges in the real world by incorporating evidence-based intervention strategies with social, technological and business innovations. If proven effective, the study will contribute to scaled-up implementation of evidence-based packages for public mental health in low resource settings.Trial registration.Registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as Family Networks (FaNs) for Children with Developmental Disorders and Delays. Identifier: NCT02792894 Registered on 6 July 2016.

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