scholarly journals Mental health support for children and adolescents with hearing loss: scoping review

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Scherer ◽  
Tess Bright ◽  
David John Musendo ◽  
Timothy O'Fallon ◽  
Chris Kubwimana ◽  
...  

Background Children with hearing loss are at increased risk of mental health conditions, including behavioural problems, but there is limited evidence about available mental health support. Aims We aimed to map the evidence on mental health support for children and adolescents with hearing loss. Method Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and grey literature databases were searched until April 2021. Articles of any study design were eligible if they described an intervention supporting the mental health of children with hearing loss. No restrictions were placed on geography or publication date. Four reviewers independently screened results by title, abstract and full text. Study characteristics and outcome data were extracted, with results narratively synthesised. Results From 5629 search results, 27 articles were included. A large majority of the studies (81%, n = 22) were from high-income settings, with two-thirds (67%, n = 18) conducted in the USA. Less than half (41%, n = 11) of the articles adopted experimental research designs, and the majority of studies included small samples. The interventions presented were diverse, with the majority either therapy based (30%, n = 8) or skills training (30%, n = 8). Interventions included ice-skating, parent–child interaction therapy and resilience training. When measured, interventions demonstrated at least some evidence of effectiveness, although this was not always assessed with gold-standard methodology. Conclusions The evidence is lacking in breadth, study quality and geographical spread. That said, what is available indicates a range of effective approaches to support the mental health of children with hearing loss. Additional research is needed to improve the breadth of evidence on mental health support for this population.

Author(s):  
Matthew Joseph Russell ◽  
Natasha Lifeso ◽  
Jordan Fazio ◽  
Carley Piatt ◽  
Frank Kelton ◽  
...  

We investigated the relationship between membership in an accredited Clubhouse for mental health support and psychiatric hospitalization in Canada using linked administrative data. Results show that Clubhouse members were less likely to be hospitalized after enrollment and after longer-term enrollment, and younger members diagnosed with schizophrenia and/or bipolar disorders were at increased risk of hospitalization compared to older members without such diagnoses. These findings provide evidence of the possible benefits of Clubhouses in Canada and the characteristics of members who may benefit from support.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Pinto ◽  
Joana Soares ◽  
Alzira Silva ◽  
Rosário Curral ◽  
Rui Coelho

Present time has been dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic. People are grieving several non-death related situations: the loss of a job, of a status, of a role, of their life. Restrictive measures and uncertainty about the future makes individuals vulnerable to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Mental health support has been hindered and teams are reinventing themselves to reach people in need. Nevertheless, decompensation of previous psychiatric disorders, increasing levels of depression and anxiety, economical handicaps and fear of the infection, are prompting several cases of COVID-19 related suicides worldwide. Every suicide affects between 5 and 80 individuals, which are known as suicide survivors. Suicide grief is particularly challenging, with rates of complicated grief as high as 40%. Suicide survivors are at increased risk of developing depression, anxiety disorders and of suicidal behaviors. Moreover, feelings of guilt and shame, as well as social stigma, are major obstacles for them to reach form help. This article aims to review the existing literature on COVID-19 related suicides, complicated grief in suicide survivors and highlight modifiable risk factors for both conditions, as well as propose some public health measures to reduce the impact of the pandemic context on self-inflicted harm and its consequences on families, friends and the community. Obstacles to access to mental health support need to be overcome through the use of technology. Technicians should actively approach populations more vulnerable to develop suicidal ideation. Social media have the obligation to provide accurate an non-sensationalistic information. Families and friends should maintain social proximity, despite the need for physical distancing. When a suicide death occurs, police forces and health staff should be prepared to share the news with the family using an empathic and humane approach and providing psychological support. Funerals, memorials and other services should be held as much as possible. Closer contacts should be signalized and closely followed in order to detect the need for specific interventions. Help seeking behaviors should be promoted. Additionally, people should be educated on suicide and its impacts, in order to reduce stigma.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilyas Sagar-Ouriaghli ◽  
Emma Godfrey ◽  
Vinay Tailor ◽  
June Brown

Abstract Background: Up to a third of students experience a common mental health condition which is associated with decreased academic functioning and an increased risk of dropping out. While the prevalence of common mental health difficulties is lower amongst male students, worryingly, they are twice as likely to die by suicide. The importance of developing interventions that are gender-sensitive for male students to improve their uptake of mental health initiatives has been recently emphasised. However, acceptable, feasible and effective methods for male students are unexplored. The current study conducted three gender-sensitive pilot interventions for male students to evaluate acceptability (including uptake), changes to help-seeking and mental health status.Methods:Three gender-sensitive interventions were delivered to 24 male students. The interventions consisted of: Intervention 1 – a formal mental health intervention targeting male students (“psycho-educational model”), Intervention 2 - a second formal intervention that adopted more gender-sensitive language and promoted positive masculine traits (“positive masculinity model”), and Intervention 3 - an informal drop-in offering a social space for male students to receive general health information and connect with other students (“informal drop-in Man Cave model”). These were evaluated for acceptability (including uptake), attitudes to help-seeking and mental health outcomes.Results:In terms of acceptability, Intervention 3 - the informal drop-in (Man Cave) appeared better at engaging male students who have greater conformity to maladaptive masculine traits, more negative attitudes to help-seeking, higher levels of self-stigma, who were less likely to have used mental health support before and belonged to an ethnic minority. No significant changes to help-seeking attitudes, behaviours, or mental health status were observed across the interventions at feasibility stage. All interventions were deemed equally acceptable with minimal opportunity costs and perceived burden. Conclusions:These findings indicate differences in acceptability, particularly uptake, for male students who may be seen as more difficult to engage. Using informal strategies may help reach male students who would otherwise not engage with mental health support, familiarise them with the idea of help-seeking, and connect them with pre-existing mental health interventions. While no differences in outcomes measured were found in these small studies, more work needs to be carried out using larger samples to investigate the efficacy of informal interventions to engage male students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Van Wijk ◽  
Pinky Z. Majola

