scholarly journals Definitions and Operationalization of Mental Health Problems, Wellbeing and Participation Constructs in Children with NDD: Distinctions and Clarifications

Author(s):  
Mats Granlund ◽  
Christine Imms ◽  
Gillian King ◽  
Anna Karin Andersson ◽  
Lilly Augustine ◽  
...  

Children with impairments are known to experience more restricted participation than other children. It also appears that low levels of participation are related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). The purpose of this conceptual paper is to describe and define the constructs mental health problems, mental health, and participation to ensure that future research investigating participation as a means to mental health in children and adolescents with NDD is founded on conceptual clarity. We first discuss the difference between two aspects of mental health problems, namely mental disorder and mental illness. This discussion serves to highlight three areas of conceptual difficulty and their consequences for understanding the mental health of children with NDD that we then consider in the article: (1) how to define mental health problems, (2) how to define and assess mental health problems and mental health, i.e., wellbeing as separate constructs, and (3) how to describe the relationship between participation and wellbeing. We then discuss the implications of our propositions for measurement and the use of participation interventions as a means to enhance mental health (defined as wellbeing). Conclusions: Mental disorders include both diagnoses related to impairments in the developmental period, i.e., NDD and diagnoses related to mental illness. These two types of mental disorders must be separated. Children with NDD, just like other people, may exhibit aspects of both mental health problems and wellbeing simultaneously. Measures of wellbeing defined as a continuum from flourishing to languishing for children with NDD need to be designed and evaluated. Wellbeing can lead to further participation and act to protect from mental health problems.

BJPsych Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Spry ◽  
Rebecca Giallo ◽  
Margarita Moreno-Betancur ◽  
Jacqui Macdonald ◽  
Denise Becker ◽  
...  

We examined prospective associations between men's common mental disorders in the decades prior to offspring conception and subsequent paternal antenatal mental health problems. Data came from a prospective intergenerational cohort study which assessed common mental disorder nine times from age 14 to 29 years, and in the third trimester of subsequent pregnancies to age 35 years (N = 295 pregnancies to 214 men). Men with histories of adolescent and young adult common mental disorders were over four times more likely to experience antenatal mental health problems. Future research identifying modifiable perinatal factors that counteract preconception risk would provide further targets for intervention.Declaration of interestNone.


2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (6) ◽  
pp. 456-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kinderman ◽  
Sara Tai ◽  
Eleanor Pontin ◽  
Matthias Schwannauer ◽  
Ian Jarman ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe relationship between well-being and mental ill health is complex; people may experience very low levels of well-being even in the absence of overt mental health problems.AimsThis study tested the hypothesis that anxiety, depression and well-being have different causal determinants and psychological mediating mechanisms.MethodThe influence of causal and mediating factors on anxiety, depression and well-being were investigated in a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey hosted on a UK national broadcasting website.ResultsMultivariate conditional independence analysis of data from 27 397 participants revealed different association pathways for the two constructs. Anxiety and depression were associated with negative life events mediated by rumination; low levels of subjective well-being were associated with material deprivation and social isolation, mediated by adaptive coping style.ConclusionsOur findings support the ‘two continua’ model of the relationship between psychological well-being and mental health problems, with implications for both treatment and prevention.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Gerard Flaherty ◽  
Shang Yuin Chai ◽  
Brian Hallahan

Summary For a person with mental illness, travelling abroad can be challenging but it can be easier when the traveller and healthcare practitioner have a clear understanding of the likely impact of travel on the illness and of the illness on the travel experience. Travel may also precipitate first presentations of mental illness or unmask previously undiagnosed mental disorders. We propose that mental health problems should receive greater recognition in travel medicine and that psychiatrists should collaborate more closely with travel medicine clinicians to ensure that their patients benefit from the opportunities afforded by international travel.


1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Odd Steffen Dalgard ◽  
Tom Sørensen ◽  
Inger Sandanger ◽  
John Ivar Brevik

