scholarly journals Protecting the psychological wellbeing of staff exposed to disaster or emergency at work: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha K. Brooks ◽  
Rebecca Dunn ◽  
Richard Amlôt ◽  
G. James Rubin ◽  
Neil Greenberg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Workplace Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Sources Of Support

Abstract Background Disasters are becoming more prevalent across the world and people are frequently exposed to them as part of their occupational groups. It is important for organisations to understand how best to support employees who have experienced a trauma such as a disaster. The purpose of this study was to explore employees’ perceptions of workplace support and help-seeking in the context of a disaster. Methods Forty employees in England took part in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to extract recurring themes from the data. Results Participants reported both positive and negative psychological outcomes of experiencing a disaster or emergency at work. Most had little training in how to prepare for, and cope with, the psychological impact. They perceived stigma around mental health and treatment for psychological issues which often made them reluctant to seek help. Many reported that the psychological support available in the workplace was insufficient and tended to be reactive rather than proactive. Interpersonal relationships at work were viewed as being important sources of support, particularly support from managers. Participants suggested that psychosocial training in the workplace could be beneficial in providing education about mental health, encouraging supportive workplace relationships, and developing listening skills and empathy. Conclusions Organisations can take steps to reduce the psychological impact of disasters on employees. This could be done through provision of training workshops incorporating mental health education to reduce stigma, and team-building exercises to encourage supportive workplace relationships.

scholarly journals Social support from the perspective of adolescent victims of domestic violence

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 610-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diene Monique Carlos ◽  
Maria das Graças Carvalho Ferriani ◽  
Michelly Rodrigues Esteves ◽  
Lygia Maria Pereira da Silva ◽  
Liliana Scatena
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Social ◽  
Sources Of Support ◽  
Adolescent Victims

Objective: Assess the understanding of adolescents regarding the social support received in situations of domestic violence. Method: A qualitative study with data collection carried out through focus groups with 17 adolescent victims of domestic violence, institutionally welcomed in Campinas-SP, and through semi-structured interviews with seven of these adolescents. Information was analyzed by content analysis, thematic modality. Results: Observing the thematic categories it was found that social support for the subjects came from the extended family, the community, the Guardianship Council, the interpersonal relationships established at the user embracement institution and from the religiosity/spirituality. Conclusion: The mentioned sources of support deserve to be enhanced and expanded. With the current complexity of the morbidity and mortality profiles, especially in children and adolescents, the (re)signification and the (re)construction of health actions is imperative.



scholarly journals Loss and assimilation: Lived experiences of Brexit for British nationals living in Luxembourg

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Maria Knight ◽  
Dean Fido ◽  
Henry William Lennon ◽  
Craig A. Harper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Critical Realist ◽  
Political Upheaval ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Political Realities

Inconsistent political realities are associated with mental health issues such as hopelessness, anxiety, and depression. The psychological impact of Brexit is clearly an important and timely issue, but hitherto has been understudied. This study uses a critical realist approach to qualitatively explore the lived experiences of British Citizens living in Luxembourg during the Brexit era. The study carried out semi-structured interviews with 8 British nationals aged 18-65. An experientially-focused Thematic Analysis was conducted, exploring two main themes: Loss (with psychological and broader social implications) and Integration (contrasting the mover's community with the receiving community). This study demonstrates the psychological impact of Brexit and highlights the urgency for future researchers and mental health practitioners alike – both in the UK and overseas – to consider the human consequences associated with political upheaval. Open access materials for this project can be viewed here: https://osf.io/38rg7/?view_only=b8c04dfc3fe5474f9aff4897e370b3e6.

scholarly journals The Psychological Impact of Covid-19 on University Students: Their Expectations of Mental Health Professionals

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
M.Siyabend KAYA ◽  
Yavuz KOŞAN
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Main Effects

The current study focused on exploring the psychological impact of the COVID -19 outbreak on university students and participants' expectations of mental health professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 university students aged 18 to 33 years from 19 cities in Turkey. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify important aspects of the students' experiences. According to the results, the main effects of the epidemic COVID -19 on the participants were depression and anxiety. We found that participants used various ways to cope with COVID -19 such as reading books and paying attention to hygiene. Participants also indicated that they perceived some positive situations, such as the value of nature and humanity, the importance of family, and various negative situations, such as mental exhaustion. Finally, participants stressed that they had different expectations regarding psychosocial support and the planning of individual activities by mental health professionals

scholarly journals Help Seeking and Access to Primary Care for People from “Hard-to-Reach” Groups with Common Mental Health Problems

