Respawn, Reload, Relate

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (CHI PLAY) ◽  
pp. 1-31
Author(s):  
Velvet Spors ◽  
Imo Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Participatory Workshop ◽  
Transformative Process ◽  
Care Technology ◽  
Game Developers

Games have the potential to not only entertain and immerse people, but can be used as vehicles for meaning-making. Given these qualities, games are approached as inspiration for caring technologies, especially for mental health. This transformative process often prioritises learning from games as systems, but not necessarily from the experiences of people with mental distress who play games for self-care. In this paper, we report on a participatory workshop series that sets out to further illuminate the connection between games, self-care and mental health from a humanistic, person-centred perspective. Over four workshops, we engaged 16 people with experiences of mental distress in speculative making activities and discussions of how self-care technology inspired by games could be re-envisioned. By thematically analysing our discussions and collective sense-making, we showcase how participants actively "re-frame" games for self-care. Finally, we sketch out how game developers and makers of gameful self-care technologies could build on our findings.

scholarly journals Construção de cartilha virtual para o cuidado em saúde mental em tempos de COVID-19: relato de experiência

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1.ESP) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonha Maria Coelho de Aquino ◽  
Francisca Gerlania Rodrigues de Sousa ◽  
Francisco Geornes Peixoto Saldanha ◽  
Maria Isabella Epifânio de Sousa ◽  
Gisele Mendes da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Psychosocial Care ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Salud Mental ◽  
Care Technology ◽  
The City

Objetivo: Descrever a construção de uma cartilha virtual como tecnologia de cuidado em saúde mental, sendo aplicada ao contexto de distanciamento social em decorrência dos efeitos da pandemia COVID-19. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo, do tipo relato de experiência, realizado no contexto de atuação de equipe multidisciplinar de residentes no Centro de Atenção Psicossocial, no período de março a abril de 2020. Participaram profissionais da Residência Integrada em Saúde da Escola de Saúde Pública com ênfase em Saúde Mental Coletiva no município de Guaiuba, CE. Resultados: Tendo como título “Esperançar em tempos de medo”, o processo de construção da cartilha se deu em três momentos: planejamento, levantamento de conteúdos e produção da cartilha. A partir de uma linguagem dialogada, buscou-se promover reflexões para o tempo de distanciamento social e direcionamento nos modos de enfrentamento ao medo com criatividade, cuidado de si e promoção da esperança. Conclusões: A construção desse trabalho responde ao desafio de reinvenção das práticas de cuidado e das tecnologias empregadas em saúde mental no contexto de distanciamento social em decorrência da pandemia COVID-19. Conclui-se que a cartilha desenvolvida é fruto e semente para pensar e promover suporte para cuidado e autocuidado em saúde mental no contexto atual.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavirus; Saúde Mental; Tecnologia. VIRTUAL BOOKLET CONSTRUCTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19: EXPERIENCE REPORTObjective: To describe the construction a virtual booklet as a mental health care technology, being applied to the context of social distancing due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Descriptive study, of the experience report type, conducted in the context of work off a multidisciplinary team of residents at the Psychosocial Care Center, from March to April 2020. Professionals from the Integrated Residency in Health of the School of Public Health with emphasis on Collective Mental Health in the city of Guaiuba, CE, participated. Results: With the title “Hoping in times of fear”, the process of construction the booklet took place in three moments: planning, content survey and production of the booklet. From a language dialogue, we sought to promote reflections for the time of social distancing and directing in the ways of facing fear with creativity, self-care and promotion of hope. Conclusion: The construction of this work responds to the challenge of reinvention of care practices and technologies employed in mental health in the context of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is concluded that the developed booklet is fruit and seed to think and promote support for care and self-care in mental health in the current contexto. Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections; Mental Health; Tecnology. CONSTRUCCIÓN DE CARTILLA VIRTUAL PARA EL CUIDADO EN SALUD MENTAL EN TIEMPOS DE COVID-19: RELATO DE EXPERIENCIAObjetivo: Describir la construcción de un cartilla virtual como tecnología de atención de la salud mental y aplicarla al contexto de distanciamiento social como consecuencia de los efectos de la pandemia COVID-19. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, del tipo relato de experiencia, realizado en el contexto de actuación de equipo multidisciplinario de residentes en el Centro de Atención Psicosocial, en el período de marzo a abril de 2020. Participaron profesionales de la Residencia Integrada en Salud de la Escuela de Salud Pública con énfasis en Salud Mental Colectiva en el municipio de Guaiuba, CE. Resultados: Con el título "Esperanzar en tiempos de miedo", el proceso de construcción de la cartilla se dio en tres momentos: planificación, levantamiento de contenidos y producción de la cartilla. A partir de un lenguaje dialogado, se buscó promover reflexiones para el tiempo de distanciamiento social y direccionamiento en los modos de enfrentamiento al miedo con creatividad, cuidado de sí y promoción de la esperanza. Conclusiones: La construcción de este trabajo responde al desafío de reinvención de las prácticas de cuidado y de las tecnologías empleadas en salud mental en el contexto de distanciamiento social como consecuencia de la pandemia COVID-19. Se concluye que la cartilla desarrollada es fruto y semilla para pensar y promover soporte para cuidado y autocuidado en salud mental en el contexto actual. Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus; Salud Mental; Tecnología.

