The role of music therapy in Australian mental health services and the need for increased access to service users

2021 ◽  
pp. 103985622098025
Author(s):  
Jennifer Bibb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Treatment Option ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Current Evidence Base

Objectives: This opinion paper aims to provide an overview of the current evidence base supporting the use of music therapy in mental health care. It also aims to offer critique on the issue of access to music therapy in Australia. Conclusions: There is a strong evidence base for music therapy to provide symptomatic relief and improve quality of life for people living with mental illness. However, music therapy is underfunded and framed as a supplementary service within mental health services in Australia, which limits its access to consumers. Funding music therapy as an evidence-based treatment option would fill an existing service gap and provide equitable access to a cost-effective and often consumer preferred treatment option for mental health consumers.

scholarly journals Child and adolescent mental health services liaison with Tier 1 services: a consultation exercise with school nurses

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 462-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Richardson ◽  
Ian Partridge
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Audit Commission ◽  
Tier 1 ◽  
Tiered System ◽  
Consultation Intervention

Consultation with Tier 1 professionals is an integral part of comprehensive child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) (NHS Health Advisory Service, 1995; Audit Commission, 1999). Despite enthusiasm for consultative approaches and clearly described advantages (Steinberg, 1993), the evidence base for consultation work is thin. In schools, the consultation intervention has been found to be the least effective of four interventions (Kolvin et al, 1981). Consultation enables the development of an integrated tiered system, improves communication, provides a greater understanding of the roles of CAMHS by Tier 1 professionals and fosters more relevant referral patterns.

scholarly journals Encouraging the implementation of clinical standards into practice

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Palmer ◽  
Paul Lelliott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Clinical Standards ◽  
Current Evidence Base

The articles by Geddes & Wessely (2000, this issue) and Lelliott (2000, this issue) describe the current evidence base and guidelines from which clinical standards can be developed in mental health. They highlight some of the issues and complexity surrounding the development of standards. It could be argued, however, that an even greater challenge lies in getting clinical standards used in routine practice.

scholarly journals Reducing aggression and improving offending outcomes in youth with conduct disorder, results of a systematic review

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S270-S270
Author(s):  
Craig McEwan ◽  
Lauren Dunn ◽  
Jake Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Antisocial Behaviour ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Offending Behaviour

AimsThe aim of this literature review was to determine what interventions are effective in reducing aggression and offending behaviour in under 18's with conduct disorder.Null hypothesis: There is no difference in aggression or offending behaviour in under 18's with conduct problems in spite of interventions offeredBackgroundMental health services for children and adolescents who are aggressive or who have come into contact with the Youth Justice System are sparse and often under resourced. Conduct disorder (CD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in adolescents, particularly in young offenders (Kenny et al 2007). The most effective prevention programs for youth at risk of persistent delinquency has previously been found to be a multi model program focussing on the family context. However, this has not taken in to consideration the extent and prevalence of mental disorder, including conduct disorder, within the target population.MethodA systematic literature search was undertaken on medline and psychoinfo between January and December 2018. Identified papers were then screened by two independent researchers against pre-agreed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant papers were assessed for bias and results summarised.ResultFrom an initial data set of 526 papers, 9 were included for review. 4 focussed on psychopharmacology (1 aripiprazole, 1 risperidone, 1 risperidone vs clozapine, 1 clozapine), 1 family centred feedback, 1 Mode Deactivation Therapy and 3 were multi modal (combinations of Mode Deactivation Therapy, Stop Now and Act Programme, CBT, Didactic sessions, 1:1 counselling). None of the multi-modal interventions were standardised or comparable to each other. End points varied from 8 weeks (aripiprazole) to 15 months (multimodal SNAP programme). Settings varied from community programmes to secure inpatient settings. Whilst one risperidone study reported it to be effective in reducing aggression, it was not significant. One SNAP (multimodal) programme failed to show significant effect. All other 7 interventions, across various methods, demonstrated significant reductions in aggression, violence or other antisocial behaviour.ConclusionFew papers were identified that assessed interventions for youth with conduct disorder. The papers that were identified were significantly heterogeneous in their intervention, sample selection, methodology and outcome measures. Unfortunately, this leads to an inability to compare any interventions for this demographic. Despite the rise in Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, there is a weak and poorly understood evidence base for supporting and managing young people with conduct disorder.

