scholarly journals A review of a primary mental health service 10 years on

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-85
Author(s):  
Sarah Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Brief Intervention ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Intervention Service

The past 10 years have seen a shift in mental health care in Aotearoa New Zealand towards early intervention and treatment at a primary care level providing a range of levels of mental health interventions in a variety of settings. Previously specialist mental health care had been the responsibility of community mental health teams and secondary service inpatient care which provided care for people with severe mental illness (3% of the population). In this article, I look at the move towards the provision of primary mental health care. I describe and review the Mental Health Brief Intervention Service in South Canterbury, one of the earliest primary mental health services initiated by the South Canterbury District Health Board, which started in 2005. I present research fi from my Master’s thesis Mental Health Brief Intervention – does it work? An evaluation of practice, and discuss how the Mental Health Brief Intervention Service has made a positive change for general practitioners, the client, the interface with other services including secondary mental health services and service delivery in general. Forms of consumer feedback are discussed along with the changes in the service over the last 10 years. It is written by myself, a social worker, who played an integral part in initiating and establishing the service and continues to have an active role as a clinician within the Mental Health Brief Intervention Service. This article is written to provide social workers with an overview of the establishment of the Mental Health Brief Intervention Service and the impact on service delivery. The role of the social worker is discussed as is the role of other health professionals within the team. 

scholarly journals Mental Health Service in Ghana: A Review of the Case

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Adu-Gyamfi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
The Government

Mental health care in Ghana has been fraught with several challenges leading to stagnant growth in mental health service delivery and in some cases a severe depreciation in the nature of care. The Government of Ghana pays little or no attention to mental health care in the country, a situation that has led to poor service delivery in the three major psychiatric hospitals in Ghana. The implementation of the Ghana Mental Act of 2012 has also been faced with major challenges with no significant progress being made. This studytherefore sought to review and document the development of mental health care services in Ghana. Specifically, the study examined the various legislations on mental health that have been enacted  in Ghana since 1900; investigated the implementation of the current Mental Health Act of Ghana; found out whether the Ghanaian government has prioritise mental health services in the country and assessed the challenges and problems that confronted mental health services in Ghana since 1900.The study concludes that, since 1888 efforts have been made by various governments to legislate the provision of mental services in Ghana. However, these legislations have not always protected the rights and interest of the mentally ill.

scholarly journals The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Community-based Mental Health Services in Northern Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 24-37
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ejembi Anyebe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Northern Nigeria ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Community Based

Despite the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in many health issues, their role in community mental health services in parts of northern Nigeria is unknown. This study explored the availability and role of NGOs in community-mental health care services, with a view to identifying the prospects and challenges. Using the convergent mixed methods approach, a self-constructed questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used to collect data from 205 conveniently and purposively selected study participants. Descriptive and thematic analyses were done and then triangulated to meet research objectives. There is a scarcity of mental health-related NGOs in the study areas; only one NGO engaged in the mental health activities was identified (13.4%). Surprisingly attempts by the only available NGO at providing the needed community-based mental health care were “frustrated” by certain government policy directions, which appear to paralyse activities and intentions of the only existing one. NGOs for mental health care are lacking. There is a dire need for NGO activities in mental health care. Efforts should be made to attract NGOs to the study areas in view of the increasing burden of mental health issues in the communities in the setting. Governments at all levels, community-based organisations and traditional institutions can be instrumental to this. NGOs within and outside the study areas focusing on community health in general and mental health care, in particular, may also interrogate this situation further for urgent intervention.

scholarly journals An Integrated Blueprint for Digital Mental Health Services Amidst COVID-19 (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Balcombe ◽  
Diego De Leo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services

