Traditional Anishinabe Healing in a Clinical Setting: The Development of an Aboriginal Interdisciplinary Approach to Community-based Aboriginal Mental Health Care

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Marion A. Maar ◽  
Marjory Shawande
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Traditional Healing ◽  
The Impact

Traditional medicine has been practiced by Aboriginal people for thousands of years at the community level. It is still practiced today outside of the mainstream health system by many Aboriginal people. However, providing this type of care in a clinical, health centre setting and in co-operation with western treatment methods is new, and requires a merging of traditional Aboriginal and western medical world views in order to develop protocols for service delivery that ensure the integrity of both systems. The groundwork required to ensure the safety of clients, providers, and organizations within the new integrated system is still largely undocumented. To address this gap, we studied factors that support the successful integration of traditional Aboriginal healing and western mental health care approaches, and document the experiences of clients and providers. To accomplish this we contextualize 10 years of experience of traditional healing services development with in-depth interviews and focus groups with 17 community service providers and 23 clients. We found that the development of traditional healing protocols, inter-professional education for providers and community members and a focus on client access to traditional Anishinabe health services provide the basis for the integration of western and traditional healing practices in the model under study. Our findings show integrated care resulted in positive experiences for clients and providers. We conclude that traditional healing approaches can be successfully integrated with clinical mental health services. Further research is necessary to improve our understanding of client experiences with this integrated  approach and the impact on wholistic health and well-being.

scholarly journals Towards improving community pharmacy-based mental health services in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeboye Olakunle Bamgboye ◽  
Ibrahim Adebayo Hassan ◽  
Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi ◽  
Rachael Oluwatoyosi Farayola ◽  
Theogene Uwizeyimana
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Mental Health Expert ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn Nigeria, there is a prevalence of aversive life circumstances that frequently assail the mental health and well-being of the citizens, mitigating the impact of which necessitates the institution of psychotherapy and other mental health care methods. These responsibilities, however, appear to be much more for pharmacists in low-resource settings where they are the most accessible healthcare professional. Some of these responsibilities include patient confidentiality as well as counseling patients on medication use, lifestyle as well as other personal matters that may arise in relation to their health. Mental health services including psychotherapy provide a range of therapeutic techniques that enable the patients (individual or groups) to develop effective coping strategies towards emotional and psychological difficulties, via methodic interactions with a mental health expert. In this commentary, we share suggestions on how to improve community pharmacy-based mental health services in Nigeria. With the expanding roles and responsibility for pharmacists beyond medication-related concerns comes the challenge of matching up the training of pharmacists with the broadening scope of practice in Nigeria. However, as pertinent as that might be, there are existing knowledge and competency gaps in keeping up with this trend. To correct these shortfalls, we contend that the training curricula for pharmacists in Nigeria be reviewed and/or expanded to provide adequate knowledge for pharmacy undergraduates and pharmacists about non-drug mental health care which will also impact psychotherapy services during their practice especially in the community settings.

scholarly journals Remote mental health clients prefer face-to-face consultations to telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 103985622110435
Author(s):  
Andrew James Amos ◽  
Jocelyn Middleton ◽  
Fergus W. Gardiner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Far North ◽  
Mental Health Clients ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To guide the efficient and effective provision of mental health services to clients in Central West and Far North Queensland, we surveyed preferences for face-to-face or in-person contact. Methods: A clinician-designed survey of contact preferences was offered to 248 clients of mental health services in Far North and Central West Queensland in mid-2020. With the onset of COVID-19, the survey was modified to measure the impact of the pandemic. Results: Just over half of the services’ clients participated in the survey (50.4%), of whom more were female (63.2%). Of the participants, 46.3% in Far North and 8.6% in Central West Queensland identified as Indigenous. Strong resistance to telehealth before the pandemic across groups (76%) was moderated during COVID-19 (42.4%), an effect that appeared likely to continue past the pandemic for Central West clients (34.5%). Far North clients indicated their telehealth reluctance would return after the pandemic (77.6%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that remote Australians strongly prefer in-person mental health care to telehealth. Although the COVID-19 pandemic increased acceptance of telehealth across regions while social distancing continued, there was evidence that Indigenous Australians were more likely to prefer in-person contact after the pandemic.

scholarly journals The challenges faced by service providers on satellite mental health-care facilities in Yangon, Myanmar: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyaw Lin ◽  
Sun Lin ◽  
Than Tun Sein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Content Type

