scholarly journals The Religious Schizophrenic: Why Spirituality is Crucial for Recovery

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-188
Author(s):  
Emily Sweet
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Religious Institutions ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Diverse World ◽  
Mental Wellness

Up to 80% of schizophrenic patients use religion to cope with their illness. These positive spiritual coping strategies are the primary predictor of mental wellness in patients with schizophrenia. Yet, most medical professionals have no religious training and are often ill-equipped to guide their schizophrenic patients in spiritual matters. Typically, religious institutions and modern medicine are not associated together, but what happens when mental health professionals lack the training to assist 80% of their schizophrenic patients who use religion as a coping strategy? Schizophrenic patients whose beliefs are not respected have a higher rate of suicide, face increased stigma and report a lower overall quality of life. Such patients are more likely to decline mentally and drop out of treatment. Some scholars, psychologists and philosophers are now arguing that ignoring the connection between religion and mental wellness is unethical because practitioners are failing to take patient diversity into account. This paper will attempt to answer the following questions: In an increasingly diverse world, is it the responsibility of mental health professionals to learn about their patients’ religious beliefs, especially when their beliefs are so closely intertwined with their chances at successfully managing their illness, such as the case with schizophrenics? Why is it a good idea to consider combining religion and healthcare? Should the increase in diverse patients require additional training for mental health professionals? Is it unethical for a mental health care professional to be ignorant of diverse cultures and religions? What are the dangers of allowing medical professionals, who largely have no training in religious affairs, to guide mentally ill patients? What are the potential solutions for this problem? Which solutions are more effective and why? Are the current practiced healthcare models, which combine medicine and religion, effective? Keywords: schizophrenia, religion, treatment, therapy, psychosis, stigma

scholarly journals Telepsychiatry Netiquette: Connect, Communicate and Consult

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 22S-26S
Author(s):  
Mohan Sunil Kumar ◽  
Sharmitha Krishnamurthy ◽  
Nitya Dhruve ◽  
Bettahalasoor Somashekar ◽  
Mahesh R Gowda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Formal System ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Ease Of Access ◽  
Third Dimension ◽  
Professional Guidelines

Globally, telepsychiatry has been around since the 1950s. It is in the COVID era that it has gained the relevance and much-needed momentum amongst mental health care professionals. Given the restrictions imposed by the global lockdown owing to the fear of contracting the virus, the ease of access and safety offered by telepsychiatry makes it both appealing and “the new normal.” Despite some hesitation from mental health professionals, there is adequate research to support the role of telehealth services in the management of various mental health disorders. As with any formal system, the practice of telepsychiatry is regulated by professional guidelines to show the way forward to both health provider and seeker. The manuscript examines the ways telepsychiatry is redefining our virtual conduct. It emphasizes the evolving “netiquette” needed to navigate online consultations. It also elucidates the challenges faced by health professionals, and possible ways of maneuvering and circumventing the same. Telepsychiatry, a dynamic process which is interactive and personalized, adds a third dimension to the practice of modern medicine. It is here to stay. So, it is not a question of “if” instead “how soon” we can adapt to and get conversant with this revolutionary mode of connection, communication, and consultation, which will make all the difference.

Investigating the Ways By Which a Global Entertainment Program Impacts the Mental Wellness of Adolescent Viewers: A Randomized Controlled Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yalda Tehranian-Uhls ◽  
Laurel Felt ◽  
Ellen Wartella ◽  
Andrew Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
School Counselors ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
Heterosexual Youth

BACKGROUND A conflicting corpus suggests that more research is needed to understand how globally watched television shows like 13 Reasons Why could affect the majority and minority of adolescent viewers. OBJECTIVE The current study was designed to investigate adolescents’ viewership of and show-related content engagement with 13RW, Season 3 (13RW-3), paying special attention to mental health outcomes and conversational partners. METHODS AmeriSpeak, a panel-based research platform operated by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, recruited 157 adolescents aged 13 to 17 from its nationally representative pool of participants. After participants completed a survey, they were directed to either watch 13RW-3 as it aired for the first time (intervention group) or NOT to watch 13RW-3 (control group). Approximately one month later, all participants were asked to complete a second survey. RESULTS We found a significant main effect with respect to increased conversations about social and mental health issues that appeared on the show (t(151)=-2.191, P=0.03). From pre- to post-test, the intervention group spoke more frequently about these issues (M=1.28) than the control group (M=.28). In the intervention group only, when asked with whom they discussed 13RW-3 and issues related to the show, friends were the most commonly cited conversational partner, selected by 68.3% of the respondents, followed by parents (50.8%). Viewers also reported significantly higher rates of depression from T1 to T2 (P=0.001, F(1, 66.715)=12.678, B=-0.292, SE=0.082). Depressed youth spoke significantly more to parents (F(3)=3.287, 0=.027), school counselors (F(8)=3.707, p=.002) and mental health professionals than viewers who reported less depression (F(8)=6.536, p<.001). Finally, approximately one-third of viewers sought additional information about bullying and mental health after watching the show. CONCLUSIONS Conversation was the most definitive outcome of watching this show, and we saw that youth are most likely to talk to friends but parents do not trail very far behind. We also discovered that viewers who may have been viscerally impacted by the content reached out for help in unique and powerful ways. Depressed youth spoke to parents and mental health professionals more. Non-heterosexual youth spoke to school counselors, sought information about sexuality, and watched the documentary Beyond the Reasons more. The potential wellness implications are considerable since conversation -- especially story-driven conversation -- can raise awareness, reduce stigma, shift attitudes, normalize/valorize certain behaviors, and strengthen supportive relationships.