UNSTRUCTURED In-person traditional approaches to mental health care services are facing difficulties amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. The recent implementation of social distancing has redirected attention to nontraditional mental health care delivery to overcome hindrances to essential services. Telehealth has been established for several decades but has only been able to play a small role in health service delivery. Mobile and teledigital health solutions for mental health are well poised to respond to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases. Screening and tracking with real-time automation and machine learning are useful for both assisting psychological first-aid resources and targeting interventions. However, rigorous evaluation of these new opportunities is needed in terms of quality of interventions, effectiveness, and confidentiality. Service delivery could be broadened to include trained, unlicensed professionals, who may help health care services in delivering evidence-based strategies. Digital mental health services emerged during the pandemic as complementary ways of assisting community members with stress and transitioning to new ways of living and working. As part of a hybrid model of care, technologies (mobile and online platforms) require consolidated and consistent guidelines as well as consensus, expert, and position statements on the screening and tracking (with real-time automation and machine learning) of mental health in general populations as well as considerations and initiatives for underserved and vulnerable subpopulations.

scholarly journals An Integrated Blueprint for Digital Mental Health Services Amidst COVID-19

10.2196/21718 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e21718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Balcombe ◽  
Diego De Leo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services

In-person traditional approaches to mental health care services are facing difficulties amidst the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. The recent implementation of social distancing has redirected attention to nontraditional mental health care delivery to overcome hindrances to essential services. Telehealth has been established for several decades but has only been able to play a small role in health service delivery. Mobile and teledigital health solutions for mental health are well poised to respond to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases. Screening and tracking with real-time automation and machine learning are useful for both assisting psychological first-aid resources and targeting interventions. However, rigorous evaluation of these new opportunities is needed in terms of quality of interventions, effectiveness, and confidentiality. Service delivery could be broadened to include trained, unlicensed professionals, who may help health care services in delivering evidence-based strategies. Digital mental health services emerged during the pandemic as complementary ways of assisting community members with stress and transitioning to new ways of living and working. As part of a hybrid model of care, technologies (mobile and online platforms) require consolidated and consistent guidelines as well as consensus, expert, and position statements on the screening and tracking (with real-time automation and machine learning) of mental health in general populations as well as considerations and initiatives for underserved and vulnerable subpopulations.

scholarly journals Asian Americans and Mental Health: Cultural Barriers to Effective Treatment

Elements ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather K. Speller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Asian American ◽  
Racial Minorities ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Surgeon General

Disparities in mental health care for racial minorities remains a serious and very real problem calling for immediate attention. The 2001 report of the Surgeon General affirmed that ethnic and racial minorities have less access to and availability of mental health services, and are subsequently less likely to receive needed mental health services. This paper examines a range of issues regarding Asian American mental health. It presents the practical and cultural barriers that members of this ethnic group confront when seeking mental health care and explains how cultural differences sometimes result in misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. It also explores ways that the American mental health care system can improve to accommodate diverse ethnic groups.

scholarly journals Converging perspectives of providers and student users on extending a patient portal into a university-based mental health service: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Gasteiger ◽  
Theresa Fleming ◽  
K Day
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Patient Portals

© 2020 The Authors Background: Patient portals have the potential to increase access to mental health services. However, a lack of research is available to guide practices on extending patient portals into mental health services. This study explored stakeholder (student service users' and health providers') expectations and perceptions of extending patient portals into a New Zealand university-based mental health service. Materials and methods: This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 17 students and staff members at a university-based health and counselling service on an Internet-based patient portal through a software demonstration, two focus groups and 13 interviews. Data were analyzed thematically. Results: Staff and students perceived the patient portal as useful, easy to use and expected it to help make mental health care more accessible. Staff were most concerned with the portal's ability to support their triage processes and that it might enable students to ‘counselor hop’ (see multiple counselors). Staff recommended extension into services that do not require triage. Most students expected the portal to enhance patient-counselor contact and rapport, through continuity of care. Students were concerned with appointment waiting times, the stigmatization of poor mental health and their capacity to seek help. They considered the portal might assist with this. Students recommended extension into all services, including urgent appointments. After viewing findings from initial student and staff groups, staff concluded that extending a patient portal into their counseling services should be prioritized. Conclusion: This research suggests that there is value in extending patient portals into mental health care, especially into low-risk services. Future research should explore opportunities to support triage and appointment-making processes for mental health services, via patient portals.

scholarly journals Operational challenges in conducting a community-based technology-enabled mental health services delivery model for rural India: Experiences from the SMART Mental Health Project

