Mental Health Training Needs Analysis in Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1739-1745

Objective: Even though the number of health professionals is growing in many counties in Southeast Asia, the shortage of mental health professionals remains a challenge. The current model of professional training needs to be changed to foster cooperative and collaborative skills, through interprofessional and transprofessional education, so professionals as well as non-professional service providers and operational personnel are trained to be members of the health teams. However, training needs in each Southeast Asian country remains unknown. The present study surveyed these needs using Hennessy-Hick’s criteria and experts’ opinions. Materials and Methods: Fifteen representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia, mostly psychiatrists, nurses, and psychologists, attended the meeting and presented for 30 to 50 minutes on the condition of mental health services and training needs in their countries. All representatives were asked to complete an online-shared report of the adapted Hennessy-Hicks Training Analysis Questionnaires. Results: According to the Hennessy-Hick’s criteria, some teamwork tasks were required for Thailand, whereas most tasks were required for Indonesia and Cambodia. Training on special topics depended on the country’s necessity. Basic skills are needed in all ranges of mental health issues. Thailand and Indonesia expressed quite similar needs, while Thailand had identified itself as having ‘an aging society’, which ‘caring for patients with dementia and caregivers’ in their training needs were more urgent than Indonesia. Training non-psychiatric professionals, such as primary physicians and nurses, concerning mental health issues, might help to address current mental health needs in Thailand, while Cambodia was concerned about recruiting mental health professionals and focusing on providing sufficient services for the country rather than training non-professionals to deal with mental health issues. Conclusion: The training needs for mental health professionals centered on research, clinical tasks, and communication, while including nonprofessional mental health providers in training of basic skills such as communication and up-to-date technology are deemed important at the present. Keywords: Training Needs Analysis; Thailand; Cambodia; Indonesia; Mental Health

Author(s):  
Tejaswini Bhave

This chapter attempts to present the overview of mental health issues associated with online dating and online romantic relationships with relevant research background. It briefly cautions about the possible risks involved in the world of online dating platforms and later delves into mental health concerns that can emerge out of experiences while selecting a potential partner online, developing a romantic relationship, and being involved in a romantic relationship online. It also discusses safety measures that need to be taken before and while being active on such online dating sites. The chapter draws attention to the specific role of mental health professionals that is needed while dealing with victims of online scams and abuse.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-101
Author(s):  
Karam Daljit Singh ◽  
Rajoo Keeren Sundara ◽  
Muharam Farrah Melissa ◽  
Zulperi Dzarifah

Preserving mental health during the COVID-19 crisis should be a priority for individuals worldwide. In this regard, mental health professionals should advise the general public on the actions/activities that they can take to prevent mental health issues from becoming the next pandemic. However, the general public should also actively take measures to improve their mental wellbeing. Music therapy, aromatherapy or indoor nature therapy may or may not have the potential to preserve mental wellbeing, but individuals should experiment with them to ascertain the effects on themselves. Moreover, the guidelines provided by WHO should also be adhered to, as a healthy mind starts with a healthy body.


Author(s):  
Tejaswini Bhave

This chapter attempts to present the overview of mental health issues associated with online dating and online romantic relationships with relevant research background. It briefly cautions about the possible risks involved in the world of online dating platforms and later delves into mental health concerns that can emerge out of experiences while selecting a potential partner online, developing a romantic relationship, and being involved in a romantic relationship online. It also discusses safety measures that need to be taken before and while being active on such online dating sites. The chapter draws attention to the specific role of mental health professionals that is needed while dealing with victims of online scams and abuse.


2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Werth ◽  
Daniel J. Holdwick

This article provides an overview of the major mental health issues involved in the debate over rational suicide and other forms of hastened death. In doing so, it covers the arguments for including counseling psychologists and other mental health professionals in discussions about hastened death; highlights the relevant empirical research associated with the topic, with special attention given to the studies involving psychologists and areas needing more investigation; and reviews the implications for practice and training and provides direction for those counseling psychologists who are working with persons who may be rational in their decisions to hasten death.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
James Pandarakalam ◽  
James Pandarakalam

Medical profession was unprepared to face the corona virus pandemic and the pharmaceutical armamentarium is currently not robust enough to combat with SARS-CoV-2. Drugs that are used for other medical conditions are also on trial to treat COVID-19. The pandemic is bound to pose psychological and economical sufferings. Testing, treatments and vaccine are the three tools to combat with COVID-19. It is feared that this viral infection would lead to an amplification of existing mental health issues and result in a surge of cases of PTSD and depression. Senior citizens and people with compromised immunity becomes more vulnerable to this toxic pathogen. A sound knowledge of all aspects of COVID-19 becomes essential to deal with the aftermaths of this unprecedented pandemic and mental health professionals will have to refresh their knowledge of virology and immunology. All the medical specialities will have to work together to defeat the novel virus.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S148-S148
Author(s):  
Emma McLean ◽  
Mariam Alexander

