scholarly journals A Community-Engaged Research Approach to Improve Mental Health Among Latina Immigrants

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Perez ◽  
Pamela Della Valle ◽  
Sarah Paraghamian ◽  
Rachel Page ◽  
Janet Ochoa ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 000841742199438
Author(s):  
Melinda J. Suto ◽  
Shelagh Smith ◽  
Natasha Damiano ◽  
Shurli Channe

Background. Sustaining well-being challenges people with serious mental health issues. Community gardening is an occupation used to promote clients’ well-being, yet there is limited evidence to support this intervention. Purpose. This paper examines how facilitated community gardening programs changed the subjective well-being and social connectedness of people living with mental health issues. Method. A community-based participatory research approach and qualitative methods were used with 23 adults living in supported housing and participating in supported community gardening programs. A constructivist approach guided inductive data analysis. Findings. Participation in community gardening programs enhanced well-being through welcoming places, a sense of belonging, and developing positive feelings through doing. The connection to living things and responsibility for plants grounded participants in the present and offered a unique venue for learning about gardening and themselves. Implications. Practitioners and service-users should collaborate to develop leadership, programs, places, and processes within community gardens to enhance well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (21) ◽  
pp. 316-329
Author(s):  
Ruzita Azmi ◽  
Siti Nur Samawati Ahmad ◽  
Bidayatul Akmal Mustafa Kamil

Surveys showed that workers in Malaysia are at high risk of health problems including mental health problems that stemmed from the rising stress level at work. Despite having employees’ safety, health, and welfare being codified, depression will be a major mental health illness among Malaysian by 2020. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994) that caters to legislative framework in terms of securing safety, health, and welfare among Malaysian workforces has no provisions to provide a supportive environment for mental health wellbeing at the workplace as well as support for employees with a mental health problem. Furthermore, OSHA 1994 is self-regulated, causing fewer employers to develop OSH codes of practice and guidelines. This is among the weaknesses of OSHA 1994. This paper aims to examine the existing law and policy in Malaysia on mental health at the workplace. It also aims to compare the policy and legal framework in developed commonwealth countries such as the UK. This paper applies qualitative and comparative methods, consisting of a doctrinal legal research approach to understand the principles of law and policies dealing with mental health. A comparative method is employed in order to compare the policies and legal frameworks of mental health wellbeing in developed countries such as the UK. The comparative approach involves an examination of the similarities and dissimilarities between situations within the same legal system. The paper concludes that in order to support mental health and wellbeing at the workplace, a comprehensive legal framework and effective policy are needed especially for Malaysia. Compared with the UK, Malaysia is still lagged behind and has so much to learn from UK’s experiences to tackle issues on mental health.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Karbouniaris ◽  
Alie Weerman ◽  
Bea Dunnewind ◽  
Jean Pierre Wilken ◽  
Tineke A. Abma

Purpose This study aims to explore the perspectives of mental health professionals who are in a process of integrating their own experiential knowledge in their professional role. This study considers implications for identity, dilemmas and challenges within the broader organization, when bringing experiential knowledge to practice. Design/methodology/approach As part of a participatory action research approach, qualitative methods have been used, such as in-depth interviews, discussions and observations during training and project team. Findings The actual use of experiential knowledge by mental health care professionals in their work affected four levels: their personal–professional development; the relation with service users; the relation with colleagues; and their position in the organization. Research limitations/implications Because of its limited context, this study may lack generalisability and further research with regard to psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as perceptions from users, is desirable. Social implications According to this study, social change starts from a bottom-up movement and synchronously should be facilitated by top-down policy. A dialogue with academic mental health professionals seems crucial to integrate this source of knowledge. Active collaboration with peer workers and supervisors is desired as well. Originality/value Professionals with lived experiences play an important role in working recovery-oriented, demonstrating bravery and resilience. Having dealt with mental health distress, they risked stigma and rejections when introducing this as a type of knowledge in current mental health service culture. Next to trainings to facilitate the personal–professional process, investments in the entire organization are needed to transform governance, policy and ethics.


Author(s):  
Niki Wilson

Climate change. Lack of food security. Limited access to basic healthcare. These are just some of the big, complex problems facing humanity. Solutions will require out-of-the-box innovation, which is why many governments, institutions, and entrepreneurs around the globe are beginning to embrace the concept of convergence research. The US-based National Science Foundation describes convergence as “a deeper, more intentional approach to accelerating discovery.” Following interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity, it is the next stop on a continuum used to describe approaches whereby scientists and experts learn from each other and collaborate across disciplines. It aims to integrate the natural, computational, social, economic, and health sciences in a humanities context, thereby transcending the traditional boundaries of those fields and creating unique opportunities for problem-solving. The concept of convergence research is taking hold, but how effectively is it being implemented? This chapter explores examples from research networks, research institutes, and the private sector to better understand how convergence research is addressing some of society’s most pressing issues. From disruptions in indigenous food systems to emerging issues in mental health, the author explores the benefits and challenges that arise from a convergence research approach.


