scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitators to Identify and Discuss Depression and Anxiety in Visually Impaired Adults: A Qualitative Study on the Service User’s Perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edine P.J. van Munster ◽  
Hilde P.A. van der Aa ◽  
Peter Verstraten ◽  
Ruth M.A. van Nispen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Approach ◽  
Social Support Systems

Abstract Background. Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, but often unrecognized in adults with visual impairment (VI). The purpose of this study was to explore service users’ views on facilitators and barriers in identifying and discussing mental health problems in adults with VI. Methods. Semi-structured interviews, based on the Integrated Model for Change, were conducted with 16 service users from three Dutch low vision service organizations. Interview data was analyzed using the framework approach. Results. Prominent themes in service users’ cognitions and skills were their focus on VI, lack of health literacy, misattribution of symptoms and difficulties in acknowledging their VI and mental health problems. Informal and formal support were seen as facilitators. However, participants mentioned the need of improving healthcare providers’ knowledge, skills and attitude to increase the likelihood of detection and communication about depression and anxiety. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that, compared to barriers experienced in general population, adults with VI face additional barriers in identifying and discussing mental health problems, partly caused by their impairment and increased vulnerability. Healthcare providers and social support systems seem essential for them in reducing these barriers. However, there might be a mismatch between service users’ needs and healthcare providers’ knowledge, skills and attitude. Training healthcare providers may improve detection of depression and anxiety in adults with VI.

scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators to recognize and discuss depression and anxiety experienced by adults with vision impairment or blindness: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edine P. J. van Munster ◽  
Hilde P. A. van der Aa ◽  
Peter Verstraten ◽  
Ruth M. A. van Nispen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Visually Impaired ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent, but often unrecognized in adults with vision impairment (VI) or blindness. The purpose of this study was to explore visually impaired and blind adults’ views on facilitators and barriers in recognizing and discussing mental health problems. Methods Semi-structured interviews, based on the Integrated Model for Change, were conducted with 16 visually impaired or blind adults receiving support from three Dutch low vision service organizations. Interview data was analyzed using the framework approach. Results Participants perceived their focus on practical support with regard to their VI, lack of mental health literacy, and misattribution of symptoms of depression or anxiety as barriers for recognizing mental health problems. With regard to discussing mental health problems, they perceived difficulties in acknowledging their VI and mental health problems due to feelings of vulnerability and inequality. Participants mentioned that their social support system and healthcare providers (could) facilitate them in recognizing and discussing mental health problems. However, participants thought that healthcare providers currently often lacked the knowledge, skills and attitude to recognize and discuss this topic with their clients. Conclusion Our findings suggest that visually impaired and blind adults may experience several barriers to recognize, acknowledge and discuss mental health. Healthcare providers and social support systems seem essential for them in reducing these barriers. However, there might be a mismatch between the needs of visually impaired and blind adults and healthcare providers’ knowledge, skills and attitude. Training healthcare providers may improve detection of depression and anxiety in adults with VI or blindness, and enhance clinician-patient communication on mental health.

Changes in rehabilitation actors’ mental health literacy and support to employers: An evaluation of the SEAM intervention

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Annika Lexén ◽  
Maria Emmelin ◽  
Lars Hansson ◽  
Bengt Svensson ◽  
Susann Porter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Return To Work ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Rehabilitation Professionals ◽  
Knowledge And Beliefs ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Lack of mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and employers in the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems resulted in the development of a three-day group training program, the Support to Employers from rehabilitation Actors about Mental health (SEAM) intervention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of SEAM on rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge and beliefs, attitudes, and supporting behaviors towards people with mental health problems and employers as part of the return-to-work process. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 94 rehabilitation professionals were included. Data were collected prior to (T1), immediately after (T2) and 6 months after SEAM training (T3) using knowledge and attitude scales and a questionnaire on supporting behaviors. SEAM includes training in Mental Health First Aid, presentations and discussions on current research on work and mental health, and strategies and communication guidelines to use when meeting service users and employers as part of the return-to-work of persons with mental health problems. SEAM also includes a homepage with targeted employer information. Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistics. RESULTS: SEAM significantly increased rehabilitation professionals’ knowledge of mental health (T1-T2: z = –2.037, p = 0.042; T2-T3: z = –5.093, p = 0.001), and improved their attitudes towards persons with mental health problems (T1-T2: z = 4.984, p = 0.001). Professionals (50–60%) also estimated that they had increased their use of supporting strategies towards service users and employers. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that SEAM can increase mental health literacy among rehabilitation professionals and lead to a greater focus on service users’ resources and work ability, as well as on employers’ support needs.

