Some People May Need it, But Not Me, Not Now: Seeking Professional Help for Mental Health Problems in Urban China

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 754-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Distress Scale

In recent years, various levels of the Chinese government have undertaken the task of developing new models of community-based mental health services. Greater availability and higher quality will not result in substantial improvements if those suffering from mental illnesses do not use the services. This article examines not only people’s cultural perception of mental health and help-seeking but also their practical concerns and preferences about mental health service provision in urban China. The study analyzes qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 50 respondents who belong to the most psychologically distressed subgroup (with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) score ≥ 25) identified in a household survey in Beijing. While stigma about mental illness and help-seeking is real and well described, most interviewees are also not aware of the availability of professional mental health services. They believe that professional services target the upper-middle and upper classes, and are outside the sphere of their daily life and socio-economic status. The interviewees do not welcome the prospect of a mental health clinic or treatment center in their neighborhood due to concerns about stigma and confidentiality; instead, they support the creation of mental health referral services and promotion programs within the community or on the Internet. The findings suggest that the development of community-based mental health services in mainland China should take into account not only the cultural constraints that make people reluctant to seek professional help but also the structural inadequacies that deter potential user groups from accessing such services.

scholarly journals Promotion of Mental Health Rehabilitation in China: Community- Based Mental-Health Services

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Y. Zhu ◽  
X. Li ◽  
M. Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The 1960S

Community-based mental health services are important for the treatment and recovery of patients with mental health disorders. The Chinese government has made the establishment of a highly efficient community-based health service an enduring priority. Since the 1960s, community-based mental health services have been developed in many Chinese cities and provinces. National policies, including mental health regulations and five-year national mental health working plans, have been issued to support the development of quality of mental health services. The accessibility and efficiency of community-based mental health services are now highly promoted to community residents. According to the National Standards for Primary Public Health Services, community-based mental health services are one of the most important components of primary public health services. They are mainly provided via Community Health Service Centres (CHCs), by a combination of general practitioners, public health physicians, nurses and social workers. Patients receive individualized and continuous health services according to their rehabilitation status. These services include regular physical examination, health education, rehabilitation guidance, social function rehabilitation training, vocational training and referral services; family members also receive care and psychological support. Future work will focus on expanding mental health service coverage and usage, increasing awareness of mental health and decreasing stigma, and strengthening service capability to establish an integrated model to enhance the overall efficiency of mental health services.

Short-Term Changes in Internalizing Symptoms and Help-Seeking Attitudes During the Coronavirus Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 448-480
Author(s):  
P. Priscilla Lui ◽  
Shefali Katedia ◽  
Savannah Pham ◽  
Westley Giadolor ◽  
Sarah Gobrial ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Asian Americans ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes ◽  
General Decline

Introduction: Existing data suggest that American adults experience added emotional difficulties amid the coronavirus disease outbreak. Psychotherapy can help mitigate mental health concerns; still, many individuals with unmet mental health needs refrain from professional help-seeking. According to theory of reasoned action, negative help-seeking attitudes are key barriers to engagement with mental health services. Given that individuals with severe distress are more likely to seek therapy than individuals with mild psychopathology symptoms, greater initial and increasing levels of internalizing symptoms amid the coronavirus outbreak likely are linked to increasingly favorable attitudes toward professional help-seeking. Method: In the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, American community adults, N = 831 [49.0% Asian Americans], Mage = 46.78, 50.2% women, were recruited for a panel survey study conducted over the course of three weeks. At each time point, participants completed questionnaires to assess their internalizing symptoms associated with depression and anxiety as well as their openness to and perceived value/need in treatment seeking. Results: Very few participants—especially Asian Americans —were seeking counseling during the study period. Latent growth curve results showed a general decline in internalizing symptoms, and no changes in openness to and perceived need in professional help-seeking. Whereas there were no time-varying correlations between internalizing symptoms and help-seeking attitudes, individuals with greater baseline internalizing symptoms generally were more open to seeking professional help and perceived less value in mental health services. Sensitivity analyses showed patterns in the Asian American subsample similar to those in the overall sample. Discussion: Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.

