The creative artist support group: a case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot Benjamin

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.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Kermode

PurposePerson-centred care is a fundamental component of any service. This case study aims to explore the delivery of person-centred care in the voluntary sector, discussing how integrating support can be achieved to benefit individuals. It identifies challenges, best practice and learning that can be applied across sectors and promotes further enquiry.Design/methodology/approachThis case study is the result of a service audit at a mental health charity. The findings are a blend of reflections, observations and examples from service delivery, synthesised with national policy to provide evidence of best practice and processes that enable person-centred care.FindingsA focus on need not diagnosis, creating accessible and inclusive services, employing dual trained practitioners, having a varied skill mix along with holistic self-assessment tools are all enablers for integrated person-centred support. Multi-agency assessment frameworks, collaboration across services, cross-agency supervision and a shared vision for integration and person-centred care support services to coordinate more effectively. Barriers to integrated person-centred support include complex physical and mental health needs and harmful risk and safeguarding. The diversity of the voluntary sector, a lack of resources along with complex and competitive funding also hinder integration.Originality/valueThis case study provides a valuable insight into the voluntary sector and shares its findings to enhance best practice. It aims to promote interest and invites further research into health and social care delivery by the voluntary sector. As this delivery continues to increase, it is vital to examine the interface between the voluntary and statutory sector. Through better understanding and further research across all sectors, the author can identify how they can achieve person-centred outcomes and deliver the national policies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-213
Author(s):  
Ali Coles ◽  
Tom Elliott

Purpose This paper aims to describe service user experiences of an art psychotherapy group which drew on occupational therapy perspectives to help adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties move forward in their recovery. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach incorporating outcome data was used. The data gathered comprised attendance, facilitators’ clinical notes, photographs of participant artworks, the Psychological Outcome Profiles questionnaire (PSYCHLOPS: www.psychlops.org), a post-therapy feedback form, discussion at post-therapy individual review sessions and participants’ achievements post-group. Findings All but one participant scored the group as “very helpful” or “helpful” and all felt that the group had helped them with the personal aims they had identified. The PSYCHLOPS questionnaire yielded a large average effect size, indicating positive change in terms of problems, functioning and well-being. Participants identified several ways in which the group was helpful, and their artwork and reflections indicate how they used the art making in the group to pursue their recovery goals. The service user experiences and outcomes suggest that this group was effective in facilitating recovery for these adults with severe and enduring mental health difficulties. Originality/value This group was innovative in integrating approaches from the different professional specialisms and the findings encourage further investigation into this way of working.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Edson P. Yarcia ◽  
Jan Michael Alexandre C. Bernadas

Purpose This paper aims to examine key obligations of states to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) under the right to health framework in the context of COVID-19. As a case study, it also describes the state of health in places of detention in the Philippines during the pandemic, with an end view of providing granular recommendations for prison policy reforms. Design/methodology/approach Relevant rules under international human rights law related to places of detention were thematically analyzed to articulate the scope of the right to health of PDLs. To describe the state of places of detention in the Philippines, this paper relied on archival research of news from selected local mainstream and specialized media. Findings The right to health framework provides a foundation for the response to COVID-19 in places of detention. Key concerns include increase in the number of infections, vulnerabilities in physical and mental health, and the spread of infection among correctional staff. Long-standing structural constraints and limited health information compound the threat of COVID-19. The Philippines must comply with its human rights obligations to PDLs to effectively address COVID-19-related concerns. Practical implications Policy reforms in Philippine places of detention must include application of community standards on physical and mental health, implementation of emergency release and application of non-custodial measures for long-term prison decongestion. Originality/value This is one of the few papers to analyze human rights in health care in places of detention during a pandemic, as nuanced in the context of the Philippines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  

Abstract Scope and extent as well as duration of mental health and mental disorders are influenced by various factors, such as environmental factors. Environmental factors relate to physical, chemical and built environment. We aim to build knowledge by providing 1) a case study on perception of climate change and possibilities and limitations of adaptation, 2) a review on mental and neuropsychiatric disorders in the light of the SDGs framework and 3) give an overview of research methods both, in environmental epidemiology and in neuropsychiatric epidemiology. By bringing together the two fields of expertise and the members of the section of Environment and Health and of Public Mental health we will not only build bridges between individuals but between disciplines which might lead to a joint research agenda. Key messages The scope of mental health changes with changes in the environment. Knowledge provides a strong bridge to link the environment with mental disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-625
Author(s):  
Lisa Cosgrove ◽  
Justin M. Karter ◽  
Zenobia Morrill ◽  
Mallaigh McGinley

