A Dialogue About the U.S. Dialogue on Mental Health: Exploring the Nature, Scope, and Implications of the Conversation

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Z. Hess ◽  
Anna Decker ◽  
Jeffrey R. Lacasse ◽  
Mark Foster
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
The U.S

With all the emphasis on havingmoreconversation about mental health, remarkably little attention has been paid tohow exactlywe want to be having it. In what follows, we review five areas about which sharp differences currently exist: (a) Biology—how are physiological contributors to mental distress being framed? (b) Symptoms—how should we best work with distressing signs in the body? (c) Action steps—what needs to happen to improve mental health in the nation? (d) Barriers—what are the primary barriers that need to be overcome in improving public mental health? (e) Lifestyle—what role do lifestyle choices play in mental health? After illustrating the different positions being taken on each of these questions, we then consider the diverging implications for individuals and families facing these problems. We conclude with recommendations as to how the larger dialogue on mental health could become more inclusive and productive.

scholarly journals Medicated bodies: Mental distress, social media and affect

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Tucker ◽  
Lewis Goodings
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
The Body ◽  
Psychiatric Medication ◽  
Social Media Site ◽  
Health Social Media ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
The Impact

Social media are increasingly being recruited into care practices in mental health. This article analyses how a major new mental health social media site ( www.elefriends.org.uk ) is used when trying to manage the impact of psychiatric medication on the body. Drawing on Henri Bergson’s concept of affection, analysis shows that Elefriends is used at particular moments of reconfiguration (e.g. change in dosage and/or medication), periods of self-experimentation (when people tailor their regimen by altering prescriptions or ceasing medication) and when dealing with a present bodily concern (showing how members have a direct, immediate relationship with the site). In addition, the analysis illustrates how users have to structure their communication to try to avoid ‘triggering’ distress in others. The article concludes by pointing to the need to focus on the multiple emerging relationships between bodies and social media in mental health, due to the ways the latter are becoming increasingly prominent technologies through which to experience the body when distressed.

scholarly journals Psychotherapists Working in Private Practice During a Pandemic: A Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Christine Duquette ◽  
Stephanie Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Independent Practice ◽  
Private Practitioners ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Client Population ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The U.S

Psychotherapists in private practice provide services to an ever-growing client population. The 2020 novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic was a catalyst for emerging and exasperated mental health concerns among the U.S. population. The result was an increase in demand for services and private practitioners stepping up to meet this growing need. Little is known about the psychotherapists who embark on independent practice and less is known about the nuances of practicing during a global pandemic. The aim of this review was to exhaust the literature on private practice psychotherapy and the practice of psychotherapy during COVID-19, synthesize the findings, report on themes in the literature, and provide recommendations for future lines of inquiry. Themes from this review included the impact of COVID-19 on public mental health, telemental health, private practice shifts, and private practice careers.

scholarly journals Unge jenters oppfatning av hvordan stress påvirker kroppen deres

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kjersti Steffenak ◽  
Mette Hjellestad Hauge ◽  
Else Berit Steinseth
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
The Body ◽  
Health Complaints ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Stress Influences ◽  
Selection Of

Målet med denne studien er å undersøke hvilke oppfatninger unge jenter har av hvordan stress påvirker kroppene deres. Blant jenter har det vært en økning av psykiske helseplager. De rapporterer mer stress og fysiske helseplager enn gutter. Studien er kvalitativ med en fenomenografisk tilnærming. Det ble gjennomført 23 individuelle intervjuer av jenter mellom 15 og 18 år. Utvalget var strategisk valgt. Stress, når det gjelder eksterne og interne krav, påvirker jentenes kropper og uttrykkes som smerte, ubehag og misnøye med kroppen. Jentene ignorerer eller merker ikke kroppssignalene. De forsømmer egen kropp og dens behov. Gjentatte vaner kan føre til ytterligere stress og ubehag som kan føre til psykisk lidelse. Young girls' conceptions of how stress influences their bodies Abstract The aim of this study is to describe young girls' conceptions of how stress can influence their bodies. There has been an increase in mental health complaints, especially among girls. They report more stress and physical health complaints than boys. The study is qualitative with a phenomenographic approach. Individual interviews were conducted with a strategic selection of 23 informants between 15 and 18 years. Stress, in terms of external and internal requirements, influence the girls` bodies and are expressed as pain, discomfort and dissatisfaction with their bodies. The girls ignore or do not notice body signals. They neglect their own body and what the body needs. Repeating habits can lead to further stress and discomfort, and this may eventually lead to mental distress.

