Using Technology to Reach Caregivers of Veterans with Dementia

2013 ◽  
pp. 263-273
Author(s):  
Candice M. Daniel ◽  
Bret Hicken ◽  
Marilyn Luptak ◽  
Marren Grant ◽  
Randall Rupper
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Veteran’S Health ◽  
Health Care Centers

Caregivers of persons with dementia experience higher levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and other mental health problems, as well as increased rates of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality compared to their non-caregiving peers. They also face significant challenges in accessing support from local, state, and VA resources. Several empirically supported treatments have been developed to assist these caregivers. However, accessing these interventions can be difficult given the extent and demand of their caregiving duties. To address this problem, the authors developed a psycho-educational caregiver intervention for use with in-home digital technology that is currently underway at three Veteran’s Health Affairs (VA) health care centers. The chapter provides: 1) a brief summary of the background and rationale for intervention development; 2) an overview of the project; and 3) the issues and lessons learned from developing interventions using digital technology for use with older adults.

Anti-stigma interventions

2018 ◽  
pp. 411-420
Author(s):  
Petra C. Gronholm ◽  
Claire Henderson ◽  
Tanya Deb ◽  
Graham Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Outcome Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
Health Related

There is a rich literature on the nature of mental health-related stigma and the processes by which it severely affects the life chances of people with mental health problems. Applying this knowledge to deliver and evaluate interventions to reduce stigma in a lasting way is, however, a complex and long-term challenge. This chapter outlines how mental health-related stigma and discrimination have been defined; describes the negative impact they have on people with mental illness; summarizes anti-stigma strategies and the evidence regarding their effectiveness; and makes suggestions for future intervention development and evaluation. It seems likely that short-term interventions may only have a short-term impact, with the implication being the need to study longer-term interventions and to use interim process and outcome data to improve interventions along the way.

Mental health in intellectual disability

2018 ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
Sabyasachi Bhaumik ◽  
Dasari Mohan Michael ◽  
Reza Kiani ◽  
Avinash Hiremath ◽  
Shweta Gangavati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

This chapter focuses on the current knowledge in public health for people with intellectual disability and recognizes the extent of health inequalities these individuals experience. The prevalence of intellectual disability worldwide is discussed with special emphasis on the prevalence of mental health problems. Also highlighted are the population health characteristics, including physical and mental health problems. The issue of barriers to accessibility and the possible reasons are discussed. There is a section on premature mortality of people with intellectual disability and measures to improve the health status for this marginalized population. Recent initiatives, including prevention strategies and health promotional aspects, are discussed and solutions suggested, including those for low-and-middle income countries (LAMICs)emphasized. Training aspects to improve quality of health care in LAMICs is highlighted with the recognition of limitations in creating a sustainable transformation of services unless they are backed by authorities.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of interventions for reducing subjective and objective social isolation among people with mental health problems: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 839-876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruimin Ma ◽  
Farhana Mann ◽  
Jingyi Wang ◽  
Brynmor Lloyd-Evans ◽  
James Terhune ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Physical And Mental Health

Abstract Purpose Subjective and objective social isolation are important factors contributing to both physical and mental health problems, including premature mortality and depression. This systematic review evaluated the current evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to improve subjective and/or objective social isolation for people with mental health problems. Primary outcomes of interest included loneliness, perceived social support, and objective social isolation. Methods Three databases were searched for relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Studies were included if they evaluated interventions for people with mental health problems and had objective and/or subjective social isolation (including loneliness) as their primary outcome, or as one of a number of outcomes with none identified as primary. Results In total, 30 RCTs met the review’s inclusion criteria: 15 included subjective social isolation as an outcome and 11 included objective social isolation. The remaining four evaluated both outcomes. There was considerable variability between trials in types of intervention and participants’ characteristics. Significant results were reported in a minority of trials, but methodological limitations, such as small sample size, restricted conclusions from many studies. Conclusion The evidence is not yet strong enough to make specific recommendations for practice. Preliminary evidence suggests that promising interventions may include cognitive modification for subjective social isolation, and interventions with mixed strategies and supported socialisation for objective social isolation. We highlight the need for more thorough, theory-driven intervention development and for well-designed and adequately powered RCTs.

What Elephant? Pedagogical Approaches to Addressing Stigma Toward Mental Disorders in Undergraduate Public Health Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 237337992092287
Author(s):  
Briana Mezuk ◽  
Belinda Needham ◽  
Kevin Joiner ◽  
Daphne Watkins ◽  
Sarah Stoddard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Undergraduate Public Health ◽  
Pedagogical Approaches

In the past decade, the number of undergraduate public health programs has increased exponentially. This growth provides a unique opportunity to explore concepts and issues relevant to understanding the determinants of health at a population level using new pedagogical approaches. One of these issues is stigma toward mental disorders. Stigma is a concept that refers to a feature or characteristic that reduces, devalues, and disempowers a person. Given the prevalence of mental and substance use disorders among college students, undergraduate education is an important setting for attempting to address stigmatizing attitudes both for society at large and for faculty, staff, and students, including those experiencing mental health problems. This article describes an effort to develop an undergraduate course in public mental health that explicitly addresses the ways stigma shapes student understanding of this topic and discusses lessons learned from this experience.