Telemental health

2018 ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryann Waugh ◽  
Matthew Mishkind ◽  
Jay H. Shore
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
System P

Telemental health is a term for health care that leverages audio and video telecommunications technologies such as video-teleconferencing, computers, mobile devices, the Internet, telephones, and broadband connectivity to provide mental health services across time and physical distance. Telemental health has the capacity to make a significant and positive impact on public mental health by its ability to not only increase access to care, but also more effectively tailor mental health services to individual or community-wide healthcare needs. This chapter describes ways that telemental health is currently being used to impact mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment, summarizes the evidence base for these applications, and highlights some practical considerations for providers and systems implementing this newer virtual care delivery system.

scholarly journals Let us unite against COVID-19 – a New Zealand perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bandyopadhyay ◽  
A. Meltzer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Future Health ◽  
State Economy ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has shaken the existence of mankind worldwide, including that of New Zealand. In comparison to other countries, New Zealand has had a very low number of confirmed and probable cases as well as COVID-19-related deaths. New Zealand closed its borders and rapidly declared a stringent lockdown to eliminate COVID-19. The country’s ‘go hard, go early’ policy serves as an exemplar for the rest of the world to date. The mysterious nature of COVID-19 has caused tremendous stress and uncertainty leading to universal conflict between public health and state economy. Mental health services and non-government organisations have been proactive in the fight against COVID-19. Though there has been no significant rise in referrals to secondary mental health services to date (4 May 2020), a rapid surge in mental health presentations is widely anticipated. Telehealth may prove to be an efficient and cost-effective tool for the provision of future health services.

An update on the growing evidence base for peer support

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chyrell Bellamy ◽  
Timothy Schmutte ◽  
Larry Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Peer Support Services

Purpose As peer support services have become increasingly used in mental health settings as a recovery-oriented practice, so has the body of published research on this approach to care. The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on the current evidence base for peer support for adults with mental illness in two domains: mental health and recovery, and physical health and wellness. Design/methodology/approach To provide a robust, non-redundant, and up-to-date review, first the authors searched for meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Second, the authors found individual studies not included in any of the reviews. Findings Peer services are generally equally effective to services provided by non-peer paraprofessionals on traditional clinical outcomes. Although some studies found peer services to be effective at reducing hospitalization rates and symptom severity, as a whole, the current evidence base is confounded by heterogeneity in programmatic characteristics and methodological shortcomings. On the other hand, the evidence is stronger for peer support services having more of a positive impact on levels of hope, empowerment, and quality of life. Research limitations/implications In addition to the need for further high-quality research on peer support in mental and physical health domains, the authors also question whether measures of hope, empowerment, and integration into the community are more relevant to recovery than traditional clinical outcomes. Originality/value This paper provides an original, robust, and up-to-date review of the evidence for peer services.

scholarly journals Evaluation of ReachOut.com, an Unstructured Digital Youth Mental Health Intervention: Prospective Cohort Study

10.2196/21280 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e21280
Author(s):  
Bianca Lorraine Kahl ◽  
Hilary May Miller ◽  
Kathryn Cairns ◽  
Hayley Giniunas ◽  
Mariesa Nicholas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Retention Rate ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Mental Health Intervention

Background Young people experience a disproportionate burden associated with mental illness that Australia’s mental health care system is ill-equipped to handle. Despite improvements in the provision of mental health services, the rates of service utilization among young people remain suboptimal, and there are still considerable barriers to seeking help. Digital mental health services can overcome a number of barriers and connect young people requiring support; however, the evidence base of digital interventions is limited. Objective The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a brief, self-directed, unstructured digital intervention, ReachOut.com (hereafter ReachOut), in reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and risk of suicide. Methods A cohort of 1982 ReachOut users participated in a 12-week longitudinal study, with a retention rate of 81.18% (1609/1982) across the duration of the study. Participants completed web-based surveys, with outcome measures of mental health status and suicide risk assessed at 3 time points across the study period. Results The results demonstrated that over the 12-week study period, young people using ReachOut experienced modest yet significant reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Significant, albeit modest, reductions in the proportion of participants at high risk of suicide were also observed. Conclusions The findings of this research provide preliminary evidence of the promise of an unstructured digital mental health intervention, ReachOut, in alleviating symptoms of mental ill-health and promoting well-being in young people. These findings are particularly important given that digital services are not only acceptable and accessible but also have the potential to cater to the diverse mental health needs of young people at scale, in a way that other services cannot.

scholarly journals Perspectives on Recruitment and Representativeness in Forensic Psychiatric Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven H. Pedersen ◽  
Henrik Bergman ◽  
Johan Berlin ◽  
Thomas Hartvigsson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Research Participants ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric

