scholarly journals Practices and Perspectives of Mental Health in the Balkan Countries: A Narrative Review

Author(s):  
Maya E. Lee

Mental health and wellness are integral parts to person’s overall health and happiness. Globally, there has been an increased initiative to treat and support people living with mental health issues and disease; the Balkan region of southeastern Europe is no exception. A literary review researching the background of mental health treatment and how it intersects with the unique history and current administrative environment within the nations of the former Yugoslav Republic was conducted. Existing literature about mental health prevalence and practices within the region was analyzed and contextualized with historical perspectives. Significant gaps in research literature were identified, including lack of research into everyday mental disorders in the region that are not to do with the recent civil war, a need for standardized data collection about where mental health infrastructure exists within the region and how effective it is in treating patients, and finally economic research to determine how and by which governing body national healthcare systems should be funded. Filling these gaps in knowledge would greatly reduce barriers to mental healthcare and overall wellness within the Balkans.

Author(s):  
Megz Roberts

AbstractHow does embodied ethical decision-making influence treatment in a clinical setting when cultural differences conflict? Ethical decision-making is usually a disembodied and rationalized procedure based on ethical codes (American Counseling Association, 2014; American Dance Therapy Association, 2015; American Mental Health Counseling Association, 2015) and a collective understanding of right and wrong. However, these codes and collective styles of meaning making were shaped mostly by White theorists and clinicians. These mono-cultural lenses lead to ineffective mental health treatment for persons of color. Hervey’s (2007) EEDM steps encourage therapists to return to their bodies when navigating ethical dilemmas as it is an impetus for bridging cultural differences in healthcare. Hervey’s (2007) nonverbal approach to Welfel’s (2001) ethical decision steps was explored in a unique case that involved the ethical decision-making process of an African-American dance/movement therapy intern, while providing treatment in a westernized hospital setting to a spiritual Mexican–American patient diagnosed with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. This patient had formed a relationship with a spirit attached to his body that he could see, feel, and talk to, but refused to share this experience with his White identifying psychiatric nurse due to different cultural beliefs. Information gathered throughout the clinical case study by way of chronological loose and semi-structured journaling, uncovered an ethical dilemma of respect for culturally based meanings in treatment and how we identify pathology in hospital settings. The application of the EEDM steps in this article is focused on race/ethnicity and spiritual associations during mental health treatment at an outpatient hospital setting. Readers are encouraged to explore ways in which this article can influence them to apply EEDM in other forms of cultural considerations (i.e. age) and mental health facilities. The discussion section of this thesis includes a proposed model for progressing towards active multicultural diversity in mental healthcare settings by way of the three M’s from the relational-cultural theory: movement towards mutuality, mutual empathy, and mutual empowerment (Hartling & Miller, 2004).


Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Waldron ◽  
Inger Burnett-Zeigler ◽  
Victoria Wee ◽  
Yiukee Warren Ng ◽  
Linda J. Koenig ◽  
...  

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms at higher rates than their male counterparts and more often than HIV-unaffected women. These mental health issues affect not only the well-being and quality of life of WLWH, but have implications for HIV management and transmission prevention. Despite these ramifications, WLWH are under-treated for mental health concerns and they are underrepresented in the mental health treatment literature. In this review, we illustrate the unique mental health issues faced by WLWH such as a high prevalence of physical and sexual abuse histories, caregiving stress, and elevated internalized stigma as well as myriad barriers to care. We examine the feasibility and outcomes of mental health interventions that have been tested in WLWH including cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and supportive counseling. Future research is required to address individual and systemic barriers to mental health care for WLWH.


2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mosidi B. Serobatse ◽  
Emmerentia Du Plessis ◽  
Magdalena P. Koen

