scholarly journals Mental health in the kingdom of God

Theology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 163-171
Author(s):  
Christopher C. H. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Marginalized Groups ◽  
Theological Understanding ◽  
The Church

Mental disorders are both common and disabling worldwide. They affect beliefs, emotions, identity and relationships in such a way as to impact upon the very essence of human experience. They are associated with stigma and prejudice, and they disproportionately affect those who are poor and those who belong to marginalized groups within society. Increasing attention has been given in recent years to the importance of spirituality for mental health, but in research it is impossible to distinguish between spirituality and the psychological variables that it purports to influence. Those things that are identified as being the concerns of mental health professionals overlap significantly with the concerns of religion. This overlap is examined here in relationship to the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the mission, ministry and teaching of Jesus. It is proposed that Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God was centrally concerned with things that we now consider to be the domain of mental health. For Christians, mental health may be understood as the ability to fulfil vocation within the kingdom of God. A more critical theological understanding of mental health is needed to better inform the mission of the Church of England.

Quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment for individuals living with mental disorders in France: A pilot study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110429
Author(s):  
João M Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Priscila D Gonçalves ◽  
Danielle R Lima ◽  
Helena F Moura ◽  
Gisèle Apter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Tobacco Dependence ◽  
Treatment Quality ◽  
Tobacco Treatment

Background: There are remarkably high smoking rates in patients living with mental disorders (PLWMD), and the absence of a specific treatment policy for smoking cessation for these patients worldwide. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the quality of service and commitment to tobacco dependence treatment, and (ii) produce high-quality French versions of the Index of Tobacco Treatment Quality (ITTQ) and Tobacco Treatment Commitment Scale (TTCS). Methods: ITTQ and TTCS were used to assess French mental health professionals ( n = 80). Both scales were translated from their original language following standard procedures (i.e. forward translation). Descriptive analysis for total score, each factor and item were calculated for the entire sample, followed by subgroup analysis by gender, and role of the practitioner. Results: Nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and treatment quality in their mental health care units, compared to psychiatrists, and residents. Overall, counseling offering was low and there was a perception that it is unfair to take tobacco away from PLWMD. In the other hand, there were high levels of smoking assessment and perceptions that nicotine dependence should be included in drug treatment programs. Conclusions: There is a gap in tobacco treatment implementation for French PLWMD. The present pilot study alerts about the problem, and should stimulate larger studies validating such measures for wide use with French-speaking mental health professionals. French nurses presented higher levels of both treatment commitment and quality, and could be in a leadership position for such implementation. Encouraging the implementation of tobacco counseling within conventional mental health treatment is critical to improve cessation rates among this population. There is a potential for the sustainability of tobacco treatment interventions since the levels of commitment observed here were higher than in previous studies conducted abroad.

scholarly journals Public recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment: changes in Australia over 16 years

2012 ◽  
Vol 200 (5) ◽  
pp. 419-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola J. Reavley ◽  
Anthony F. Jorm
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Public Recognition ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Treatment Changes

BackgroundA 1995 Australian national survey of mental health literacy showed poor recognition of disorders and beliefs about treatment that differed from those of health professionals. A similar survey carried out in 2003/4 showed some improvements over 8 years.AimsTo investigate whether recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment have changed over a 16-year period.MethodA national survey of 6019 adults was carried out in 2011 using the same questions as the 1995 and 2003/4 surveys.ResultsResults showed improved recognition of depression and more positive ratings for a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals and antidepressants.ConclusionsAlthough beliefs about effective medications and interventions have moved closer to those of health professionals since the previous surveys, there is still potential for mental health literacy gains in the areas of recognition and treatment beliefs for mental disorders. This is particularly the case for schizophrenia.

The Public's Ability to Recognize Mental Disorders and their Beliefs about Treatment: Changes in Australia Over 8 Years

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Jorm ◽  
Helen Christensen ◽  
Kathleen M. Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychiatric Ward ◽  
Treatment Beliefs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Treatment Changes

Objective: A national survey of Australian adults in 1995 showed a low level of recognition of mental disorders and beliefs about treatment that were often discordant with those of professionals. The present study aimed to find out whether recognition and treatment beliefs have changed over 8 years. Method: A national survey of 2001 adults in 2003–2004 included the same questions as the 1995 survey. These interview questions were based on a vignette of a person with either depression or schizophrenia. Results: Over the 8 years, the public showed better recognition of depression and schizophrenia and gave more positive ratings to a range of interventions, including help from mental health professionals, medications, psychotherapy and psychiatric ward admission. Conclusions: The Australian public's beliefs have changed over 8 years to be more like those of mental health professionals. This change may have positive implications for helpseeking and treatment concordance.

scholarly journals A Study of the Diagnostic Practices for Mental Disorders in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Diagnostic Quality ◽  
Diagnostic Practices ◽  
Depressive Episodes