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bristow ◽  
S. Edwards ◽  
E. Funnel ◽  
L. Fisher ◽  
L. Gask ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Common Mental Health Problems ◽  
Access To Primary Care ◽  
The Uk

Background. In the UK, most people with mental health problems are managed in primary care. However, many individuals in need of help are not able to access care, either because it is not available, or because the individual's interaction with care-givers deters or diverts help-seeking. Aims. To understand the experience of seeking care for distress from the perspective of potential patients from “hard-to-reach” groups. Methods. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, analysed using a thematic framework. Results. Access to primary care is problematic in four main areas: how distress is conceptualised by individuals, the decision to seek help, barriers to help-seeking, and navigating and negotiating services. Conclusion. There are complex reasons why people from “hard-to-reach” groups may not conceptualise their distress as a biomedical problem. In addition, there are particular barriers to accessing primary care when distress is recognised by the person and help-seeking is attempted. We suggest how primary care could be more accessible to people from “hard-to-reach” groups including the need to offer a flexible, non-biomedical response to distress.

Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Text-based Crisis Patterns in Youth following Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas, 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Runkle ◽  
Kurt Michael ◽  
Scott Stevens ◽  
Maggie Sugg
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
Health Support

IMPORTANCE Crisis text lines have proven to be an effective and low-cost means for delivering texting-based mental health support to youth. Yet there has been limited research examining the use of these services in capturing the psychological impact of youth affected by a weather-related disaster. OBJECTIVE This ecologic study examined changes in help-seeking behavior for youth in North and South Carolina, USA, before and after Hurricane Florence (2018). DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOMES A retrospective, interrupted time-series design was used to examine pre- and post-hurricane changes in crisis text volume among youth help seekers in the Carolinas for the following outcomes: (1) text for any reason; (2) stress & anxiety; (3) depression; and (4) suicidal thoughts. RESULTS Results showed an immediate and sustained increase in crisis texts for stress/anxiety and suicidal thoughts in the six weeks following Florence. Overall, an immediate 15% increase in crisis texts for anxiety/stress (SE=.05, p=0.005) and a 17% increase in suicidal thoughts (SE=.07, p=0.02) occurred during the week of the storm. Text volume for anxiety/stress increased 17% (SE=.08, p=0.005) and 23% for suicidal ideation (SE=.08, p=0.01) in the 6-week post-intervention period. Finally, forecast models revealed observed text volume for all mental health outcomes was higher than expected in the 6 weeks post-Florence. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE A low-cost, crisis texting intervention platform provided 24/7 mental health support available to young people in the Carolinas impacted by Hurricane Florence. These findings highlight a new application for text-based crisis support services to address the mental health consequences among individuals following a weather-related disaster.

Understanding the Role of Past Health Care Discrimination in Help-Seeking and Shared Decision-Making for Depression Treatment Preferences

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1833-1850
Author(s):  
Ana M. Progovac ◽  
Dharma E. Cortés ◽  
Valeria Chambers ◽  
Jonathan Delman ◽  
Deborah Delman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Depression Treatment ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Structured Interviews

As a part of a larger, mixed-methods research study, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 adults with depressive symptoms to understand the role that past health care discrimination plays in shaping help-seeking for depression treatment and receiving preferred treatment modalities. We recruited to achieve heterogeneity of racial/ethnic backgrounds and history of health care discrimination in our participant sample. Participants were Hispanic/Latino ( n = 4), non-Hispanic/Latino Black ( n = 8), or non-Hispanic/Latino White ( n = 9). Twelve reported health care discrimination due to race/ethnicity, language, perceived social class, and/or mental health diagnosis. Health care discrimination exacerbated barriers to initiating and continuing depression treatment among patients from diverse backgrounds or with stigmatized mental health conditions. Treatment preferences emerged as fluid and shaped by shared decisions made within a trustworthy patient–provider relationship. However, patients who had experienced health care discrimination faced greater challenges to forming trusting relationships with providers and thus engaging in shared decision-making processes.

scholarly journals Smashing, Shaming, or Polite Fun and Joy? How Workplace Humor Influences Positive Well-Being in South Korean Workplaces

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Sun Kim ◽  
Barbara Plester
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Group Processes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Workplace Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Research Questions

Humor is contextual, ambiguous, and varies within cultures but is widely associated with positive outcomes such as well-being and happiness. While humor is universal and enhances interpersonal relationships which can benefit psychological well-being, we argue that humor can also be diminish psychological well-being in Confucian-based, South Korean workplaces. Our research questions asks: how do hierarchical workplace relationships influence shared humor and positive well-being in Korean workplace contexts? Our contextual, ethnographic research includes in-depth field observations and semi structured interviews in three Korean organizations. Traditional Confucian-based cultures value face-saving, trust, and harmony while emphasizing formality and hierarchy. Korean honorifics maintain harmony, hierarchy, and politeness which creates benefits for group processes and influences the sharing of humor. Humor is enacted in accordance with workers' hierarchical status which has a significant impact upon the types of humor shared and the responses available to subordinate employees. Investigating these dimensions in Korean workplaces we argue that honorifics and hierarchy influence humor interactions in complex ways that have implications for psychological well-being.