Background: Non-compliance to treatment remains one of the greatest challenges in mental healthcare services, and how to improve this remains a problem.Aim: The aim of this study was to critically synthesise the best available evidence from literature regarding interventions to promote psychiatric patients’ compliance to mental health treatment. The interventions can be made available for mental health professionals to use in clinical practice.Method: A systematic review was chosen as a design to identify primary studies that answered the following research question: What is the current evidence on interventions to promote psychiatric patients’ compliance to mental health treatment? Selected electronic databases were thoroughly searched. Studies were critically appraised and identifid as answeringthe research questions. Evidence extraction, analysis and synthesis were then conducted by means of evidence class rating and grading of strength prescribed in the American Dietetic Association’s manual.Results: The systematic review identifid several interventions that can improve patients’ compliance in mental health treatment, for example adherence therapy and motivational interviewing techniques during in-hospital stay.Conclusions: Conclusions were drawn and recommendations formulated for nursing practice, education and research.Agtergrond: Geen-samewerking met behandeling bly steeds een van die grootste uitdagings in geestesgesondheidsorgdienste, en genoegsame kennis oor hoe om dit te verbeter, is steeds ’n probleem.Doelwit: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die beskikbare bewyse vanuit literatuur aangaande intervensies ter bevordering van psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling krities te sintetiseer. Hierdie intervensies kan aan professionele gesondheidsorgpersoneel beskikbaar gestel word ter bevordering van psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling.Metode: ’n Sistematiese literatuuroorsig is gekies as die ontwerp om primêre studieste identifieer wat die volgende navorsingsvraag beantwoord: Wat is die huidige kennis ten opsigte van intervensies wat psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met geestesgesondheidsbehandeling bevorder?Resultate: Studies is ingesluit vir kritiese gehalte-beoordeling ten opsigte van metodologie, en is uiteindelik geïdentifieer as bronne van bewyse wat die literatuuroorsigvraag toepaslik beantwoord. Bewysonttrekking, -analise en -sintese is gedoen deur middel van die beoordeling van bewysklas en -gradering van bewyssterkte, soos voorgeskryf in die American Dietetic Association se handleiding. Die sistemiese literatuuroorsig het aangedui datdaar heelparty intervensies is wat psigiatriese pasiënte se samewerking met behandeling kan verbeter, byvoorbeeld samewerkingsterapie en motiveringsonderhoudstegnieke.Gevolgtrekking: Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak en aanbevelings is geformuleer vir die verpleegpraktyk, verpleegonderrig en navorsing in verpleging.


BJGP Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. BJGPO.2021.0201
Author(s):  
Nancy Jennifer Sturman ◽  
Ryan Williams ◽  
Marianne Wyder ◽  
Johanna Lynch

BackgroundAlthough GPs provide care to many patients with severe and persistent mental illness, the role and skillset of the GP in this space are contested. Patients are less satisfied with GP care of mental health than physical health issues.AimTo explore patient expectations and experiences of GP roles in their mental health, and identify opportunities for improving mental health care in general practice.Design & settingPatient participants were recruited from community mental health clinics in Brisbane, Australia.MethodIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of patients. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed professionally. The authors conducted an inductive thematic analysis, attending to participant vulnerability and reflexivity.Results16 interviews were conducted by one author (RW), average duration 29 minutes. Three overarching themes were identified: being heard; being known; and being safe. Participants greatly valued ‘good GPs’ who were able to detect early signs of relapse, and with whom they came to feel heard, known and safe over time. Experiences of perfunctory, hurried care and avoidance of mental health issues were also reported. Many participants were uncertain whether GP training in mental health was sufficient to keep them safe. Patients may suspect negative attitudes to mental illness in GPs who actively engage predominantly with their physical health.ConclusionSome GPs play central roles in patients’ mental healthcare. Barriers for others need further exploration, and may include time, confidence and/or expertise. Findings challenge GPs to engage more actively and effectively with these patients in theirgeneral practice consultations.


Author(s):  
Yamam Abuzinadah ◽  
Bader Binhadyan ◽  
Nilmini Wickramasinghe

Mental health have become a very influential topic around the world due to the increase of mental health issues that have been reported through national research and surveys. Many studies have been done along the years around the barriers in regards to seeking help in deferent countries and communities. This research aims to look closely into these barriers targeting issues and potential solutions, specifically for Saudi Arabia. Recently, the use of e-mental health services have proven to be an effective method to improve is barriers to mental health treatment. However, this chapter addresses the application and suitably of e-mental health programs for Saudi Arabia mental health services. To do so, a case study of Australian e-mental health services was selected to assist with the investigations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 706-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
LalithKumar K. Solai ◽  
Keerthana Kumar ◽  
Elizabeth Mulvaney ◽  
Daniel Rosen ◽  
Juleen Rodakowski ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-223
Author(s):  
Hannah Waldron ◽  
Steve Braund

This is a critical account of a year-long collaboration between MA Authorial Illustration students and service users of a social services organization and mental healthcare provider, The CHAOS Group (Community Helping All Of Society), with the aim of communicating the journey of those experiencing mental health issues and the efficacy of authorial illustration in promoting wellbeing. Central to the project was the production of the book CHAOS: A Co-Creation, and this article describes the book’s development and the experience of working in the co-creation mode. Drawing upon research methods in narrative and authorial illustration, the article explores the potential of authorial illustration to serve as a tool for benefitting mental health: could an illustrational mindset ‐ one rooted within personal authorship ‐ bring out those personal voices, rekindling a sense of worth and self-esteem? At the heart of the project was the concept of shared creative process, a ‘thinking-through-making’ in which weekly creative sessions allowed each of the participants’ individual voices to emerge and feel empowered through a gradual encouragement to author personal stories. Alongside the fostering of individual authorial voices through illustration, the article describes how, through a non-hierarchical co-creation process, we witnessed a collective empowerment. The article draws upon the recent research-based publication Co-Creation (in France) and draws on the notion from social psychology that there seems to be a sense in which narrative, rather than referring to ‘reality’, may in fact create or constitute it, as when ‘fiction’ creates a ‘world’ of its own: empowering each individual to author their own life-story (Jerome Bruner 1991: 1‐21).