scholarly journals Attitudinal Barriers Hindering Adoption of Telepsychiatry among Mental Healthcare Professionals: Israel as a Case-Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12540
Author(s):  
Tamir Magal ◽  
Maya Negev ◽  
Hanoch Kaphzan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Organizational Affiliation

Despite proven advantages for the use of telemedicine in psychiatry, mental healthcare professionals have shown deep-seated mistrust and suspicion of telepsychiatry, which hinders its widespread application. The current study examines the attitudes of Israeli mental health professionals towards telepsychiatry and seeks to uncover the effects of experience and organizational affiliation on its adoption. The methodology included qualitative and thematic analysis of 27 in-depth interviews with Israeli mental health professionals, focusing on three major themes—clinical quality, economic efficiency, and the effects on the work–life balance of healthcare professionals. The attitudes of mental health professionals were found to be widely divergent and sharply dichotomized regarding different aspects of telepsychiatry and its suitability for mental healthcare services. However, there was a general consensus that telemedicine may not fulfil its promise of being a panacea to the problems of modern public medicine. In addition, attitudes were related to hierarchical position, organizational affiliation, and personal experience with telepsychiatry. Specifically, organizational affiliation influenced experience with and support for the assimilation of telepsychiatry. The study also revealed the role of organizational leadership and culture in promoting or inhibiting the proliferation and adoption of innovative technologies and services in modern medicine.

scholarly journals Compassion Fatigue Among Family Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Ratchaneekorn Upasen ◽  
◽  
Weeraphol Saengpanya ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Compassion Fatigue ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Nurses ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Depth Interviews

Caring for schizophrenic patients can cause long-term family caregivers to experience suffering and compassion fatigue (CF). However, the manifestations of CF among family caregivers of schizophrenic patients are unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore manifestations of CF among family caregivers of schizophrenic patients. In this study, grounded theory was used, and purposive and theoretical sampling was employed to recruit participants. Data were collected from 29 family caregivers through in-depth interviews and field notes. Constant and comparative methods were used to analyze data. The study revealed that participants had experienced several manifestations of CF, including stress, physical and mental exhaustion, disheartenment, anxiety and uncertainty, difficulty sleeping, a feeling of endless hard work, and a strong bonding with the patient. Compassion fatigue among family caregivers is a major concern impacting their ability to care for and aid schizophrenic patients. These findings can alert mental health professionals, including mental health nurses, to improve awareness and understanding of CF experienced by family caregivers. Mental health professionals can use these findings to develop plans to assist family caregivers of schizophrenic patients in alleviating manifestations of CF among these caregivers.

scholarly journals Clergy as a frontline mental health service: a UK survey of medical practitioners and clergy

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. e100229
Author(s):  
William Heseltine-Carp ◽  
Mathew Hoskins
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Disorders ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Collaborative Relationship ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Health Disorders

BackgroundChristian clergy have often been identified as ‘frontline mental health workers’ and gatekeepers to mental health services. However, despite this, collaboration between clergy and mental health services remains poor, with some US clergy referring on as little as 10% of cases.AimsIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the collaborative relationship between UK clergy and medical practitioners, with the purpose of identifying key issues that should be addressed to improve such collaboration between the two services.MethodsWe surveyed 124 clergy, 48 general practitioners and 13 psychiatrists in Wales. Part 1 of the survey covered four main themes: demographics; types of mental health cases seen by clergy and practitioners; referral rates between clergy and mental health services; attitude and relationship between clergy and mental health services. Part 2 was directed at clergy only and assessed how sensitive clergy were in identifying and referring on mental health disorders by using seven virtual case vignettes.ResultsClergy frequently encountered mental health cases and around 60%–80% regularly referred on to a healthcare professional. Clergy appeared very effective at identifying and referring on high risk scenarios, such as psychosis, suicidal ideation and substance misuse, however were less effective at identifying and referring on clinical depression and anxiety. Clergy rarely received referrals from medical professionals. Both medical professionals and clergy felt they needed to engage in a more collaborative relationship, and around of one-third of practitioners were prepared to offer training to clergy.ConclusionMost clergy in Wales regularly encounter mental health cases and appear effective at recognising and referring on mental health disorders; however, a large minority do not (20%–40%). Clergy generally do not receive referrals from mental health professionals, despite the proven benefits. Therefore, improving collaboration, developing spiritual training for mental health professionals, and mental health training for clergy is likely useful, a notion that many clergy and medical professionals deem important and are prepared to support.

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