scholarly journals Does my patient have sex ? - Mental health professionals’ understanding of sexual health issues among their patients

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S256-S256
Author(s):  
Nalin Hettiarachchi ◽  
Praveen Kumar ◽  
vikramraj balasundaram
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
General Population ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Sexual History ◽  
Mental Health Clinicians ◽  
Health Issues

AimsTo assess the level of understanding and difficulties encountered when obtaining sexual health details of their patients among mental health clinicians.BackgroundPeople with mental health problems, especially those treated with psychiatric medication experience greater rates of sexual difficulties than those in the general population. Mental health practitioners need to examine personal beliefs and attitudes about sexuality among people with mental health problems. Providing information about sexuality and sexual practice benefits and enhances the quality of life of people with mental health problems. Therefore taking a sexual history should be an integral part of psychiatric assessment.MethodAn online survey consisted of 17 questions to cover 3 areas of objectives mentioned above was created using Survey Monkey. A link to the survey was emailed to all the clinicians who perform psychiatric assessments. Response collection and data analysis was performed by the trust IT team.ResultTotal of 54 clinicians participated in the survey representing nurses, junior, middle grade doctors and consultants. Almost all stated that mental health patients have capacity to make appropriate decisions about their sexual behaviour patterns. 43% thought people with mental health problems don't have similar patterns of sexual behaviour compared to people without mental health problems. 11% stated that people with mental health problems do not experience greater rates of sexual difficulties than those in the general population. Nearly a third did not believe that telling patients about potential sexual side effects may lead to poor compliance. Nearly 70% stated taking a sexual history should be an integral part of psychiatric assessment. 44% reported lack of knowledge and skills when talking about sexual health and 33% avoided asking about sexual health due to lack of knowledge. Half of the clinicians avoided asking about sexual health due to the fear of embarrassing or causing distress to patients while 16% avoided asking about sexual health due to self-embarrassment. 65% talk about sexual health issues only if patients brought them up.During last 3 clinical encounters majority never asked about sexual difficulties, high risk behaviour and drug side-effects related to sexual difficulties. A significant proportion of clinicians never asked about contraception from their female clients.ConclusionSurvey revealed majority of mental health clinicians lack understanding and skills about sexual health issues highlighting the importance of raising awareness among clinicians about sexual health issues.

scholarly journals Global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Surapon Nochaiwong ◽  
Chidchanok Ruengorn ◽  
Kednapa Thavorn ◽  
Brian Hutton ◽  
Ratanaporn Awiphan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Global Prevalence ◽  
Mental Health Issues

AbstractTo provide a contemporary global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We searched electronic databases, preprint databases, grey literature, and unpublished studies from January 1, 2020, to June 16, 2020 (updated on July 11, 2020), with no language restrictions. Observational studies using validated measurement tools and reporting data on mental health issues among the general population were screened to identify all relevant studies. We have included information from 32 different countries and 398,771 participants. The pooled prevalence of mental health issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic varied widely across countries and regions and was higher than previous reports before the COVID-19 outbreak began. The global prevalence estimate was 28.0% for depression; 26.9% for anxiety; 24.1% for post-traumatic stress symptoms; 36.5% for stress; 50.0% for psychological distress; and 27.6% for sleep problems. Data are limited for other aspects of mental health issues. Our findings highlight the disparities between countries in terms of the poverty impacts of COVID-19, preparedness of countries to respond, and economic vulnerabilities that impact the prevalence of mental health problems. Research on the social and economic burden is needed to better manage mental health problems during and after epidemics or pandemics. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42020177120.

scholarly journals Attitudes surrounding the disclosure of mental illness

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S288-S289
Author(s):  
Brishti Sengupta ◽  
Pritha Dasgupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Attitude Shift

