The Recovery House in Trieste: rational, participants, intervention as the “work”

Author(s):  
Roberta Casadio ◽  
Izabel Cristina Marin ◽  
Thais Thomé ◽  
Roberto Mezzina ◽  
Paul Baker ◽  
...  

PurposeToo often people with complex mental health needs do not find their way out of the mental health system or find satisfactory solutions that enable them to live a full life. In 2015 the Mental Health Department (MHD) of Trieste established the Recovery House pilot project to address this concern. The paper aims to Investigate the project.Design/methodology/approachThe Recovery House was co-created with and for people between 18 and 35 years old with diagnoses of psychosis and other complex mental health conditions. An integral part of the pilot was the organization of the “Recovery Community,” inspired by the Assembly model embraced by Franco Basaglia. The Recovery Community met regularly to both support and learn from the Recovery House and aimed to create a democratic and reflective space where power relationships, self-determination, responsibility and ownership by all the stakeholders, including family members, could be explored together.FindingsOver a period of 31 months, four groups of people have successfully completed their residency at the Recovery House. In total, 89 percent of people who stayed at the Recovery House did so up to six months. After the period of staying at the Recovery House most of them moved to independent living or shared supported accommodation.Originality/valueThis initiative sheds light on the fact that democratic values, approaches and structures can improve both service functioning and the recovery outcomes for people with complex health needs. Further, the Recovery House has had a significant effect on the culture and practice of the MHD in adopting a comprehensive approach to emotional distress.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk Heilbrun ◽  
Sarah Fishel ◽  
Claire Lankford ◽  
Mina Ratkalkar

Purpose The conviction of innocent individuals has emerged as an international concern, resulting in substantial attention to the legal needs that stem from exoneration. However, many other challenges can also arise in the aftermath of an exoneration, including financial, psychosocial and mental health needs. Relatively little has been written about the particular reentry needs of individuals who are exonerated of their charges, and even fewer studies have considered the effectiveness of various treatment approaches. The purpose of this paper is to reviews the available literature, identifies gaps and provides clinical recommendations for the development of treatment interventions for exonerees. Design/methodology/approach The research addressing the needs and challenges that arise in the aftermath of exoneration is reviewed and analysed for implications that can guide treatment-planning in this area. Findings This paper reviews key finds from the literature and provides recommendations for developing a semi-structured approach to treating exonerees. Practical implications Practical applications for the development of effective therapeutic interventions for exonerated individuals are identified and discussed. Originality/value Currently, there is very limited literature addressing the specific reentry needs and effective therapeutic interventions for exonerated individuals.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-167
Author(s):  
Winifred Asare-Doku ◽  
Jane Rich ◽  
Brian Kelly ◽  
Carole James

Purpose Previous research has suggested high levels of unaddressed mental health needs among male-dominated work settings. The mining industry has been a recent focus internationally. This paper aims to critically examine research regarding organizational mental health interventions for people working in mining industries. Design/methodology/approach The narrative review used a systematic standardized search strategy in six databases and grey literature from 1990 to 2019. Findings Of the 418 studies identified, seven studies (five quantitative and two qualitative studies) met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of these studies revealed the organisational interventions available to address mental health needs of miners. Interventions were categorised into organisational and individual-focused approaches. Evidence shows there is great potential in conducting workplace mental health programs, yet further research is required to create a strong evidence base for substantiated policy and practice implications. Practical implications Mental health interventions and programs should be available in mining industry to enhance mental health. Organisations can also improve mental health by implementing significant changes in the work environment and identifying workplace factors that induce strain and contribute to psychological distress in employees. Attempt can be made at restructuring safety policies and practices to include mental health, addressing organisational structures such as work schedules and providing training for managers and supervisors. Originality/value This review focuses on the unique characteristics pertaining to male-dominated mining industries and workplace mental health interventions which are aimed at supporting employee mental health.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 280-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Windsor ◽  
Glenn Roberts ◽  
Paul Dieppe

