scholarly journals Role of the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health

2012 ◽  
Vol 201 (6) ◽  
pp. 428-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. E. Barnes ◽  
Carol Paton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Positive Change ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
National Audit ◽  
Prescribing Practice ◽  
Qualitative Work ◽  
The Uk

SummaryPositive change in prescribing practice in psychiatric services can be achieved with participation in the UK Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH-UK) quality improvement programmes. Key elements are feedback of benchmarked performance for local clinical reflection and customised change interventions informed by the national audit findings and parallel qualitative work. However, progress is gradual and gains generally modest.

scholarly journals Challenging Media (Mis)Representation: An Exploration of Available Models

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-20
Author(s):  
Karla Perez Portilla
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Theoretical Analysis ◽  
Mental Health Stigma ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk

This article is a theoretical analysis aimed at articulating the harm caused by media (mis)representation, and at showing existing ways in which this harm can be contested. The approaches analysed are largely from the United Kingdom. However, the issues they raise are not unique and the models explored are potentially transferable. The examples cover a range of media, including British right-wing press, television and Facebook; and characteristics protected by equality legislation in the UK such as sex, sexual orientation, race, religion and mental health stigma. Crucially, all the initiatives presented demonstrate the group-based nature of media (mis)representations, which cannot be understood and, therefore, cannot be addressed through individualistic approaches. Therefore, the article concludes that the role of groups as the targets of media (mis)representation and as potential claimants should be fully acknowledged and enabled.

Mental health services for single homeless people

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Philip Timms ◽  
Jenny Drife
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Substance Misuse ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
Background Information ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Uk

SUMMARY Homelessness has long been associated with high rates of psychosis, alcohol and substance misuse, and personality disorder. However, psychiatric services in the UK have only recently engaged actively with homeless people. This article provides some background information about homelessness and mental illness and describes the elements of inclusion health and some of the models of service for homeless people that have been established over the past 30 years.

scholarly journals Facebook usage and mental health: An empirical study of role of non-directional social comparisons in the UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahir M. Nisar ◽  
Guru Prabhakar ◽  
P. Vigneswara Ilavarasan ◽  
Abdullah M. Baabdullah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Facebook Usage ◽  
The Uk

Social Workers in Child Mental Health: Securing a Future

2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 102-107
Author(s):  
Philip Messent
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Child Mental Health ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
The Uk

A study was conducted to investigate reductions in the numbers of social work posts located within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in the UK. Results suggested that reductions in posts noted in earlier studies are continuing. Interviewees' ideas about factors contributing to the survival of such posts are summarised. The significance of the loss of posts is discussed, with an account of changing ideas about the role of social workers within CAMHS teams, and of an audit undertaken of one service lacking such a post. Conclusions are drawn concerning ways of ensuring the preservation of such posts.

scholarly journals TechCare: Mobile-assessment and therapy for psychosis: An intervention for clients within the early intervention service

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S608-S608 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Gire ◽  
I.B. Chaudhry ◽  
F. Naeem ◽  
J. Duxbury ◽  
M. Riley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Learning Algorithm ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Intervention Service ◽  
Qualitative Work ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionIn the UK, mental illness is a major source of disease burden costing in the region of £105 billion pounds. mHealth is a novel and emerging field in psychiatric and psychological care for the treatment of mental health difficulties such as psychosis.ObjectiveTo develop an intelligent real-time therapy (iRTT) mobile intervention (TechCare) which assesses participant's symptoms in real-time and responds with a personalised self-help based psychological intervention, with the aim of reducing participant's symptoms. The system will utilise intelligence at two levels:– intelligently increasing the frequency of assessment notifications if low mood/paranoia is detected;– an intelligent machine learning algorithm which provides interventions in real-time and also provides recommendations on the most popular selected interventions.AimThe aim of the current project is to develop a mobile phone intervention for people with psychosis, and to conduct a feasibility study of the TechCare App.MethodsThe study consists of both qualitative and quantitative components. The study will be run across three strands:– qualitative work;– test run and intervention refinement;– feasibility trial.ResultsPreliminary analysis of qualitative data from Strand 2 (test run and intervention refinement) in-depth interviews with service users (n = 2) and focus group with health professionals (n = 1), highlighted main themes around security of the device, multimedia and the acceptability of psychological interventions being delivered via the TechCare App.ConclusionsResearch in this area can be potentially helpful in addressing the demand on mental health services globally, particularly improving access to psychological interventions.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Human-animal relationships and interactions during the Covid-19 lockdown phase in the UK: investigating links with mental health and loneliness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Ratschen ◽  
Emily Shoesmith ◽  
Lion Shahab ◽  
Karine Silva ◽  
Dimitra Kale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Companion Animal ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Buffering Hypothesis ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
The Uk