The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the mood responses of individuals is an important indicator of how society is coping with the pandemic. Characterising mood responses in a South African sample could prepare clinicians for possible presentations of mental health concerns in general practice. This study described mood responses during COVID-19 Alert Level 1. The sample of 641 participants who completed the Brunel Mood State Scale during November 2020 was drawn from primary healthcare and family medicine clinics and practices in Cape Town. Their mood response profile was described and compared with pre-COVID-19 norms. The mood profile represented an inverse iceberg profile, with mean scores deviating significantly from pre-COVID-19 norms across all six mood dimensions measured. The inverse iceberg profile had been associated with a range of psychopathologies, suggesting an increased risk of psychological disorders. The current profile of mood responses could alert clinicians to the possibility of increased mental health needs of patients. Patient reports of prolonged anxiety and fatigue, particularly when combined with low mood and low vigour, could signal the need for intervention or referral for further mental health support.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S136-S137
Author(s):  
Heather Gail McAdam ◽  
Debbie Aitken

AimsTo engage lived experience individuals to run a project identifying the mental health challenges unique to medical students who self identify as belonging to marginalised groups;To use the project findings to inform mental health support and education during medical training and beyond;To encourage the individuals to engaged mental health policy and education whilst also using the process to inform their future medical careers, including in the field of psychiatry.MethodLived experience individuals were recruited to the project following open applications from medical students. The role was to design a project to create an evidence base for tailored support methods needed to reduce marginalised medical students’ increased risk of poor mental health. This formed the basis of guidance on how medical schools and healthcare systems can improve wellbeing support for their students and staff. With support from a trained staff and student member, the recruited officers were encouraged to follow their preferred method for fulfilling the project aims, using their own and peers’ experiences to inform what was most useful.ResultRepresentatives were selected from BAME, LGBT+, international, disabled and widening participation backgrounds. The students decided to conduct a survey open to all medical student colleagues across the United Kingdom. The survey questions were split into four sections based on the challenges faced by their own lived experience: General Information; University and Community Experiences; Medical School Experiences and Teaching and Clinical Experiences. There were 58 questions in total including 26 multiple choice; 24 open answers; and 8 Likert scale.Following data collection, the information taken from the survey and focus groups, supported by background reading, was thematically analysed to identify the key challenges. This will then be used to create a report to share with the medical school containing areas for improvement in mental health support, education and engagement. The officers themselves would also reflect on their experiences throughout the process, including their ability to engage in mental health policy, education and further career options such as psychiatry.ConclusionFrom creating an appropriate and supportive structure, it can be possible to encourage students with lived experience to share their challenges whilst becoming engaged in mental health policy and support. Furthermore, from creating a culture of reflection in the area of mental health, they are helping raise awareness of the subject early on in medical careers and promote engagement into specialties such as psychiatry.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e041371
Author(s):  
Alyssa Howren ◽  
J Antonio Aviña-Zubieta ◽  
Deborah Da Costa ◽  
Joseph H Puyat ◽  
Hui Xie ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between having arthritis and the perceived need for mental healthcare and use of mental health support among individuals with mental disorders.DesignA cross-sectional analysis using data from Canadian Community Health Survey—Mental Health (2012).SettingThe survey was administered across Canada’s 10 provinces using multistage cluster sampling.ParticipantsThe study sample consisted of individuals reporting depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.Study variables and analysisThe explanatory variable was self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and outcomes were perceived need for mental healthcare and use of mental health support. We computed overall and gender-stratified multivariable binomial logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, income and geographical region.ResultsAmong 1774 individuals with a mental disorder in the study sample, 436 (20.4%) reported having arthritis. Arthritis was associated with increased odds of having a perceived need for mental healthcare (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.71, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.77). In the gender-stratified models, this association was increased among men (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 1.32 to 5.49) but not women (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 0.78 to 2.82). Evaluation of the association between arthritis and use of mental health support resulted in an aOR of 1.50 (95% CI 0.89 to 2.51). Individuals with arthritis tended to use medications and professional services as opposed to non-professional support.ConclusionComorbid arthritis among individuals with a mental disorder was associated with an increased perceived need for mental healthcare, especially in men, underscoring the importance of understanding the role of masculinity in health seeking. Assessing the mental health of patients with arthritis continues to be essential for clinical care.


Author(s):  
Evangeline Tabor ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
David Bann

AbstractDespite increasing policy focus on mental health provision for higher education students, it is unclear whether they have worse mental health outcomes than their non-student peers. In a nationally-representative UK study spanning 2010–2019 (N = 11,519), 17–24 year olds who attended higher education had lower average psychological distress (GHQ score difference =  − 0.37, 95% CI − 0.60, − 0.08) and lower odds of case-level distress than those who did not (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.81, 1.02). Increases in distress between 2010 and 2019 were similar in both groups. Accessible mental health support outside higher education settings is necessary to prevent further widening of socioeconomic inequalities in mental health.


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