Meaning-Making View of Extreme States

2021 ◽  
pp. 002216782110341
Author(s):  
Iva Paska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Mental Health Systems ◽  
Ways Of Being

The perception of extreme states prevailing in contemporary society and mental health systems does not give justice to the transformational aspect of the process of extreme states. It generally views mental distress from the confinements of the perspective of objectivist epistemology and medicalization, disregarding its potential valuable aspects. Consequently, extreme states are reduced to biological malfunction, which renders the process meaningless and can have negative social implications. It is proposed in the article for extreme states to instead be viewed as a call to become aware of the context that the human being finds unbearable. Following this, the emphasis is put on the view of extreme states as an invitation to hold space for exploration and the potential emergence of new ways of being. The aim is not to minimize the suffering that can accompany extreme states, but to bring the meaning-making aspect of extreme states to the forefront.

App review of anxiety and depression chatbots and their self-care features (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arfan Ahmed ◽  
Nashva ALi ◽  
Sarah Aziz ◽  
Alaa A Abd-Alrazaq ◽  
Asmaa Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
On Demand ◽  
User Ratings ◽  
Google Play

BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression rates are at an all-time high along with other mental health disorders. Smartphone-based mental health chatbots or conversational agents can aid psychiatrists and replace some of the costly human based interaction and represent a unique opportunity to expand the availability and quality of mental health services and treatment. Regular up-to-date reviews will allow medics and individuals to recommend or use anxiety and depression related smartphone based chatbots with greater confidence. OBJECTIVE Assess the quality and characteristics of chatbots for anxiety and depression available on Android and iOS systems. METHODS A search was performed in the App Store and Google Play Store following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol to identify existing chatbots for anxiety and depression. Eligibility of the chatbots was assessed by two individuals based on predefined eligibility criteria. Meta-data of the included chatbots and their characteristics were extracted from their description and upon installation by 2 reviewers. Finally, chatbots quality information was assessed by following the mHONcode principles. RESULTS Although around 1000 anxiety and depression related chatbots exist, only a few (n=11) contained actual chatbots that could provide the user a real substitute for a human-human based interaction, even with today's Artificial Intelligence advancements, only one of these chatbots had voice as an input/output modality. Of the selected apps that contained chatbots all were clearly built with a therapeutic human substitute goal in mind. The majority had high user ratings and downloads highlighting the popularity of such chatbots and their promising future within the realm of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS Anxiety and depression chatbot apps have the potential to increase the capacity of mental health self-care providing much needed assistance to professionals. In the current covid-19 pandemic, chatbots can also serve as a conversational companion with the potential of combating loneliness, especially in lockdowns where there is a lack of social interaction. Due to the ubiquitous nature of chatbots users can access them on-demand at the touch of a screen on ones’ smartphone. Self-care interventions are known to be effective and exist in various forms and some can be made available as chatbot features, such as assessment, mood tracking, medicine tracking, or simply providing conversation in times of loneliness.

scholarly journals Embodied Ethical Decision-Making: A Clinical Case Study of Respect for Culturally Based Meaning Making in Mental Healthcare

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megz Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Clinical Case Study ◽  
Culturally Based

