scholarly journals Family Separation and the Impact of Digital Technology on the Mental Health of Refugee Families in the United States: Qualitative Study

10.2196/14171 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. e14171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah ◽  
Julia Meredith Hess ◽  
Jessica R Goodkind
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Family Separation ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundConflicts around the world have resulted in a record high number of refugees. Family separation is a critical factor that impacts refugee mental health. Thus, it is important to explore refugees’ ability to maintain contact with family members across the globe and the ways in which they attempt to do so. It is increasingly common for refugees to use information and communication technologies (ICTs), which include mobile phones, the internet, and social media sites, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber, for these purposes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore refugees’ perceptions of the impact of communication through ICTs on their mental health, the exercise of agency by refugees within the context of ICT use, especially their communication with their families, and logistical issues that affect their access to ICTs in the United States.MethodsWe used a constructivist grounded theory approach to analyze in-depth interviews of 290 adult refugee participants from different countries, who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a community-based mental health intervention.ResultsAnalyses showed that communication through ICTs had differing impacts on the mental health of refugee participants. ICTs, as channels of communication between separated families, were a major source of emotional and mental well-being for a large number of refugee participants. However, for some participants, the communication process with separated family members through digital technology was mentally and emotionally difficult. The participants also discussed ways in which they hide adversities from their families through selective use of different ICTs. Several participants noted logistical and financial barriers to communicating with their families through ICTs.ConclusionsThese findings are important in elucidating aspects of refugee agency and environmental constraints that need to be further explicated in theories related to ICT use as well as in providing insight for researchers and practitioners involved in efforts related to migration and mental health.

scholarly journals Family Separation and the Impact of Digital Technology on the Mental Health of Refugee Families in the United States: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayyed Fawad Ali Shah ◽  
Julia Meredith Hess ◽  
Jessica R Goodkind
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Family Separation ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Conflicts around the world have resulted in a record high number of refugees. Family separation is a critical factor that impacts refugee mental health. Thus, it is important to explore refugees’ ability to maintain contact with family members across the globe and the ways in which they attempt to do so. It is increasingly common for refugees to use information and communication technologies (ICTs), which include mobile phones, the internet, and social media sites, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber, for these purposes. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore refugees’ perceptions of the impact of communication through ICTs on their mental health, the exercise of agency by refugees within the context of ICT use, especially their communication with their families, and logistical issues that affect their access to ICTs in the United States. METHODS We used a constructivist grounded theory approach to analyze in-depth interviews of 290 adult refugee participants from different countries, who were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of a community-based mental health intervention. RESULTS Analyses showed that communication through ICTs had differing impacts on the mental health of refugee participants. ICTs, as channels of communication between separated families, were a major source of emotional and mental well-being for a large number of refugee participants. However, for some participants, the communication process with separated family members through digital technology was mentally and emotionally difficult. The participants also discussed ways in which they hide adversities from their families through selective use of different ICTs. Several participants noted logistical and financial barriers to communicating with their families through ICTs. CONCLUSIONS These findings are important in elucidating aspects of refugee agency and environmental constraints that need to be further explicated in theories related to ICT use as well as in providing insight for researchers and practitioners involved in efforts related to migration and mental health.

scholarly journals “Here in the Bible Belt, It’s Predominantly Negative”: Sexual Identity Stigma in the American South, 50 Years After Stonewall

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Frey ◽  
William J. Hall ◽  
Jeremy T. Goldbach ◽  
Paul Lanier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Minority Stress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Health Disparities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
United States South ◽  
The Impact

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and pansexual (LGB+) individuals have disproportionate rates of mental illness. Minority stress and sexual identity stigma are posited as the primary social determinants of LGB+ mental health disparities. Discussions in the literature have questioned the impact of sexual identity stigma in a world increasingly accepting of sexual minorities. Additionally, the LGB+ population in the United States South is often overlooked in American research. This article details a qualitative study exploring experiences related to sexual identity stigma among adults who identify as LGB+ in the United States South. Semi-structured interviews with 16 individuals were analyzed using content analysis. Six thematic categories of stigma emerged from participants’ experiences: (a) navigating an LGB+ identity, (b) social acceptability of an LGB+ identity, (c) expectation of LGB+ stigma, (d) interpersonal discrimination and harassment, (e) structural stigma, and (f) relationship with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Findings suggest that sexual identity stigma remains a common experience among these Southern United States participants. Further, thematic categories and subcategories primarily aligned with extant theory with one exception: Intracommunity stigma, a form of stigma emanating from the LGBTQ community, emerged as a stigma type not currently accounted for in theoretical foundations underpinning mental health disparities in this population.