scholarly journals Common Mental Disorders and Economic Uncertainty: Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260726
Author(s):  
Wing Wah Tham ◽  
Elvira Sojli ◽  
Richard Bryant ◽  
Michael McAleer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Common Mental Disorders ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
Financial Uncertainty ◽  
The U.S

Mental health disorders represent an enormous cost to society, are related to economic outcomes, and have increased markedly since the COVID-19 outbreak. Economic activity contracted dramatically on a global scale in 2020, representing the worst crisis since the Great Depression. This study used the COVID Impact Survey to provide insights on the interactions of mental illness and economic uncertainty during COVID-19. We used a probability-based panel survey, COVID Impact Survey, conducted in the U.S. over three waves in the period April-June 2020. The survey covered individual information on employment, economic and financial uncertainty, mental and physical health, as well as other demographic information. The prevalence of moderate mental distress was measured using a Psychological Distress Scale, a 5-item scale that is scored on a 4-point scale (total range: 0–15). The mental distress effect of employment, economic, and financial uncertainty, was assessed in a logit regression analysis conditioning for demographic and health information. It is found that employment, health coverage, social security, and food provision uncertainty are additional stressors for mental health. These economic factors work in addition to demographic effects, where groups who display increased risk for psychological distress include: women, Hispanics, and those in poor physical health. A decrease in employment and increases in economic uncertainty are associated with a doubling of common mental disorders. The population-representative survey evidence presented strongly suggests that economic policies which support employment (e.g., job keeping, job search support, stimulus spending) provide not only economic security but also constitute a major health intervention. Moving forward, the economic uncertainty effect ought to be reflected in community level intervention and prevention efforts, which should include strengthening economic support to reduce financial and economic strain.

scholarly journals Religiosity, Spirituality, and Mental Health in Portugal: A call for a conceptualisation, relationship, and guidelines for integration (a theoretical review)

Psicologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaclin Freire ◽  
Carla Moleiro
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Research Society ◽  
The Body ◽  
Mental Health Field ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Religiosity And Spirituality ◽  
Health Field

In the Portuguese research society, particularly in the mental health field, little has been done regarding religiosity, spirituality and mental health. Thus, this paper strives to stimulate the interest in this area by providing an overview of the body of research on religiosity, spirituality and mental health, highlighting the role and importance these dimensions represent in the life of many people, whether in health or mental distress and illness. A brief review of the conceptualisation of religion (religiosity) and spirituality is provided, as well as some areas of disagreement and contention. Guidelines for the integration and professional training are also included, not discarding the ethical considerations inherent in this process. Finally, reflections are offered as to why bringing religiosity and spirituality into mental health field is important, as well as some implications for clinical practice, with particular focus on Portuguese mental health system.

scholarly journals Psychological Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic Distancing Precautions in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Barcellos Serralta ◽  
Murilo Ricardo Zibetti ◽  
Chris Evans
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Consensual Qualitative Research ◽  
Medium Effects ◽  
Work Health ◽  
Areas Of Concern ◽  
Open Question

Mass crises are disruptive to people's mental health. The study aimed to explore mental distress during COVID-19 quarantine in a sample of university workers in Brazil. The survey included sets of questions about demographics, health, and support, an open question about major concerns, and the Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation (CORE-OM), a measure of mental distress. 407 professionals participated in the study: mean age of 40 years (SD = 11.2), mostly female (67.8%), married (64.8%) and fulfilling social distancing to avoid COVID-19 infection (99%). Using the Consensual Qualitative Research for simple qualitative data (CQR-M) the main areas of concern were grouped into six domains, as follows: Work, Health, Isolation, Personal life and routine, Social environment, and Future. Many responses were multiple. They form categories indicating specific concerns within these domains. Quantitative data were analyzed by identifying the simple effects of potential predictors of mental distress. The results indicated medium effects of help with household chores, psychiatric treatment, age and physical exercise. Having someone available to listen was the only variable with a large effect in reducing mental suffering. The hybrid approach showed that the psychological experience during the pandemic is quite multifaceted and complex pointing new clues for public mental health.

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