scholarly journals Social Positioning Analysis as a Qualitative Methodology to Study Identity Construction in People Diagnosed With Severe Mental Illnesses

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110503
Author(s):  
Javier Saavedra ◽  
Samuel Arias-Sánchez ◽  
Prof. Manuel L. de la Mata ◽  
Jose Antonio Matías-García
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Life Stories ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Social Positioning ◽  
Positioning Analysis

Severe mental illnesses (SMI) in general, and schizophrenia in particular, have been characterized as alterations of the experience of self and identity. When first diagnosed with SMI, the subjective experiences and specific narrative challenges faced by this population are particularly important. Therefore, qualitative approaches which allow to analyze these subjective experiences should be developed. This article presents in detail a specific method, called Social Positioning Analysis, which makes the complexity of narratives and life stories with multiple turning points understandable. To develop this methodological proposal, it has been taken into account the performative aspects of social interaction in which narratives are constructed. The methodology has previously been used in other health contexts and is innovative in the field of mental health. Linguistic criteria, definitions, and multiple examples are included to facilitate its application, as well as some reflections about its potential and possible benefits.

Prescriptive Power: Biologism, Biopsychiatry and Drug-centred Psychopharmacology

Somatechnics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 291-309
Author(s):  
Francis Russell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Human Experience ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
False Consciousness ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Biological Ontology ◽  
Health Discourse

This paper looks to make a contribution to the critical project of psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff, by elucidating her account of ‘drug-centred’ psychiatry, and its relation to critical and cultural theory. Moncrieff's ‘drug-centred’ approach to psychiatry challenges the dominant view of mental illness, and psychopharmacology, as necessitating a strictly biological ontology. Against the mainstream view that mental illnesses have biological causes, and that medications like ‘anti-depressants’ target specific biological abnormalities, Moncrieff looks to connect pharmacotherapy for mental illness to human experience, and to issues of social justice and emancipation. However, Moncrieff's project is complicated by her framing of psychopharmacological politics in classical Marxist notions of ideology and false consciousness. Accordingly, she articulates a political project that would open up psychiatry to the subjugated knowledge of mental health sufferers, whilst also characterising those sufferers as beholden to ideology, and as being effectively without knowledge. Accordingly, in order to contribute to Moncrieff's project, and to help introduce her work to a broader humanities readership, this paper elucidates her account of ‘drug-centred psychiatry’, whilst also connecting her critique of biopsychiatry to notions of biologism, biopolitics, and bio-citizenship. This is done in order to re-describe the subject of mental health discourse, so as to better reveal their capacities and agency. As a result, this paper contends that, once reframed, Moncrieff's work helps us to see value in attending to human experience when considering pharmacotherapy for mental illness.

African American Women and Depression: Promoting the Need for Culturally Competent Treatment

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernice Kennedy ◽  
Chalice Jenkins ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
African American ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
African American Women ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
American Woman ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
American Women

Abstract Depression is gradually increasing in African American women. These women are experiencing role changes and additional life stressors. Depressed African American women may perceive themselves as being devalued by society with fewer support systems to buffer stressful events. Depressive symptoms may develop into clinical depression and a further decrease in the quality of life for the African American woman. The assumption that all women share similar experiences does not allow for differences to emerge regarding the diagnostic process, measuring tools, and successful treatment strategies for various cultures. The authors developed a Multifaceted Model of Depression in African American Women for improving treatment of African American women with depression and future research needs. Cultural background plays a vital role in how the symptoms of mental illnesses are developed, reported, interpreted, and how women are treated. African Americans who subscribed to the Strong Black Women Archetype (SBWA) are naturally strong, resilient, self-contained, and self-sacrificing. This self-reliance prevents them from reaching out for social support. This, in turn, can contribute to depressive symptoms with negative health outcomes. The African American women are more apt to have less access to routine medical care where early diagnosis and interventions can be done, so their mental health problems (e.g., depression, stress, etc.) are often more developed, complicated, and their social supports more depleted when they do access treatment. When African American women do have access to mental health care, they receive poor quality care compared to Whites.

