scholarly journals Our Healthy Clarence: A Community-Driven Wellbeing Initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Powell ◽  
Dalton ◽  
Perkins ◽  
Considine ◽  
Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Care Community ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Leadership Support ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Collective Commitment

In 2015–2016, the Clarence Valley in Northern New South Wales, Australia, experienced an unexpectedly high number of deaths by suicide, and the resulting distress was exacerbated by unhelpful press coverage. The local response was to adopt a community-wide positive mental health and wellbeing initiative. This paper describes the process and achievements of the initiative called ‘Our Healthy Clarence’. Key stakeholders were interviewed at year two and relevant documents reviewed. Data were analysed using document and thematic analysis. Our Healthy Clarence was established following community consultation, including forums, interviews, surveys and workshops. It adopted a strengths-based approach to suicide prevention, encompassing positive health promotion, primary and secondary prevention activities, advocacy, and cross-sectoral collaboration. A stakeholder group formed to develop and enact a community mental health and wellbeing plan. Factors contributing to its successful implementation included a collective commitment to mental health and wellbeing, clarity of purpose, leadership support from key local partners, a paid independent coordinator, and inclusive and transparent governance. Stakeholders reported increased community agency, collaboration, optimism and willingness to discuss mental health, suicide and help-seeking. Our Healthy Clarence draws ideas from mental health care, community development and public health. This initiative could serve as a model for other communities to address suicide, self-harm and improve wellbeing on a whole-of-community scale.

scholarly journals The role of technology in Australian youth mental health reform

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M. Burns ◽  
Emma Birrell ◽  
Marie Bismark ◽  
Jane Pirkis ◽  
Tracey A. Davenport ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Reform ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Mental Health Reform ◽  
The Right

This paper describes the extent and nature of Internet use by young people, with specific reference to psychological distress and help-seeking behaviour. It draws on data from an Australian cross-sectional study of 1400 young people aged 16 to 25 years. Nearly all of these young people used the Internet, both as a source of trusted information and as a means of connecting with their peers and discussing problems. A new model of e-mental health care is introduced that is directly informed by these findings. The model creates a system of mental health service delivery spanning the spectrum from general health and wellbeing (including mental health) promotion and prevention to recovery. It is designed to promote health and wellbeing and to complement face-to-face services to enhance clinical care. The model has the potential to improve reach and access to quality mental health care for young people, so that they can receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way. What is known about the topic? One in four young Australians experience mental health disorders, and these often emerge in adolescence and young adulthood. Young people are also prominent users of technology and the Internet. Effective mental health reform must recognise the opportunities that technology affords and leverage this medium to provide services to improve outcomes for young people. What does this paper add? Information regarding the nature of young people’s Internet use is deficient. This paper presents the findings of a national survey of 1400 young Australians to support the case for the role of technology in Australian mental health reform. What are the implications for practitioners? The Internet provides a way to engage young people and provide access to mental health services and resources to reduce traditional barriers to help-seeking and care. eMental health reform can be improved by greater attention toward the role of technology and its benefits for mental health outcomes.

Effective Communication Only Part of the Strategy Needed to Promote Help-Seeking of Young People with Mental Health Problems

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Phillipson ◽  
Sandra C. Jones ◽  
Elizabeth Wiese
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Target Market ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Broad Cross Section

Formative research was undertaken in the Illawarra region of New South Wales (south of Sydney, Australia) to identify local communication strategies to influence the help-seeking behavior of young people in relation to a new youth-focused general practice (or physician) led mental health service. Research with the target market (12–25years) revealed the need for a local campaign to address the stigma associated with the use of mental health services and the need to emphasize the central role of the general practitioner or physician to the service. The results also indicated that any overarching campaign should be complemented by segment-specific strategies which tailor not only communication variables and channels to reach different market segments, but also consider varying aspects of the product or service to reach a broad cross-section of the target group.

Young Pacific Male Athletes’ Attitudes Toward Mental Health Help-Seeking in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021 ◽  
pp. 101053952110229
Author(s):  
Caleb Panapa Edward Marsters ◽  
Jemaima Tiatia-Seath ◽  
Lisa Uperesa
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Personal Stigma ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Help

Mental health is a pressing issue among Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly among young Pacific men who have a high incidence of suicide deaths and reduced access to mental health services. Young Pacific men are heavily represented in professional sports, and despite limited empirical evidence, anecdotal evidence suggests that young Pacific male athletes face numerous factors that deter help-seeking behavior. In response, a mixed-methods study was carried out with young Pacific male athletes (n = 123) and key stakeholders (n = 12) to explore athletes’ views and experiences of mental health help-seeking. The results revealed that athletes held low levels of “personal stigma” and were supportive of other athletes seeking help for mental distress, but also held high levels of “perceived stigma” and negative views toward seeking help for their own mental distress. These findings extend the literature and provide tailored strategies to facilitate help-seeking among young Pacific male athletes.

scholarly journals Innovating in CMHT's: mental health wellbeing group visits

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S205-S206
Author(s):  
Samuel Mammolotti Parkinson ◽  
Ismail Laher ◽  
Shola Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Patient Choice ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Group Visits ◽  
Wide Range

