Exploring challenges in mental health service provisions for school-going adolescents in Sri Lanka

School Psychology International ◽

10.1177/01430343211043062 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 014303432110430

Author(s):

H. Kaushi H. Jayawardena ◽

Gayani P. Gamage

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Help Seeking ◽

National Level ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Services Research ◽

Counselling Services ◽

School Counsellors ◽

Negative Perceptions ◽

Barriers To Service ◽

Legislative Changes

Schools provide an ideal setting for early, accessible intervention according to research conducted in developed countries for adolescents experiencing adverse mental health (MH). Many schools in South Asia, however, lack structured and standardized school counselling services. Research indicates that where services do exist, students are reluctant to access them due to perceived high risks and low benefits in MH help seeking. This paper explores the challenges experienced in MH provision from the perspective of school counsellors. A qualitative approach was chosen, and three main themes emerged from the data using the thematic analysis: negative perceptions of MH and counselling, the unwillingness to invest in MH services, and the challenges inherent in the system itself. The findings reveal cultural implications behind these challenges and suggest grassroots level initiatives that can be implemented within schools to reduce the barriers to service provision without the need for legislative changes at a national level.

Download Full-text

Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16234849 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (23) ◽

pp. 4849 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Daghagh Yazd ◽

Wheeler ◽

Zuo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Pesticide Exposure ◽

Developed Countries ◽

The United States ◽

Psychological Disorder ◽

Factors Affecting

Recently, concern has increased globally over farmers’ mental health issues. We present a systematic review of the outcomes, locations, study designs, and methods of current studies on farmers’ mental health. In particular, this review aims to fill an important gap in understanding of the potential key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health around the world. 167 articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review using a standardized electronic literature search strategy and PRISMA guidelines. The four most-cited influences on farmers’ mental health in the reviewed literature respectively were pesticide exposure, financial difficulties, climate variabilities/drought, and poor physical health/past injuries. The majority of studies were from developed countries, most specifically from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Comparative studies on the mental health of farmers and other occupational workers showed mixed results, with a larger portion identifying that psychological health disturbances were more common in farmers and farm-workers. Knowledge of farmer psychological disorder risk factors and its impacts are essential for reducing the burden of mental illness. Further research will be required on climate change impacts, developing country farmers’ mental health, and information on how to reduce help-seeking barriers amongst farmers.

Download Full-text

Awareness on Mental Health Problems and Help Seeking Behavior among College Students

International Journal of Indian Psychology ◽

10.25215/0501.082 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

P. Viswanatha Reddy

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Health Problems ◽

Help Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Distress Scale

Mental health has become a thoroughly studied concept in developed countries. Accordingly, a significant amount of research has focused on the intentions of college students and adolescents to seek help for mental health problems. This study aims at assessing help-seeking behavior for common mental disorders among students from Narayana group of institutions. Multi stage sampling technique was employed. Help sources were assessed using the Actual Help Seeking Questionnaire and mental health status was assessed using the 10-item Kessler psychological distress scale. A total of 760 students were involved in the study. Instruments were self-administered; Multi regression analysis was used. From the respondents, 58.4% students were found to have current mental health problems and 7.9% of the students reported ideas of harming themselves. 78.4% students had sought help for their problems. 83.8% sought help from one or more of the informal help sources. Parents, friends and religious leaders were the source of help. This may be due to lack of information about availability of mental health services.

Download Full-text

Mental health help-seeking and barriers to service access among lesbian, gay, and bisexual Australians

Australian Psychologist ◽

10.1080/00050067.2021.1890981 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Timothy J. Cronin ◽

Christopher A. Pepping ◽

W. Kim Halford ◽

Anthony Lyons

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Service Access ◽

Barriers To Service ◽

And Bisexual

Download Full-text

Suicide prevention in Slovenia in the context of public health

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1217 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

S Roškar ◽

M Vinke

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Suicide Prevention ◽

Suicide Rate ◽

National Level ◽

Suicide Mortality ◽

Care Level ◽

Screening Programs ◽

Counselling Services ◽

Mental Health Awareness

Abstract Background Suicide mortality in Slovenia has decreased with 30% in the last two decades, from 28,25 per 100,000 in 2003 to 17,08 per 100,000 in 2018. Nevertheless, the country's suicide rate remains markedly above the EU average. Only from March 2018, Slovenia has a National Strategy for Mental Health 2018-2028, with one of the priority areas being suicide prevention and a strategic goal of decreasing suicide mortality by 15% in the next 10 years. Methods Specific objectives are aimed at (i) raising of mental health awareness and literacy, particularly in relation to suicide, (ii) early identification of people at risk, (iii) access to help and mental health provision for people at risk of suicide, (iv) reduction in alcohol use, (v) restriction of access to the means of suicide. Results Many of suicide prevention initiatives in Slovenia are being implemented on the local, regional, and national level. They include universal and targeted approaches such as collaboration with different gatekeepers (e.g. general practitioners, first responders, school workers, media), screening programs for at risk individuals at the primary health care level (e.g. PHQ-9), network of psychological counselling services, etc. Two interventions will be presented in more detail, namely (i) collaboration with media representatives on responsible reporting on suicide (a 'pre-post' comparison of reporting revealed statistically significant improvement in 6 out of 10 guidelines) and (ii) a population screening for depression and referral program for individuals aged > 35. Conclusions The aforementioned decrease in suicide mortality, timely coincides with the launch of multiple preventative activities. Even though further sound research is necessary to confirm a statistically significant relationship between the observed decrease and these preventive initiatives, it is probable that these actions contribute to the stagnation (and even decline) in the suicide rate in our country.

Download Full-text