scholarly journals Peer support services with integrated meaningful and challenging activity can be an effective early intervention for adolescent mental and social health issues

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Ward
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Real World ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Pressure Stress

This commentary outlines a vision for the future intervention in adolescent mental health through the development of peer communities, lead by trained adolescent peers which aims to reduce social isolation and give young people the tools to self manage their own health. Here we recognise that mental distress emerges from real world situations which evoke powerlessness, pressure, stress or fear. The routes to wellbeing will be rooted in real world activities, which return power to young people and promote self-regulation.

scholarly journals Patients with Borderline and Avoidant Personality Disorders in the Pandemic Their Mental Distress During the Covid-19 Crisis in Norway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjell-Einar Zahl ◽  
Geir Pedersen ◽  
Ingeborg Ulltveit-Moe Eikenaes ◽  
Line Indrevoll Stänicke ◽  
Theresa Wilberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Personality Disorders ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Significant Group

Abstract Background Even if people with mental disorders are vulnerable, few authors have studied patients with personality disorders (PDs) in the pandemic. We wanted to examine and compare mental and social distress among patients with borderline PD (BPD) and avoidant PD (AvPD) during the first wave of Covid-19. Methods In Summer 2020 a survey was distributed to 1120 patients referred to PD treatment units in Norway, with questions on social situation, mental distress, and changes in mental health after the lockdown. Among 133 responders we studied 40 patients with BPD and 30 with AvPD as their only PD. Results 70% of the patients in both groups were more alone than before the pandemic, more than 40% felt lonelier, and 50% more aggressive. Both PD groups reported high levels of depression and anxiety, many with suicidal thoughts, and worries about health issues. Several BPD patients reported an improvement in some issues compared to the AvPD patients, with more initiative and energy. Conclusions Both PD groups reported increased levels of distress in the first wave of the pandemic. AvPD patients were not less distressed in their social isolation, but a significant group of BPD patients reported less distress in the first months of the pandemic.

Youth mental health competencies in regional general practice

2020 ◽  
pp. 103985622097005
Author(s):  
Oliver Smith ◽  
Jessica Bergmann ◽  
Ulrich Schall
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Problem ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Hunter Region

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) are key health professionals for referrals to mental health specialists. Youth mental health issues are particularly challenging, requiring a competent assessment and understanding of appropriate referral pathways. We surveyed local GPs about their understanding of youth mental health problems and needs to competently look after young patients. Methods: GPs working in the Hunter region were contacted via email, fax and post over a 6-month period in 2019. Results: Seventy-five GPs participated. They reported 577 of 1698 (34%) of young people seen 2 weeks prior to being surveyed presented with a mental health problem. Predominantly, referrals were to private practice psychologists and Headspace. Almost a third (31%) reported having limited understanding of ‘at-risk mental state’ and are ‘not always comfortable’ when facing a young person with a mental health problem. Nearly all (95%) expressed interest in attending specialised training. GPs identified treatment costs, scarce access to psychiatrists and limited patient engagement as the main obstacles to help young people. Conclusions: Effective treatment of a mental health problem relies on early identification. GPs are seeing young people on a regular basis but don’t feel well equipped for this task and are keen to up-skill, which needs to be addressed by targeted training.

scholarly journals Digital exclusion predicts worse mental health among adolescents during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas E. Metherell ◽  
Sakshi Ghai ◽  
Ethan M. McCormick ◽  
Tamsin J. Ford ◽  
Amy Orben
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Internet Connection ◽  
University Of Cambridge ◽  
Digital Exclusion

AbstractBackgroundSocial isolation is strongly associated with poor mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing social restrictions disrupted young people’s social interactions and resulted in several periods during which school closures necessitated online learning. We hypothesise that digitally excluded young people would demonstrate greater deterioration in their mental health than their digitally connected peers during this time.MethodsWe analysed representative mental health data from a sample of UK 10–15-year-olds (N = 1387); Understanding Society collected the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in 2017-19 and thrice during the pandemic (July 2020, November 2020 and March 2021). We employed cross-sectional methods and longitudinal latent growth curve modelling to describe trajectories of adolescent mental health for participants with and without access to a computer or a good internet connection for schoolwork.OutcomesAdolescent mental health had a quadratic trajectory during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest mean Total Difficulties score around December 2020. The worsening and recovery of mental health during the pandemic was greatly pronounced among those without access to a computer, although we did not find evidence for a similar effect among those without a good internet connection.InterpretationDigital exclusion, as indicated by lack of access to a computer, is a tractable risk factor that likely compounds other adversities facing children and young people during periods of social isolation.FundingBritish Psychological Society; School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge; NIHR Applied Research Centre; Medical Research Council; Economic and Social Research Council; and Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.