Remembering and Responding to Distressing Autobiographical Memories: Exploring Risk and Intervention Targets for Posttraumatic Stress in Traumatized Refugees

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 789-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Reebs ◽  
Kim Yuval ◽  
Amit Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Experimental Laboratory ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
And Function ◽  
Sudanese Refugees ◽  
Risk Processes

It is tragic that more than 65 million people are currently forcibly displaced due to civil war, ethnic cleansing, and related atrocities. They suffer at high rates from trauma- and stress-related mental health problems. To advance development of effective mental health interventions tailored to refugees and asylum seekers, we need to significantly increase knowledge of risk processes and intervention targets. Accordingly, in an experimental laboratory study, we examined the nature and function(s) of remembering and responding to a distressing autobiographical memory among 110 severely traumatized Sudanese refugees. We found that (a) posttraumatic stress symptom severity predicted emotional reactivity, but not avoidance, in response to remembering a distressing memory and that (b) relative to a self-distanced perspective, a self-immersed perspective during memory recall led to lower levels of avoidance, but not emotional reactivity. Findings are discussed with respect to extant theory, intervention development, and implementation for traumatized refugee populations.

scholarly journals There Is No Evidence That Associations Between Adolescents’ Digital Technology Engagement and Mental Health Problems Have Increased

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262199454
Author(s):  
Matti Vuorre ◽  
Amy Orben ◽  
Andrew K. Przybylski
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mental Health Information ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Short Time ◽  
Representative Samples

Digital technology is ubiquitous in modern adolescence, and researchers are concerned that it has negative impacts on mental health that, furthermore, increase over time. To investigate whether technology is becoming more harmful, we examined changes in associations between technology engagement and mental health in three nationally representative samples. Results were mixed across types of technology and mental health outcomes: Technology engagement had become less strongly associated with depression in the past decade, but social-media use had become more strongly associated with emotional problems. We detected no changes in five other associations or differential associations by sex. There is therefore little evidence for increases in the associations between adolescents’ technology engagement and mental health. Information about new digital media has been collected for a relatively short time; drawing firm conclusions about changes in their associations with mental health may be premature. We urge transparent and credible collaborations between scientists and technology companies.

scholarly journals Going digital: how technology use may influence human brains and behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-97
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Human Brains

The digital revolution has changed, and continues to change, our world and our lives. Currently, major aspects of our lives have moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic, and social distancing has necessitated virtual togetherness. In a synopsis of 10 articles we present ample evidence that the use of digital technology may influence human brains and behavior in both negative and positive ways. For instance, brain imaging techniques show concrete morphological alterations in early childhood and during adolescence that are associated with intensive digital media use. Technology use apparently affects brain functions, for example visual perception, language, and cognition. Extensive studies could not confirm common concerns that excessive screen time is linked to mental health problems, or the deterioration of wellbeing. Nevertheless, it is important to use digital technology consciously, creatively, and sensibly to improve personal and professional relationships. Digital technology has great potential for mental health assessment and treatment, and the improvement of personal mental performance.

scholarly journals Physical health assessment quality improvement project

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S203-S203
Author(s):  
Maggie Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Severe Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Care Coordinator ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Physical Assessment

AimsMy aim was to ensure at least 60% of clients in the Acute Day Unit have a ‘physical screening tool’ entry.BackgroundAs a GP starting training in psychiatry I am very aware of the importance of physical health and the overlap between physical health and mental health. It has been found that there is a 20 year mortality gap for men and 15 year mortality gap for women in people with mental health problems. Thorncroft described this as ‘the scandal of premature mortality’.Nice Guidelines state: ‘Reducing premature mortality by improving physical healthcare for people with severe mental illness remains an NHS England priority. Funding has been made available to ensure that at least 60% of people who have severe mental illness receive NICE-recommended physical assessments and follow up from 2018/19 onwards.’The Acute Day Unit seemed to be the ideal situation to try to address this problem as clients are with us for 6-8 weeks during which time their physical health as well as their mental health can be optimised.MethodI emailed the whole team to invite ideas and questions regarding the QI project and discussed it further at the MDT meeting. It was important at the start to get the whole team on board. Having discussed it we decided to put six blocks of thirty minute slots weekly into the timetable for physical assessments. These were to be booked in by the client's care coordinator. I also added a column onto our team spreadsheet to input whether or not the physical assessment had been done. Frequent encouragements and reminders were sent round the team of which clients still needed a physical assessment.ResultBefore the changes were made 25% of clients were having their physical assessments done. After the changes were made 63% of clients had their physical assessment done, three of the twenty seven clients having only started at the day unit that week.ConclusionHaving made a change to the system of scheduling six regular slots for physical assessments there has been a dramatic rise in the number of clients having their physical assessment done. As this change has been to the system and will be continued automatically on the team calendar the improvement has been more easily sustained. We are keen to keep improving on this change with an ideal level of over 75% of clients having a physical health assessment.

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