Influence of Health Beliefs and Stigma on Choosing Internet Support Groups Over Formal Mental Health Services

IntroductionThe relationship between health beliefs regarding formal mental health services, practical variables (time, affordability, transportation), stigma, and use of internet support groups in lieu of formal treatment has received little empirical attention.ObjectivesThe study examines the relationship between health beliefs, practical variables, stigma, and engagement in internet support groups among adults.AimsThe study addresses whether beliefs regarding formal mental health services, having the time, finances, and transportation to use them, and the social consequences of being identified as having a mental health problem influence the use of internet support groups.MethodsData were analyzed from 2,532 respondents who endorsed perceiving the need for but not receiving formal mental health treatment in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008). Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between health beliefs, practical variables, stigma, and the use of internet support groups.ResultsThe strongest positive predictors of internet support group use were fear of being hospitalized/taking medications (AOR = 8.252, CI = 8.170–8.334), lack of transportation (AOR = 2.313, CI = 2.271–2.357), and insufficient insurance coverage (AOR = 2.640, CI = 2.610–2.670). The strongest negative predictors of internet support group use were lack of belief in the efficacy of formal treatment (AOR = .629, CI = .618–.641), fearing that others would find out (AOR = .660, CI = .645–.675), and not thinking formal treatment was needed at the time (AOR = .681, CI = .665–.696).ConclusionsUsing the internet for relief from mental health symptoms has proliferated, yet has received little empirical attention. Research is needed to examine the implications of using internet technology rather than formal mental health treatment.

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Wellbeing and experiences of Chinese and Vietnamese carers of people with mental illness in Australia

Transcultural Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1363461520952629 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 136346152095262

Author(s):

Abner Weng Cheong Poon ◽

Maria Cassaniti ◽

Michele Sapucci ◽

Rosaleen Ow

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Support Groups ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Cultural Safety ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

People With Mental Illness ◽

Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Many studies show that carers of people with mental illness experience a negative impact on their wellbeing. Given the growing number of people relocating to Australia every year, there are limited studies examining the experience of carers of people with mental illness from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia. Using cultural safety as a conceptual framework, this exploratory study recruited 14 carers of Chinese and Vietnamese heritage who were attending culturally and linguistically oriented support groups in Sydney, Australia. Standardised, validated scales were administered to measure carers’ wellbeing and knowledge of recovery. Structured interviews were conducted to understand carers’ perceived needs. Descriptive statistical and qualitative thematic analysis were used. Findings show that carers experienced social isolation and psychological distress, had multiple diverse needs and had a reasonably good understanding of recovery. Six themes were identified: i) obtaining information in own language; ii) attaining emotional support from support groups; iii) needing respite services to cope with caregiving responsibilities; iv) involvement in planning of treatment and care; v) migration process influencing caregiving, and; vi) cultural and transcultural factors influencing caregiving experience. Findings indicate that some carers might be experiencing some level of culturally unsafe practices in mainstream mental health services. Implications for support groups and mental health services are discussed.

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The psychosis treatment gap and its consequences in rural Ethiopia

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-019-2281-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abebaw Fekadu ◽

Girmay Medhin ◽

Crick Lund ◽

Mary DeSilva ◽

Medhin Selamu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Treatment Gap ◽

Care Needs ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

History Of

Abstract Background The “treatment gap” (TG) for mental disorders, widely advocated by the WHO in low-and middle-income countries, is an important indicator of the extent to which a health system fails to meet the care needs of people with mental disorder at the population level. While there is limited research on the TG in these countries, there is even a greater paucity of studies looking at TG beyond a unidimensional understanding. This study explores several dimensions of the TG construct for people with psychosis in Sodo, a rural district in Ethiopia, and its implications for building a more holistic capacity for mental health services. Method The study was a cross-sectional survey of 300 adult participants with psychosis identified through community-based case detection and confirmed through subsequent structured clinical evaluations. The Butajira Treatment Gap Questionnaire (TGQ), a new customised tool with 83 items developed by the Ethiopia research team, was administered to evaluate several TG dimensions (access, adequacy and effectiveness of treatment, and impact/consequence of the treatment gap) across a range of provider types corresponding with the WHO pyramid service framework. Results Lifetime and current access gap for biomedical care were 41.8 and 59.9% respectively while the corresponding figures for faith and traditional healing (FTH) were 15.1 and 45.2%. Of those who had received biomedical care for their current episode, 71.7% did not receive minimally adequate care. Support from the community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were negligible. Those with education (Adj. OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.8) and history of use of FTH (Adj. OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.9–5.4) were more likely to use biomedical care. Inadequate biomedical care was associated with increased lifetime risk of adverse experiences, such as history of restraint, homelessness, accidents and assaults. Conclusion This is the first study of its kind. Viewing TG not as a unidimensional, but as a complex, multi-dimensional construct, offers a more realistic and holistic understanding of health beliefs, help-seeking behaviors, and need for care. The reconceptualized multidimensional TG construct could assist mental health services capacity building advocacy and policy efforts and allow community and NGOs play a larger role in supporting mental healthcare.