Author(s):  
Gary Lamph ◽  
John Baker ◽  
Tommy Dickinson ◽  
Karina Lovell

Abstract Background: High numbers of people present with common mental health disorders and co-morbid personality disorder traits in primary care ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) services in England and they receive sub-optimal treatments. No previous studies have explored the treatment experiences or needs of this patient population in England. Aims: This qualitative study explored the treatment experiences of patients (n = 22) with common mental health difficulties and co-morbid personality disorder as indicated by a score of 3 or more on the ‘Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale’ (SAPAS) in receipt of primary care-based IAPT treatment. Method: A qualitative health research approach was used. Qualitative individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted. All interviews were audio recorded, data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a framework analysis approach. Results: Findings revealed a need to adapt away from prescriptive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) treatment models towards more flexible, personalised and individualised treatment with this patient group. Time to emotionally offload, build a therapeutic relationship and link past experiences to presenting problems were highlighted as important. Conclusions: For the first time, the needs and treatment experiences of this patient group have been explored. This paper provides a unique patient experience insight that should be considered when exploring new approaches to working with and developing effective interventions via a stepped care approach.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e031963
Author(s):  
Laura Lauwers ◽  
Sonia Trabelsi ◽  
Ingrid Pelgrims ◽  
Hilde Bastiaens ◽  
Eva De Clercq ◽  
...  

IntroductionMental health issues appear as a growing problem in modern societies and tend to be more frequent in big cities. Where increased evidence exists for positive links between nature and mental health, associations between urban environment characteristics and mental health are still not well understood. These associations are highly complex and require an interdisciplinary and integrated research approach to cover the broad range of mitigating factors. This article presents the study protocol of a project called Nature Impact on Mental Health Distribution that aims to generate a comprehensive understanding of associations between mental health and the urban residential environment.Methods and analysisFollowing a mixed-method approach, this project combines quantitative and qualitative research. In the quantitative part, we analyse among the Brussels urban population associations between the urban residential environment and mental health, taking respondents’ socioeconomic status and physical health into account. Mental health is determined by the mental health indicators in the national Health Interview Survey (HIS). The urban residential environment is described by subjective indicators for the participant’s dwelling and neighbourhood present in the HIS and objective indicators for buildings, network infrastructure and green environment developed for the purpose of this project. We assess the mediating role of physical activity, social life, noise and air pollution. In the qualitative part, we conduct walking interviews with Brussels residents to record their subjective well-being in association with their neighbourhood. In the validation part, results from these two approaches are triangulated and evaluated through interviews and focus groups with stakeholders of healthcare and urban planning sectors.Ethics and disseminationThe Privacy Commission of Belgium and ethical committee from University Hospital of Antwerp respectively approved quantitative database merging and qualitative interviewing. We will share project results with a wide audience including the scientific community, policy authorities and civil society through scientific and non-expert communication.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
Minerva Orellana ◽  
Linsey Jackson ◽  
Numra Bajwa ◽  
Melody Ouk ◽  
Norman Harrington ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Youth and Families Determined to Succeed (YFDS), a non-profit organization in Hennepin County, MN, provides programs to address health disparities and increase health equity in diverse families. The objective of this capacity building community engaged research study was to identify factors and opportunities to expand YFDS. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A community partnered participatory research framework using 3 community engaged (CE) studies was conducted. This structured research process involves a facilitated discussion with a presentation on YFDS programming and a guided discussion with YFDS stakeholders. The theoretical foundation included constructs from the Model of Improvement and Health Belief Model. A trained qualitative research team led the discussion, took detailed notes, and used traditional content analysis to thematically code the notes (n = 29 pages). The studios were not audio recorded for confidentiality. Preliminary findings were presented to YFDS leadership with plans to present the results to YFDS stakeholders and families. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: A total of 16 YFDS past and current members participated in the studios. The average age was 42.5 years with 69% female and 75% black participants. The main themes were YFDS programming, outreach, and partnership. Participants mentioned YFDS youth “gained confidence”, found an additional family, and suggested ways to increase outreach and partnerships. Participants suggested YFDS increase their social media presence, create multicultural programing, partner with faith based organizations and schools, and determine new ways to evaluate health, social, and athletic gains. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: YFDS has positively impacted the lives of their families. With the use of CE studios, we have the opportunity to hear the voices of the members impacted that is necessary for capacity building community engaged research. We were able to find factors that made YFDS successful and suggestions to better improve and to increase positive wellness gains.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
Kimberly D. Helms ◽  
Leigh Ann Keith ◽  
Laura Pruitt Walker

BackgroundThe Institute of Medicine calls for collaboration and encourages nursing education programs to provide opportunities for students to engage in collaborative efforts with members of the healthcare team to improve the practice environment and patient outcomes. Nurse educators strive to provide meaningful learning experiences that garner competence, decision-making, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of collaborative testing on student learning of mental health concepts and to evaluate student perceptions of this learning strategy.MethodsA mixed method research approach was used with students enrolled in a psychiatric mental health class in a baccalaureate nursing program.ResultsThe quantitative research revealed collaborative testing improved student exam scores and the qualitative research revealed the majority of students had a positive perception of collaborative testing.ConclusionsThe research findings support the idea that collaborative testing is an active teaching strategy that fosters higher academic success.Implications for NursingCollaborative testing can introduce the nursing student to the process of teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The development of these attributes will facilitate the student's ability to work collaboratively as a member of the interprofessional healthcare team.


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