MENTAL HEALTH AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN A FISHING COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN NORWAY

Abstract Background Long term displacement and exposure to challenging living conditions can influence family dynamics; gender roles; violence at home and in the community and mental well-being. This qualitative study explores these issues as perceived by Syrian refugees who have been living in Shatila, a Palestinian camp in South Beirut, Lebanon, for at least 2 years. Methods Twenty eight in-depth interviews with men and women were conducted between February and June 2018. Women were recipients of mental health services, and men were recruited from the local community. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, translated, transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic content analysis. Results Our results show patterns of harsh living conditions similar to those described earlier in the course of the Syrian refugee crisis. Lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, cramped rooms and violence were all reported. Participants also described a lack of social support, discrimination and harassment within the host community, as well as limited social support networks within their own Syrian refugee community. Family dynamics were affected by the increased responsibilities on men, women and children; with additional economic and employment demands on men, women assuming the roles of ‘mother and father’ and children having to work and contribute to the household. Participants discussed several types of violence, including parental violence against children and violence in the community. Violence against women was also reported. Reported mental health issues included depression, anxiety, sadness, frustration, hopelessness, self-neglect and a loss of sense of self and self-worth. Some participants expressed a wish to die. Conclusions This study describes experiences of changing gender roles, family dynamics, violence and mental health after long-term displacement in in Shatila camp, South Beirut as perceived by Syrian refugees. A lack of safety and security coupled with economic hardship rendered refugees even more susceptible to exploitation and harassment. Parental violence was the most commonly reported type of domestic violence.

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PTSD as a consequence of past conflict experience, recent exposure to violence and economic marginalization in post-conflict contexts: A study from Nepal, Guatemala and Northern Ireland

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764019858122 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (6) ◽

pp. 488-495

Author(s):

Arne H Eide ◽

Karin Dyrstad

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Living Conditions ◽

Negative Events ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Economic Marginalization ◽

Current Risk

Background: Exposure to war and conflict increases the risk of mental health problems. Poor living conditions are known to negatively impact mental health. Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that exposure to negative events after armed conflict interacts with past negative experiences, socioeconomic factors and current mental health problems. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in three contexts of previous internal armed conflict: Nepal, Guatemala and Northern Ireland. Three nationally representative samples were drawn, comprising a net sample of 3,229 respondents. Results: Both recent negative events and past negative events linked to the previous conflicts were found to be associated with elevated risk of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Economic marginalization and urban residency also contributed to current risk of PTSD. Conclusions: The results support the study hypothesis that both past and recent negative events in combination with economic marginalization contribute to explain current risk of PTSD. It is necessary both to improve living conditions more broadly and to establish and develop health services that have the capacity to screen, prevent and treat mental health problems also in poor contexts, in particular against a background of previous armed conflict.

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Videoconferencing in psychiatry : a survey of use in northern Norway

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1258/1357633961930068 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 192-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

D Gammon ◽

S Bergvik ◽

T Bergmo ◽

S Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Longitudinal Data ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Completion Rate ◽

Northern Norway ◽

Supervision Training

A survey of the use of videoconferencing in mental health care was carried out in northern Norway. A questionnaire was distributed to all user institutions in northern Norway at the same time that ISDN became available, in mid-1995. The questionnaire completion rate for locations recorded as participants in videoconferencing sessions was 62%. Within six months, a total of 1028 persons had participated in 140 videoconferencing sessions from 35 institutions. The purposes of videoconferencing included meetings (50%), supervision, training and teaching (31%), clinical consultations (14%) and tests or demonstrations (5%). The alternative forms of contact which videoconferencing replaced included travel (59%), no contact (25%), telephone (14%), and mail or fax (2%). No problems were reported in 55% of the sessions; in 19% there were audio problems, in 14% there were picture problems, in 5% attempts to connect failed and in 5% disconnection occurred. The majority of users (87%) reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the facility; 8% were uncertain and 5% were less satisfied or totally dissatisfied. Continued surveying will provide longitudinal data on the diffusion of telepsychiatry in northern Norway.