Mental health recovery and its correlates: Perspectives from 2 countries (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiting Xie
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mental Health Recovery ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Serious Mental Illnesses ◽  
Promote Mental Health

BACKGROUND Many people are affected by mental health conditions, yet its prevalence in certain populations are not well documented. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to describe the attributes of people with mental health conditions in U.S and SG in terms of: perception of mental health recovery and its correlates such as strengths self-efficacy, resourcefulness and stigma experience. With the findings, not only could the knowledge base for mental health recovery in both countries be enhanced but interventions and policies relating to self-efficacy, resourcefulness and de-stigmatization for mental health recovery could be informed. METHODS A A cross-sectional, descriptive study with convenience sample of 200 community dwelling adults were selected, 100 pax from the United States (U.S) and 100 pax from Singapore (SG). Adults with serious mental illnesses without substance abuse impacting on their recovery were recruited. Participants completed self-administered questionaires measuring their mental health recovery, strengths self-efficacy, resourcefulness and stigma experience. RESULTS This study offered the unique opportunity to examine mental health recovery as well as its correlates such as strengths self-efficacy, resourcefulness and stigma experience from both the United States and Singapore. While the perception of mental health recovery and positive attributes like strengths self-efficacy and resourcefulness remained strong in participants with serious mental illnesses across both countries, people with serious mental illnesses in both countries still experienced negative perception like stigma. The findings would not only inform strategies to promote mental health recovery but also enhance the focus on correlates such as strengths self-efficacy and resourcefulness across both countries. CONCLUSIONS The findings would not only inform strategies to promote mental health recovery but also enhance the focus on correlates such as strengths self-efficacy and resourcefulness across both countries.

scholarly journals Role of social integration in the protection against depression in the Chilean elderly population

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L de Albuquerque Araújo ◽  
N Bello Escamilla ◽  
V Sabando Franulic
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
National Study ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Negative Gradient

Abstract Chile has improved survival however this process occurs under a framework of socioeconomic and gender inequalities, which results in an impact of mental health, especially in vulnerable groups. The objective was to determine the association between depression and social integration in Chilean older adults. Cross-sectional study from the National Study of Dependence in Old Person 2010. The risk of depression was amount with Geriatric Depression Scale (>5). The social integration were quantity as frequency of meeting with close relatives (child, partner, daughter/ son-in-law, grandchildren); with other relatives (brother, brothers-in-law, nephews or other relatives) and with friends and neighbors in the last 12 months in 5 categories (never visit; less frequently; 1-2 times a month; 1-2 times a week; every day or almost). Logistic regression models considered the sampling design of the survey to identify association with odd ratio (OR) (never as reference category), adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, household income, education, housing arrangement and chronic diseases (p ≤ 0,5). Total of 4179 older adults 25,3% reported risk of depression, the significative association with close relatives was in daily or almost frequency OR:0.42 (95%CI 0.27-0.67), 1-2 times a week OR: 0,57 (95%CI 0,33-0,99), 1-2 times/month OR: 0,56 (95%CI 0,99); other relatives were lower frequency OR: 0.54 (95%CI 0.38-0.78); 1-2 times/month OR; 0.50 (95%CI 0.31-0.81); 1-2 times/week OR:0.35 (95%CI 0.22-0.55); daily or almost OR:0.27 (95%CI 0.18-0.42). And meeting with friends and neighbors in the same frequency order were OR: 0.66 (95%CI 0.44-0.99); OR:0.43 (95%CI 0.26-0.73); OR:0.4 (95%CI 0.25-0.62); OR: 0.32 (95%CI 0.21-0.47). There is a negative gradient between depression and the frequency of meeting with friends, neighbors and family, independent of sociodemographic and health characteristics. Social integration must be promoted as a protective factor of mental health in elderly. Key messages Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in old age and we found a negative gradient between the frequency of meeting friends, neighbors and family and the possibility of depression. It seems essential for public health to have strategies that address social life in old age to strengthen quality of live and mental health.

scholarly journals Methodology for Development of a Community Level Intervention Module for Physical Illness in Persons with Mental Illness (CLIPMI)

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. S94-S98
Author(s):  
Ramanujam Govindan ◽  
Thara Rangaswamy ◽  
Sujit John ◽  
Sunitha Kandasamy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mental Health Program ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Health Delivery ◽  
Expected Outcome ◽  
Health Delivery System

Background and Objectives: Medical illnesses seen in persons with psychiatric disorders are important but often ignored causes of increased morbidity and mortality. Hence, a community level intervention program addressing the issue is proposed. Materials and Methods: Patients with severe mental illnesses will be identified by a door-to-door survey and assessed for comorbid physical illnesses like anemia, hypertension, diabetes, and so on. They will then be randomized into two groups. The treatment as usual (TAU) group will not receive intervention from the trained community level workers, while the Intervention group will receive it. Results: The two groups will be compared for the prevalence and severity of comorbid physical illnesses. The expected outcome is compared to the TAU group, the intervention group will have a greater reduction in the morbidity due to physical illnesses and improved mental health. Conclusion: If successful, the module can be incorporated into the community level mental health delivery system of the District Mental Health Program (DMHP).

