scholarly journals Unmet mental health needs in the general population: perspectives of Belgian health and social care professionals

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rens ◽  
Geert Dom ◽  
Roy Remmen ◽  
Joris Michielsen ◽  
Kris Van den Broeck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Epidemiological Research ◽  
Unmet Mental Health

Abstract Background An unmet mental health need exists when someone has a mental health problem but doesn’t receive formal care, or when the care received is insufficient or inadequate. Epidemiological research has identified both structural and attitudinal barriers to care which lead to unmet mental health needs, but reviewed literature has shown gaps in qualitative research on unmet mental health needs. This study aimed to explore unmet mental health needs in the general population from the perspective of professionals working with vulnerable groups. Methods Four focus group discussions and two interviews with 34 participants were conducted from October 2019 to January 2020. Participants’ professional backgrounds encompassed social work, mental health care and primary care in one rural and one urban primary care zone in Antwerp, Belgium. A topic guide was used to prompt discussions about which groups have high unmet mental health needs and why. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis. Results Five themes emerged, which are subdivided in several subthemes: (1) socio-demographic determinants and disorder characteristics associated with unmet mental health needs; (2) demand-side barriers; (3) supply-side barriers; (4) consequences of unmet mental health needs; and (5) suggested improvements for meeting unmet mental health needs. Conclusions Findings of epidemiological research were largely corroborated. Some additional groups with high unmet needs were identified. Professionals argued that they are often confronted with cases which are too complex for regular psychiatric care and highlighted the problem of care avoidance. Important system-level factors include waiting times of subsidized services and cost of non-subsidized services. Feelings of burden and powerlessness are common among professionals who are often confronted with unmet needs. Professionals discussed future directions for an equitable mental health care provision, which should be accessible and targeted at those in the greatest need. Further research is needed to include the patients’ perspective of unmet mental health needs.

scholarly journals Unmet mental health needs in the general population: perspectives of Belgian health and social care professionals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rens ◽  
Geert Dom ◽  
Roy Remmen ◽  
Joris Michielsen ◽  
Kris Van den Broeck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Epidemiological Research ◽  
Unmet Mental Health

Abstract Background: An unmet mental health need exists when someone has a mental health problem but doesn’t receive formal care, or when the care received is insufficient or inadequate. Epidemiological research has identified both structural and attitudinal barriers to care which lead to unmet mental health needs, but reviewed literature has shown gaps in qualitative research on unmet mental health needs. This study aimed to explore unmet mental health needs in the general population from the perspective of professionals working with vulnerable groups. Methods: Four focus group discussions and two interviews with 34 participants were conducted from October 2019 to January 2020. Participants’ professional backgrounds encompassed social work, mental health care and primary care in one rural and one urban primary care zone in Antwerp, Belgium. A topic guide was used to prompt discussions about which groups have high unmet mental health needs and why. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis.Results: Five themes emerged, which are subdivided in several subthemes: (1) socio-demographic determinants and disorder characteristics associated with unmet mental health needs; (2) demand-side barriers; (3) supply-side barriers; (4) consequences of unmet mental health needs; and (5) suggested improvements for meeting unmet mental health needs. Conclusions: Findings of epidemiological research were largely corroborated. Some additional groups with high unmet needs were identified. Professionals argued that they are often confronted with cases which are too complex for regular psychiatric care and highlighted the problem of care avoidance. Important system-level factors include waiting times of subsidized services and cost of non-subsidized services. Feelings of burden and powerlessness are common among professionals who are often confronted with unmet needs. Professionals discussed future directions for an equitable mental health care provision, which should be accessible and targeted at those in the greatest need. Further research is needed to include the patients’ perspective of unmet mental health needs.

scholarly journals Unmet mental health needs in the general population: perspectives of Belgian health and social care professionals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rens ◽  
Geert Dom ◽  
Roy Remmen ◽  
Joris Michielsen ◽  
Kris Van den Broeck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
System Level ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Epidemiological Research ◽  
Unmet Mental Health