AimsTo host the first ELPS training day specifically for LAS staff to improve their knowledge and understanding about mental health issues and the role of ELPS.On average 13,000 calls are received by LAS relating to mental health issues every month. Many patients seen by ELPS will have multiple interactions with LAS. ELPS has previously held training for the Emergency Department team but this innovative day was designed to extend this training commitment to pre-hospital cliniciansMethodLAS training needs were initially assessed by a bespoke questionnaire and ELPS attending another LAS training event held by the new mental health joint response car team.We then developed a training programme to match the identified training needs and which utilised the specific expertise of individual ELPS staff.14 members of the local LAS stations attended including both Paramedics and Emergency Ambulance Clinicians. The presentations covered mental state examination, suicide, risk assessment, substance misuse, legal frameworks and then a ‘challenging cases’ session to bring it all together.Pre and post course questionnaires were completed by participants, exploring attitudes and knowledge.ResultThere was a statistically significant improvement in the average self-ratings for all of the categories assessed including attitudes to mental health, confidence in assessment and knowledge relating to the process the patient will experience in the emergency department.The knowledge about the pathway and role of liaison psychiatry showed the greatest improvement with an average 4.25 increase in pre and post course rating.Almost all participants (9.2/10) would recommend this training day to a colleagueConclusionWe met our objective of improving LAS staff knowledge and understanding about mental health issues and the role of ELPS. We plan to build on this successful pilot and expand our training programme for LAS with the ultimate aim of improving patient care.


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena A. Lasrado ◽  
Khatidja Chantler ◽  
Rubina Jasani ◽  
Alys Young

Abstract. Background: This paper examines the social structures, culture, gendered roles, and their implications for suicidal behavior in South India. Exploring the cultural process within the structures of family and society to understand suicide and attempted suicide from the perspectives of survivors, mental health professionals, and traditional healers has not been achieved in the existing suicide-related research studies conducted in India to date. Aims: This study aimed to explore the cultural implications of attempted suicide by examining the survivors' life stories, their perceptions, and service providers’ interpretations of problem situation. Method: A qualitative design was used drawing on constant comparison method and thematic analysis. The analysis was underpinned by the theoretical concepts of Bourdieu's work. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 survivors of attempted suicide, eight mental health professionals, and eight traditional healers from Southern India. Results: The study found interactions among visible and invisible fields such as faith, power, control, culture, family, religion, and social systems to have strengthened the disparities in gender and role structures within families and societies and to have impacted survivors’ dispositions to situations. Conclusion: The role of culture in causing suicide and attempted suicide is explained by unraveling the negative impact of interacting cultural and structural mechanisms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 160940691881624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian Mulvale ◽  
Sandra Moll ◽  
Ashleigh Miatello ◽  
Louise Murray-Leung ◽  
Karlie Rogerson ◽  
...  

Experience-based co-design (EBCD) is an innovative, evidence-based approach to health and social system change based on principles of participatory action research, narrative and learning theory, and design thinking. Unique elicitation strategies such as experience mapping, trigger videos, and prototype development are used in EBCD to engage service users and service providers in a collaborative process of identifying touchpoints and solutions to system-level problems. In this article, we present findings from interviewing a purposeful sample of 18 participants (4 youth, 6 service providers, 6 family members, and 2 employers) across three co-design projects designed to address either mental health or employment services for youth (aged 16–24) with mental health issues in one urban center. Through interviewing participants, perceptions were explored relating to three elicitation techniques: creating experience maps, creating and viewing trigger videos, and co-designing visual “prototype” solutions. Analysis of participants’ comments indicated that these techniques can be powerful tools to foster mutual understanding and collaborative ideas, but they require a social, spatial, and temporal context that optimizes their value. A “safe space” is needed within which the essential elements of elicitation—building trust, finding voice, sharing perspectives, and creating a common vision—can occur. Three core, overlapping processes of co-design elicitation were identified: “building common perspectives,” “building mutual understanding,” and “building innovation.” We present a conceptual framework depicting the interplay of processes and elicitation techniques, essential to building mutual understanding and innovation during the EBCD process.


1979 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-375
Author(s):  
Richard R. Parlour ◽  
Virginia M. Goldsmith

The last two decades have seen major changes in mental health service delivery and a staggering proliferation of law related to mental health issues. Mental health professionals are reminded that law is made to serve the public interest and may frequently hamper therapeutic goals. To be a most effective therapist, one must be well informed about relevant law and ways to implement treatment despite legal impediments. Being so socially handicapped, the retarded depend on all human service providers to be part-time advocates for them or the justice system will fail.


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