Enhancing Wellbeing for Older Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses: Co-Producing a Positive Psychology Course With Certified Older Adult Peer Specialists

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232199204
Author(s):  
Lydia P. Ogden
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Peer Specialists ◽  
Psychology Course ◽  
Serious Mental Illnesses

Compared to peers in the general population, persons aging with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) face physical health disparities, increased isolation, and decreased subjective experiences of quality of life and wellbeing. To date, limited intervention research focuses on addressing specific needs of persons aging with SMIs and no interventions targeted for that population are informed by the theory and science of positive psychology. With the aim of co-producing a positive-psychology-based program to enhance wellbeing for older adults with SMIs, the author held a series of focus groups and individual interviews with six certified older adult peer specialists. Analysis of the data developed in-depth insights into helpful processes, values, and priorities of individuals aging with SMIs, as well as the creation of a wellbeing-enhancing course curriculum.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic correlates of public stigma about mental illness: a population study on Hong Kong’s Chinese population

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lincoln Lik Hang Lo ◽  
Yi Nam Suen ◽  
Sherry Kit Wa Chan ◽  
Min Yi Sum ◽  
Cheung Charlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Public Stigma ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Lower Education

Abstract Background Individuals with psychiatric disorders are often unwilling to seek help or often follow treatment regimens, fearing public stigma. This study identified the sociodemographic correlates of public stigma while accounting for mental health literacy and life satisfaction. Methods This study analysed data for 1514 individuals who participated in a population-based random telephone survey conducted in 2018. Sociodemographic characteristics included gender, age, education level, and occupation. Data on public stigma, mental health literacy, and life satisfaction were also collected. Multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on public stigma. A moderation analysis was performed to investigate the role of age and education in the relationship between mental health literacy and public stigma. Results Sociodemographic characteristics, such as female gender, older age, lower education, and occupation (particularly retired and homemakers), were associated with a higher public stigma. The association between public stigma and mental health literacy was the most significant among individuals aged 50 years and above with lower education levels. Conclusions This study showed that certain population subgroups, based on their sociodemographic profile, have a higher stigma about mental illnesses. Understanding the differential effects of sociodemographic factors on public stigma is imperative to developing effective anti-stigma campaigns.

scholarly journals “Take care of yourself”: a psychoeducational tool for adolescents for the mental health promotion (MHP) in the pediatric primary care (PPC)

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Passalacqua ◽  
A Crameri ◽  
A Zysset ◽  
F Wieber ◽  
A Wyl
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Pediatric Primary Care ◽  
Online Addiction ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Helping Others ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Resilience Framework

Abstract Background Worldwide 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental disorders (MD). Half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s. As adolescents move from child to adult-centered care, they should be encouraged to implement a proactive mental health strategy. Pediatrician have the potential to be an important gateway to MHP. The healthcare coordination may be affected by contextual constraints such as lack of time and the reluctance of the adolescents to seek help for MD. Adopting a resilience framework, we aimed to develop a psychoeducational toolkit to optimize the contact between the adolescents and their pediatrician. Methods We first collected pediatricians needs in a focus group and systematically searched in the literature for components of interventions that are effective in the MHP. We selected a previously developed toolkit, that we aimed to optimize and adapt culturally. The adapted toolkit was then evaluated by adolescents in two focus groups. We took their feedback into account when finalizing the toolkit. Results The psychoeducational toolkit “Take care of yourself” is a resource for adolescents to recognize risks for MD. It comprises ten topics that are central to MHP: myths and facts about MD, dealing with stress, love and loss, unhealthy relationships, separation, grief, online addiction, drugs, helping others, confidentiality, rights and obligations and useful websites. Analyses of the focus groups showed that adolescents and pediatricians evaluated the toolkit as appealing and helpful. Conclusions This toolkit provides a resource for adolescents to address mental health problems. It aims to increase MHP in PPC and to contribute to the destigmatization of MD. In a next step, we plan to test the effectiveness of this psychoeducational tool.

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