Bridging the skills gap: apprentice assistant practitioners having an impact in mental healthcare services

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 452-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Morris ◽  
Patricia Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Present Situation ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Skills Gap ◽  
Assistant Practitioner

It is important to have a well-trained workforce and this is especially so in mental healthcare services. This article is the first of four looking at mental healthcare services and the apprentice assistant practitioner (AAP). The background to the introduction of assistant practitioners (AP), both in generic terms and more specifically their potential in mental health provision, will be explored. The present situation in mental health services will be examined, along with how the AP role might help mitigate some of the critical challenges faced in this area of health. The development of higher apprenticeships will be discussed in relation to standardisation of the AP role and how universally recognised apprenticeship standards around knowledge, behaviours and values will aid a more consistent understanding of the AP position and their consequent deployment in services.

Bridging the skills gap: apprentice assistant practitioners having an impact in mental healthcare services. Part 3. The mentor experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-95
Author(s):  
Andy Morris ◽  
Helen Higginson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Service Workers ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Assistant Practitioner

Understanding the relevance of the apprentice assistant practitioner (AAP) role in mental health is important for future developments within mental health services. This third article, in a series of four exploring the potential impact of AAPs in bridging the gap in mental health services, focuses on the experiences of the mentor role. Mentorship in the development of health service workers is crucial to ensure competent, confident and skilled staff at all levels. This small-scale study looks at the experiences of the mentor in general and more specifically the experiences of a small group of mentors supporting AAPs in mental health services. A questionnaire was sent to mentors at different stages of the AAP's journey and asked them to consider three broad themes: supporting the AAP, helpfulness of the AAP standards in mentoring; and the impact of the AAP in mental health services. The results show a positive response in general from the mentors and the use of apprenticeship standards to focus the mentorship of the AAP, as well as the potential benefits the assistant practitioner (AP) role has in both supporting services users and the service as a whole.

scholarly journals Understanding barriers to accessing mental health services for newcomers to Canada using Peterborough, Ontario, as an illustrative example

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurun Layla Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Accurate Information

The quality of an individual’s mental health has a significant impact on their quality of life, as well as on the cost to society. Regular access to mental health services can help mitigate the risk factors of developing mental illnesses. This paper examines barriers to accessing mental health services, using the community of Peterborough, Ontario, as an example. Social, economic, and cultural barriers impact help-seeking amongst immigrants, putting them at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. The social determinants of mental health can be useful when developing policies aimed at improving utilization of mental healthcare services. Policy makers need to first focus on collecting accurate information on the population, and then developing targeted solutions to eliminate barriers such as language and employment that prevent help-seeking in immigrants.

How Can Guidance Recommendations Contribute to Better Mental Health?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S12-S12
Author(s):  
W. Gaebel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Distributed Resources ◽  
Deutschland Gmbh

IntroductionIn European countries, the quality of mental healthcare services is often limited due to scarce and inequitable distributed resources, and inefficient use of existing resources. Against this background, the EPA Guidance provides recommendations on how to optimize quality of mental healthcare for all European countries.ObjectivesProvision of guidance recommendations in order to support optimization and harmonization of mental healthcare services in European countries.MethodsBy means of evidence and consensus-based methods EPA guidance papers are developed by experts in psychiatry and related fields [1].ResultsAs of 2012, five EPA guidance series have been developed and published [2]. They focus on various aspects of mental healthcare and clinical situations that have not been covered by medical guidelines yet but are considered important to deliver high quality mental healthcare. Papers deal amongst others with topics relating to quality assurance of mental health services, as quality of mental health service structures and processes, and building trust in mental health services.ConclusionsEPA guidance recommendations can improve mental healthcare provision and thereby contribute to better mental health of persons receiving mental healthcare. For this purpose, recommendations need to be widely disseminated and implemented in European countries.Disclosure of interestUnterstützung bei Symposien/Symposia Support− Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Neuss− Aristo Pharma GmbH, Berlin− Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg− Servier Deutschland GmbH, München− Fakultätsmitglied/Faculty Member− Lundbeck International Neuroscience Foundation (LINF), Dänemark

scholarly journals Perceived Barriers to Mental Health Services among the Elderly in the Rural of Vietnam: A Cross Sectional Survey in 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863292110260
Author(s):  
Nguyen Hang Nguyet Van ◽  
Nguyen Thi Khanh Huyen ◽  
Mai Thi Hue ◽  
Nguyen Thanh Luong ◽  
Pham Quoc Thanh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Important Indicator