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Depression/Bipolar Peer Support Groups: Perceptions of Group Members about Effectiveness and Differences from Other Mental Health Services

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2964 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Joe Behler ◽

Allen Daniels ◽

Jennifer Scott ◽

Lewis Mehl-Madrona

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Peer Support ◽

Support Groups ◽

Service Providers ◽

Health Service Providers ◽

Important Addition ◽

Group Members ◽

Constant Comparative Analysis

Peer support services remain poorly understood by many mental health service providers. In this study we explored the views of people who use peer led support groups. We asked how adding peer support groups changed, balanced, or augmented the use of conventional mental health services. Participants were 43 adults attending 4 peer led support groups for depression/bipolar disorder. Data consisted of observations of all 43 participants interacting in their group, in-depth interviews of 20 participants, and results from 2 standardized questionnaires to ballpark the level of symptom severity relative to other groups. Through constant comparative analysis, 12 categories emerged. The most salient features of our findings consisted of the shared perception that groups promoted recovery and augmented conventional services. Members felt acceptance due to their shared diagnoses. Groups provided an experience of community in which recovery skills could be practiced, practical advice received, and hope and empowerment encouraged. Groups appeared to provide participants with important support and healing unavailable from psychotherapy and psychiatry. Peer support groups appeared to be an important addition and sometimes an adequate substitute for psychotherapy and/or psychiatry. Further research is indicated and quantitative students should build on the insights of qualitative studies in developing their protocols.

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Use of Mental Health Services by Adults Who Were Adopted as Infants

Journal of Mental Health Counseling ◽

10.17744/mehc.29.2.b303t5l733218173 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 163-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Frances Pearson ◽

Reagan Curtis ◽

Amanda Chapman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Support Groups ◽

Professional Help ◽

Psychological Issues ◽

Seeking Help

Adults adopted as infants (N = 156) were surveyed to determine the degree to which they had sought help or guidance with psychological issues during adolescence and adulthood. Less than 12% reported seeking help and women sought help more frequently than men. When they sought professional help, they mostly utilized counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, but frequently sought help from other sources such as friends, family, and support groups. The results of the study are discussed in light of literature that suggests this population is more frequently referred for help and recommendations are made for practice and research.

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Online Peer-to-Peer Support for Young People With Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review

JMIR Mental Health ◽

10.2196/mental.4418 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. e19 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

Kathina Ali ◽

Louise Farrer ◽

Amelia Gulliver ◽

Kathleen M Griffiths

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Young People ◽

Peer Support ◽

Support Groups ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Peer To Peer ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Internet Support ◽

Internet Support Groups

Background Adolescence and early adulthood are critical periods for the development of mental disorders. Online peer-to-peer communication is popular among young people and may improve mental health by providing social support. Previous systematic reviews have targeted Internet support groups for adults with mental health problems, including depression. However, there have been no systematic reviews examining the effectiveness of online peer-to-peer support in improving the mental health of adolescents and young adults. Objective The aim of this review was to systematically identify available evidence for the effectiveness of online peer-to peer support for young people with mental health problems. Methods The PubMed, PsycInfo, and Cochrane databases were searched using keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Retrieved abstracts (n=3934) were double screened and coded. Studies were included if they (1) investigated an online peer-to-peer interaction, (2) the interaction discussed topics related to mental health, (3) the age range of the sample was between 12 to 25 years, and (4) the study evaluated the effectiveness of the peer-to-peer interaction. Results Six studies satisfied the inclusion criteria for the current review. The studies targeted a range of mental health problems including depression and anxiety (n=2), general psychological problems (n=1), eating disorders (n=1), and substance use (tobacco) (n=2). The majority of studies investigated Internet support groups (n=4), and the remaining studies focused on virtual reality chat sessions (n=2). In almost all studies (n=5), the peer support intervention was moderated by health professionals, researchers or consumers. Studies employed a range of study designs including randomized controlled trials (n=3), pre-post studies (n=2) and one randomized trial. Overall, two of the randomized controlled trials were associated with a significant positive outcome in comparison to the control group at post-intervention. In the remaining four studies, peer-to-peer support was not found to be effective. Conclusions This systematic review identified an overall lack of high-quality studies examining online peer-to-peer support for young people. Given that peer support is frequently used as an adjunct to Internet interventions for a variety of mental health conditions, there is an urgent need to determine the effectiveness of peer support alone as an active intervention.

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Migration, Gender Roles, and Mental Illness: The Case of Somali Immigrants in Norway

International Migration Review ◽

10.1177/0197918319867381 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 740-764

Author(s):

Anders Næss

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Gender Roles ◽

Health Services ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Immigrant Women ◽

Utilization Rate ◽

Gender Ideals ◽

Barriers And Opportunities ◽

Social Exposure

This article explores why Somali immigrant women in Norway have a lower utilization rate of mental-health services compared to Somali men. Based on qualitative research, it argues that the maintenance of traditional gender ideals shapes barriers and opportunities for mental-health utilization. Discussing health beliefs and responses in relation to gender roles and integration, the study identifies different illness implications for Somali men and women. Whereas Somali women’s symbolic association with family accentuates perceived stigma, contributing to collective and individual concealments, higher utilization of mental-health services among Somali men is associated with social exposure. The findings suggest that research and outreach measures related to mental health require attention to immigrant women.

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