APA Council to Address Wide Range of Sessions on Youth Mental Health Issues

Abstract This study explored how social workers located in Sydney and Hong Kong conceptualised client empowerment. Further, it investigated these professionals’ perceived facilitators and barriers to their empowerment practices, based on an ecological framework. A cross-sectional online survey was used, where the original Empowerment Scale for clients with mental health issues was adapted to measure conceptualisation of client empowerment from social workers’ perspectives. Eighty-three social workers serving people with mental health issues (MHIs) in Sydney and eighty in Hong Kong responded. A two-factor model was generated suggesting that practitioners tend to conceptualise client empowerment into two aspects: a relation-based dimension and a resource-oriented one. Compared with their Sydney counterparts, the Hong Kong practitioners considered resource-oriented empowerment as more integral to client empowerment (t(161) = 4.17, p < 0.001). Several key factors were found to be independently associated with endorsement of the two-factor client-empowerment model by practitioners: perceived less support from medical specialists but more support from teams serving the same client, perceived benefits of social work training and, finally, beliefs in the importance of social workers’ role in client empowerment. The study highlights the multiple dimensions of client empowerment and a wide range of inter-professional and sociostructural factors enabling social workers’ practices that support empowerment. Our paper highlights the role of professional empowerment as a stepping stone to enable their client-empowerment practices through policy support and inter-professional collaboration.

Download Full-text

Detection and intervention in emerging youth mental health issues: Outcomes from the first year of the CASPAR service

Early Intervention in Psychiatry ◽

10.1111/eip.12956 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Yang ◽

Jackie Curtis ◽

Candice Jensen ◽

Philippa Levy ◽

Karen Chown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Youth Mental Health ◽

First Year ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Issues

Download Full-text

Migrants in Austria and their understanding of mental health issues

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

M Weigl ◽

S Gaiswinkler ◽

H Wolf ◽

H Haider

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Support Services ◽

Psychosocial Support ◽

Reference Group ◽

Health Issues ◽

Psychosocial Needs ◽

Migrant Communities ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Psychosocial needs are common among migrants but their use of mental health services is not. Little is known about the understanding of mental health issues by migrants and their perception of mental health services. The study aims to provide a basis for further developments of the mental health system to contribute to health equity in the long term. Qualitative research: literature review, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. 54 migrants from Afghanistan, Somalia, arabic-speaking countries and Turkey and 16 experts were involved. Access was gained through cooperating with an institution offering various health services in different languages and well-known by migrant communities. Migrants from Turkey with long residence in Austria and linked to psychosocial services were chosen as reference group. There are many similarities among socio-economically disadvantaged people in terms of their understanding of mental health and their willingness to seek and accept support. However, differences can also be observed which are related to country of origin or gender, but also to acculturation status, current life situation or previous experiences within the home or the receiving country. The Turkish reference group shows, that mental health issues are given higher priority in the course of time. To quicken this process, targeted measures for the promotion of health literacy are decisive, but also integration possibilities and the social climate. With a wide range of access and psychosocial support options, attitudes like openness, impartiality and flexibility among health professionals, it is possible to reach migrants with psychosocial needs. A stronger exchange on how people with a migration background and psychosocial needs are perceived and reached is needed. But also activities to increase the diversity of support services and to carry information about mental health issues as well as the existing services into the migrant communities Key messages Specific activities can improve the knowledge about mental health issues within migrant communities. A wide range of access and psychosocial support services is needed to address the diversity.

Download Full-text

An Examination of Correlates of Quality of Life in Children and Youth With Mental Health Issues

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.709516 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Angela Celebre ◽

Shannon L. Stewart ◽

Laura Theall ◽

Natalia Lapshina

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Youth Mental Health ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Health Issues ◽

Specific Level ◽

Mental Health Issues

Quality of life (QoL) is significantly lower in children with mental health issues compared to those who are typically developing or have physical health problems. However, little research has examined factors associated with QoL in this particularly vulnerable population. To address this limitation, 347 clinically referred children and adolescents were assessed using the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH) Assessment and Self-reported Quality of Life- Child and Youth Mental Health (QoL-ChYMH). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine QoL at the domain-specific level. Children and adolescents who experienced heightened anhedonia and depressive symptoms reported lower social QoL (e.g., family, friends and activities; p = 0.024, 0.046, respectively). Additionally, children and youth who experienced heightened depressive symptoms reported lower QoL at the individual level (e.g., autonomy, health; p = 0.000), and level of basic needs (e.g., food, safety; p = 0.013). In contrast, no mental state indicators were associated with QoL related to services (e.g., school, treatment). Due to the paucity of research examining predictors of QoL in children and youth with mental health challenges, this study contributes to the field in assisting service providers with care planning and further providing implications for practice.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 and Mental Stress among the Urban Youths of Dhaka City