A comparison between two community-based mental health services, Northern Italy and Northern Norway

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Pucci ◽  
F Amaddeo ◽  
A Rossi ◽  
G Rezvy ◽  
R Olstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Northern Norway

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Community-based Group Mindfulness Program tailored for Arabic and Bangla-speaking Migrants

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse Blignault ◽  
Hend Saab ◽  
Lisa Woodland ◽  
Haider Mannan ◽  
Arshdeep Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Home Practice ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Mindfulness Skills ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Language Groups

Abstract Background Migrant communities are often underserved by mainstream mental health services resulting in high rates of untreated psychological distress. This collaborative study built on evidence that mindfulness-based interventions delivered in-language and culturally tailored were acceptable and clinically effective for Arabic speakers in Australia. It aimed to establish whether a group mindfulness program produced expected outcomes under normal operational conditions, and to test its scalability and its transferability to Bangla speakers. Methods A 5-week mindfulness program was delivered to 15 Arabic-speaking and 8 Bangla-speaking groups in community settings. The mixed-methods evaluation incorporated a pre-post study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the socio-demographic data, group attendance and home practice. Differences in DASS 21 and K10 scores from pre to post-intervention were tested using the nonparametric sign test for paired samples (two-sided). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of selected sociodemographic variables, group attendance and home practice on clinical outcomes, based on intention to treat. Content analysis was used to examine the qualitative data. Results The program attracted 168 Arabic speakers and 103 Bangla speakers aged 16 years and over, mostly women. Cultural acceptability was evident in the overall 80% completion rate, with 78% of Arabic speakers and 84% of Bangla speakers retained. Both language groups showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in mental health outcomes on the DASS21 and K10. Thirty new referrals were made to mental health services. Participant feedback emphasised the benefits for their everyday lives. All but one participant reported sharing the mindfulness skills with others. Conclusions Across multiple and diverse groups of Arabic and Bangla speakers in Sydney, the community-based group mindfulness program was shown to have high levels of cultural acceptability and relevance. It resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements in mental health outcomes, facilitated access to mental health care and boosted mental health literacy. This innovative, low-intensity, in-language mental health intervention that was originally developed for Arabic speakers is scalable. It is also transferable—with cultural tailoring—to Bangla speakers.

Living Arrangements of Individuals with Schizophrenia in Japan: Impact of Community-Based Mental Health Services

2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwao Oshima ◽  
Eri Kuno
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Psychiatric Service ◽  
Community Mental Health Services ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
The Difference

Aims: In Japan psychiatric hospitals and family play the predominant roles in caring for people with serious mental illness. This study explored how the introduction of community-based care has changed this situation by examining living arrangements of individuals with schizophrenia who were treated in one of the most progressive systems in Japan (Kawasaki) compared with national norms. Methods: The proportion of clients with schizophrenia in the community versus hospital and living arrangements for those in the community were compared between the Kawasaki and national treated population, using data from the Kawasaki psychiatric service users survey in 1993 and two national surveys in 1993 and 1983. The variation in living arrangements was examined across five different age cohorts. Results: The estimated national population was 36.7, which was similar to 32.7 clients per 10,000 population in Kawasaki. Some 71% of the Kawasaki clients were treated in the community compared with 55% nationally. The difference between the Kawasaki and national populations was the largest among clients aged 40 to 59. The Kawasaki community clients had a higher proportion of clients living alone. Conclusions: The community mental health services available in Kawasaki appeared to reduce hospitalisation and help clients to live alone in the community.

The Influence of Social Support, Help-Seeking Attitudes and Help-Seeking Intentions on Older Australians’ use of Mental Health Services for Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

2021 ◽  
pp. 009141502110508
Author(s):  
Susan Jane Bretherton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Health Service Use ◽  
Help Seeking Attitudes

This study investigated the influence of predisposing factors (social support, help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking intentions) on older Australian adults’ use of mental health services for depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Participants were 214 older Australian adults (61% female; aged between 60 and 96 years; M  =  75.15 years, SD  =  8.40 years) who completed a self-report questionnaire that measured predisposing factors and lifetime mental health service use for depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Higher levels of social support predicted non-use of mental health services. When this relationship was serially mediated by help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking intentions, it predicted mental health service use for depression and/or anxiety. Older adults are less likely to seek help for depression and/or anxiety symptoms unless members of their social support network encourage positive help-seeking attitudes, which lead to positive help-seeking intentions and the subsequent use of mental health services.

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