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Pallab K. Maulik ◽  
Sudha Kallakuri ◽  
Siddhardha Devarapalli
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Operational Strategies ◽  
Health Services Delivery ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Health Project

Background: There are large gaps in the delivery of mental health care in low- and middle-income countries such as India, and the problems are even more acute in rural settings due to lack of resources, remoteness, and lack of infrastructure, amongst other factors. The Systematic Medical Appraisal Referral and Treatment (SMART) Mental Health Project was conceived as a mental health services delivery model using technology-based solutions for rural India. This paper reports on the operational strategies used to facilitate the implementation of the intervention. Method: Key components of the SMART Mental Health Project included delivering an anti-stigma campaign, training of primary health workers in screening, diagnosing and managing stress, depression and increased suicide risk and task sharing of responsibilities in delivering care; and using mobile technology based electronic decision support systems to support delivery of algorithm based care for such disorders. The intervention was conducted in 42 villages across two sites in the state of Andhra Pradesh in south India. A pre-post mixed methods evaluation was done, and in this paper operational challenges are reported. Results: Both quantitative and qualitative results from the evaluation from one site covering about 5000 adults showed that the intervention was feasible and acceptable, and initial results indicated that it was beneficial in increasing access to mental health care and reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. A number of strategies were initiated in response to operational challenges to ensure smoother conduct of the project and facilitated the project to be delivered as envisaged. Conclusions: The operational strategies initiated for this project were successful in ensuring the delivery of the intervention. Those, coupled with other more systematic processes have informed the researchers to understand key processes that need to be in place to develop a more robust study, that could eventually be scaled up.

Introducing Shared Mental Health Care in Northwestern Ontario: An Analysis of Changing Referral Patterns of Primary Care Providers

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Gaylord ◽  
S. Kathleen Bailey ◽  
John M. Haggarty
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Referral Patterns

This study describes a shared mental health care (SMHC) model introduced in Northern Ontario and examines how its introduction affected primary care provider (PCP) mental health referral patterns. A chart review examined referrals (N = 4,600) from 5 PCP sites to 5 outpatient community mental health services from January 2001 to December 2005. PCPs with access to SMHC made significantly more mental health referrals (p < 0.001). Two demographically similar PCPs were then compared, one co-located with SMHC. Referrals for depression to non-SMHC mental health services were 1.69 times more likely to be from the PCP not co-located with SMHC (p < 0.001). Findings suggest SMHC increases access to care and decreases demand on existing mental health services.

Availability and accessibility of primary mental health services for adolescents: an overview of national recommendations and services in EU

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1127-1133
Author(s):  
Pierre-André Michaud ◽  
Annemieke Visser ◽  
Johanna P M Vervoort ◽  
Paul Kocken ◽  
Sijmen A Reijneveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Primary Mental Health Care

Abstract Background Mental health problems in adolescence can profoundly jeopardize adolescent current and future health and functioning. We aimed to describe existing recommendations and services regarding the delivery of primary mental health care for adolescents in 31 European countries. Methods Data on the availability and accessibility of primary mental health services were collected, as part of the Horizon 2020-funded project Models of Child Health Appraised. One expert from each country answered a closed items questionnaire during years 2017–18. Results All 31 participating countries had some policy or recommendations regarding the availability and accessibility of primary mental health services for adolescents, but their focus and implementation varied largely between and within countries. Only half of the participating countries had recommendations on screening adolescents for mental health issues and burdens. Merely a quarter of the countries had ambulatory facilities targeting specifically adolescents throughout the whole country. Just over half had some kind of suicide prevention programs. Same-day access to primary care in case of -health emergencies was possible in 21 countries, but often not throughout the whole country. Nineteen countries had strategies securing accessible mental health care for vulnerable adolescents. Conclusions Overall, around half of European countries had strategies securing access to various primary mental health care for adolescents. They frequently did not guarantee care over the whole country and often tackled a limited number of situations. EU countries should widen the range of policies and recommendations governing the delivery of mental health care to adolescents and monitor their implementation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document