10.35542/osf.io/pnuvw ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Farheen Khan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Dhaka City ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Wide Range ◽

Negative Affects ◽

Age Range ◽

Mental And Physical Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed threats on both physical and mental health since its outbreak. This paper aims to highlight the mental and physical health challenges amongst the home-quarantined youths of Dhaka city. A total of 150 young adults were surveyed, within the age range of (12-30). The participation was voluntary and was completed online.The findings suggest, many youngsters are currently suffering a wide range of mental health issues related to anxiety, fear, isolation, depression, feeling lonely, emotional outburst, insomnia, and other sleeping/ eating habit disturbances during COVID 19 pandemic. Many are emotionally vulnerable after losing their close ones, losing jobs, uncertain education or by staying indoors for months. Many get agitated wearing protective gear like masks or using sanitizers. The panic caused by the infection from physical proximity has reached such a level that everything now is shifted from physically going out to virtual conferences and many other significant shifts in people's behavior. But, in spite of all the trauma and negative affects the pandemic has put us through, there is some hope that the new focus on mental health issues may reduce stigma and increase availability of support services. Finally the paper recommends some way forward for effective mitigation against the harmful effects of limited or indoor physical activity on mental and physical health due to social distancing and quarantine based on the collected data.

Download Full-text

The Use of Social Networking Sites in Mental Health Interventions for Young People: Systematic Review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12244 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Brad Ridout ◽

Andrew Campbell

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Social Networking ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Youth Mental Health ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Health Issues ◽

Quantitative Studies ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Interventions

BACKGROUND The onset of mental health problems peaks between adolescence and young adulthood; however, young people face barriers to treatment and are often reluctant to seek professional help. Many are instead seeking support and information regarding their mental health via the Web, especially via social networking sites (SNSs), and hence, there is a promising opportunity to use SNSs to deliver or integrate with youth-focused online mental health interventions. Previous reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of SNSs for specific disorders in young people; however, none of the reviews have covered the breadth of SNS–based youth mental health interventions available across all mental health issues. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to systematically identify available evidence regarding the use of SNS–based interventions to support the mental health of young people aged up to 25 years, to evaluate their effectiveness, suitability, and safety, and identify gaps and opportunities for future research. METHODS The PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings terms and exploded keywords and phrases. Retrieved abstracts (n=974) were double screened, yielding 235 articles for screening at the full-text level. Of these, 9 articles met the review inclusion criteria. Given the small number of studies, and the variety of outcome measures used, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS The 9 articles (quantitative studies, qualitative studies, and descriptions of the iterative design process) covered 5 separate interventions. Of the 5 interventions, 2 interventions used purpose-built platforms based on the moderated online social therapy (MOST) model, 2 used Facebook, and 1 evaluated a purpose-built mobile app. The 2 MOST interventions targeted specific mental health issues (depression and psychosis), whereas the others focused on improving mental health literacy, social support, and general well-being. Only 3 quantitative studies were identified, and all used a pre-post design (without a control group) to establish proof of concept. Of the outcome variables assessed, there were significant improvements in mental health knowledge and number of depressive symptoms but no improvement in anxiety or psychosis symptoms. Acceptability of and engagement with the SNS platforms were generally high, as were perceptions of usefulness and safety. Moderation by clinical experts was identified as a key component of the more successful interventions. When offered a choice, users showed a preference for mobile apps over Web-based interfaces. CONCLUSIONS The evidence reviewed suggests young people find SNS–based interventions highly usable, engaging, and supportive. However, future studies need to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for their efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms. Given young people are already turning to SNSs to engage in knowledge seeking and peer-to-peer support, SNS–based youth mental health interventions provide an opportunity to address some of the barriers young people face in accessing qualified mental health support and information.

Download Full-text