Participant representativeness and statistical power are crucial elements of robust research with human participants, both of which relate to the successful recruitment of research participants. Nevertheless, such core features may often not be fully reported or duly considered in psychiatric research. Building on our experiences of collecting data in the context of forensic mental health services, we discuss issues regarding participant recruitment and representativeness in our field with its particular characteristics. A quick sampling and brief overview of the literature in four specialized forensic mental health journals is presented, demonstrating that published manuscripts rarely describe the data in sufficient detail for the reader to assess sample representativeness and statistical power. This lack of transparency leads not only to difficulties in interpreting the research; it also entails risks relating to the already meager evidence base of forensic mental health services being relevant only to a subset of patients. Accordingly, we provide suggestions for increased transparency in reporting and improved recruitment of research participants. We also discuss the balance of ethical considerations pertinent to the pursuit of increased participation rates in forensic mental health research.

Short report: A quantitative methodological review of participant characteristics in the literature testing mental health interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110564
Author(s):  
Kelsey S Dickson ◽  
Megan Ledoux Galligan ◽  
Ho Lok
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Health Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence Base ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Treatment Research

There have been significant efforts to develop, adapt, and test interventions targeting the co-occurring mental health conditions common among autistic youth, with several extant narrative and systematic reviews demonstrating the efficacy of these interventions. Yet, a methodological analysis of the literature testing these interventions, particularly the characteristics of the participant samples comprising this evidence base, is needed to contextualize our current understanding of treatment effects and highlight current gaps in the current evidence base to inform future research. This systematic quantitative methodology review characterized participants included in the mental health treatment research for autistic youth. One hundred and thirty-one articles testing mental health interventions for autism spectrum disorder were coded for youth, caregiver, and provider participant demographics. Findings indicated limited representation of females, transition age youth, racial/ethnic minority groups, and youth diverse in cognitive functioning and co-occurring mental health symptoms or conditions. Limited inclusion of providers’ representative of the clinical workforce was also noted. These results illuminate several critical gaps in the current evidence base for mental health interventions for autistic youth and provide recommendations for future research directions. Lay abstract Previous research has highlighted the importance of mental health treatment for autistic youth. In that research base, most studies focus on demonstrating the efficacy of a particular intervention with a sample of autistic youth. However, understanding the characteristics of samples used within these studies (i.e. demographics) is an important avenue for expanding this research to a more diverse, representative sample of autistic youth in community settings. As such, the current review examined and characterized participants included within mental health treatment research. We coded studies for various demographics among the youth sample, caregivers, and providers participants. Results indicated that while efforts have been made to increase diversity in research, very few studies including transition-aged youth, those identifying as female, and/or those identifying as non-Caucasian. Clinically, a few studies included youth with lower cognitive abilities and/or those with specific mental health problems (e.g. trauma and depression) or more than one co-occurring mental health conditions. Overall, our results highlight several critical gaps in our current evidence base regarding mental health treatment for autistic youth, including the limited clinical representativeness of both provider and child participants.

scholarly journals A capability framework to develop leadership for evidence-informed therapies in publicly-funded mental health services

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Lau ◽  
Pamela Meredith ◽  
Sally Bennett ◽  
David Crompton ◽  
Frances Dark
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Workforce Development ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Publicly Funded ◽  
Standard Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Roles ◽  
Standard Case Management

Purpose It is difficult to replicate evidence-informed models of psychosocial and assertive care interventions in non-research settings, and means to determine workforce capability for psychosocial therapies have not been readily available. The purpose of this paper is to describe and provide a rationale for the Therapy Capability Framework (TCF) which aims to enhance access to, and quality of, evidence-informed practice for consumers of mental health services (MHSs) by strengthening workforce capabilities and leadership for psychosocial therapies. Design/methodology/approach Guided by literature regarding the inadequacies and inconsistencies of evidence-informed practice provided by publicly-funded MHSs, this descriptive paper details the TCF and its application to enhance leadership and provision of evidence-informed psychosocial therapies within multi-disciplinary teams. Findings The TCF affords both individual and strategic workforce development opportunities. Applying the TCF as a service-wide workforce strategy may assist publicly-funded mental health leaders, and other speciality health services, establish a culture that values leadership, efficiency, and evidence-informed practice. Originality/value This paper introduces the TCF as an innovation to assist publicly-funded mental health leaders to transform standard case management roles to provide more evidence-informed psychosocial therapies. This may have clinical and cost-effective outcomes for public MHSs, the consumers, carers, and family members.

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