Mental Health of Female Adolescents With Disabilities: Considerations for Career Development

2022 ◽  
pp. 216514342110677
Author(s):  
Emily D. Walden ◽  
Atika Khurana ◽  
Leslie D. Leve ◽  
Lauren E. Lindstrom
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Career Development ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Female Adolescents ◽  
Public High Schools ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

Female adolescents with disabilities are at an increased risk for mental health concerns, which can negatively impact their self-determination, making transition to postschool opportunities difficult. We analyzed two waves of survey data from 366 female adolescents with disabilities, recruited from 26 U.S. public high schools, as part of a randomized controlled trial of a career development intervention. Participants with mental health concerns evidenced a slower increase in self-determination over the follow-up period than those without such concerns. Individuals assigned to the intervention condition experienced significant gains in self-determination compared with the control. Findings suggest that mental health concerns can operate as a barrier to growth in self-determination skills among this population, though targeted interventions can help in boosting these skills.

scholarly journals Moral Distress and Perceived Community Views Are Associated with Mental Health Symptoms in Frontline Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Smallwood ◽  
Amy Pascoe ◽  
Leila Karimi ◽  
Karen Willis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

Background: Sudden changes in clinical practice and the altered ability to care for patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with moral distress and mental health concerns in healthcare workers internationally. This study aimed to investigate the severity, prevalence, and predictors of moral distress experienced by Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A nationwide, voluntary, anonymous, single time-point, online survey of self-identified frontline healthcare workers was conducted between 27th August and 23rd October 2020. Participants were recruited through health organisations, professional associations, or colleges, universities, government contacts, and national media. Results: 7846 complete responses were received from nurses (39.4%), doctors (31.1%), allied health staff (16.7%), or other roles (6.7%). Many participants reported moral distress related to resource scarcity (58.3%), wearing PPE (31.7%) limiting their ability to care for patients, exclusion of family going against their values (60.2%), and fear of letting co-workers down if they were infected (55.0%). Many personal and workplace predictors of moral distress were identified, with those working in certain frontline areas, metropolitan locations, and with prior mental health diagnoses at particular risk of distress. Moral distress was associated with increased risk of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and burnout. Conversely, feeling appreciated by the community protected against these risks in healthcare workers. Conclusions: Safeguarding healthcare workforces during crises is important for both patient safety and workforce longevity. Targeted interventions are required to prevent or minimise moral distress and associated mental health concerns in healthcare workers during COVID-19 and other crises.

scholarly journals Moral Distress and Perceived Community Views Are Associated With Mental Health Symptoms in Frontline Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Smallwood ◽  
Amy Pascoe ◽  
Leila Karimi ◽  
Karen Willis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Moral Distress ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

Background: Sudden changes in clinical practice and the altered ability to care for patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with moral distress and mental health concerns in healthcare workers internationally. This study aimed to investigate the severity, prevalence, and predictors of moral distress experienced by Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A nationwide, voluntary, anonymous, single time-point, online survey of self-identified frontline healthcare workers was conducted between 27th August and 23rd October 2020. Participants were recruited through health organisations, professional associations or colleges, universities, government contacts, and national media. Results: 7846 complete responses were received from nurses (39.4%), doctors (31.1%), allied health staff (16.7%) or other roles (6.7%). Many participants reported moral distress related to resource scarcity (58.3%), wearing PPE (31.7%) limiting their ability to care for patients, exclusion of family going against their values (60.2%), and fear of letting co-workers down if they were infected (55.0%). Many personal and workplace predictors of moral distress were identified, with those working in certain frontline areas, metropolitan locations, and with prior mental health diagnoses at particular risk of distress. Moral distress was associated with an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Feeling appreciated by the community mitigated this risk in healthcare workers. Conclusions: Safeguarding healthcare workforces during crises is important for both patient safety and workforce longevity. Targeted interventions are required to prevent or minimise moral distress and associated mental health concerns in healthcare workers during COVID-19 and other crises.

‘You are Okay’: Effects of a support and educational program for children with mild intellectual disability and their parents with mental health concerns

2020 ◽  
pp. 174462952095376
Author(s):  
Ivon Riemersma ◽  
F Van Santvoort ◽  
KTM Van Doesum ◽  
CMH Hosman ◽  
JMAM Janssens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Group Care ◽  
Behavioural Problems ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Emotional And Behavioural Problems ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Intermediate Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Concerns ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: Children with mild intellectual disabilities and emotional and behavioural problems whose parents have mental health concerns are at an increased risk of developing problems themselves. This study analysed the effectiveness of the ‘You are Okay’-program aimed to support these children and parents and to reduce the risk of problem development in children. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the experimental group (‘care as usual’ and ‘You are Okay’) with the control group (‘care as usual’) on the main outcome of emotional and behavioural problems and proposed intermediate outcomes. Results: Children in the experimental group reported a significant medium to large decrease in emotional and behavioural problems compared to the control group. The effects on the intermediate outcomes were non-significant. Conclusions: This specific study population comprising a vulnerable group of children seems to benefit from this specially adapted ‘You are Okay’-program. More research is necessary to draw further conclusions.

scholarly journals Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1831
Author(s):  
Vanessa S. Sakalidis ◽  
Alethea Rea ◽  
Sharon L. Perrella ◽  
Jacki McEachran ◽  
Grace Collis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Milk Supply ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.

Outcome of pediatric emergency mental health visits: incidence and timing of suicide

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Lee ◽  
Tyler Black ◽  
Garth Meckler ◽  
Quynh Doan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
Preventative Care ◽  
Related Condition ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Emergency Mental Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mental Health Concerns

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo determine the incidence, risk, and timing of mortality (unnatural and natural causes) among youth seen in a pediatric emergency department (ED) for mental health concerns, compared with matched non–mental health ED controls.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study conducted at a quaternary pediatric ED in British Columbia. All visits for a mental health related condition between July 1st, 2005, and June 30th, 2015, were matched on age, sex, triage acuity, socioeconomic status, and year of visit to a non–mental health control visit. Mortality outcomes were obtained from vital statistics data through December 31st, 2016 (cumulative follow-up 74,390 person-years).ResultsAmong all cases in our study, including 6,210 youth seen for mental health concerns and 6,210 matched controls, a total of 13 died of suicide (7.5/100,000 person-years) and 33 died of suicide or indeterminate causes (44/100,000 person-years). All-cause mortality was significantly lower among mental health presentations (121.3/100,000 v. 214.5/100,000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.78). The median time from initial emergency visit to suicide was 5.2 years (interquartile range, 4.2–7.3). Among mental health related visits, risk of death by suicide or indeterminate cause was three-fold that of matched controls (HR, 3.05 95%CI, 1.37–6.77).ConclusionsWhile youth seeking emergency mental health care are at increased risk of death by unnatural causes, their overall mortality risk is lower than non–mental health controls. The protracted duration from initial presentation to suicide highlights the need for long-term surveillance and preventative care for youth seen in the ED for all mental health concerns.

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