scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic Mental Health Crisis Ahead

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Areen Omary
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Us ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The U.S

Acknowledging COVID-19 as being potentially fatal triggered mental health-related consequences. In the US, the pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of the mental healthcare system, especially in rural areas, inadequacies that result from lack of awareness and the severe mental health ramifications of COVID-19. Rural areas in the U.S. are particularly susceptible because mental-health resources are scant to start with, telehealth counseling relies on spotty Internet coverage, and COVID-19 has been slower to emerge outside urban centers.

scholarly journals Supporting people in mental health crisis in 21st-century Britain

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 231-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Molodynski ◽  
Stephen Puntis ◽  
Em Mcallister ◽  
Hannah Wheeler ◽  
Keith Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Current System ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Needs ◽  
Health Crisis

Recent years have seen a surge in interest in mental healthcare and some reduction in stigma. Partly as a result of this, alongside a growing population and higher levels of societal distress, many more people are presenting with mental health needs, often in crisis. Systems that date back to the beginning of the National Health Service still form the basis for much care, and the current system is complex, hard to navigate and often fails people. Law enforcement services are increasingly being drawn into providing mental healthcare in the community, which most believe is inappropriate. We propose that it is now time for a fundamental root and branch review of mental health emergency care, taking into account the views of patients and the international evidence base, to ‘reset’ the balance and commission services that are humane and responsive – services that are fit for the 21st century.

India is going partway to easing mental health crisis

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tertiary Healthcare ◽  
The Government ◽  
National Mental Health

Subject India's efforts to address a mental health crisis. Significance The Indian government is aiming to convert 150,000 primary health centres into health and wellness centres (HWCs) providing comprehensive care, including management of mental disorders. Its plans for secondary and tertiary healthcare include medical insurance for poorer families that will cover treatment of mental illness. According to a 2016 study conducted by India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), 150 million out of the country’s 1.3 billion people urgently need mental healthcare. Impacts Expanding mental healthcare infrastructure could lead to an overemphasis on a biomedical model of treatment for mental health disorders. The government will come under pressure to increase funding for mental health professionals as well as technological resources. Future budgets will be key indicators of the government’s commitment to its National Mental Health Programme.

scholarly journals Integrating mental health into primary care: the policy maker's perspective and experience in China

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Xin ◽  
Liu Jin ◽  
Ma Hong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Psychiatric Service ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Psychiatric Hospitals ◽  
Administration And Supervision ◽  
Set Up

In China, ‘community’ was an alien word. Many people used to live in dormitories (Danwei), to which they were assigned by government according to their work units. ‘Dormitory form’ community was closely linked to where people worked, and thus administration and supervision were simple, as was the provision of health services. In each Danwei, a clinic provided basic healthcare not only for its employees but also for the other residents of the dormitory. The old primary care service was based on this. In fact, the ‘golden age’ of community mental healthcare was at that time, when psychiatric hospitals extended their service to communities via the Danwei's clinics in the cities and via ‘barefoot doctors’ in the rural areas. Home beds, occupational therapy stations and shelter factories were set up in some cities and mobile mental health teams played important roles in the villages. Although this did not really represent the ‘integration’ of mental health into primary care, it was a good example of maximising the utilisation of the very limited mental health resources by stretching the psychiatric service, using administrative power, and mobilising family members (Shen et al, 1990; Zhang & Yan, 1990; Zhang, 1999).

Digital psychiatry: implications for patients and services

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
James P Pandarakalam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased burden on all medical services and healthcare professionals are applying new strategies to cope with the added demands. During the pandemic mental healthcare services in many parts of the world have been reorganised to incorporate modern technology and maintain efficient service delivery. Mental health professionals are playing a major role in alleviating the suffering resulting from this pandemic. A selective survey of the literature, including narrative reviews, was carried out to study the implications of digital psychiatry. Historically, epidemics have had a substantial effect on mental health and general health services. Telehealth appears to be the right solution to the present mental health crisis, but technology cannot substitute for human presence and proximity in mental health services, so the newer interventions have advantages and disadvantages. Remote methods of therapy are likely to continue to be used and proper assessment of these new ways of working in psychiatry is required. In the post-pandemic period, the challenge will be to combine digital and in-person therapies. Discussions about digital revolution in the field of psychiatry should be modified to digital evolution.