AbstractTechnology for psychiatric prevention is poorly developed, and knowledge about the causes of mental Illness is difficult to apply to practical preventive work. As it would take many years before the effects of primary preventive efforts would be visible, secondary and tertiary prevention are essential to reducing the prevalence of mental illness. Recent studies on reducing the negative health consequences of acute stress seem to justify some optimism that psychosocially-oriented prevention is possible. Experience with the preventive benefits of social support at times of crisis suggests that active social support can prevent social disintegration at the community level and mental health problems for individuals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Backhaus ◽  
I Kawachi ◽  
A Ramirez ◽  
S Jang ◽  
S Khoo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Universities around the world are challenged with rising rates of mental health problems among their students. Cumulative evidence demonstrated that aspects of the social environment, including social capital, play an important role in mental health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students from across the globe and to investigate whether social capital was associated with depressive symptoms in university students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Albania, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Malaysia Oman, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA in 2018/2019. Data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic characteristics and depressive symptoms. The BDI-S was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. Multilevel analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between social capital and depressive, adjusting for individual covariates (e.g. perceived stress and health behaviours) and country-level characteristics (e.g. democracy type). Results A total 3894 students participated. Out of all participants almost 47% presented clinically relevant depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was highest among students identifying as other than male or female (48.7%), among students with low socioeconomic status (59.5%) and among students with low levels of cognitive (65.3%) and behavioural social capital (57.0%). Even after adjustment in multilevel logistic regression analyses, depressive symptoms remained significantly associated with low levels of cognitive social capital (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.10) and low level of behavioural social capital (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.71). Conclusions Social capital may play an important role in mental health problems in the university setting. The study identified significant opportunities for future research and health promotion strategies among students. Key messages Key factors associated with depressive symptoms among university students were low levels of behavioural and cognitive social capital. Health promotion programs targeting young persons with depressive symptoms should include effective components of social epidemiology such as social capital.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Goodwin ◽  
M. Robinson ◽  
P. D. Sly ◽  
P. G. Holt

BackgroundPrior studies have suggested a relationship between atopy and mental health, although methodological barriers have limited the generalizability of these findings. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between early-life atopy and vulnerability to mental health problems among youth in the community.MethodData were drawn from the Raine Study (N = 2868), a population-based birth cohort study in Western Australia. Logistic regression and generalized estimating equations were used to examine the relationship between atopy at ages 1–5 years [using parent report and objective biological confirmation (sera IgE)], and the range of internalizing and externalizing mental health problems at ages 5–17 years.ResultsAtopy appears to be associated with increased vulnerability to affective and anxiety problems, compared to youth without atopy. These associations remained significant after adjusting for a range of potential confounders. No relationship was evident between atopy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or externalizing problems.ConclusionsFindings are the first linking atopy (measured by both parent report and objective verification) with increased vulnerability to affective and anxiety problems. Therefore, replication is required. If replicated, future research aimed at understanding the possible biological and/or social and environmental pathways underlying these links is needed. Such information could shed light on shared pathways that could lead to more effective treatments for both atopy and internalizing mental health problems.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Éva Kállay

Abstract. The last several decades have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals suffering from both diagnosable and subsyndromal mental health problems. Consequently, the development of cost-effective treatment methods, accessible to large populations suffering from different forms of mental health problems, became imperative. A very promising intervention is the method of expressive writing (EW), which may be used in both clinically diagnosable cases and subthreshold symptomatology. This method, in which people express their feelings and thoughts related to stressful situations in writing, has been found to improve participants’ long-term psychological, physiological, behavioral, and social functioning. Based on a thorough analysis and synthesis of the published literature (also including most recent meta-analyses), the present paper presents the expressive writing method, its short- and long-term, intra-and interpersonal effects, different situations and conditions in which it has been proven to be effective, the most important mechanisms implied in the process of recovery, advantages, disadvantages, and possible pitfalls of the method, as well as variants of the original technique and future research directions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Bezborodovs ◽  
G. Thornicroft

SummaryWork plays an important part in everyday life. For people experiencing mental health problems employment may both provide a source of income, improved self-esteem and stability, and influence the course and outcomes of the disorder. Yet in many countries the work-place consistently surfaces as the context where people with mental health problems feel stigmatised and discriminated the most. This paper will review the existing evidence of stigma and discrimination in the workplace, consider the consequences of workplace stigma on the lives of people experiencing mental health problems, and discuss implications for further action.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Rajni Suri ◽  
Anshu Suri ◽  
Neelam Kumari ◽  
Amool R. Singh ◽  
Manisha Kiran

The role of women is very crucial in our society. She cares for her parents, partner, children and other relatives. She performs all types of duties in family and also in the society without any expectations. Because of playing many roles, women often face many challenges in their life including both physical and mental. Mental health problems affect women and men equally, but some problems are more common among women including both physical and mental health problems. Aim of the study - The present study is aimed to describe and compare the clinical and socio-demographic correlates of female mentally ill patients. Methods and Materials: The study includes 180 female mentally ill patients based on cross sectional design and the sample for the study was drawn purposively. A semi structured socio-demographic data sheet was prepared to collect relevant information as per the need of the study. Result: The present study reveals that the socio-demographic factors contribute a vital role in mental illness. Findings also showed that majority of patients had mental problems in the age range of 20-30 have high rate. Illiterate and primary level of education and daily wage working women as well as low and middle socio-economic status women are more prone to have mental illness. Other factors like marital status, type of family and religion etc also important factors for mental illness. Keywords: Socio demographic profile, female, psychiatric patient


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