Mental health support needs within Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca May Thompson ◽  
Bridie Victoria Stone ◽  
Philip John Tyson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and suicide. This study aims to explore the mental health (MH) support needs for GRT people within the British Isles. Design/methodology/approach This study was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with nine self-identified GRT people. Findings The analysis revealed a longing for acceptance, both within and outside the GRT community; barriers to help seeking, specifically unsuitable services, poor awareness, stigma and distrust; and increased vulnerability owing to participants’ perceived lack of prospects and adverse life events. Originality/value Despite increased vulnerability, MH services are underutilised by GRT people for a variety of cultural and practical reasons. To reduce the current inequality, it is imperative that services take steps to increase accessibility. This study expands upon previous research by using the voices of GRT people themselves, creating a narrative built from their own emic perspectives. Unlike previous research, this study focuses exclusively on the MH of participants and includes participants from across the British Isles.

Understandings of mental health, disclosure, help-seeking and psychological adaptation among Asian international students studying in Scotland: a sequential multi-method study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Cogan ◽  
Yvonne Chin-Van Chau ◽  
Xi Liu ◽  
Steve Kelly ◽  
Tony Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Multi Method Approach

International students often face psychosocial, academic, financial and adaptation challenges within the Higher Education (HE) environment that may impact on their mental health. The current study explored the understandings and experiences of Asian international students (AISs) in terms of mental health, disclosure, help-seeking and adaptation specific to cultural relocation within Scotland. A sequential multi-method approach was adopted consisting of two studies: (1) a qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews with AISs (n=10) (Study 1) and (2) a cross-section survey comparing AISs and non-AISs (n=172) in terms of mental health literacy and psychological adaptation within the Scottish context (Study 2). Qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic approach. Quantitative data were analysed using regression and mediation analysis. Study 1 revealed three themes: (1) Negative beliefs, stigma and fear of judgment impacting on understandings and disclosure of mental health issues, (2) Adaptation and acculturation difficulties (lack of sense of belonging), and (3) Barriers in communication and social disconnection. Study 2 showed that AISs reported lower levels of mental health literacy, which in turn resulted in poorer psychological adaption compared to non-AISs. Supporting AISs in HE institutions involves challenging negative judgements surrounding mental health, increasing mental health literacy and addressing barriers in overcoming adaptation, acculturation and communication difficulties that may inhibit disclosure and help-seeking behaviour. The importance of mental health policies, supports and services in embracing culturally diverse understandings of mental health, challenging stigma and having culturally competent staff supporting student mental health within a multicultural learning environment is emphasised.

Cancer and serious mental illness: A qualitative exploration–findings

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S479-S479
Author(s):  
J. Millman ◽  
K. Galway ◽  
O. Santin ◽  
J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Serious Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionSerious mental illness (SMI) is associated with poorer cancer outcomes. Reasons for such inequalities are unclear; those with this comorbidity receive fewer specialist interventions and die earlier than the general population. Further exploratory work is required.ObjectivesExploring the experience of SMI and cancer from the perspective of those affected by this comorbidity and those caring for them professionally or informally.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with ‘key patients’ living with SMI who had received a cancer diagnosis (n = 7), significant others who had supported key patients (n = 4) and healthcare professionals who had worked with at least one KP (n = 17). A panel of patients and professionals ratified interview guides. Interviews were analysed thematically.ResultsMental health professionals were more confident in their knowledge of the needs of this population than oncology professionals, but were challenged by working with patients with major physical health needs. Key patients’ mental health appeared to remain stable after cancer diagnosis, and they expressed altruism towards others with comorbid cancer and SMI. Significant others and healthcare professionals were more likely to critique systemic aspects of care than were key patients.ConclusionsProfessionals feel challenged when working outside of their usual job role. Training needs include mental illness awareness in an oncology setting. Improved coordination and communication is required, encompassing significant others as well as professional groups. SMI may protect against the psychological impact of cancer. Key patients were keen to provide advice and support to others in similar situations. Further research is needed into these areas.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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