AimsTo survey the effect of COVID-19 on mental health of both medical professionals and the general population, as well as attitudes surrounding the disclosure of mental illness.MethodAn online survey comprised of two questionnaires, one for medical professionals and one for the general population, were conducted via social media. Both questionnaires asked respondents of the effect of COVID-19 on their mental health, and the former asked respondents about the effect of COVID-19 on their patient group's mental health. The questionnaires went on to ask respondents about their attitudes to mental health disclosure in various scenarios, to varying groups of people. The general population group was also asked how they would react if someone else disclosed their mental illness to them.ResultThe questionnaire for the medical professionals gained 62 respondents and the one for the general population had 122 respondents, with responses from multiple nations. Overall, COVID-19 has affected everyone's mental health to a degree, and all groups had reservations about disclosing their mental health issues to others. The medical professionals were especially reluctant to disclose mental illness to their patients, but were more comfortable when it came to disclosing mental illness to colleagues. The general population, however, was much more reluctant to disclose mental health issues to their colleagues. The general population were, on the whole, willing to listen to and help anyone who came to them with mental health concerns. Both groups surveyed showed reluctance toward disclosure to the wider community.ConclusionCOVID-19 appears to significantly affect not only physical health, but mental health as well. There is at least some degree of stigma surrounding the disclosure of mental health issues. While most would be happy to help anyone who came to them with their mental health problems, there seems to be an attitude shift when people must contend with mental health issues of their own.

Media, Social Media, and the Securitization of Mental Health Problems in Nepal

2021 ◽  
pp. 838-859
Author(s):  
Sudeep Uprety ◽  
Rajesh Ghimire
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Securitization Theory ◽  
Journalistic Professionalism

This chapter attempts to unfold the trend and nature of mainstream and social media coverage on mental health issues in Nepal through suicide case of Yama Buddha, a popular musician. Using the securitization theory and concepts of threat construction and threat neutralization, major findings through content analysis and key informant interviews reveal reputed mainstream media following cautious route towards threat neutralization and therefore, maintaining a level of journalistic professionalism. However, especially in the other online media, blogs, and other social media, there were sensationalist words and tone used to attract the audience, triggering various sorts of emotional responses, thereby fulfilling the act of securitization. Major recommendations from this chapter include more awareness and understanding about the nature and type of mental health problems; capacity building of journalists and media professionals to better understand and report on mental health problems; development and proper implementation of media guidelines on reporting mental health issues.

scholarly journals Informing university students with mental health problems about actual health issues/treatments

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
CM Van der Heijde ◽  
ER Bronkhorst ◽  
D Tempelman ◽  
P Vonk ◽  
FJ Meijman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
University Students ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Actual Health

The Impact of Victimization, Mental Health Problems, and Disabilities on Juvenile Justice Processing: Does Gender Matter?

2020 ◽  
pp. 001112872095002
Author(s):  
Allison T. Chappell ◽  
Scott R. Maggard
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Delinquent Behavior ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Impact

Victimization, mental health problems, and disabilities are associated with an increased likelihood of delinquent behavior, and girls in the juvenile justice system report higher rates of past trauma and victimization, sexual abuse, and mental health issues than boys. However, the influence of these problems on juvenile justice processing remains understudied. This study investigated the impact of victimization, mental health problems, disabilities, and comorbidity on intake and adjudication decisions across gender. Data on 74,636 intake cases were obtained from the centralized database of the juvenile justice office in a mid-Atlantic state (FY 2011–2015). Findings suggest that mental health problems, victimization, and disabilities are associated with increased punitiveness at intake but few consistent gender differences emerged. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Post-traumatic stress reactions in survivors of the 2011 massacre on Utøya Island, Norway

2014 ◽  
Vol 204 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grete Dyb ◽  
Tine K. Jensen ◽  
Egil Nygaard ◽  
Øivind Ekeberg ◽  
Trond H. Diseths ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Traumatic Experience ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

BackgroundAlthough youths in many countries have been exposed to terrorism, few studies have examined early risk and protective factors for the subsequent development of mental health problems.AimsTo investigate the levels of post-traumatic stress in survivors of the 2011 massacre on Ut⊘ya Island compared with the general population in Norway, and to identify predictive factors.MethodFour hundred and ninety survivors were invited to participate. Structured face-to-face interviews were performed 4–5 months after the attack.ResultsThere were 325 study participants (response rate 66%). Survivors had been highly exposed to danger and loss. Post-traumatic stress levels were more than six times higher in survivors than in the general population. Predictors were female gender, minority ethnic status, high level of trauma exposure, pain, the loss of someone close and social support.ConclusionsSurvivor characteristics that can be assessed in the early aftermath of a terrorist attack strongly predict the subsequent mental health problems of exposed youths. The highly elevated symptoms observed were largely attributable to the traumatic experience and reflect the mental health costs of the terrorist attack.

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