scholarly journals The Life Experiences of Community Older Adults With Mental Illness in Taiwan: A Qualitative Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Su-Jung Liao ◽  
Jiin-Ru Rong ◽  
Tse-Tsung Liu ◽  
Hsiao-Ju Sun

Aims: The risk of mental illness and mental health problems is known to increase with aging, there is a continuing need for research and information about the daily life and care needs of elderly people with mental illness. The aim of this study was to examine the real-life experience of elderly outpatients with mental illnesses in Taiwan communities through in-depth interviews.Methods: A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews of mentally ill elderly patients was conducted in 15 participants (3 men and 12 women, mean age = 74.67 years, SD = 10.04 years).Results: The willpower to survive and cope with aging and mental health problems was identified as the core category of the life experiences in the older adults in this study. The struggle with the stress of aging and mental health problems was categorized in life-experience terms as ‘bear the bitterness of life,’ ‘adhere to psychiatric treatment and use resources to cope with life’s stress,’ ‘maintain the willpower to survive’. Results of this study shown that although elderly patients in community have had many stressful life experiences and problems with mental illness, they will continue to show strength to coping with the problems of aging and mental illnesses.Conclusions: The elderly mental illness patients could coping with their problems, and maintain an active lifestyle, accept the reality and arrange life, and connect with the community. Therefore, health professionals should help elderly people find new strategies to maintain their mental health and to function in their communities.

Author(s):  
Maria Aslam ◽  
Farwa Murtaza ◽  
Sana Murtaza ◽  
Natasha Azhar ◽  
Nasir Abbas ◽  
...  

Abstract:Identification of elderly people dietary practices is the first step towards encouraging healthy diet in them. Proper diet, special care and supplementation are very necessary for effective physical or mental survival of older people with the age of 60-95 years.Objective:To find out the association of dietary practices with mental health problems among geriatrics. Methods:A Cross-sectional Study was operated to assess the dietary practices through pretested Questionnaire (MNA) on the basis of 24 hours’ recall method among Older Adults. The study duration was 4 months and the technique was Non probability convenient sampling.The sample size was 290 older people out of which 48% were males and 52% were females aged between 60-95 years residing in different Old Age Homes of Lahore. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 21.0. The qualitative variables were reported using percentages and frequencies. Chi-square test was applied and p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results:The results revealed that out of 290 respondents; 81(30%) of them were skipping breakfast, 133 (46%) were skipping lunch, 31(11%) were skipping dinner. There were 115(40%) geriatrics which were suffering from depression, 101(35%) were suffering from dementia, 29(10%) were suffering from Insomnia, 45(15%) had Dizziness/Irritability. Only 35(12%) older adults who were taking Supplements. On daily basis, 198(68%) of elderly people were incorporating Chapatti/rice into their diet as the best source of energy, 61(21%) respondents were preferring Milk/yogurt, 22(8%) of older people were consuming fruit juices and salad, 8(3%) of older people were those whose daily food was Soup/porridge. Conclusions:The study concluded that most of the older adults were skipping their meals on daily basis and were suffering from depression, dementia, Insomnia, Dizziness/Irritability. They were less focusing on supplements. The elderly people were mostly consuming Chapatti/rice on daily basis from all of the food groups, they were observed in stressful situations during the meal, when most of the people had reduced their food, there were some who stopped eating. In both males and females, a trend of sweet and salty cravings was mostly seen.


Pangeea ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 107-112
Author(s):  
Monica Bara ◽  

The topic "Integration in the community of elderly people with mental disabilities" is an important topic forsocial assistance because at present there are relatively few opportunities for integration or social reintegration of people with mental health problems. If mental illness is treated in specialized institutions - clinics, hospitals and psychiatric wards - where patients receive specialized treatment and counseling, the same cannot be said about the actions of integration or social reintegration of those mentally affected at discharge from these units


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-217
Author(s):  
Lieve Carette ◽  
Elisabeth De Schauwer ◽  
Geert Van Hove

Psychological wellbeing has received attention from academics and policymakers worldwide. Initiatives to improve psychoeducation, campaigns to raise awareness, and charity projects have been established as part of efforts to change public attitudes and behaviors toward mental health problems. The common goal of these initiatives is the prevention of mental health problems in order to reduce the global burden of mental health disease. Some target groups have benefited from such initiatives. However, little attention has been paid to side effects—including harm—of widespread knowledge sharing that is not accompanied by appropriate action. Young adults may be less afraid than older adults to disclose mental health illness and share their lived experiences of mental health. Like older adults, students try to protect their autonomy and privacy in disclosing mental health problems and associated diagnoses. However, many young adults view self-disclosure as a request for help. Confronted with rising demand to support students’ psychological well-being, many higher education providers have launched initiatives to improve students’ knowledge about mental illness. Instead of making assumptions about what students need to know in order to improve their overall psychological wellbeing, we asked ‘Mad students’ (that is, students who identify as mentally ill) about their knowledge construction and management of mental illness. Analyzing this process highlights that mental health promotion is more complicated than sharing appropriate information or applying effective strategies. Knowledge sharing has improved public knowledge of mental illness. However, mental health promotion that omits simple communication about expectations and needs around mental health, to co-produce a shared knowledge base, may lead to misunderstanding and failure in meeting the needs of target groups.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Bezborodovs ◽  
G. Thornicroft