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-59
Author(s):  
Walter Matthew Drymalski

Purpose Despite the prevalence of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, the assessment and placement processes for each often remain separate. The purpose of this paper is to describe an expanded use of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) CriteriaTM to make placements into substance use, co-occurring, and mental health treatment. Design/methodology/approach A rationale for the development of two new domains (Domain 7, substance use and Domain 8, independent living skills) and preliminary data supporting the use of the ASAM CriteriaTM as a placement process for all types of behavioral health issues will be provided. Findings Dimension 3 and Domains 7 and 8 were correlated with selected clinical indices in the expected direction (Dimension 3: depression (F (4, 4650)=202.092, p<0.001), medication usage (F (4, 4,637)=174.254, p<0.001), and psychotic symptoms (F (4, 4,561)=62.954, p<0.001); Domain 7: alcohol use (F (4, 4,458)=213.786, p<0.001) and drug use (F (4, 4,471)=611.491, p<0.001); and Domain 8: functional impairment (F (4, 3,927)=815.646, p<0.001) and number of “high needs” (F (4, 3,927)=737.568, p<0.001). Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research included a lack of inter-rater reliability data and less established intake assessments. Practical implications This single placement approach for clients seeking behavioral health services can create a more efficient, person-centered intake experience. Originality/value This paper suggests that it is possible to deploy a single assessment and placement approach for all types of behavioral health issues.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Jude Mary Cénat ◽  
Boniface Harerimana ◽  
Guesly Michel ◽  
Sara-Emilie McIntee ◽  
Joana N. Mukunzi ◽  
...  

When people living in poverty are asked to describe their living conditions, mental health issues quickly come to mind (grief, sadness, anger, fear, bitterness, frustration, discontent, anxiety, and emotional damage consisting of low mood and depression, fatigue, hypersensitivity, sleep difficulties and physical pain). Although the association between poverty and mental health have been widely demonstrated in the literature, care must be taken to avoid the psychiatrization of poverty. However, how can healthcare be provided to people living in poverty when basic needs are not met? This article explores the global challenge of providing mental health services in impoverished populations, using the example of the poorest country in America: Haiti. It examines the availability of services offered through the Mental Health Centre at Morne Pelé, and the necessity for innovative and comprehensive approaches to provide culturally appropriate care that meets the real needs of populations. It highlights effective measures that policy makers should implement to develop an efficient mental healthcare system based on the lessons of the Mental Health Centre at Morne Pelé.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Eliacin ◽  
Diana J. Burgess ◽  
Angela L. Rollins ◽  
Scott Patterson ◽  
Teresa Damush ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Mental healthcare disparities are persistent and have increased in recent years. Compared to their White counterparts, racial and ethnic minority groups have less access to mental healthcare. Minority groups also have lower engagement in mental health treatment and are more likely to experience ineffective patient-provider communication, which contribute to negative mental healthcare experiences and poor mental health outcomes. Interventions that embrace recovery-oriented practices to support patient engagement and empower patients to participate in their mental healthcare and treatment decisions may help to reduce mental healthcare disparities. Designed to achieve this goal, PARTNER-MH is a peer-led, patient navigation intervention that aims to engage minority patients in mental health treatment, support them to take a greater role in their care, and facilitate their participation in treatment shared decision-making. Methods: This pilot study evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of PARTNER-MH in a VHA mental health setting using a mixed-methods, randomized controlled trial study design. PARTNER-MH is tested under real-world conditions, using certified VHA peer support specialists (peers), selected via usual VHA hiring practices and assigned to the mental health service. The peers provide PARTNER-MH and usual peer support services. The study compares the impact of PARTNER-MH versus a wait-list control group on patient activation, patient engagement, and shared decision-making, as well as other patient-level outcomes. PARTNER-MH also examines organizational factors that could impact its future implementation in VHA settings. Results: Participants (N=50) were veterans who were mostly male (62%), self-identified as non-Hispanic Black (70%), with a median age in the 45-54 group. Most had at least some college education, and 32% completed 4 or more years of college. Randomization produced comparable groups in terms of characteristics and outcome measures at baseline, except for gender. Discussion and Conclusion: Rather than simply documenting health disparities among vulnerable populations, PARTNER-MH offers opportunities to evaluate a tailored, culturally-sensitive system-based intervention to improve patient engagement and patient-provider communication in mental healthcare for racial and ethnic minorities. IRB Protocol #1708628270Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04515771. Registered 14 August 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04515771


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