While the burden of neurological and mental disorders has been drastically increased in Vietnam, the current mental healthcare services do not meet the public demand. In order to determine perceived barriers to the use of mental health services, we conducted a cross-sectional study on 376 elderly people from a rural district in Hanoi, Vietnam. We found that depression may be an important indicator of the need for formal and informal community and home care mental health services. Barriers to mental healthcare access were categorized into 7 groups namely stigma, emotional concerns, participation restrictions, service satisfaction, time constraints, geographic and financial conditions, and availability of services. The most significant barriers are the limited availability of and accessibility to health professionals and services in rural areas. Our study highlights the urgent efforts that need to be made in order to enhance availability of mental healthcare services in rural areas of Vietnam.

Self-casting and alter-casting: Healthcare professionals’ boundary work in response to peer workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 001139212110485
Author(s):  
Margaretha Järvinen ◽  
Malene Lue Kessing
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Boundary Work ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Recovery Model ◽  
Recovery Orientation ◽  
Professional Boundary

Within mental health services, the recovery model has been a guiding philosophy over the past decades. This model stresses ‘person-centred care’ and focuses on assisting service users to live a meaningful and hopeful life even if their illness has not been cured. As part of the recovery orientation, ‘peer workers’ (PWs), i.e. people with lived experiences of mental illness, are increasingly employed within mental health services. In this article, the authors explore how these changes open up frontiers and set in motion boundary work and identity discussions among healthcare professionals. Empirically, the article draws on qualitative data – interviews with healthcare professionals and observations of meetings – collected in mental healthcare services in Denmark. Theoretically, the article combines literature on professional boundary work with theories on ‘self-casting’, ‘alter-casting’ and ‘othering’. Analysing two sets of demarcations – those between healthcare professionals and PWs, and those between professionals and patients – the study shows how the recovery model leads to defensive boundary work as well as an opening up of boundaries.

scholarly journals Adapting practice in mental healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and other contagions: systematic review

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Raphael ◽  
Rachel Winter ◽  
Katherine Berry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Background During the global COVID-19 pandemic, there has been guidance concerning adaptations that physical healthcare services can implement to aid containment, but there is relatively little guidance for how mental healthcare services should adapt service provision to better support staff and patients, and minimise contagion spread. Aims This systematic review explores service adaptations in mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and other contagions. Method The Allied and Complementary Medicine database (AMED), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science were systematically searched for published studies from database inception to April 2020. Data were extracted focusing on changes to mental health services during contagion outbreaks. Data were analysed with thematic analysis. Results Nineteen papers were included: six correspondence/point-of-view papers, five research papers, five reflection papers, two healthcare guideline documents and one government document. Analysis highlighted four main areas for mental health services to consider during contagion outbreaks: infection control measures to minimise contagion spread, including procedural and practical solutions across different mental health settings; service delivery, including service changes, operational planning and continuity of care; staff well-being (psychological and practical support); and information and communication. Conclusions Mental health services need to consider infection control measures and implement service changes to support continuity of care, and patient and staff well-being. Services also need to ensure they are communicating important information in a clear and accessible manner with their staff and patients, regarding service delivery, contagion symptoms, government guidelines and well-being.

General aspects of care: settings of care

Psychiatry ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca McKnight ◽  
Jonathan Price ◽  
John Geddes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Specific Disorders ◽  
General Aspects

Current mental healthcare services in most of the de­veloped world are unrecognizable compared with those of the mid twentieth century. There has been a major shift from long- term institutional to community care. This chapter describes current approaches to pro­viding mental health services, particularly for people between the ages of 18 and 65 (services for children are discussed in Chapter 17, and services for the elderly in Chapter 18). It is important for all doctors to have a basic understanding of the structure of services for three main reasons: … 1 It will help you to get the most out of clinical rotations in psychiatry, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level. 2 All clinicians need to know when and how to refer their patient to appropriate services. 3 Patients being treated by other medical specialties may have psychiatric co- morbidities. Effective management and liaison with mental health services requires a working knowledge of common conditions and their treatment. … Mental health services are organized in different ways from country to country. This chapter describes mainly the provision of services in the UK, but the prin­ciples apply generally. To understand the range of psychiatric services that are required for a specific community it is necessary to know: … 1 the frequency of mental disorders in the population; 2 the severity of these conditions and the impact they have upon a person’s ability to function; 3 how patients with these disorders come into contact with the health services; 4 what type of services people engage with and find effective. … The local prevalence of mental disorders will vary, but approximate estimates can be obtained from national surveys (Table 11.1). Approximately 20 per cent of adults and 10 per cent of children experi­ence a mental health problem in any given year. A more detailed discussion of the epidemiology of mental health as a whole can be found in Chapter 2, p. 5, and for specific disorders in their individual chapters. The basic principles of the provision of mental health services are the same as for any other health ser­vice. Services should be accessible, comprehensive, appropriate to the needs of the community, offer up- to- date treatments, effective, and economical. Patients should be offered a choice in the treatment they receive, although the caveat to this is when an individual is being treated under the Mental Health Act.