scholarly journals The Impact of Childhood Activity Limitations on Parental Health, Mental Health, and Workdays Lost in the United States

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 263-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney P. Witt ◽  
Carissa A. Gottlieb ◽  
John Hampton ◽  
Kristin Litzelman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Activity Limitations ◽  
Parental Health ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The Great Recession and Mental Health in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 900-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam K. Forbes ◽  
Robert F. Krueger
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
The United States ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
The Impact

The full scope of the impact of the Great Recession on individuals’ mental health has not been quantified to date. In this study we aimed to determine whether financial, job-related, and housing impacts experienced by individuals during the recession predicted changes in the occurrence of symptoms of depression, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, and problematic alcohol use or other substance use. Longitudinal survey data ( n = 2,530 to n = 3,293) from the national Midlife in the United States study that were collected before (2003–2004) and after (2012–2013) the Great Recession were analyzed. The population-level trend was toward improvements in mental health over time. However, for individuals, each recession impact experienced was associated with long-lasting and transdiagnostic declines in mental health. These relationships were stronger for some sociodemographic groups, which suggests the need for additional support for people who suffer marked losses during recessions and for those without a strong safety net.

scholarly journals What is the Relationship between Benefit Conditionality and Mental Health? Evidence from the United States on TANF Policies

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
OWEN DAVIS
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Single Mothers ◽  
Job Search ◽  
The United States ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Welfare To Work ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis article provides new evidence on the relationship between benefit conditionality and mental health. Using data on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families policies (TANF) – the main form of poverty relief in the United States – it explores whether the mental health of low-educated single mothers varies according to the stringency of conditionality requirements attached to receipt of benefit. Specifically, the article combines state-level data on sanctioning practices, work requirements and welfare-to-work spending with health data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and evaluates the impact of conditionality on mental health over a fifteen-year period (2000 to 2015). It finds that states that have harsher sanctions, stricter job search requirements and higher expenditure on welfare-to-work policies, have worse mental health among low-educated single mothers. There is also evidence that between-wave increases in the stringency of conditionality requirements are associated with deteriorations in mental health among the recipient population. It is suggested that these findings may reflect an overall effect of ‘intensive conditionality’, rather than of the individual variables per se. The article ends by considering the wider implications for policy and research.

scholarly journals Employer costs of mental health claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Coduti
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Emotional Disorders ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Claims ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Impact

Mental health (MH) and disability management (DM) businesses and DM professionals are proficient at addressing employee physical health, yet promoting employee MH is often ignored. Individuals claiming long-term disability (LTD), 85% identified MH conditions as their primary disability (Carls et al., 2012). Mental health LTD expenses are often higher due to longer recovery and challenges in return to work (Salkever, Goldman, Purushothaman, & Shinogle, 2000). Financial burdens of depression, anxiety, and emotional disorders are among the greatest of any disease condition in the workforce (Johnston et al., 2009). Globally, a fifth to a quarter of employees go to work everyday with a mental illness (Lorenzo-Romanella, 2011). Health care research has shown the impact of mental illness on work performance, however many employers and researchers are unaware of the value quality MH care has on employees and costs (Langlieb, & Kahn, 2005). The American Psychological Association (APA) identified five categories of workplace practices that promote psychological health in employees including: employee involvement; work-life balance; employee growth and development; health and safety; and employee recognition (APA, 2014). Organizational benefits of the five elements include: improved quality, performance and productivity; reduced absenteeism, presenteeism and turnover; fewer accidents and injuries; improved ability to attract and retain quality employees; improved customer service and satisfaction; and lower healthcare costs (APA, 2014). The presenters will discuss employer costs of MH claims and how psychologically healthy workplaces align with successful DM programs, decreasing MH claims and costs. Opportunities for future research include the United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on MH (Mechanic, 2012) through provisions that encourage employers to adopt health promotion programs (Goetzel et al., 2012) and opportunities for research including comparisons of multinational employers regarding MH costs in countries with single payer systems, and in those without (United States), (Tanner, 2013).