Abstract Background: An unmet mental health need exists when someone has a mental health problem but does not receive formal care, or when the care received is insufficient or inadequate. Epidemiological research has identified both structural and attitudinal barriers to care which lead to unmet mental health needs, but reviewed literature has shown gaps in qualitative research on unmet mental health needs. This study aimed to explore unmet mental health needs in the general population from the perspective of professionals working with vulnerable groups.Methods: Four focus group discussions and two interviews with 34 participants were conducted from October 2019 to January 2020. Participants’ professional backgrounds encompassed social work, mental health care and primary care in one rural and one urban primary care zone in Antwerp, Belgium. A topic guide was used to prompt discussions about which groups have high unmet mental health needs and why. Transcripts were coded using thematic analysis.Results: Five themes emerged, which are subdivided in several subthemes: (1) socio-demographic determinants and disorder characteristics associated with unmet mental health needs; (2) demand-side barriers; (3) supply-side barriers; (4) consequences of unmet mental health needs; and (5) suggested improvements for meeting unmet mental health needs.Conclusions: While findings of epidemiological research were largely corroborated, some additional groups and factors associated with unmet needs were identified. Professionals argued that they are often confronted with cases which are too complex for regular psychiatric care and highlighted the problem of care avoidance. Important system-level factors include waiting times of subsidized services and costs of non-subsidized services. As a result, feelings of burden and powerlessness are common among professionals. Professionals discussed future directions for an equitable mental health care provision, which should be accessible and targeted at those in the greatest need. Further research is needed to include the patients’ perspective of unmet mental health needs.

scholarly journals Unmet Mental Health Needs in the General Population: Perspectives of Belgian Health and Social Care Professionals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rens ◽  
Geert Dom ◽  
Roy Remmen ◽  
Joris Michielsen ◽  
Kris Van den Broeck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Unmet Mental Health

Abstract Background: Many people with mental health problems do not receive appropriate mental health care, resulting in a considerable level of unmet mental health needs. Epidemiological research has shown that some people are at increased risk for unmet mental health needs and has identified both structural and attitudinal barriers to mental health care. However, epidemiological studies may not provide the complete picture and qualitative research about unmet mental health needs is scarce. This study aimed to explore unmet mental health needs in the general population from the perspectives of professionals working with vulnerable groups.Methods: Four focus group discussions and two interviews were held with a total of 34 social work, mental health and primary care professionals in one rural and one urban primary care zone in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. All transcripts were thematically analyzed.Results: Five themes emerged: (1) socio-demographic determinants and mental disorder characteristics associated with unmet mental health needs; (2) attitudinal barriers; (3) structural barriers; (4) consequences of unmet mental health needs; and (5) recommendations for meeting unmet mental health needs.Conclusions: Finding suggest that unmet mental needs are associated with socio-demographic and mental disorder characteristics, and attitudinal and structural barriers. For example, professionals mentioned care-avoiders and difficult access for complex cases due to strict criteria. The high level of unmet need results in feelings of burden and powerlessness among professionals. Professionals discussed good practices and recommendations for optimal and more equitable mental health care provision, which should ideally be targeted at those in the greatest need.

scholarly journals The Mental Health needs of the UK's Chinese children

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Cheng ◽  
P. A. Tiffin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Ethnic Communities ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
Minority Ethnic

Sir: In 2005, the Department of Health for England set a five-year action plan, Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care. The aim was to encourage the development of services that were more appropriate and responsive to the needs of both adults and children in Black and minority ethnic communities.