scholarly journals Understanding barriers to accessing mental health services for newcomers to Canada using Peterborough, Ontario, as an illustrative example

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurun Layla Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Accurate Information

The quality of an individual’s mental health has a significant impact on their quality of life, as well as on the cost to society. Regular access to mental health services can help mitigate the risk factors of developing mental illnesses. This paper examines barriers to accessing mental health services, using the community of Peterborough, Ontario, as an example. Social, economic, and cultural barriers impact help-seeking amongst immigrants, putting them at a higher risk of developing mental disorders. The social determinants of mental health can be useful when developing policies aimed at improving utilization of mental healthcare services. Policy makers need to first focus on collecting accurate information on the population, and then developing targeted solutions to eliminate barriers such as language and employment that prevent help-seeking in immigrants.

scholarly journals Self-identified barriers to rural mental health services in Iowa by older adults with multiple comorbidities: qualitative interview study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e029976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Elizabeth Pass ◽  
Korey Kennelty ◽  
Barry L Carter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study

ObjectivesIndividuals in rural areas face critical health disparities, including limited access to mental healthcare services and elevated burden of chronic illnesses. While disease outcomes are often worse in individuals who have both physical and mental comorbidities, few studies have examined rural, chronically-ill older adults’ experiences accessing mental health services. The aim of the study was to determine barriers to finding, receiving and adhering to mental health treatments in this population to inform future interventions delivering services.DesignWe conducted a qualitative study of barriers and facilitators to mental healthcare access. 19 interviews were analysed deductively for barriers using a modified version of Penchansky and Thomas’s theory of access as an analytical framework.SettingThis study was conducted remotely using telephonic interviews. Patients were located in various rural Iowa towns and cities.Participants15 rural Iowan older adults with multiple physical comorbidities as well as anxiety and/or depression.ResultsWe found that while patients in this study often felt that their mental health was important to address, they experienced multiple, but overlapping, barriers to services that delayed care or broke their continuity of receiving care, including limited knowledge of extant services and how to find them, difficulties obtaining referrals and unsatisfactory relationships with mental health service providers.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that intervention across multiple domains of access is necessary for successful long-term management of mental health disorders for patients with multiple chronic comorbidities in Iowa.

scholarly journals Learning from clinicians’ views of good quality practice in mental healthcare services in the context of suicide prevention: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna L. Littlewood ◽  
Leah Quinlivan ◽  
Jane Graney ◽  
Louis Appleby ◽  
Pauline Turnbull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Self Harm

Abstract Background Suicide and non-fatal self-harm represent key patient safety events in mental healthcare services. However, additional important learning can also be derived by highlighting examples of optimal practice that help to keep patients safe. In this study, we aimed to explore clinicians’ views of what constitutes good practice in mental healthcare services in the context of suicide prevention. Methods Data were extracted from the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH) database, a consecutive case series study of suicide by people in contact with mental healthcare services. A large national sample of clinicians’ responses was analysed with a hybrid thematic analysis. Results Responses (n = 2331) were submitted by clinicians across 62 mental healthcare providers. The following five themes illustrated good practice that helps to: 1) promote safer environments, 2) develop stronger relationships with patients and families, 3) provide timely access to tailored and appropriate care, 4) facilitate seamless transitions, and 5) establish a sufficiently skilled, resourced and supported staff team. Conclusion This study highlighted clinicians’ views on key elements of good practice in mental health services. Respondents included practice specific to mental health services that focus on enhancing patient safety via prevention of self-harm and suicide. Clinicians possess important understanding of optimal practice but there are few opportunities to share such insight on a broader scale. A further challenge is to implement optimal practice into routine, daily care to improve patient safety and reduce suicide risk.

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