scholarly journals Predictors of Mental Health during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the US: role of economic concerns, health worries and social distancing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Kämpfen ◽  
Iliana V. Kohler ◽  
Alberto Ciancio ◽  
Wändi Bruine de Bruin ◽  
Jürgen Maurer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveTo assess mental health in the US adult population in the Covid-19 pandemic and explore the roles of economic concerns, health worries and social distancing in shaping mental health outcomes.MethodsWe analyze online survey data from the “Understanding America Study” (UAS) that is representative of the US adult population and covers the period of March 10-31st 2020 (sample size: 6436).ResultsAbout 29% (CI:27.4-.30.4%) of the US adult population reported some depression/anxiety symptoms osver the study period, with symptoms deteriorating over the month of March. Worsening mental health was most strongly associated with concerns about the economic consequences of the pandemic, while concerns about the potential impact of the virus on respondents’ own health and the practice of social distancing also predicted the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms, albeit less strongly.ConclusionsOur findings point towards a major mental health crisis unfolding simultaneously with the pandemic in the US. They also highlight the importance of economic countermeasures and social policy for mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on adult mental health in the US over and above an effective public health response.

scholarly journals Police-related triage interventions for mental health-related incidents: a rapid evidence synthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (20) ◽  
pp. 1-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Rodgers ◽  
Sian Thomas ◽  
Jane Dalton ◽  
Melissa Harden ◽  
Alison Eastwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Background Police officers are often the first responders to mental health-related incidents and, consequently, can become a common gateway to care. The volume of such calls is an increasing challenge. Objective What is the evidence base for models of police-related mental health triage (often referred to as ‘street triage’) interventions? Design Rapid evidence synthesis. Participants Individuals perceived to be experiencing mental ill health or in a mental health crisis. Interventions Police officers responding to calls involving individuals experiencing perceived mental ill health or a mental health crisis, in the absence of suspected criminality or a criminal charge. Main outcome measures Inclusion was not restricted by outcome. Data sources Eleven bibliographic databases (i.e. Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PAIS® Index, PsycINFO, Scopus, Social Care Online, Social Policy & Practice, Social Sciences Citation Index and Social Services Abstracts) and multiple online sources were searched for relevant systematic reviews and qualitative studies from inception to November 2017. Additional primary studies reporting quantitative data published from January 2016 were also sought. Review methods The three-part rapid evidence synthesis incorporated metasynthesis of the effects of street triage-type intervention models, rapid synthesis of UK-relevant qualitative evidence on implementation and the overall synthesis. Results Five systematic reviews, eight primary studies reporting quantitative data and eight primary studies reporting qualitative data were included. Most interventions involved police officers working in partnership with mental health professionals. These interventions were generally valued by staff and showed some positive effects on procedures (such as rates of detention) and resources, although these results were not entirely consistent and not all important outcomes were measured. Most of the evidence was at risk of multiple biases caused by design flaws and/or a lack of reporting of methods, which might affect the results. Limitations All primary research was conducted in England, so may not be generalisable to the whole of the UK. Discussion of health equity issues was largely absent from the evidence. Conclusions Most published evidence that aims to describe and evaluate various models of street triage interventions is limited in scope and methodologically weak. Several systematic reviews and recent studies have called for a prospective, comprehensive and streamlined collection of a wider variety of data to evaluate the impact of these interventions. This rapid evidence synthesis expands on these recommendations to outline detailed implications for research, which includes clearer articulation of the intervention’s objectives, measurement of quantitative outcomes beyond section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 [Great Britain. Mental Health Act 1983. Section 136. London: The Stationery Office; 1983 URL: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/section/136 (accessed October 2017)] (i.e. rates, places of safety and processing data) and outcomes that are most important to the police, mental health and social care services and service users. Evaluations should take into consideration shorter-, medium- and longer-term effects. Whenever possible, study designs should have an appropriate concurrent comparator, for example by comparing the pragmatic implementation of collaborative street triage models with models that emphasise specialist training of police officers. The collection of qualitative data should capture dissenting views as well as the views of advocates. Any future cost-effectiveness analysis of these interventions should evaluate the impact across police, health and social services. Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

scholarly journals Mental Health Crisis 911 Calls, Resources, and Inequality

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Frankham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Low Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Health Related