Introduction: A lack of awareness of the diagnosis of mental disorders exists in the Ghanaian community due to the general misconceptions about mental health. One major challenge in diagnosing mental disorders is that no blood test or scan can be performed to confirm a particular mental disorder, unlike other medical conditions such as cancer, malaria, diabetes, and hepatitis. A stepwise progressive observation and assessment to rule out all possible medical conditions that might be associated with a mental disorder is essential to enhance the quality of diagnosis and treatment. This study focuses on describing the diagnostic practices of mental disorders to educate the public, create awareness, and to improve diagnosis in Ghana. Objective: This paper aims to describe the current diagnostic practices used to diagnose mental disorders to understand the impact of the diagnosis of mental disorders and to provide evidence for mental health policy and planning to improve diagnostic practice in psychiatry in Ghana. Methods: We collected and described data on the diagnosis of mental disorders from 30 mental health professionals aged 20 years and above who were purposively selected from six hospitals. We carried out in-person structured interviews with all participants at their various hospital premises. Results: Stages of diagnosing mental disorders can be single, dual, or multiple. Proportions representing the patterns of diagnosis of the most common types of mental disorders in the population included 73.3% for mania without psychotic syndrome, and 63.3% for hebephrenic schizophrenia. Moderate depressive episodes, bipolar affective disorder with mild or moderate depression, and organic delusion (schizophrenia-like) disorder achieved the same results (56.7%). Phobic anxiety disorder and schizoid personality disorder were also reported by the same proportions (46.7%). Also, symptomatic epilepsy and epileptic syndrome was reported by (43.3%) and 40% for mood disorder due to known physiological condition with manic symptoms. Persistent delusional disorder as well as dementia with behavioral disturbance and dementia with depression and anxiety were reported by the same proportions (36.7%), and 33.3% for psychoactive substance abuse with psychoactive sub-induced anxiety disorder. The level of diagnostic quality in the psychiatric hospitals was higher than in the primary health centers (83.3% vs 63.3%). The most suitable intervention to improve diagnostic quality (40%) was associated with diagnostic education. Most participants (56.7%) assigned a moderate rating to the effectiveness of the interventions to improve diagnostic practices. Conclusion: We plan to use our findings to solicit support from mental health stakeholders to provide comprehensive public education involving basic and specific knowledge on the diagnosis of mental disorders. We recommend that any national programme would need to have sustainable long-term policies to encourage and motivate mental health professionals to participate in diagnostic activities and to pay more attention to patients. Incorporating mental health education into the school curriculum is also important.

scholarly journals Factors influencing medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders from the perspective of mental health professionals

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengjie Deng ◽  
Shuyi Zhai ◽  
Xuan Ouyang ◽  
Zhening Liu ◽  
Brendan Ross
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Hunan Province ◽  
Severe Mental Disorders ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Factors Influencing

Abstract Background Medication adherence is a common issue influenced by various factors among patients with severe mental disorders worldwide. However, most literature to date has been primarily quantitative and has focused on medication adherence issue from the perspective of patients or their caregivers. Moreover, research focused on medication adherence issue in China is scarce. Present study aims to explore the influential factors of medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders form the perspective of mental health professionals in Hunan Province, China. Methods A qualitative study was performed in Hunan Province, China with 31 mental health professionals recruited from October to November 2017. And semi-structured interviews or focus group interviews were conducted along with audio recordings of all interviews. Interview transcripts were then coded and analyzed in Nvivo software with standard qualitative approaches. Results Three major themes influencing medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders were identified as: (1) attitudes towards mental disorder/treatment; (2) inadequate aftercare; (3) resource shortages. Conclusions This qualitative study identified the factors influencing medication adherence among patients with severe mental disorders in China. As a locally driven research study, it provides practical advice on medication adherence promotion for mental health workers and suggests culturally tailored models that improve the management of patients with severe mental disorders in order to reduce economic burden on individual and societal level.

scholarly journals Concepts of mental disorders in the United Kingdom: Similarities and differences between the lay public and psychiatrists

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-514
Author(s):  
Ben Butlin ◽  
Keith Laws ◽  
Rebecca Read ◽  
Matthew D Broome ◽  
Shivani Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Nuanced Understanding ◽  
Lay Public

Background: The lay public often conceptualise mental disorders in a different way to mental health professionals, and this can negatively impact on outcomes when in treatment. Aims: This study explored which disorders the lay public are familiar with, which theoretical models they understand, which they endorse and how they compared to a sample of psychiatrists. Methods: The Maudsley Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), typically used to assess mental health professional’s concepts of mental disorders, was adapted for use by a lay community sample ( N = 160). The results were compared with a sample of psychiatrists ( N = 76). Results: The MAQ appeared to be accessible to the lay public, providing some interesting preliminary findings: in order, the lay sample reported having the best understanding of depression followed by generalised anxiety, schizophrenia and finally antisocial personality disorder. They best understood spiritualist, nihilist and social realist theoretical models of these disorders, but were most likely to endorse biological, behavioural and cognitive models. The lay public were significantly more likely to endorse some models for certain disorders suggesting a nuanced understanding of the cause and likely cure, of various disorders. Ratings often differed significantly from the sample of psychiatrists who were relatively steadfast in their endorsement of the biological model. Conclusion: The adapted MAQ appeared accessible to the lay sample. Results suggest that the lay public are generally aligned with evidence-driven concepts of common disorders, but may not always understand or agree with how mental health professionals conceptualise them. The possible causes of these differences, future avenues for research and the implications for more collaborative, patient–clinician conceptualisations are discussed.

scholarly journals Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

Psychology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Widiger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
General Public ◽  
Common Language ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Dsm 5

Mental health professionals and scientists must have a common language to communicate with their colleagues, with professional agencies, and with patients and the general public. The primary purpose of an official, authoritative diagnostic nomenclature is to provide this common language that minimizes the use of idiosyncratic and invalid concepts. The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA’s) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) provides this common language for the description of psychopathology. DSM-5 is the current edition of the APA’s diagnostic manual.

Primary prevention of mental disorders

2012 ◽  
pp. 1446-1452
Author(s):  
J. M. Bertolote
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Two Factors

Despite the demonstration of the possibility of preventing some forms of mental disorders, many mental health professionals continue to underestimate the possibilities of primary prevention in their field. This is due to: 1 a lack of clear concepts when referring to this issue; 2 the fact that the effective prevention of mental and neurological disorders often falls outside the usual remit of mental health professionals (in many cases it falls outside the health sector altogether). These two factors are discussed below, in addition to an indication of actions which effectively prevent some forms of mental disorders.

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