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic raises questions about the role that relationships and interactions between humans and animals play in the context of widespread social distancing and isolation measures. We aimed to investigate links between mental health and loneliness, companion animal ownership, the human-animal bond, and human-animal interactions; and to explore animal owners’ perceptions related to the role of their animals during lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of UK residents over 18 years of age was conducted between April and June 2020. The questionnaire included validated and bespoke items measuring demographics; exposures and outcomes related to mental health, wellbeing and loneliness; the human-animal bond and human-animal interactions. Results: Of 5,926 participants, 5,323 (89.8%) had at least one companion animal. Most perceived their animals to be a source of considerable support, but concerns were reported related to various practical aspects of providing care during lockdown. Strength of the human-animal bond did not differ significantly between species. Poorer mental health pre-lockdown was associated with a stronger reported human-animal bond (b = -.014, 95% CI [-.023 - -.005], p = .002). Animal ownership compared with non-ownership was associated with smaller decreases in mental health (b = .267, 95% CI [.079 - .455], p = .005) and smaller increases in loneliness (b = -.302, 95% CI [-.461 - -.144], p = .001) since lockdown. Conclusion: The human-animal bond is a construct of potential clinical importance to identify mental health vulnerability in animal owners. Animal ownership appeared to mitigate some of the detrimental psychological effects of lockdown. Further targeted investigation of the role of human-animal relationships and interactions for human health, including testing of the social buffering hypothesis and the development of instruments suited for use across animal species, is required.

scholarly journals The Mental Health and Wellbeing of EU Citizens in the UK: A Systematic Review of the Qualitative Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Piotr Teodorowski ◽  
Ruth Woods ◽  
Catriona Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Migration Experiences ◽  
Qualitative Literature

Moving to a new country impacts on migrants’ mental health and wellbeing. There are over 3.6 million European Union citizens living in the United Kingdom. We conducted a systematic review of the qualitative literature to explore what is known about their mental health and wellbeing at the post-migration stage in pre-Brexit period. We searched five databases from 1st January 2009 to 19th February 2019; Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SocIndex and Scopus for studies. Ten papers reporting nine studies were included in this review. Two themes were constructed; a narrative of adjustment and of employment realities. The former focuses on the process of settling in and the role of social connectedness. The latter concerns employment realities with included studies exploring the financial position and employment experiences of migrants. Findings indicate that we still know relatively little about the range of post-migration experiences among EU citizens and their implications for mental health

scholarly journals The effect of COVID-19 lockdown on psychiatric admissions: role of gender

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Davies ◽  
Luke Hogarth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Psychiatric Service ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Psychiatric Admissions ◽  
The Uk

Background The UK went into nationwide lockdown on 24 March 2020, in response to COVID-19. The direct psychiatric effects of this are relatively unknown. Aims We examined whether the first UK lockdown changed the demographics of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals (to include gender, legality, route of admission and diagnoses), independent of seasonal variation.. Method We conducted an anonymous review of psychiatric admissions aged ≥18 years in the 6-month period after the announcement of the first UK lockdown (March to August 2020), and in the previous year (March to August 2019), in Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust in-patient facilities. The number of admissions were compared, along with factors that may help to explain the psychological effects of national lockdown. Results There was no significant increase in total number of admissions or the gender percentage. However, there was a 11.8% increase in formal sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983. This increase was sustained and statistically significant across all 6 months. A sustained decrease in admissions via the crisis team was also observed as being statistically significant. Separate diagnoses saw changes in percentage of admissions between March and May. The most statistically significant was schizophrenia admissions for men in April (18.7%), and women in March (18.4%). Conclusions Our findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on the legal status of psychiatric admissions, and emphasise the importance of having a robust, adaptable and open psychiatric service that caters to the ongoing needs of patients, regardless of government restrictions.

Schizophrenia, psychiatry and East African Muslim families in the United Kingdom: a pilot study

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51
Author(s):  
Farida Ally ◽  
Toni Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Culturally Sensitive ◽  
Psychiatric Services ◽  
East African ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of East African Muslim families who have a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia in the UK mental health system. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth semi-structured interviews with East African Muslim participants who had a close family member diagnosed with schizophrenia. Findings – Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed participants’ concerns over diagnosis, over the side effects of medication and over the lack of choice of treatment. They reported disappointment and frustration with the rejection by psychiatric services of alternative conceptualizations of mental distress incorporating religious beliefs. Participants called for more culturally sensitive service provision open to taking into account non-western conceptualizations of mental distress and its treatment. Research limitations/implications – Caution should be exercised in drawing firm conclusions from a pilot study with only four participants although generalization is not an aim of small-scale qualitative research. Practical implications – The overall negative perceptions of psychiatric services in the participants’ accounts point to poor communication between services and service users and their families. If there are attempts at culturally sensitive service provision, according to this study, they are implemented elsewhere/not extensive enough/not reaching everyone – which warrants further investigation. Originality/value – This study is valuable because it offers insights on how East African Muslim families living in the UK (an under-researched minority) experience the impact of living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and contact with mental health services, within the context of a “Western” model of mental distress dramatically different from and rarely open to the conceptualization shared in their culture of origin.

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