Identifying the evidence base of interventions supporting mental health nurses to cope with stressful working environments: A scoping review

Purpose UK mental health strategy calls for interventions that empower people to self-manage their condition. In lifestyle coaching, coach and client work collaboratively on positive behaviour change to improve client health. There is debate about the appropriateness of coaching for mental health, yet claims have not been supported with evidence. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and scope of the existing research literature in this field. Design/methodology/approach Scoping review. Findings The growing evidence base shows positive outcomes of coaching; for instance, symptom reduction, enhanced self-management and achievement of personal goals. Research limitations/implications The evidence base is small and of variable quality, offering insights that warrant further exploration. Practical implications Coaching not only supports better self-management but also addresses further mental health strategy priorities (such as improved physical health and social functioning). Coaches need not be mental health experts; therefore coaching may be a cost-effective intervention. Social implications As mental ill-health prevalence continues to rise despite widespread use of Improving Access to Psychological Therapies and medication, there is a need to explore how novel approaches such as coaching might be integrated into mental healthcare. Originality/value This is the first study to collate the evidence on mental health coaching, highlighting its extensive potential, which should be further explored in research and practice.

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Walking on sunshine: scoping review of the evidence for walking and mental health

British Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1136/bjsports-2017-098827 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (12) ◽

pp. 800-806 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Paul Kelly ◽

Chloë Williamson ◽

Ailsa G Niven ◽

Ruth Hunter ◽

Nanette Mutrie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Scoping Review ◽

A Priori ◽

Well Being ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

National Guidelines

Background/objectivesWalking has well-established positive relationships with, and effects on, physical health. In contrast, while poor mental health contributes substantially to global health burden, an overview of the benefits from walking has not previously been published. We aimed to scope the literature and present what is known, and highlight what is not known, about walking and mental health.MethodsDesign: Scoping review.Data sources: Ovid (Medline), ProQuest, Web of Science.Screening and reporting: 13 014 records were identified and screened by a team of researchers. Included full texts were analysed and reported according to mental health outcome.ResultsFor the 8 mental health outcomes (identified a priori), there were a total of 5 systematic reviews and 50 individual papers included. Depression had the most evidence and existing systematic reviews were reported. Evidence for anxiety, psychological stress, psychological well-being, subjective well-being and social isolation and loneliness varied in volume and effectiveness, but no harmful effects were identified. There were no studies for walking and resilience. The setting and context of walking seems to be important variables.ConclusionThe evidence base that suggests walking benefits mental health is growing, but remains fragmented and incomplete for some important outcomes. Policy and national guidelines should promote the known mental health benefits of increased walking and future research should directly address the gaps we have identified.

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Digital Games and Mental Health

10.4018/978-1-7998-8634-1.ch007 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 142-162

Author(s):

Luciana Lima ◽

Camila Pinto ◽

Anna Unterholzner ◽

Patrícia Gouveia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Digital Games ◽

Online Games ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Appropriate Use ◽

Real Risk ◽

The Individual ◽

The Relationship

As more and more people worldwide play online games, identifying how games can help or harm players' mental health can be helpful for researchers and clinicians developing digital therapies through gaming. This chapter summarizes a scoping review focused on the relationship between digital games and mental health in the last decade. This type of review is designed to provide an overview of the existing evidence base on a particular topic. Of the 115 records selected after the first screening, 21 studies were included according to the inclusion criteria defined by the authors. From this scoping study, it is possible to recommend that even though video games are a real risk for addiction, they can work as digital therapies for psychosocial rehabilitation when administered with precaution in groups with mental disorders such as depression, high levels of anxiety, and ADHD. For this, a rigorous clinical assessment should be conducted that makes appropriate use of gamer typologies and evaluates the individual, emotional, and social factors that impact gamer behavior.

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Mental health nursing: is Rome burning?