WORKING PAPER Is socioeconomic status a predictor of mental health-related 911 calls independent of mental health? Answering this question is important because knowing which factors are associated with mental health-related calls could influence effective resource allocation. I analyze census tract- level data across three cities and find that a lack of financial resources is positively associated with mental health-related calls, independent of poor mental health. I argue that individuals of low socioeconomic status rely on this public safety net more so than affluent individuals, and that this is an under-recognized mechanism by which individuals of low socioeconomic status with mental illness come into contact with police.

Mental health first aid: strengthening its impact for aid recipients

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Mei ◽  
Patrick D McGorry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
First Aid ◽  
Significant Benefit ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Mental Health First Aid ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
First Response ◽  
Meta Analyses

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a potentially valuable first response in mental healthcare. MHFA is formulated as an extension of Psychological First Aid, the latter being a more focal response to crises and disasters. MHFA is a broader strategy which aims to improve the general public’s immediate response to mental ill health and mental health crisis. While its effect on those trained in MHFA has been promising, recent meta-analyses have failed to detect any significant benefit to individuals who receive support from an MHFA trainee. Such outcomes highlight the need to revisit the content and implementation of MHFA to optimise and realise the full potential of the concept. Possible solutions are discussed, including developing new MHFA content using methodologies that foster innovation and creativity, in addition to improving the quality and effectiveness of MHFA training.

scholarly journals Naturalistic study of crisis referrals to an Irish community adult mental health service

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-74
Author(s):  
Tunde Apantaku-Olajide ◽  
Bobby P. Smyth ◽  
Pat Gibbons
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Mental Health Team ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Primary Model ◽  
Adult Mental Health Service ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Community Adult

There is no agreed definition of a mental health crisis; however, a useful one is ‘a situation where mental health has deteriorated to an extent that the user is likely to be at risk of harm to self or others and is in need of urgent intensive specialist support and treatment’ (Minghella et al, 1998). Community-based care is the primary model of specialist mental healthcare in Ireland (Government of Ireland, 2006a). When clinically indicated, a patient with mental health crisis is referred to the community mental health team (CMHT) for an urgent assessment.

scholarly journals Redefining Police Interactions with People Experiencing Mental Health Crises: Models of Response

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Crisis Response ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Police Decision Making ◽  
Race Disparities ◽  
Police Interactions

In many communities, police are the first and only available responders to mental health crises. Dissatisfaction with this arrangement among all stakeholders, concerns about the criminalization of mental illnesses, and recent evidence that at least one in four people killed in encounters with police have a serious mental illness, have all maintained attention to this issue among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. The scholarship in this area dates back to the 1960s and has examined the nature and characteristics of police interactions with people with mental illnesses and those experiencing mental health crises, police decision making, use of force, and call resolutions. As models of police–mental health collaboration have emerged, the literature describing different models and their implementation and outcomes had grown, as has the literature on police mental health and deescalation training. More recently, researchers have sought to understand the experiences of people with mental needs in these encounters, and the response model preferences of service users and caregivers. While progress has been made in terms of improving the abilities of police officers to respond to mental health crises, a consistent theme across the literature is the lack of adequate mental health resources for people with mental health needs in the community and as options for officers to resolve mental health crises. For the most part, there is a gaping absence of literature exploring race disparities leading up to mental health crises or in police response to them. However, the current Black Lives Matter movement and calls to “defund” police suggest an urgent need to shift responsibility for mental health crisis response away from law enforcement. Government and private nonprofit groups are working to develop frameworks and guidelines for developing capacity in the mental health system to take on the primary responsibility. This work must be done through a race equity lens.

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