PurposeMyanmar has an insufficient number of mental health workers with few institutional facilities resulting in a significant treatment gap. Although few mental health services are integrated into primary health care (PHC), the challenges are unknown. This study aimed to assess the challenges perceived by providers in the service delivery of satellite mental health care (SMHC) in two sample townships in Yangon.Design/methodology/approachThe research was based on a case study design by applying a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews (IDIs). In the three types of service providers, a total of six staff participated as interviewees. These consisted of two team leaders, two clinical specialists providing consultations to clients and two mental health nurses.FindingsProviders perceived the following as major challenges in the provision of services: unstable financial resources and management, insufficient human resources and capacity of service providers, restricted outpatient services, the lack of a functional referral system, overcrowding, inadequate individual consultation time, long-waiting hours, finite opening days and hours and poor setting of infrastructure, resulting in lack of privacy.Research limitations/implicationsIn the absence of similar studies in Myanmar, findings could not be placed in the context of the national literature for comparison. Further, the study involved a limited number of respondents, which may have affected the findings.Originality/valueAlthough the challenges revealed were not uncommon in mental health services in developing countries, this study focused on a specific model of mental health care integrated into general healthcare settings in Myanmar. The findings offer a benchmark on efforts to develop decentralized mental health services in Myanmar and provide input for future in-depth studies.

More Women are Medicated While More Men are Talked Out: Persistent Gender Disparities in Mental Health Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S449-S450
Author(s):  
P. Joseph ◽  
A. Kazanjian
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Gender Disparities ◽  
Antidepressant Therapy ◽  
Prescription Database ◽  
Physician Incentives ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionPhysician incentives have been shown in previous studies to help reduce socioeconomic disparities in health care. Its impact on gender disparities, however, has rarely been investigated.AimThe impact of physician incentives on gender disparities in mental health care was investigated in this retrospective study.MethodDe-identified health administrative data from physician claims, hospital separations, vital statistics, prescription database, and insurance plan registries were linked and examined. Monthly cohorts of individuals with depression who were residing in British Columbia, Canada were identified and their use of mental health services tracked for 12 months following receipt of initial diagnosis. indicators that assess receipt of the following services were created:– counseling/psychotherapy (CP);– minimally adequate counseling/psychotherapy (MACP);– antidepressant therapy (AT);– minimally adequate antidepressant therapy (MAAT).interrupted time series analysis was used to estimate changes in these indicators before (01/2005–12/2007) and after (01/2008–12/2012) physician incentives were introduced.ResultsAt the beginning of the study period, the percentage of individuals diagnosed with depression who received counseling/psychotherapy was higher, on average, among men (CP: 58.4%, MACP: 13.6%) than women (CP: 57.1%, MACP: 10.9%). in contrast, the percentage who received antidepressant therapy was higher among women (AT: 57.7%, MAAT: 47.4%) than men (AT: 53.6%, MAAT: 41.9%). Levels for these indicators have changed over time but the statistically significant differences between men and women were virtually the same before and after incentives were introduced.ConclusionsGender disparities in mental health care persist despite the introduction of physician incentives designed to enhance access to mental health services in primary care.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The Ripple Effect, Silence and Powerlessness: Hidden Barriers to Discussing Suicide in Australian Aboriginal Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd R Heard ◽  
Katherine McGill ◽  
Jaelea Skehan ◽  
Bronwyn Rose
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Aboriginal People ◽  
Ripple Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Aboriginal Communities ◽  
Aboriginal Australians ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for Aboriginal Australians. There is an urgent need to actively engage with Aboriginal communities to better understand these issues and to develop solutions together to prevent deaths by suicide in Aboriginal communities. Methods Utilising a qualitative, thematic, cross-sectional design, we conducted focus groups in three communities in New South Wales (Australia) to explore the perceptions and views of Aboriginal participants in relation to discussing suicide. Results The key themes found to influence discussions about suicide in Aboriginal communities included the sense that suicide is a whole of community issue, the ripple effect of suicide deaths, silence about suicide and the impact of this silence, and being powerless to act. Participants described a reluctance to have discussions about suicide; feeling they had limited skills and confidence to have these sorts of discussions; and multiple and interrelated barriers to discussing suicide, including shame, fear and negative experiences of mental health care. Participants also described how their experiences maintained these barriers and prevented Aboriginal Australians from seeking help in suicidal crises. Conclusion Future initiatives should address the interrelated barriers by supporting Aboriginal people to build skills and confidence in discussing suicide and mental health and by improving access to, and the experience of, mental health care and psychosocial and community-based supports for Aboriginal Australians. We suggest trying to address any one of these factors in isolation may increase rather than decrease suicide risk in Aboriginal communities.