AbstractHow does embodied ethical decision-making influence treatment in a clinical setting when cultural differences conflict? Ethical decision-making is usually a disembodied and rationalized procedure based on ethical codes (American Counseling Association, 2014; American Dance Therapy Association, 2015; American Mental Health Counseling Association, 2015) and a collective understanding of right and wrong. However, these codes and collective styles of meaning making were shaped mostly by White theorists and clinicians. These mono-cultural lenses lead to ineffective mental health treatment for persons of color. Hervey’s (2007) EEDM steps encourage therapists to return to their bodies when navigating ethical dilemmas as it is an impetus for bridging cultural differences in healthcare. Hervey’s (2007) nonverbal approach to Welfel’s (2001) ethical decision steps was explored in a unique case that involved the ethical decision-making process of an African-American dance/movement therapy intern, while providing treatment in a westernized hospital setting to a spiritual Mexican–American patient diagnosed with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. This patient had formed a relationship with a spirit attached to his body that he could see, feel, and talk to, but refused to share this experience with his White identifying psychiatric nurse due to different cultural beliefs. Information gathered throughout the clinical case study by way of chronological loose and semi-structured journaling, uncovered an ethical dilemma of respect for culturally based meanings in treatment and how we identify pathology in hospital settings. The application of the EEDM steps in this article is focused on race/ethnicity and spiritual associations during mental health treatment at an outpatient hospital setting. Readers are encouraged to explore ways in which this article can influence them to apply EEDM in other forms of cultural considerations (i.e. age) and mental health facilities. The discussion section of this thesis includes a proposed model for progressing towards active multicultural diversity in mental healthcare settings by way of the three M’s from the relational-cultural theory: movement towards mutuality, mutual empathy, and mutual empowerment (Hartling & Miller, 2004).

scholarly journals Customization of Diet May Promote Exercise and Improve Mental Wellbeing in Mature Adults: The Role of Exercise as a Mediator

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 435
Author(s):  
Lina Begdache ◽  
Cara M. Patrissy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Modifiable Risk Factors ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Dietary Practices

Diet, dietary practices and exercise are modifiable risk factors for individuals living with mental distress. However, these relationships are intricate and multilayered in such a way that individual factors may influence mental health differently when combined within a pattern. Additionally, two important factors that need to be considered are gender and level of brain maturity. Therefore, it is essential to assess these modifiable risk factors based on gender and age group. The purpose of the study was to explore the combined and individual relationships between food groups, dietary practices and exercise to appreciate their association with mental distress in mature men and women. Adults 30 years and older were invited to complete the food–mood questionnaire. The anonymous questionnaire link was circulated on several social media platforms. A multi-analyses approach was used. A combination of data mining techniques, namely, a mediation regression analysis, the K-means clustering and principal component analysis as well as Spearman’s rank–order correlation were used to explore these research questions. The results suggest that women’s mental health has a higher association with dietary factors than men. Mental distress and exercise frequency were associated with different dietary and lifestyle patterns, which support the concept of customizing diet and lifestyle factors to improve mental wellbeing.

scholarly journals Co-Designing and Evaluating a Self-Care Curriculum of an App for Chinese Immigrant Caregivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 507-508
Author(s):  
Ying Wang ◽  
Mandong Liu ◽  
Iris Chi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Self Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Self ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
Chinese Immigrant ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Support Resources

Abstract Chinese immigrant caregivers face unique self-care difficulties in the United States due to language barriers, cultural isolation, and occupational stress. This study aimed to conduct a formative evaluation on a caregiver self-care curriculum of an app designed for Chinese immigrants in the United States. Using a co-design approach in 2019, 22 Chinese immigrant caregivers in Los Angeles county were recruited through purposive sampling method. The directed content analysis was adopted to analyze the qualitative data using NVivo 12.1.0 software. We organized the findings under two main contents: self-care and caregiving. Three categories were identified under the self-care content: physical health, emotional and mental health, and support resources. Sixteen subcategories under physical health (e.g., dietary supplements), five subcategories under emotional and mental health (e.g., depression) and eight subcategories under support resources (e.g., support and networking group, senior center) are suggested. Two categories were identified under the caregiving content: caregiving knowledge and skills, and community resources. Fourteen subcategories under caregiving knowledge and skills (e.g., care assessment) and six subcategories under community resources (e.g., medical emergency call) were mentioned. With this useful information, we could further refine the self-care curriculum to be more linguistically, culturally and occupationally sensitive for Chinese immigrant caregivers. Empowerment approach for enhancing the ability to caregiving and self-care should be emphasized in content design for immigrant caregivers. The co-design approach is crucial for planning of the program and intervention curriculum to improve understanding of the users’ needs and better cater them.

scholarly journals Exploring the impact of a complex intervention for women with depression in contexts of adversity: A pilot feasibility study of COURRAGE-plus in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110102
Author(s):  
Rochelle A Burgess ◽  
Niklas Jeske ◽  
Shahana Rasool ◽  
Ayesha Ahmad ◽  
Anna Kydd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Narrative Therapy ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Social Intervention ◽  
Friedman Test ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Collective Narrative