Purpose Recovery Colleges could deliver many of the defined key outcomes within the Cross Governmental Mental Health Outcomes Framework “no health without mental health” (Department of Health, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to critically appraise the existing evidence of recovery educational programmes in mental health and gain a deeper understanding of the processes and outcomes involved. Design/methodology/approach A broad search strategy looking at recovery educational programmes in mental health was used. The data were gathered from two focus groups each containing five people, one with facilitators and one with students. Thematic analysis was used, following the six stages, recursive process recommended by Braun and Clarke (2006). Findings The main processes described in recovery programmes were co-production and education. The main outcomes were that recovery programmes led to a reduction in the use of health services, increased opportunities for future employment and a positive impact on staff. The process themes that appeared to emerge were the College ethos and principles, co-production, safety, empowerment and stimulation. The outcome themes that appeared to emerge included increased confidence, motivation and social interaction. Originality/value Recovery Colleges appear to benefit both facilitators and students by co-production of a safe, stimulating environment which empowers them: participating in the college benefits facilitators as well as students. This paper is of value to those interested in recovery and education within mental health.


1987 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Walker

This article describes a philosophy and methodology for meeting the mental health needs of mentally retarded adults. It illustrates the impact such counseling can have in realizing the potential of such persons for independent living and vocational rehabilitation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel D. Mankiewicz ◽  
Johan Truter

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise the development of a recovery-oriented and socially inclusive acute care clinical psychology service in one of the NHS Trusts based in East Anglia. It demonstrates the service's compliance with relevant national policies and guidelines, and addresses some of the criticisms directed at acute mental health care in recent years. Both achievements and difficulties are reflected on. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs an organisational development case example related to applicable clinical practice model, based on national guidelines and policies, in order to demonstrate that it is possible to develop and implement a recovery-oriented clinical psychology practice in acute inpatient mental health care. This is based on the authors, experiences as a public sector clinical psychologists specialising in complex, severe, and enduring mental health needs. Findings – Clinical psychologists may effectively contribute to the development of psychosocially informed and recovery-based multidisciplinary attitudes towards emotional difficulties of individuals admitted to psychiatric wards. Research limitations/implications – Future service development project of similar nature ought to implement standardised measures (e.g. ward atmosphere scales) to increase validity of findings. Practical implications – Despite limited, and continuously decreasing, resources in the NHS it appears possible to develop and establish a successful and objectively replicable provision of recovery-based psychological services across an entire acute care mental health pathway. Social implications – Recovery-enhancing clinical psychology interventions should not be limited to those receiving care from community-based services only. Building psychologically informed understanding of mental health needs should be employed on inpatient wards too, in order to counterbalance the dominating biomedical models of mental illness. Originality\value – Dissemination of examples of effective psychosocial practice in acute mental health settings appears largely underrepresented.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Linsley ◽  
R. Slinn ◽  
R. Nathan ◽  
L. Guest ◽  
H. Griffiths

Over the past 20–30 years psychiatry has gradually moved from predominantly hospital-based care to care in the community. Community psychiatry embraces a variety of definitions: it may describe the practice setting, the population served or the philosophy of illness and treatment (Johnston et al, 1995). In discussing the training implications of this shift towards community models of psychiatric care, we will not consider a separate discipline of ‘adult community psychiatry’. We believe that nearly all psychiatric specialities now involve substantial elements of work outside the hospital, and we therefore contend that the new skills, knowledge and attitudes required to meet the challenge of providing both hospital- and community-based care are pertinent to all trainees. Furthermore, the development of these are essential if the consultant of the future is to provide the safe, effective and sustainable service to those with complex mental health needs detailed in the recent National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999). We will also not attempt specifically to assess the merits of the move to community psychiatry, which may be subject to a separate debate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-189
Author(s):  
Gabriel Abotsie ◽  
Roger Kingerlee ◽  
Andrew Fisk ◽  
Sam Watts ◽  
Rachel Cooke ◽  
...  