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth technologies and mental health apps have been promoted to manage distress in the public and to augment existing mental health services. From a humanistic perspective, the promotion and use of mobile apps raises ethical concerns regarding the autonomy of the person using the app. However, there are other dangers that arise when technological fixes are embraced at a time of crisis. Naomi Klein and Shoshanna Zuboff have recently warned about disaster and surveillance capitalism—using crises to pass legislation that will benefit the rich and deepen inequality, and using anonymized behavioral data for commercial purposes. This analysis reveals that mental health apps may take individuals at their most vulnerable and make them part of a hidden supply chain for the marketplace. We provide a case study of a mental health app that uses digital phenotyping to predict negative mood states. We describe the logic of digital phenotyping and assess the efficacy data on which claims of its validity are based. Drawing from the frameworks of disaster and surveillance capitalism, we also use a humanistic psychology lens to identify the ethical entanglements and the unintended consequences of promoting and using this technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-234
Author(s):  
Dominiek Coates ◽  
Deborah Howe

Purpose The discrepancy between increasing demand and limited resources in public mental health is putting pressure on services to continuously review their practices and develop innovative models of care that redress this discrepancy. To ensure the service models continue to meet the needs of all stakeholders, children and young people’s mental health (CYPMH) conducts regular reviews of its service models. Accordingly, the youth mental health (YMH) model at CYPMH has evolved significantly over time in response to the needs of young people and service demand. The purpose of this paper is to outline the findings of a recent review of the YMH service, and the subsequent changes to the service model. Design/methodology/approach Informed by a participatory action philosophy, feedback was sought from staff on the service model through a range of methods including a questionnaire, staff consultations through a working party and interviews. This feedback was used to redesign the model, which was then evaluated again. Findings Staff identified a number of challenges with the service model and a range of service improvement solutions. The key issues included exceedingly high caseloads, workplace tensions, and fragmentation of the client journey. This paper outlines the primary solution to these key concerns, namely, the introduction of brief intervention (BI) as the entry point to the service. Originality/value BI approaches provide a solution to overly high caseloads as the direct and focussed approach of BI generally reduces the number of sessions people need. BI is an important addition to other treatment options and should be seen as a valid component of the continuum of mental healthcare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-91
Author(s):  
Woody Caan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the twenty-first century reach and impact of “happiness” work by one individual (Professor Lord Richard Layard). Design/methodology/approach The author approaches his work as a public health case study, with the caveat that the author knew this “Case” personally, which could influence the author’s assessment. Findings During 2005-2018, Richard Layard stimulated discussion of “happiness” as a field of study. This field now has global relevance to mental health, although its relationship to practice for population health is still debated. Originality/value Layard’s ideas are behind many initiatives, such as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
Jo Mullen ◽  
Jerome Carson

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Jo Mullen. Design/methodology/approach Jo provides a short background to her life and is then interviewed by Jerome. Findings Jo tells us about the teaching resources that she has developed to increase understanding of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Research limitations/implications While this is a single case study, it contains numerous helpful insights of how Jo has developed and presented her work, along with two mental health nurses, and of the high quality educational interventions she has produced. Practical implications Jo presents a model of co-production, where service partner and mental health professional are equals. Social implications It would be helpful if mental health services invested in supporting talented individuals like Jo, to develop and disseminate the tools she has created. Originality/value Thus far Jo has written her own personal account of what it is like to cope with BPD, a bigger training resource, “Wot R U Like?” and a board game, Personapoly, to help individuals solve social and personal problems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Weist ◽  
Kathleen Blackburn Franke ◽  
Rob Lucio ◽  
Jefferson Bass ◽  
Terry Doan ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the relationship between privatization and school mental health (SMH) in the USA, as well as to present a case study of the SMH system in South Carolina. Design/methodology/approach The authors reviewed data regarding states’ mental health systems (e.g. public, private and hybrid of public and private), mental health budgets and percentages of schools with mental health clinicians. Findings The results demonstrate that the majority of states have public mental health systems. There is variability between states regarding general funding, as well as funding for SMH. Further, there was variability in the percentage of schools with SMH clinicians, with South Carolina reporting the greatest percentage. South Carolina’s mental health system, which is a public–private hybrid is reviewed, along with relevant history on the development of SMH programs in the state. Originality/value This paper contributes to the general knowledge by describing the provision and funding sources for SMH services within the USA. It yields important implications for integrating public mental health services within schools.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian F. Walker ◽  
Jude Stansfield ◽  
Lily Makurah ◽  
Helen Garnham ◽  
Claire Robson ◽  
...  

Purpose Mental health is an emerging health policy priority globally. The emphasis on closing the treatment gap in psychiatric services is now being complemented by an increasing focus on prevention and health promotion. The purpose of this paper is to describe the programmes and delivery of public mental health in England led by Public Health England (PHE), an arms-length body of the Department of Health and Social Care. Design/methodology/approach This technical paper outlines the general approach PHE has taken in delivering national work in public mental health and describes several key areas of work: children and young people, suicide prevention, workplace and workforce, strategic engagement with stakeholders, data and information and evidence synthesis. Findings A description of the various programmes and guidance documents that PHE have produced are described and referenced, which form a substantial body of work in public mental health. Practical implications The outputs from PHE may assist in informing the approach to public mental health that other government agencies could consider adopting. The resources described and signposted within this technical paper are publicly available for readers. Originality/value England is one of a small group of countries that have a track record in delivering public mental health at a national level. This paper gives a unique and detailed insight into this work.


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