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Ποιότητα ζωής και ψυχική υγεία των μητέρων με παιδί/ά στο φάσμα του αυτισμού: Επισκόπηση ευρημάτων

Psychology: the Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society ◽

10.12681/psy_hps.23600 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 413

Author(s):

Αναστασία Ζήση ◽

Σοφία Μαυροπούλου

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Theoretical Model ◽

Economic Status ◽

Explanatory Models ◽

Living Conditions ◽

Psychological Processes ◽

Perceived Quality Of Life ◽

Therapeutic Services

The present paper is a critical review of a representative corpus of studies extending from the ’70s until today, that examine the quality of life and mental health of parents, and especially mothers who raise at least one child with autism. This review aims at identifying the factors influencing mental health and perceived quality of life of parents withchildren within the autistic spectrum, drawing on the theoretical model of quality of life developed by Zissi & Barry (2006). This theoretical model posits that quality of life is associated with a variety of factors such as; a), objective living conditions that relate to family socio-economic status and its type, the severity of autism, and the access to therapeutic services, and b) socio-psychological processes that relate to the different explanatory models, the hardiness, the general life outlook and the quality of ties. This model predicts that socio-psychological processes mediate the relationship between objective living conditions, mental health and subjective evaluations of quality of life.

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Mental health among displaced and non-displaced populations in Valledupar, Colombia: Do inequalities continue?

10.21203/rs.3.rs-27875/v3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sonia Diaz Monsalve ◽

Angélica María Vargas-Monroy ◽

Jannethe Esmeral Ariza ◽

Ana Maria Oñate Cuello ◽

Ana Rosa Ropero Vera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Public Transport ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Living Conditions ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Traumatic Experience ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Displaced Populations

Abstract Background: During the long-lasting civil war in Colombia, the year 2002 marked a peak of violent activities displacing thousands of people mainly from rural to urban areas, causing social disruption and prolonged poverty. In 2015, the Colombian national survey on mental health included a first overview of mental health problems of victimized families. The here presented study aimed at analysing the traumatic experience many years ago on the current psycho-emotional status of displaced families as well as the ongoing inequalities regarding displaced and non-displaced populations in one of the most affected areas by the armed conflict. Methods: An interview survey was conducted among 211 displaced families and 181 non-displaced families in 2 adjacent compounds with several five-storey buildings in the outskirts of Valledupar, the capital of Cesar State in Colombia. The questionnaires were developed together with and applied by staff of the health and social services of the departmental secretary of health. The 15 interviewers conducted additionally in-depth interviews and participant observations. Results: The living conditions of the displaced community were precarious (lack of security, noise, drug trafficking, poor public transport). As a consequence of the past traumatic events about 16 to 18 years ago and current difficult living conditions, psycho-emotional problems were more frequent among the displaced compared to the non-displaced neighbourhood. The displaced had experienced more violent acts (intended murder, threat, murder of a family member and kidnapping) and had subsequently a larger number of emotional symptoms (fright, headache, nervousness, depression, sleeplessness). Other stress factors like economic problems, severe disease or death of family members and unemployment prevailed among displaced persons compared to the non-displaced. The non-displaced lived in a more protected environment with less exposure to violence and stress, although belonging to a similarly low socio-economic stratum. Those previously displaced respondents now living in the non-displaced community still suffered similar emotional symptoms as the displaced respondents living in the displaced community. It is recommended to take measures for a better protection of the displaced community, improve their access to the job market, offer different leisure activities (sports club, art, women’s club) and facilitate public transport.

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The Barents project in psychiatry: a systematic comparative mental health services study between Northern Norway and Archangelsk County

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/s00127-006-0141-4 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 131-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Grigory Rezvyy ◽

Terje Øiesvold ◽

Alexander Parniakov ◽

Oleg Ponomarev ◽

Olga Lazurko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Northern Norway

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Psykisk helsearbeideres erfaringer med å jobbe i små kommuner i Nordland

Nordisk tidsskrift for helseforskning ◽

10.7557/14.2561 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 19

Author(s):

Toril Beate Masvie ◽

Siri Ytrehus

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Workers ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Professional Role ◽

Private Life ◽

Mental Health Workers ◽

Special Focus ◽

Font Size ◽

Northern Norway ◽

The One

Abstract “Mental health workers’ experiences of working  in small municipalities in Northern Norway<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: NO-BOK; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">This study addresses the experience of mental health workers working in small municipalities in northern Norway. The study is based on qualitative interviews and had special focus on how the context influenced their professional role and role as citizens. The informants emphasized both positive and negative aspects of their work, but the negative aspects were most prominent in the interviews. On the one hand they experienced high degree of independency and possibility of close relationships to the patients due to transparency, but on the other hand also professional loneliness.  The relationship to the patients was multifaceted. The boundary between their professional role and the role as a citizen was difficult to maintain. The professional role could affect their private life and the role and relations they had in the community as a citizen. Some felt they had to withdraw from social networks and arenas which had been important to them.

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