Purpose Comparatively, men have poorer physical and mental health outcomes than women, with a significantly higher suicide rate. Contributory factors are thought to be social and biological, leading to reduced access to health-care services. The study aims to develop and implement community-based support to increase awareness of and access to men’s mental health support networks and groups. Design/methodology/approach The project involved three key work-packages discussed in this paper: raising awareness of men’s mental health needs in health care, educational and community settings; collaboration between National Health Services (NHS) and non-NHS health-care support organisations to build multi-sector partnership working; and developing a supported sports-based community intervention aimed at men living with mental health conditions. The acceptability and feasibility of these work-packages were pragmatically evaluated through mixed-methods surveys and qualitative content analysis. Findings Overall, both community events and sports groups successfully engaged men living with mental health problems. Organisations interested in men’s mental health are continuing to engage in a partnership initiative. Community events were well-attended and received positive feedback, particularly regarding the educative and real-life experiences approach promoted in the events. The sports intervention is feasible and well-accepted by participants, who described feeling supported with their physical and mental health needs, with increased mental well-being reported. Research limitations/implications The main limitations of this project are that the authors only evaluated a football group rather than all work areas. The project collected outcomes relating to participants’ demographics and qualitative reflections of participating in the football group along with a retrospective survey of perceived benefits, but the project did not undertake a pre- and post-comparison of well-being outcomes owing to low completion of these measures. Future work could focus on collecting more pre- and post-measures related to well-being, recovery and inclusion and compare these with men not involved in the football groups or public events. Practical implications This paper discusses the development and feasibility of setting up community-based men’s mental health support networks, involving public events, partnership working and targeted-sports interventions. All initiatives were well-received and successfully attended by men living with mental health conditions. Evaluation of the programme revealed the value placed on education about mental health and the role that community sports interventions may play in men’s mental health care. Social implications This project has demonstrated three different ways of supporting men’s mental health needs in the community. Community public events were held to raise awareness of men’s mental health needs and issues were well-attended and highlighted the need for health promotion and education in this area across all the communities. The men’s football group demonstrated the feasibility of moving mental health support out into a non-clinical and more community arena in a way that men engaged effectively. Finally, the creation of MensNet has bought together disparate multi-sector organisations successfully to lead public health mechanisms to support men’s mental health needs. Originality/value This paper describes a new multi-disciplined approach to supporting health-seeking challenges among men, in particular, how partnership working across NHS and non-NHS sectors can successfully support an identified public health need pragmatically using existing services and organisations.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 314-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Beales ◽  
Johanna Wilson

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline what peer support is, covering its history, variations and benefits, then goes on to discuss what the challenges have been to authenticity and what the future holds for peer support. Design/methodology/approach – The authors argue for the necessity of service user leadership in peer support based on both the Service User Involvement Directorate’s (SUID’s) experience and UK-wide learning. Findings – Peer support brings wellbeing and confidence benefits both to the supporter and the supported. However, the lack of understanding of what peer support is, the current climate of austerity and over-professionalisation can threaten the transformational power of genuine peer support. Research limitations/implications – Peer support is always evolving, and there are areas like the criminal justice service and secure services where more work needs to be done. Practical implications – Commissioners/funders of mental health services should recognise the value of peer support and its potential for better wellbeing outcomes, while understanding the necessity of service user leadership to maximise its beneficial potential. Originality/value – The paper looks at peer support at the point in time a decade after the formation of the SUID at Together and four years since the UK mental health strategy No Health Without Mental Health (Department of Health, 2011) and explores the challenges faced at a time when the value of peer support is generally accepted in legislation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 381-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy J. Razza ◽  
Laura Schwartz Dayan ◽  
Daniel Tomasulo ◽  
Michelle S. Ballan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is threefold: to document the relationship between intellectual disability (ID) and psychopathology; to raise awareness of the ongoing lag in professional training for psychologists in the area of mental health treatment for people with intellectual disabilities; and, to provide recommendations for advancing professional education and, ultimately, adequate mental health treatment availability for people with intellectual disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the literature on prevalence of mental health problems in people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, the paper reviews the training of psychologists relative to the burgeoning growth in awareness of the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities. Findings – The paper concludes that ID is a significant risk factor for psychopathology. In addition, the paper concludes that the education of psychologists regarding the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities is insufficient. The authors document the need for incorporating research and treatment advances related to intellectual disabilities and mental health into to the professional training of psychologists. The paper also describe the potential this training holds for improving both the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and the overall competence of psychologists. Practical implications – This paper provides a literature-based rationale for the need to include education in the mental health needs of people with intellectual disabilities into the general training of mental health professionals. In addition, it provides specific recommendations for how such training can be incorporated into graduate psychology programs. Originality/value – This paper provides mental health professionals with a review of the growth in understanding of the enormous, unmet mental health needs of people intellectual disabilities, and of the critical role of ID in development of mental health problems. Moreover, this paper builds the case for an important revision in the training of psychologists to include competence in understanding and treating mental health problems across the full spectrum of intellectual functioning.


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