scholarly journals Trajectory of Food Insecurity and Its Association with Longitudinal Mental Health and Sleep Outcomes in Adolescents from Economically Disadvantaged Families

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1696
Author(s):  
Ting-Hsuan Lee ◽  
Jen-Hao Kuo ◽  
Chia-Yi Liu ◽  
Yi-Fang Yu ◽  
Carol Strong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Economically Disadvantaged ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Estimating Equation ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Disadvantaged Families

Background: Adolescence is a critical transition period in the course of human development. Although food insecurity (FI) has been shown to be associated with adverse mental health and sleep outcomes in US adolescents, there is a paucity of research examining the relationships between FI, mental health, and sleep outcomes in Taiwanese adolescents. Furthermore, it is unknown how the change of FI over time (i.e., the trajectory of FI) is related to health outcomes. Methods: The data come from the Taiwan Database of Children and Youth in Poverty, which is a national longitudinal project measuring FI in five survey waves (2009–2017). We employed group-based trajectory modeling to classify various FI trends over the five waves using STATA. Furthermore, a generalized estimating equation analysis was conducted with FI trajectories as the independent variable to see how FI trajectory is related to mental health and sleep outcomes. Results: In total, 1921 participants aged 12–18 years in the first wave were deemed valid for the analysis. We classified the participants into four FI trajectory groups: persistently low FI (24.8%), persistently moderate FI (64.7%), declining from high to low FI (4.1%), and food-secure groups (6.4%). As compared to food-secure adolescents, the persistently moderate FI group was more likely to have mental problems (β = 0.30, [95% confidence interval 0.21–0.38]), while the other FI groups were only marginally associated with mental health problems. Moreover, adolescents in the persistently low FI group (β = 0.13, [0.02–0.23]) and persistently moderate FI group (β = 0.39, [0.29–0.48]) were found to have more sleep problems than those in the food-secure group. Conclusions: Our study describes the FI profile of adolescents from economically disadvantaged families and the difficulties they might encounter. With this information, healthcare providers can aid adolescents in the early stages of mental health problems and provide guidance when appropriate.

scholarly journals Trauma, Sleep and Mental Health Problems in Low-Income Young Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1145
Author(s):  
Rachel A. Fusco ◽  
Yan Yuan ◽  
Hyunji Lee ◽  
Christina E. Newhill
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
The Relationship

Low-income young adults are more likely to have exposure to trauma, which increases risk for mental health problems. Although adequate sleep promotes good health, people with histories of trauma are more likely to have sleep problems. The current study explored whether poor sleep mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and mental health. A sample of 143 low-income 18–24-year-old young adults completed depression, anxiety, and trauma exposure measures and wore sleep monitors for four nights. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine both direct and indirect effects of variables. Results showed that higher trauma exposure was associated with depression and anxiety. Mean sleep hours per night was fewer than six, far below recommended guidelines for optimal health and functioning. Fewer sleep hours partially mediated the relationship between both trauma exposure and depression and anxiety, and the direct effect from trauma remained significant after adjusting for the partial mediation from sleep.

scholarly journals Understanding Black and Minority Ethnic service user's experience of racism as part of the assessment, formulation and treatment of mental health problems in cognitive behaviour therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Beck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Behaviour Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Behaviour ◽  
Engagement Process ◽  
Minority Ethnic

AbstractExperiences of racism can be a cumulative risk factor for developing mental health problems. Cognitive Behaviour Therapists working with Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) service users should be confident in their ability to establish the necessary rapport to ask about these experiences and be able to incorporate this information into longitudinal formulations and as part of maintenance cycles. This paper sets out guidelines as to how to do this as part of a wider engagement process.

scholarly journals Investigating differential effects of socio-emotional and mindfulness-based online interventions on mental health, resilience and social capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic: The study protocol

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0256323
Author(s):  
Malvika Godara ◽  
Sarita Silveira ◽  
Hannah Matthäus ◽  
Christine Heim ◽  
Manuel Voelkle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Future Application ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Online Interventions ◽  
Epigenetic Markers ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Link Type

Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to a mental health crisis on a global scale. Epidemiological studies have reported a drastic increase in mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, increased loneliness and feelings of disconnectedness from others, while resilience levels have been negatively affected, indicating an urgent need for intervention. The current study is embedded within the larger CovSocial project which sought to evaluate longitudinal changes in vulnerability, resilience and social cohesion during the pandemic. The current second phase will investigate the efficacy of brief online mental training interventions in reducing mental health problems, and enhancing psychological resilience and social capacities. It further provides a unique opportunity for the prediction of intervention effects by individual biopsychosocial characteristics and preceding longitudinal change patterns during the pandemic in 2020/21. Methods We will examine the differential effects of a socio-emotional (including ‘Affect Dyad’) and a mindfulness-based (including ‘Breathing Meditation’) intervention, delivered through a web- and cellphone application. Participants will undergo 10 weeks of intervention, and will be compared to a retest control group. The effectiveness of the interventions will be evaluated in a community sample (N = 300), which is recruited from the original longitudinal CovSocial sample. The pre- to post-intervention changes, potential underlying mechanisms, and prediction thereof, will be assessed on a wide range of outcomes: levels of stress, loneliness, depression and anxiety, resilience, prosocial behavior, empathy, compassion, and the impact on neuroendocrine, immunological and epigenetic markers. The multi-method nature of the study will incorporate self-report questionnaires, behavioral tasks, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approaches, and biological, hormonal and epigenetic markers assessed in saliva. Discussion Results will reveal the differential effectiveness of two brief online interventions in improving mental health outcomes, as well as enhancing social capacities and resilience. The present study will serve as a first step for future application of scalable, low-cost interventions at a broader level to reduce stress and loneliness, improve mental health and build resilience and social capacities in the face of global stressors. Trial registration This trial has been registered on May 17, 2020 with the ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04889508 registration number (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04889508).

Misconceptions about Veterans and Health

Pained ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
Michael D. Stein ◽  
Sandro Galea
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Veterans Health ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Physical Health Problems ◽  
The Military

This chapter studies the health of veterans and the military. Since the first Gulf War in 1990, veterans have had worse mortality than the general population. Aside from mortality, mental health problems are a particular concern. More soldiers kill themselves than are killed on the battlefield. Beyond suicide, key mental health concerns among veterans include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Itself disruptive, PTSD foreshadows increased risks of physical health problems, substance use/misuse, homelessness, and violence. Less studied, but equally important, are high rates of depression and anxiety among veterans. Rates of chronic pain and physical disability are also high. These challenges make the Veterans Health Administration’s unique expertise in mental health care provision and rehabilitation services all the more crucial. For these reasons, moves to privatize veterans’ health care and narrow access to these services do veterans a disservice, shortchanging a fundamental social contract. The health of soldiers is the public’s health.

Safe but isolated – an interview study with Iraqi refugees in Sweden about social networks, social support, and mental health

2020 ◽  
pp. 002076402095425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Sundvall ◽  
David Titelman ◽  
Valerie DeMarinis ◽  
Liubov Borisova ◽  
Önver Çetrez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Iraqi Refugees ◽  
Structured Interviews

Background: Problems with social networks and social support are known to be associated with mental ill-health in refugees. Social support after migration promotes resilience. Aim: To study how Iraqi refugees who arrived in Sweden after the year 2000 perceived their social networks and social support, and to relate the observed network characteristics and changes to the refugees’ mental health and well-being. Method: Semi-structured interviews with 31 refugees, including questions on background and migration experiences, a biographical network map, and three health assessment scales. The findings were analysed with descriptive statistics and content thematic analysis. Results: The respondents’ networks were diminished. Social support was continued to be provided mainly by family members and supplemented by support from authorities. The main themes of the refugee experience of post-migration challenges were weakened social networks, barriers to integration and challenges to cultural and religious belonging. Failed reunion and worrying about relatives was described as particularly painful. Negative contacts with authority persons were often seen as humiliating or discriminating. Acquiring a new cultural belonging was described as challenging. At the same time, changing family and gender roles made it more difficult to preserve and develop the culture of origin. Traumatic experiences and mental health problems were common in this group. Family issues were more often than integration difficulties associated with mental health problems. Conclusion: In order to strengthen post-migration well-being and adaptation, authorities should support the refugees’ social networks. Clinicians need to address post-migration problems and challenges, including the meaning and function of social networks.

scholarly journals Involving carers and service users in the training of psychiatrists

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 270-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gráinne Fadden ◽  
Mike Shooter ◽  
Gareth Holsgrove
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Training Schemes ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
To Receive

In June 2005 it became mandatory for psychiatric trainees to receive training directly from people who experience mental health problems and their carers. This will be checked on approval visits to all training schemes, and accreditation may be withheld until this aspect of training is in place. For many of those who are responsible for training, this may be a new undertaking. We outline some of the issues that trainers need to consider when involving service users and carers in their training programmes, including background issues, how to prepare both those delivering and those receiving training, and logistical considerations. It is hoped that this paper will alert trainers to issues that need to be considered if such training is to be successful.

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