Aims‘Group consultations/visits’ are described as providing shared medical appointments delivering a range of care options and education by clinicians while providing elements of patient choice, empowerment and peer support.This innovative and cost effective model of care delivery was first conceived in the US and has been gaining a strong foothold in the UK since 2016, mainly limited to GP settings.The project goal was to attempt to transfer the model into a mental health setting by developing and delivering a novel intervention, to improve health and wellbeing options in a CMHT population.MethodA four session course was developed focussing on stress, sleep and nutrition. These chosen topics covered common significant challenges to patient health in psychiatry. Sessions were delivered to proactively address these important health related issues in a group visit setting.Baseline and post intervention feedback including telephone interviews were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.ResultThe qualitative data and the positive feedback obtained from participants indicate the intervention was highly valued and deemed effective in promoting positive health and lifestyle changes. Participants valued the educational and co-production aspects as well as the social and peer support elements of the groups. They appreciated the level of access they had with the clinicians involved, to explore their health and wellbeing in more detail without being limited by the usual 30 minute clinic follow-up sessions.The clinicians involved found the sessions rewarding and more engaging than most of routine 1:1 clinic sessions as they were able to spend quality time exploring important issues and not just educate the patients but also be educated by their questions and feedback about their lived experiences.ConclusionThe project aim was met and we believe this intervention can be successfully incorporated into the identified service provision gap within the CMH T model. There is potential to build on and embed this innovation with roll-out to a wide range of service users in different settings.In line with existing literature from GP settings, the consensus was that the amalgamated group visits/consultations model could be successfully modified to meet the needs of patients in the Mental Health arena who have a range of physical health and lifestyle concerns.We planned to obtain more information about improvement in patient self-management but this was affected by the pandemic. However, we believe it is a cost effective and helpful innovation which warrants further promotion and evaluation.

scholarly journals Exploring the challenges and opportunities for improving the health and wellbeing of international students: Perspectives of professional staff at an Australian University.

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-92
Author(s):  
Danielle C. Newton ◽  
◽  
drian J. Tomyn ◽  
Anthony D. LaMontagne ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
International Student ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

There are growing concerns about the mental health of university students, with particular concerns for international students studying in countries with different language and culture from the country of origin. We sought to explore the challenges and opportunities for supporting and improving the health and wellbeing of international students through interviews with health and other support services staff at an Australian University. Semi-structured interviews with a range of health and support services staff were conducted in person or by telephone in late 2018. Staff were asked about their perceptions of 1) health and wellbeing issues for international students, 2) barriers to international students accessing campus-based services for health and wellbeing concerns, and 3) strategies to improve international students’ health and wellbeing. Transcribed interviews were analysed thematically. Mental health/illness was identified as the most important health and wellbeing concern for international students. Barriers to help-seeking included fear of repercussions for coming forward, lack of problem and symptom recognition, poor understanding of health information, cultural stigma associated with counselling and language barriers. A tendency among international students to delay help-seeking until problems reached crisis-point was also identified as a concern. Suggested strategies to improve wellbeing included pre-departure education/orientation to life in Australia, the integration of health and wellbeing education with other university programs, education about confidentiality, better supporting students in how to access services, and skill building to promote social connection. Addressing the identified issues and opportunities would support international student health and wellbeing and may assist in attracting international students back to Australia post-COVID.

scholarly journals Men’s Help-Seeking for Distress: Navigating Varied Pathways and Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Vickery
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Emotional Expression ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Friendship Networks ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Health Support

There is a widely accepted dominant narrative surrounding men’s mental health help-seeking, that men are less likely to pursue formal mental health support on account of hegemonic masculine ideals that limit emotional expression and vulnerability. Across the literature, little attention has been given to the varied ways in which men can and will seek out help when experiencing mental health troubles. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study of men’s experiences of distress, specifically focused on their help-seeking and everyday coping and management of distress. Between 2016 and 2017, 38 individual interviews were carried out in South Wales, United Kingdom, with men of a range of ages (21–74 years of age) and social backgrounds. Analysis identifies nuanced help-seeking practices and pathways, emphasizing ways in which men can and will engage with mental health support. Some men struggled with articulating personal issues in mental health terms, and some portrayed ambivalence to help-seeking, yet at the same time reconstructed help-seeking to positively align with masculine values. The paper further highlights the significant influence of familial and friendship networks in the help-seeking process as well as the value of therapy for men experiencing mental health difficulties, challenging the idea that masculinity inhibits the disclosure of emotional problems. Awareness of the diversity of ways in which men can actively engage with their mental health is needed so that mental health support interventions and practitioners can best reach out to men experiencing distress and provide gender-sensitive support suitable to a range of different men.

scholarly journals The Youth Aware of Mental Health program in Australian Secondary Schools: 3- and 6-month outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren McGillivray ◽  
Fiona Shand ◽  
Alison L. Calear ◽  
Philip J. Batterham ◽  
Demee Rheinberger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
South Wales

Abstract Objective The evidence base for suicide prevention programs in Australian schools is limited. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a universal, mental health promotion and suicide prevention program—Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)—on suicidal ideation, mental health, and help-seeking in Australian secondary school students from baseline to post-intervention and 6-month follow up. Methods Using a single-arm design, the YAM program was delivered to Year 9 students (13–16 years) in secondary schools located within four regions across New South Wales, Australia. A structured self-report questionnaire using validated scales was administered at each time point. Linear mixed-effects modelling was used to examine differences in suicidal ideation scores across time, while accounting for random effects of individual schools. Results Suicidal ideation reduced significantly from baseline to post, and from baseline to follow-up (p < 0.001). Depression severity declined (p < 0.001) and help-seeking intentions increased (p < 0.001) at post-intervention and 6- months following the intervention period. No suicide deaths were reported for any study participants. Conclusion The current findings provide preliminary evidence that the YAM program is a promising preventive intervention for Australian schools, particularly for reducing suicidal ideation, depression and increasing help-seeking intentions in young people. The implementation of YAM in a large number of schools across New South Wales demonstrates the feasibility, and acceptability by schools, of implementing this program at scale. Trial registration: ANZCTR, ACTRN12619000338167. Registered 5 March 2019—Retrospectively registered, http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=376989&isReview=true.

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