scholarly journals Depression: The Impact On Second Generation Indo-Caribbeans Living in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tricia Rampersad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Ideal

This study examined 17 second-generation Indo-Caribbeans living in the United States and explored the psychological issues of depression and its impact on this population. The goal was to identify themes that will emerge regarding the ramifications and experiences of second-generation Indo-Caribbeans (ICs). The socio-economic was $0 to 150,000. Participants identified as male or female. Their parents were born in the Caribbean. Eighty-seven percent of participants’ families remained nuclear through their adolescence until adulthood. Those who inhabited areas where the population was predominately comprised of the same ethnicity group (ICs) experienced less depression. Depression was prevalent with ICs who grew up in the suburbs or rural areas. Eighty-two percent of participants experienced independence by college or marriage. All participants denied living a life based on what the ideal description of an Asian is. However, all the participants’ lifestyle contradicts this description of an Asian. The effects depression has on second generation ICs were never completed. There is no data except of in this study. The results allow research and access to providers. This study provides psychoeducation, therapeutic modalities and history. Results will alleviate pain and permits discussion to mental health. This work can influence the suicidal rate, murder suicide and domestic violence that occurs in IC communities.

scholarly journals Cross cultural and global uses of a digital mental health app: results of focus groups with clinicians, patients and family members in India and the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Rodriguez-Villa ◽  
Abhijit R. Rozatkar ◽  
Mohit Kumar ◽  
Vikram Patel ◽  
Ameya Bondre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Specific Feedback

Abstract Background Despite significant advancements in healthcare technology, digital health solutions – especially those for serious mental illnesses – continue to fall short of their potential across both clinical practice and efficacy. The utility and impact of medicine, including digital medicine, hinges on relationships, trust, and engagement, particularly in the field of mental health. This paper details results from Phase 1 of a two-part study that seeks to engage people with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians in co-designing a digital mental health platform for use across different cultures and contexts in the United States and India. Methods Each site interviewed a mix of clinicians, patients, and their family members in focus groups (n = 20) of two to six participants. Open-ended questions and discussions inquired about their own smartphone use and, after a demonstration of the mindLAMP platform, specific feedback on the app's utility, design, and functionality. Results Our results based on thematic analysis indicate three common themes: increased use and interest in technology during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), concerns over how data are used and shared, and a desire for concurrent human interaction to support app engagement. Conclusion People with schizophrenia, their family members, and clinicians are open to integrating technology into treatment to better understand their condition and help inform treatment. However, app engagement is dependent on technology that is complementary – not substitutive – of therapeutic care from a clinician.

scholarly journals Current Practices of Suicide Risk Management Protocols in Research

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Vannoy ◽  
Ursula Whiteside ◽  
Jürgen Unützer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Background: Participant safety is an important concern in mental-health-oriented research. Investigators conducting studies in the United States that include potentially suicidal individuals are often required to develop written suicide risk management (SRM) protocols. But little is known about these protocols. It is possible that such protocols could serve as templates for suicide risk management in clinical settings. Aims: To elucidate common (best) practices from mental health intervention researchers. Methods: We conducted a systematic descriptive analysis of written SRM protocols. A convenience sample of studies funded by the United States’ National Institute of Mental Health in 2005 were scanned to discover projects in which investigators were likely to identify and take responsibility for suicide risk in their participant pool. Qualitative methodology was used to create a checklist of tasks perceived to be operationally significant for insuring the safety of suicidal participants. The checklist was applied to all protocols to determine the variability of patient safety tasks across protocols. Results: We identified 45 candidate studies, whereof 38 investigators were contacted, resulting in the review of 21 SRM protocols. Three main categories emerged: overview, entry/exit, and process. Overall, 19 specific tasks were identified. Task frequency varied from 7% to 95% across protocols. Conclusions: The SRM checklist provides a framework for comparing the content of SRM protocols. This checklist may assist in developing SRM protocols in a wide range of settings. Developing guidelines and standard methodologies is an important step to further development of suicide prevention strategies. More research is necessary to determine the impact of SRM protocols on participant safety.

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