scholarly journals Investigating smoking and nicotine dependence among people with severe mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of linked data from a UK Closing the Gap cohort

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Peckham ◽  
Victoria Allgar ◽  
Suzanne Crosland ◽  
Paul Heron ◽  
Gordon Johnston ◽  
...  

Summary Smoking rates are higher for people who use mental health services, which contributes substantially to health inequalities. Smoking can lead to worse COVID-19 outcomes, yet it remains unclear whether smoking has changed for people who use mental health services. We examined smoking patterns in a large clinical cohort of people with severe mental illness, before and during the pandemic. We found high levels of nicotine dependence and heavier patterns of smoking. Although some people had reported quitting, it is likely that smoking inequalities have become further entrenched. Mental health services should seek to mitigate this modifiable risk and source of poor health.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Peckham ◽  
Victoria Allgar ◽  
Suzanne Crosland ◽  
Paul Heron ◽  
Gordon Johnston ◽  
...  

SummarySmoking rates are higher for people who use mental health services which contributes substantially to health inequalities. Smoking can lead to worse COVID-19 outcomes, yet it remains unclear whether smoking has changed for people who use mental health services. We examined smoking patterns in a large clinical cohort of people with SMI before and during the pandemic. We found high levels of nicotine dependence and heavier patterns of smoking. Whilst some people had reported quitting, it is likely that smoking inequalities have become further entrenched. Mental health services should seek to mitigate this modifiable risk and source of poor health.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd P. Gilmer ◽  
Victoria D. Ojeda ◽  
Dahlia Fuentes ◽  
Viviana Criado ◽  
Piedad Garcia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Newbronner ◽  
Panagiotis Spanakis ◽  
Ruth Wadman ◽  
Suzanne Crosland ◽  
Paul Heron ◽  
...  

Aims: To explore: how satisfied people with severe mental illness (SMI) are with the support received during the pandemic; understand any difficulties encountered when accessing both mental health and primary care services; consider ways to mitigate these difficulties; and assess the perceived need for future support from mental health services. Materials and Methods: A representative sample was drawn from a large transdiagnostic clinical cohort of people with SMI, which was recruited between April 2016 and March 2020. The sample was re-surveyed a few months after the beginning of the restrictions. Descriptive frequency statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. The free text responses were analysed thematically. Results: 367 participants responded to the survey. Two thirds were receiving support from mental health services with the rest supported in primary care or self-managing. A quarter thought they would need more mental health support in the coming year. Half had needed to used community mental health services during the pandemic and the majority had been able to get support. A minority reported that their mental health had deteriorated but they had either not got the supported they wanted or had not sought help. The biggest service change was the reduction in face-to-face appointments and increasing use of phone and video call support. Nearly half of those using mental health services found this change acceptable or even preferred it; acceptability was influenced by several factors. Participants were more likely to be satisfied with support received when seen in person. Discussion: Although most participants were satisfied with the mental health support they had received, a minority were not. This, couple with findings on future need for mental health support has implications for post pandemic demand on services. Remote care has brought benefits but also risks that it could increase inequalities in access to services.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Tyrer

SummaryAims – Specialist interventions in community psychiatry for severe mental illness are expanding and their place needs to be re-examined. Methods – Recent literature is reviewed to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of specialist teams. Results – Good community mental health services reduce drop out from care, prevent suicide and unnatural deaths, and reduce admission to hospital. Most of these features have been also demonstrated by assertive community outreach and crisis resolution teams when good community services are not available. In well established community services assertive community teams do not reduce admission but both practitioners and patients prefer this service to other approaches and it leads to better engagement. Crisis resolution teams appear to be more successful than assertive community teams in preventing admission to hospital, although head- to-head comparisons have not yet been made. All specialist teams have the potential of fragmenting services and thereby reducing continuity of care. Conclusions – The assets of improved engagement and greater satisfaction with assertive, crisis resolution and home treatment teams are clear from recent evidence, but to improve integration of services they are probably best incorporated into community mental health services rather than standing alone.Declaration of Interest: The author has been the sole consultant in two assertive outreach teams since 1994 and might there- fore be expected to be in favour of this genre of service. He has received grants for evaluation of different services models from the Department of Health (UK) and the Medical Research Council (UK).


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 477-484
Author(s):  
Ruth Crawford ◽  
Sisilia Finau Peini ◽  
Teramira Christine Schutz

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome is a prevalent condition in New Zealand and worldwide, affecting adult populations, especially those who are in long-term  antipsychotic medications for severe mental illness. Registered nurses play a crucial role in improving the health of this population. Methods: Five registered nurses with at least two years of working experience in the mental health settings participated in this qualitative, exploratory study, underpinned by the Kakala Research Framework. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the participants were undertaken to gather research data and thematic analysis was used to find common themes. Findings: Registered nurses in mental health services are experiencing clinical and professional enablers as well as professional, organisational and systematic barriers in assessing people with severe mental illness for metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Skilled registered nurses in mental health services are required to take the responsibility for providing a “one-stop-shop” for people with metabolic syndrome.


Author(s):  
Karen Dauncey ◽  
Janet Patterson

This chapter describes, from the authors’ own experience and practice, the workings of a modern rehabilitation ward in an English hospital. It includes some of the authors’ guiding principles, and how some aspects of rehabilitation practice are necessarily different from those in an acute ward. The components, skills, and interventions provided by the team are considered, along with ways in which the care and treatment can be evaluated. A rehabilitation ward is part of a wide range and network of provision for people with severe mental illness and the authors believe that all mental health services in the UK should have rehabilitation provision as a core requirement at district level.


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