scholarly journals “The Relative Impact of Barriers to Care Among Military Health Services Personnel: Exploring Differences Using Context Specific Scenarios”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Born ◽  
Christine Frank
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Military Health ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Military health care providers often under access both physical and mental health care, yet research has predominantly focused on barriers to mental health care. This study explored a comprehensive set of barriers using hypothetical scenarios to quantify barrier impact on access to both mental and physical health care. Methods: Canadian military health services personnel (N = 1033) completed one of two electronic surveys (assessing either physical health or other mental health barriers) that captured participant’s demographics, health, endorsement of barriers, intent to seek care, and whether the respondent would access care in different health scenarios (pneumonia, back injury, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds of not accessing care (versus accessing care) for each of the four health scenarios.Results: All barrier factors independently predicted increased odds of not accessing care for all four scenarios. When entered into an adjusted model none of the barrier factors significantly predicted accessing care in the physical health scenarios. Staffing and workload resources and Intention to self-treat were significant predictors of accessing care in the mental health scenarios. Weak general intentions to access care was the strongest predictors of not accessing care across all four scenarios.Conclusions: The impact of barriers on simulated accessing care behaviour differs depending on the context for which one is accessing care, with access to resources and intent to self-treat driving mental health care seeking. Intent appears to be the most impactful predictor of accessing care potentially mediating the effect of other barrier types on care seeking.

Cultivating compassion through compassion circles: learning from experience in mental health care in the NHS

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Clark ◽  
Andy Bradley ◽  
Laura Simms ◽  
Benna Waites ◽  
Alister Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Current Concerns ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the importance of compassion in health care and experiences of Compassion Circles (CCs) in supporting it, placing this into the national policy context of the National Health Service (NHS), whilst focusing on lessons from using the practice in mental health care. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper is a discussion of the context of compassion in health care and a description of model and related concepts of CCs. This paper also discusses lessons from implementation of CCs in mental health care. Findings CCs were developed from an initial broad concern with the place of compassion and well-being in communities and organisations, particularly in health and social care after a number of scandals about failures of care. Through experience CCs have been refined into a flexible model of supporting staff in mental health care settings. Experience to date suggests they are a valuable method of increasing compassion for self and others, improving relationships between team members and raising issues of organisational support to enable compassionate practice. Research limitations/implications This paper is a discussion of CCs and their conceptual underpinnings and of insights and lessons from their adoption to date, and more robust evaluation is required. Practical implications As an emergent area of practice CCs have been seen to present a powerful and practical approach to supporting individual members of staff and teams. Organisations and individuals might wish to join the community of practice that exists around CCs to consider the potential of this intervention in their workplaces and add to the growing body of learning about it. It is worth further investigation to examine the impact of CCs on current concerns with maintaining staff well-being and engagement, and, hence, on stress, absence and the sustainability of work environments over time. Social implications CCs present a promising means of developing a culture and practice of more compassion in mental health care and other care contexts. Originality/value CCs have become supported in national NHS guidance and more support to adopt, evaluate and learn from this model is warranted. This paper is a contribution to developing a better understanding of the CCs model, implementation lessons and early insights into impact.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Older Adults Mental Health Services: a mixed methods study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Bhome ◽  
Jonathan Huntley ◽  
Christian Dalton- Locke ◽  
Norha Vera San Juan ◽  
Sian Oram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Inpatient Settings

AbstractPurposeThe Covid-19 pandemic is likely to have a significant impact on older adults mental health care. Our study aimed to explore staff perspectives on key challenges and innovations, to help inform the delivery of older adults mental health care in subsequent waves of the pandemic.MethodsA mixed methods online questionnaire developed by NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit (MHPRU) was used to gather staff perspectives on their challenges at work, problems faced by service users and their carers, and sources of help and support. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative analysis and descriptive content analysis for qualitative analysis.Results158 participants, working in either community or inpatient settings, and from a range of professional disciplines, were included. For inpatient staff, a significant challenge was infection control. In the community, staff identified a lack of access to physical and social care as well as reduced contact with friends and families as being challenges for patients. Remote working was seen as a positive innovation along with Covid-19 related guidance from various sources and peer support.ConclusionOur study, with a focus on staff and patient well-being, helps to inform service development for future waves of the pandemic. We discuss measures to improve infection control in inpatient settings, the role of voluntary organisations in supporting socially isolated community patients, the need for better integration of physical and mental health services at an organisational level, and the importance of training staff to support patients and their families with end of life planning.

scholarly journals Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2093
Author(s):  
Tina Vilovic ◽  
Josko Bozic ◽  
Marino Vilovic ◽  
Doris Rusic ◽  
Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

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