Balancing traditional beliefs and medical science: mental health care in Bhutan

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-69
Author(s):  
Damber K. Nirola ◽  
Judith C. Durham ◽  
Kurt L. Kraus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Gross National Happiness ◽  
Unmet Mental Health ◽  
Poor Management

In the Kingdom where Gross National Happiness is the most precious commodity, there is a growing awareness ofthe individual and communal toll that unmet mental health needs bring to bear on Bhutanese society. Even thoughmental illnesses are becoming public health issue, there is a tendency to neglect the care of mentally ill person in thegeneral setting. The reason for the neglect is due to lack of understanding and poor management of mental illness bythe health professionals and community at large. This article emphasizes the need to balance the traditional beliefsand medical science in order to provide a comprehensive mental health care in Bhutan.

Creating and establishing a recovery-oriented clinical psychology provision across an acute care mental health pathway. Ethical obligation and clinical reality

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel D. Mankiewicz ◽  
Johan Truter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Clinical Psychologists ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to summarise the development of a recovery-oriented and socially inclusive acute care clinical psychology service in one of the NHS Trusts based in East Anglia. It demonstrates the service's compliance with relevant national policies and guidelines, and addresses some of the criticisms directed at acute mental health care in recent years. Both achievements and difficulties are reflected on. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs an organisational development case example related to applicable clinical practice model, based on national guidelines and policies, in order to demonstrate that it is possible to develop and implement a recovery-oriented clinical psychology practice in acute inpatient mental health care. This is based on the authors, experiences as a public sector clinical psychologists specialising in complex, severe, and enduring mental health needs. Findings – Clinical psychologists may effectively contribute to the development of psychosocially informed and recovery-based multidisciplinary attitudes towards emotional difficulties of individuals admitted to psychiatric wards. Research limitations/implications – Future service development project of similar nature ought to implement standardised measures (e.g. ward atmosphere scales) to increase validity of findings. Practical implications – Despite limited, and continuously decreasing, resources in the NHS it appears possible to develop and establish a successful and objectively replicable provision of recovery-based psychological services across an entire acute care mental health pathway. Social implications – Recovery-enhancing clinical psychology interventions should not be limited to those receiving care from community-based services only. Building psychologically informed understanding of mental health needs should be employed on inpatient wards too, in order to counterbalance the dominating biomedical models of mental illness. Originality\value – Dissemination of examples of effective psychosocial practice in acute mental health settings appears largely underrepresented.

Viewing Primary Mental Health Care at a Time of Social Transition in South Africa

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn Freeman ◽  
Cedric de Beer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Primary Mental Health Care ◽  
Curative Care ◽  
African Context

As South Africa shifts from a social structure based on the principles of apartheid to a democratic society, social policies must be developed that are consonant with the ideals of the “new” society. These must, however, take into account the current realities of the South African context. This article suggests that the application of the principles of primary mental health care is the approach most likely to meet mental health needs in the future South Africa, but that difficulties are likely to arise in the transition to this approach. These difficulties must be identified and dealt with. The authors discuss the problems in providing competent curative care to all and in shifting emphasis to prevention and promotion in mental health care. The discussion covers both practical and political complications. The authors conclude that though the process to primary mental health care will be a long one, the problems are unlikely to be insurmountable.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and MENtal Health: Addressing Men’s Mental Health Needs in the Digital World

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 155798832110300
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Ellison ◽  
Andrea R. Semlow ◽  
Emily C. Jaeger ◽  
Derek M. Griffth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Current Technology ◽  
Digital World

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a source of stress and have important mental health implications for all persons but may have unique implications for men. In addition to the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19, the rising COVID-19 death toll, ongoing economic uncertainty, loneliness from social distancing, and other changes to our lifestyles make up the perfect recipe for a decline in mental health. In June 2020, men reported slightly lower rates of anxiety than women, but had higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. As of September 2020, men sought mental health care at a higher rate than women for family and relationships, with year-over-year visits up 5.5 times and total virtual mental health care visits monthly growth in 2020 was up 79% since January. Because men are not a homogeneous group, it is important to implement strategies for groups of men that may have particularly unique needs. In this paper, we discuss considerations for intervening in men’s mental health during and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including current technology-based cyberpsychology options.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document