Background: Depression is a leading cause of disease burden worldwide but is often undertreated in low- and middle-income countries. Reasons behind the treatment gap vary, but many highlight a lack of interventions which speak to the socio-economic and structural realties that are associated to mental health problems in many settings, including South Africa. The COURRAGE-PLUS intervention responds to this gap, by combining a collective narrative therapy (9 weeks) intervention, with a social intervention promoting group-led practical action against structural determinants of poor mental health (4 weeks), for a total of 13 sessions. The overall aim is to promote mental health, while empowering communities to acknowledge, and respond in locally meaningful ways to social adversity linked to development of mental distress. Aim: To pilot and evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention – COURRAGE-PLUS on symptoms of depression as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among a sample of women facing contexts of adversity in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: PHQ-9 scores were assessed at baseline, post collective narrative therapy (midline), and post social intervention (endline). Median scores and corresponding interquartile ranges were computed for all time points. Differences in scores between time points were tested with a non-parametric Friedman test. The impact across symptom severities was compared descriptively to identify potential differences in impact across categories of symptom severity within our sample. Results: Participants’ ( n = 47) median depression score at baseline was 11 (IQR = 7) and reduced to 4 at midline (IQR = 7) to 0 at endline (IQR = 2.5). The Friedman test showed a statistically significant difference between depression scores across time points, [Formula: see text](2) = 49.29, p < .001. Median depression scores were reduced to 0 or 1 Post-Intervention across all four severity groups. Conclusions: COURRAGE-PLUS was highly effective at reducing symptoms of depression across the spectrum of severities in this sample of women facing adversity, in Gauteng, South Africa. Findings supports the need for larger trials to investigate collective narrative storytelling and social interventions as community-based interventions for populations experiencing adversity and mental distress.

scholarly journals Mental disorder and PTSD in Syria during wartime: a nationwide crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameer Kakaje ◽  
Ragheed Al Zohbi ◽  
Osama Hosam Aldeen ◽  
Leen Makki ◽  
Ayham Alyousbashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Severe Mental Disorder ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Syria has experienced war since 2011, leaving over 80% under the poverty line and millions displaced. War and its retaliations have significantly impacted the mental health of Syrians. This study evaluates the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the severity of the mental distress caused by war and other factors such as low social support. This study also evaluates other variables and compares the findings with those of multiple studies on Syria and refugees. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that included people who lived in Syria in different governorates. Online surveys were distributed into multiple online groups and included the Kessler 10 (K10) scale which screens for anxiety and depression, the Screen for Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms (SPTSS) tool, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and questionnaires on demographic and war-related factors. Results Our study included 1951 participants, of which, 527 (27.0%) were males and 1538 (78.8%) between the age of 19 and 25. Among participants, 44% had likely severe mental disorder, 27% had both likely severe mental disorder and full PTSD symptoms, 36.9% had full PTSD symptoms, and only 10.8% had neither positive PTSD symptoms nor mental disorder on the K10 scale. Around 23% had low overall support. Half of the responders were internally displaced, and 27.6% were forced to change places of living three times or more due to war. Around 86.6% of the responders believed that the war was the main reason for their mental distress. Those with high SPTSS and K10 scores were found to take more days off from work or school due to negative feelings and having somatic symptoms. Moreover, the number of times changing places of living due to war, educational level, and being distressed by war noise were the most prominent factors for more severe PTSD and mental distress. No differences in PTSD and mental disorder prevalence were noted in participants living in different governorates or among different types of jobs. A strong significant correlation (r = 0.623) was found between SPTSS and K10 scores. Conclusion The conflict in Syria has left the population at great risk for mental distress which was higher compared to Syrian refugees elsewhere. Many measures with an emphasis on mental health are needed to help the people against a long-term avoidable suffering.

Do Materialistic Adolescents Ruminate More About Their Social Media Posts?

2020 ◽  
pp. 0044118X2098417
Author(s):  
Keeley Hynes ◽  
Daniel G. Lannin ◽  
Jeremy B. Kanter ◽  
Ani Yazedjian ◽  
Margaret M. Nauta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Value Orientation ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Over Time

Previous research suggests that ruminating on social media content is associated with greater mental distress (Yang et al., 2018). This study examined whether materialistic value orientation (MVO)—prioritizing values and goals related to consumerism, consumption, and social status—predicted social media rumination in a sample of diverse adolescents in a two-wave cross-lagged design. A cross-lagged analysis among 119 adolescents indicated that MVO at Wave 1 predicted greater social media rumination 4 months later at Wave 2, but social media rumination at Wave 1 did not predict MVO at Wave 2. Cross-lagged results suggested that MVO may lead to greater social media rumination over time for diverse adolescents. Adolescents with MVO could benefit from interventions to reduce the effects of their need for external validation and maladaptive rumination, as external validation and maladaptive rumination are linked to behaviors and thoughts that can be harmful to mental health.

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