SummaryWork plays an important part in everyday life. For people experiencing mental health problems employment may both provide a source of income, improved self-esteem and stability, and influence the course and outcomes of the disorder. Yet in many countries the work-place consistently surfaces as the context where people with mental health problems feel stigmatised and discriminated the most. This paper will review the existing evidence of stigma and discrimination in the workplace, consider the consequences of workplace stigma on the lives of people experiencing mental health problems, and discuss implications for further action.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Beate Muschalla ◽  
Clio Vollborn ◽  
Anke Sondhof

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Embitterment can occur as a reaction to perceived injustice. During the pandemic and restrictions in daily living due to infection risk management, a range of many smaller or severe injustices have occurred. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study is to investigate what characterizes persons with high embitterment, mental illness, embitterment and mental illness, and those without embitterment or mental health problems. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted an online survey including persons from the general population in November 2020 and December 2020, the phase during which a second lockdown took place, with closed shops, restaurants, cultural and activity sites. 3,208 participants (mean age 47 years) gave self-ratings on their present well-being, burdens experienced during the pandemic, embitterment, wisdom, and resilience. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Embitterment occurred among 16% of the sample, which is a high rate in comparison with 4% during pre-pandemic times. Embitterment was weakly correlated with unspecific mental well-being. There were more persons with embitterment than those with embitterment and a mental health problem. Persons with embitterment reported less coronavirus-related anxiety than persons without embitterment. However, embittered persons reported more social and economic burdens and more frequent experiences of losses (job loss and canceling of medical treatments). Embittered persons perceive their own wisdom competencies on a similar level as persons with mental health problems or persons without mental health problems. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Embitterment is a specific potentially alone-standing affective state, which is distinguishable from general mental health and coping capacities (here: wisdom). The economic and social consequences of pandemic management should be carefully recognized and prevented by policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Gellert ◽  
Sonia Lech ◽  
Eva-Marie Kessler ◽  
Wolfram Herrmann ◽  
Susanne Döpfmer ◽  
...  

Abstract Beackground Older adults with mental health problems may benefit from psychotherapy; however, their perceived need for treatment in relation to rates of non-utilization of outpatient psychotherapy as well as the predisposing, enabling, and need factors proposed by Andersen’s Model of Health Care Utilization that account for these differences warrant further investigation. Methods We used two separate cohorts (2014 and 2019) of a weighted nationwide telephone survey in Germany of German-speaking adults with N = 12,197 participants. Across the two cohorts, 12.9% (weighted) reported a perceived need for treatment for mental health problems and were selected for further analyses. Logistic Generalized Estimation Equations (GEE) was applied to model the associations between disposing (age, gender, single habiting, rural residency, general health status), enabling (education, general practitioner visit) non-utilization of psychotherapy (outcome) across cohorts in those with a need for treatment (need factor). Results In 2014, 11.8% of 6087 participants reported a perceived need for treatment due to mental health problems. In 2016, the prevalence increased significantly to 14.0% of 6110 participants. Of those who reported a perceived need for treatment, 36.4% in 2014 and 36.9%in 2019 did not see a psychotherapist – where rates of non-utilization of psychotherapy were vastly higher in the oldest age category (59.3/52.5%; 75+) than in the youngest (29.1/10.7%; aged 18–25). Concerning factors associated with non-utilization, multivariate findings indicated participation in the cohort of 2014 (OR 0.94), older age (55–64 OR 1.02, 65–74 OR 1.47, 75+ OR 4.76), male gender (OR 0.83), lower educational status (OR 0.84), rural residency (OR 1.38), single habiting (OR 1.37), and seeing a GP (OR 1.39) to be related with non-utilization of psychotherapy; general health status was not significantly associated with non-utilization when GP contact was included in the model. Conclusion There is a strong age effect in terms of non-utilization of outpatient psychotherapy. Individual characteristics of both healthcare professionals and patients and structural barriers may add to this picture. Effective strategies to increase psychotherapy rates in those older adults with unmet treatment needs are required.


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