Community families: A qualitative study of families who volunteer to support persons with severe mental illness

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Groth Jensen ◽  
Stina Lou ◽  
Jørgen Aagaard ◽  
Ulla Væggemose
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Professional Support ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Social Interventions

Background: Social interventions targeted at people with severe mental illness (SMI) often include volunteers. Volunteers’ perspectives are important for these interventions to work. This article investigates the experiences of volunteer families who befriend a person with SMI. Material: Qualitative interviews with members of volunteer families. Discussion: The families were motivated by helping a vulnerable person and by engaging in a rewarding relationship. However, the families often doubted their personal judgement and relied on mental health workers to act as safety net. Conclusion: The volunteer involvement is meaningful but also challenging. The families value professional support.

Community Families: Bridging the gap between mental health services and civil society – A qualitative study from users’ perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Væggemose ◽  
Stina Lou ◽  
Michal Frumer ◽  
Nanna Limskov Stærk Christiansen ◽  
Jørgen Aagaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
The Social

Background: Social interventions to support people with severe mental illness are important to improving the quality of life. The perspectives of users are essential in this process. This article explores users’ experiences, investments and concerns of a befriending programme. Material: Focus group and individual qualitative interviews with service users. Discussion: Overall, the experiences with the programme were positive, and the social interaction was highly valued. However, that the relationships were arranged and facilitated by mental health workers remained an unresolved concern even after several years. Conclusion: People with severe mental illness benefit from relationships despite the need of professional assistant.

Organizational conditions that influence work engagement and burnout: A qualitative study of mental health workers.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela L. Rollins ◽  
Johanne Eliacin ◽  
Alissa L. Russ-Jara ◽  
Maria Monroe-Devita ◽  
Sally Wasmuth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Organizational Conditions

scholarly journals Impact of Jointly Using an e–Mental Health Resource (Self-Management And Recovery Technology) on Interactions Between Service Users Experiencing Severe Mental Illness and Community Mental Health Workers: Grounded Theory Study

10.2196/25998 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. e25998
Author(s):  
Anne Williams ◽  
Ellie Fossey ◽  
John Farhall ◽  
Fiona Foley ◽  
Neil Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Discovery Process ◽  
Mental Health Resource

Background e–Mental health resources are increasingly available for people who experience severe mental illness, including those who are users of community mental health services. However, the potential for service users (SUs) living with severe mental illness to use e–mental health resources together with their community mental health workers (MHWs) has received little attention. Objective This study aims to identify how jointly using an interactive website called Self-Management And Recovery Technology (SMART) in a community mental health context influenced therapeutic processes and interactions between SUs and MHWs from their perspective. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Data were collected through individual semistructured interviews with 37 SUs and 15 MHWs who used the SMART website together for 2 to 6 months. Data analysis involved iterative phases of coding, constant comparison, memo writing, theoretical sampling, and consultation with stakeholders to support the study’s credibility. Results A substantive grounded theory, discovering ways to keep life on track, was developed, which portrays a shared discovery process arising from the SU-worker-SMART website interactions. The discovery process included choosing to use the website, revealing SUs’ experiences, exploring these experiences, and gaining new perspectives on how SUs did and could keep their lives on track. SUs and MHWs perceived that their three-way interactions were enjoyable, beneficial, and recovery focused when using the website together. They experienced the shared discovery process as relationship building—their interactions when using the website together were more engaging and equal. Conclusions Jointly using an e–mental health resource elicited recovery-oriented interactions and processes between SUs and MHWs that strengthened their therapeutic relationship in real-world community mental health services. Further work to develop and integrate this novel use of e–mental health in community mental health practice is warranted.

scholarly journals Mental health nurses’ support to caregivers of older adults with severe mental illness: a qualitative study

BMC Nursing ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian I. Zegwaard ◽  
Marja J. Aartsen ◽  
Mieke H. F. Grypdonck ◽  
Pim Cuijpers
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Nurses

scholarly journals Switching antipsychotics to support the physical health of people with severe mental illness: a qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ perspectives

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e042497
Author(s):  
Annabel Nash ◽  
Tom Kingstone ◽  
Saeed Farooq ◽  
Jessica Tunmore ◽  
Carolyn A Chew-Graham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Nurses

ObjectivesThe side effects of antipsychotic medications (APs) can increase the risk of developing physical health conditions. Some APs pose a higher risk than others. Evidence suggests switching to lower risk APs can support physical health outcomes. We sought to explore the views of healthcare professionals about switching antipsychotics to support physical health in people with severe mental illness (SMI).DesignA qualitative study with semi-structured interviews conducted with general practitioners (GPs), psychiatrists and mental health nurses. The main focus was to explore participants’ views on the physical health of people with SMI, the impact of APs and decision-making about switching medication to support physical health. Data were analysed thematically using principles of constant comparison.SettingsParticipants recruited through primary care and one mental health trust in the West Midlands.ParticipantsInterviews were conducted with 9 GPs, 10 psychiatrists and 4 mental health nurses.ResultsAwareness and knowledge of AP side-effects and risk profiles varied considerably between primary and secondary care clinicians. GPs reported limited awareness, while psychiatrists and nurses demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of AP risk profiles and side-effects. Mental health and control of symptoms were prioritised. Switching to promote physical health was considered as a reactive intervention, once side-effects or complications developed. There were a range of views over where responsibility lay for monitoring physical health and consideration of switching. Collaboration between primary and secondary care was identified as a way to address this.ConclusionsThis study presents multidisciplinary perspectives on awareness, decision making, perceived responsibility and barriers to switching APs to support physical health. Collaborative approaches that involve liaison between primary and secondary care, but tailored to the individual patient, may support switching, and present an opportunity to intervene to address the physical health inequalities experienced by individuals with SMI.

scholarly journals Psykisk helsearbeideres erfaringer med å jobbe i små kommuner i Nordland

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Toril Beate Masvie ◽  
Siri Ytrehus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Professional Role ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Mental Health Workers ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Northern Norway ◽  
The One

<p class="Toverskrift3" style="margin: 6pt 0cm;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Abstract</span></span></strong></span></p><p class="Toverskrift3" style="margin: 6pt 0cm;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>&ldquo;Mental health workers&rsquo; experiences of working &nbsp;in small municipalities in Northern Norway</span></span></strong></span></p><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: NO-BOK; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">This study addresses the experience of mental health workers working in small municipalities in northern Norway. The study is based on qualitative interviews and had special focus on how the context influenced their professional role and role as citizens. The informants emphasized both positive and negative aspects of their work, but the negative aspects were most prominent in the interviews. On the one hand they experienced high degree of independency and possibility of close relationships&nbsp;to the patients due to transparency, but on the other hand also professional loneliness.&nbsp; The relationship to the patients was multifaceted. The boundary between their professional role and the role as a citizen was difficult to maintain. The professional role could&nbsp;affect their private life and the role and relations they had in the community as a citizen. Some felt they had to withdraw from social networks and arenas which had been important to them. </span></em>

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