scholarly journals The Place of Psychiatric Rehabilitation in New Zealand Communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stephen James Geuze

<p>Supported Residential Care Facilities (SRCF's) play a distinctive role in the integration of mental health consumers within host communities. Despite the vast quantity of research on the sociological impacts of discrimination against mental health consumers, such as societal and self stigmatisation, little to no research is conducted on the effects that the built environment have upon mental health consumers in SRCF's in New Zealand post deinstitutionalisation. This study examines the 23 existing SRCF's within the Wellington region, examining their socioeconomic context, city planning context, physical environment context and the built typology of these facilities. Each of these research subjects are examined to identify and understand the implications they have on the integration of mental health consumers within their host communities at three scales; host community, location and facility design. The findings and insight drawn from sociological literature and empirical research are summarised within the design guideline and tested through a design based case study. The conclusions of this research can be summarised as follows:  1. It is desirable for host communities to be socioeconomically diverse with an appropriate level of public and mental health amenities 2. It is advantageous for SRCF's to be located within the 'inner edge context,' promoting a diverse urban context, socioeconomic context, diverse planning context and safe pedestrian access to public amenities. 3.The facility design of SRCF's should promote a 'recovery oriented practice,' achieved partially through context specific 'integration programs'. The majority of SRCF's within the research sample are located within residential suburbs. This research identifies that SRCF's and facilities alike must be located within the 'inner edge context'. The findings are of particular usefulness to Wellington's SRCF's yet are also helpful in understanding and improving the built environment of SRCF's within New Zealand communities.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Stephen James Geuze

<p>Supported Residential Care Facilities (SRCF's) play a distinctive role in the integration of mental health consumers within host communities. Despite the vast quantity of research on the sociological impacts of discrimination against mental health consumers, such as societal and self stigmatisation, little to no research is conducted on the effects that the built environment have upon mental health consumers in SRCF's in New Zealand post deinstitutionalisation. This study examines the 23 existing SRCF's within the Wellington region, examining their socioeconomic context, city planning context, physical environment context and the built typology of these facilities. Each of these research subjects are examined to identify and understand the implications they have on the integration of mental health consumers within their host communities at three scales; host community, location and facility design. The findings and insight drawn from sociological literature and empirical research are summarised within the design guideline and tested through a design based case study. The conclusions of this research can be summarised as follows:  1. It is desirable for host communities to be socioeconomically diverse with an appropriate level of public and mental health amenities 2. It is advantageous for SRCF's to be located within the 'inner edge context,' promoting a diverse urban context, socioeconomic context, diverse planning context and safe pedestrian access to public amenities. 3.The facility design of SRCF's should promote a 'recovery oriented practice,' achieved partially through context specific 'integration programs'. The majority of SRCF's within the research sample are located within residential suburbs. This research identifies that SRCF's and facilities alike must be located within the 'inner edge context'. The findings are of particular usefulness to Wellington's SRCF's yet are also helpful in understanding and improving the built environment of SRCF's within New Zealand communities.</p>


Author(s):  
Julia L. Hennessy ◽  
Liz Smythe ◽  
Max Abbott ◽  
Frances A. Hughes

This chapter provides the background for policy setting, educational preparation, and emergence of mental health support workers (MHSWs) in New Zealand and examines the work they do in mental health services. New Zealand formally introduced the MHSW role in the early 1990's to provide non-clinical services for mental health consumers or clients through either hospital or community-based services. The work MHSWs undertake and their relationship with other health professionals is discussed. Also discussed, is the relationship that MHSWs have with mental health consumers/clients and the attributes that the MHSW brings to the relationship. Consideration is given to the debate as to whether the role of the MHSW should be regulated, what it means to be considered a health professional, and the possibilities of expanding the scope of practice for MHSWs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Happell ◽  
Robert Stanton ◽  
David Scott

Background Comorbid chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and type 2 diabetes are common among people with serious mental illness. Management of comorbid illness in the mental health setting is sometimes ad hoc and poorly delivered. Use of a cardiometabolic health nurse (CHN) is proposed as one strategy to improve the delivery of physical health care to this vulnerable population. Objective To report the CHN's utilization of primary care and allied health referrals from a trial carried out in a regional community mental health service. Design Feasibility study. Mental health consumers were referred by their case manager or mental health nurse to the CHN. The CHN coordinated the physical health care of community-based mental health consumers by identifying the need for, and providing referrals to, additional services, including primary care, allied health, and community-based services. Results Sixty-two percent of participants referred to the CHN received referrals for primary care, allied health, and community-based services. Almost all referrals received follow-up by the CHN. Referrals were most commonly directed to a general practitioner and for nurse-delivered services. Conclusion The CHN role shows promise in coordinating the physical health of community-based mental health consumers. More studies on role integration and development of specific outcome measurement tools are needed.


1993 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 675-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline L. Kaufmann ◽  
Carol Ward-Colasante ◽  
John Farmer

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