Student wellbeing and issues of mental health

SecEd ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Pooky Knightsmith
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Day School ◽  
School Staff ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Student Wellbeing ◽  
Practical Guide ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
The Common

Every day, school staff will encounter students struggling with issues of mental health. In this practical guide, Dr Pooky Knightsmith looks at spotting the signs, the common mental health issues, how to intervene, talk and listen to young people, referring successfully to CAMHS, and eight tips for supporting young people

scholarly journals Preventive digital mental health interventions for children and young people: a review of the design and reporting of research

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aislinn D. Bergin ◽  
Elvira Perez Vallejos ◽  
E. Bethan Davies ◽  
David Daley ◽  
Tamsin Ford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Real World ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Children And Young People

Abstract Digital health interventions (DHIs) have frequently been highlighted as one way to respond to increasing levels of mental health problems in children and young people. Whilst many are developed to address existing mental health problems, there is also potential for DHIs to address prevention and early intervention. However, there are currently limitations in the design and reporting of the development, evaluation and implementation of preventive DHIs that can limit their adoption into real-world practice. This scoping review aimed to examine existing evidence-based DHI interventions and review how well the research literature described factors that researchers need to include in their study designs and reports to support real-world implementation. A search was conducted for relevant publications published from 2013 onwards. Twenty-one different interventions were identified from 30 publications, which took a universal (n = 12), selective (n = 3) and indicative (n = 15) approach to preventing poor mental health. Most interventions targeted adolescents, with only two studies including children aged ≤10 years. There was limited reporting of user co-design involvement in intervention development. Barriers and facilitators to implementation varied across the delivery settings, and only a minority reported financial costs involved in delivering the intervention. This review found that while there are continued attempts to design and evaluate DHIs for children and young people, there are several points of concern. More research is needed with younger children and those from poorer and underserved backgrounds. Co-design processes with children and young people should be recognised and reported as a necessary component within DHI research as they are an important factor in the design and development of interventions, and underpin successful adoption and implementation. Reporting the type and level of human support provided as part of the intervention is also important in enabling the sustained use and implementation of DHIs.

scholarly journals How do Norwegian adolescents experience the role of social media in relation to mental health and well-being: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland ◽  
Viktor Schønning ◽  
Randi Træland Hella ◽  
Marius Veseth ◽  
Jens Christoffer Skogen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background During the last decade, social media has permeated most parts of society. Adolescents are particularly active users of social media, and their use has been suggested as a contributing factor to mental health issues in this group. Quantitative studies have found associations between the frequency and/or duration of social media use and more mental health issues. However, most studies are cross-sectional and the identified associations are weak and of questionable practical significance. The aim of this study was to investigate adolescents’ lived experiences of using social media, focusing on both negative and positive aspects, using a qualitative approach. Qualitative research enables in-depth explorations of the experiences of individuals, nuance quantitative findings, and offer the perspective of adolescents into policies regarding social media use. Methods Experiences and perspectives of 27 adolescents from two senior high schools in Norway were gathered using focus group interviews (mean age 16.8, range 15–18). The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results According to the participants, social media use catalyse changes to how people communicate and relate to each other (theme 1). Some changes were positive, in terms of facilitating social connectedness, while others were negative, such as people behaving worse than in face-to-face interactions. Further, social media use affected the participants at the individual level (theme 2); positively in terms of a sense of belonging and social support, and negatively in terms of perceived stress, body pressure, and displacing other activities such as sleep and homework. The motivations for using, or not using, social media were multifaceted (theme 3), reflecting the positive and negative aspects of social media in terms of interpersonal and personal consequences. Conclusion Social media was described as an important part of the participants’ everyday life, with both a positive and negative impact on their mental health and well-being. Considering the compelling nature of social media and adolescents’ relatively limited self-regulatory capacities, efforts to modify social media use should avoid relying on self-regulation, while also recognizing the importance of social media as an arena for peer interaction.

Health Information and Teenagers in Residential Care: A qualitative Study to Identify Young People's Views

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 19-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annabelle Bundle
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Children's Home ◽  
Medical Examinations

Annabelle Bundle presents the results of a qualitative study, undertaken in a mixed residential children's home, which aimed to identify what looked after young people see as important in terms of health information. The young people wanted information particularly on mental health issues, keeping fit, substance use and sexual health. Many were reluctant to request appointments for personal matters and did not feel they were encouraged to ask about personal health concerns during medical examinations.

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