British Journal of Mental Health Nursing ◽

10.12968/bjmh.2020.0015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Edward White ◽

Charles Brooker

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Service Provision ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Research Activity ◽

Mental Health Nursing ◽

Mental Health Nurses ◽

Health Service Provision ◽

Health Nursing ◽

The Uk ◽

Mental Health Service Provision

Background/Aims The recent period of financial austerity, between 2010 and 2020, adversely impacted mental health service provision and raised fundamental questions for mental health nurses. This article aims to identify and discuss present areas of professional concern to mental health nurses in the UK. Methods The authors invited submissions from 12 experienced mental health nurses regarding the contemporary circumstances and likely future direction of mental health nursing. Each manuscript was reviewed, and recurrent themes emerged around which an editorial discussion was framed. Findings Many issues around service provision have persisted and/or deteriorated over time. The impacts on mental health nursing continue to be largely related to the type of educational preparation required, the size of the workforce and the research activity deemed necessary to strengthen the evidence base of clinical practice. Conclusions Mental health nursing faces several challenging issues to address if it is to survive and then to establish the unique professional identity it seeks.

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Examining the mental health outcomes of school-based peer-led interventions on young people: A scoping review of range and a systematic review of effectiveness

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0249553 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0249553

Author(s):

Thomas King ◽

Mina Fazel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Social Stress ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Peer Leaders ◽

Eligibility Criteria

Schools worldwide have implemented many different peer-led interventions with mixed results, but the evidence base on their effectiveness as mental health interventions remains limited. This study combines a scoping review and systematic review to map the variations of peer-led interventions in schools and to evaluate the quality of the existing evidence base. This scoping review and systematic review evaluated the existing literature across 11 academic databases. Studies were included if they reported a peer-led intervention that aimed to address a mental health or wellbeing issue using a peer from the same school setting. Data were extracted from published and unpublished reports and presented as a narrative synthesis. 54 studies met eligibility criteria for the scoping review, showing that peer-led interventions have been used to address a range of mental health and wellbeing issues globally. 11 studies met eligibility criteria for the systematic review with a total of 2,239 participants eligible for analysis (929 peer leaders; 1,310 peer recipients). Two studies out of seven that looked at peer leaders showed significant improvements in self-esteem and social stress, with one study showing an increase in guilt. Two studies out of five that looked at peer recipient outcomes showed significant improvements in self-confidence and in a quality of life measure, with one study showing an increase in learning stress and a decrease in overall mental health scores. The findings from these reviews show that despite widespread use of peer-led interventions, the evidence base for mental health outcomes is sparse. There appear to be better documented benefits of participation for those who are chosen and trained to be a peer leader, than for recipients. However, the small number of included studies means any conclusions about effectiveness are tentative.

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Health professionals in Kenya: strategies to expand reach and reduce brain drain of psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists

BJPsych International ◽

10.1192/s2056474000001227 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 55-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sharon Brownie ◽

Elizabeth Oywer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Working Conditions ◽

Brain Drain ◽

Human Resources For Health ◽

Retention Rates ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Mental Health Nurses ◽

Working Environments ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Brain

This paper highlights the extent of the brain drain in relation to human resources for health (HRH) that is currently challenging Kenya, and suggests strategies that have the potential to change current working environments and improve HRH retention rates. Governments in partnership with health professional bodies and regulators could improve the working conditions for psychiatrists and mental health nurses: by promoting career choices in mental health; by providing accessible professional development opportunities; and by easing workload pressures by expanding service reach through thoughtfully planned and delivered task-shifting to primary care. While these strategies have the potential to make a significant difference, the evidence suggests a brain drain will continue as long as working conditions remain sub-optimal and global HRH shortages persist.

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Stress and fitness in ward-based mental health nurses

Journal of Clinical Nursing ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2702.1997.00171.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

pp. 419-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jerome Carson ◽

Leonard Fagin ◽

Sukwinder Maal ◽

Nicolette Devilliers ◽

Patty O'Malley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Nurses

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