Interagency Collaboration to Improve School Outcomes for Students With Mental Health Challenges

2021 ◽  
pp. 644-660
Author(s):  
Kristina Bixler ◽  
Jeffrey Alvin Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Agencies ◽  
Failing School ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Behavioral Concerns ◽  
Mental Health Challenges ◽  
Mental Well Being

Students with significant emotional-behavioral concerns and mental illness tend to experience poor educational and social outcomes. This chapter describes some of the challenges facing schools that are responsible for educating students with and at-risk for mental health challenges. Although some students encounter numerous risks, thereby increasing the chances of developing mental illness and failing school, there are also protective factors that can be identified and harnessed to counterbalance such risks and promote higher levels of resilience. By examining relationships among factors such as poverty, mental well-being, family engagement, resiliency, and school performance, a school-focused, community-based framework is suggested for responding to and overcoming these challenges. This chapter provides practical guidelines for schools, community agencies, and families to work together to support and engage young people who are at-risk for school failure due to emotional-behavioral concerns and mental health challenges.

Interagency Collaboration to Improve School Outcomes for Students With Mental Health Challenges

2018 ◽  
pp. 140-155
Author(s):  
Kristina Bixler ◽  
Jeffrey Alvin Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Agencies ◽  
Failing School ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Behavioral Concerns ◽  
Mental Health Challenges ◽  
Mental Well Being

Students with significant emotional-behavioral concerns and mental illness tend to experience poor educational and social outcomes. This chapter describes some of the challenges facing schools that are responsible for educating students with and at-risk for mental health challenges. Although some students encounter numerous risks, thereby increasing the chances of developing mental illness and failing school, there are also protective factors that can be identified and harnessed to counterbalance such risks and promote higher levels of resilience. By examining relationships among factors such as poverty, mental well-being, family engagement, resiliency, and school performance, a school-focused, community-based framework is suggested for responding to and overcoming these challenges. This chapter provides practical guidelines for schools, community agencies, and families to work together to support and engage young people who are at-risk for school failure due to emotional-behavioral concerns and mental health challenges.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic gradients and mental health: implications for public health

2015 ◽  
Vol 206 (6) ◽  
pp. 461-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Stewart-Brown ◽  
Preshila Chandimali Samaraweera ◽  
Frances Taggart ◽  
Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala ◽  
Saverio Stranges
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Middle Range ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Mental Well Being

BackgroundResearch on mental well-being is relatively new and studies of its determinants are rare.AimsTo investigate whether the socioeconomic correlates of mental well-being mirror those for mental illness.MethodUsing logistic regression analyses, the independent odds ratios of high and low mental well-being, compared with middle-range mental well-being, were estimated for a number of sociodemographic variables known to be associated with mental illness from 13 983 participants in the 2010 and 2011 Health Surveys for England.ResultsIndependent odds ratios for low mental well-being were as expected from studies of mental illness with increased odds for the unemployed (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.01–2.10) and those aged 35–54 years (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.35–1.84) and reduced odds for the married (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.62–0.97). A linear trend was observed with education and equivalised income. Odds ratios for high mental well-being differed from those for low mental well-being with regard to age (55+ years: OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.23–1.79); employment status where there was an association only with retirement (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.09–1.69); education where there was no association; and equivalised income for which the association was non-linear.ConclusionsOdds ratios for low mental well-being mirrored those for mental illness, but not those for high mental well-being, suggesting that the socioeconomic factors associated with positive mental health are different from those associated with mental illness.

scholarly journals Sleep and Mental Health Among Older Adults in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Rodrigues ◽  
K Nicholson ◽  
P Wilk ◽  
G Guaiana ◽  
S Stranges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Global studies have demonstrated consistent associations between sleep problems and mental health and well-being in older adults, however Canadian data are lacking. We investigated associations between sleep quantity and quality with both mental illness symptoms and well-being among older adults in Canada. Methods We used cross-sectional baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a national survey of 30,097 community-dwelling adults aged 45 years and older. Self-reported sleep measures included average past-week sleep duration (short [<6h], normal [6-8h], long [>8h]), and sleep quality (satisfied or dissatisfied vs neutral). Mental illness outcomes included depressive symptoms and psychological distress. Mental well-being outcomes included self-rated mental health and satisfaction with life. We used modified Poisson regression models with adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioural, and clinical factors, and stratification by sex and age to explore effect modification. Results In the unadjusted analysis, short and long sleep duration and sleep dissatisfaction were associated with higher mental illness symptoms and lower well-being across all outcomes. Sleep satisfaction was associated with a lower likelihood of mental illness symptoms and better well-being. Short sleep duration was associated with the largest effects on mental health outcomes. Self-rated mental health and depressive symptoms had the largest associations with sleep measures. Effects were larger in males and the 45 to 54 year age group. Conclusions Preliminary evidence suggests sleep duration and quality are associated with symptoms of depression, psychological distress, and poor mental well-being among older adults. We are unable to determine whether sleep problems are a cause or consequence of poor mental health. Nonetheless, sleep may be an important target for public health initiatives to improve mental health and well-being among older adults. Key messages Our findings contribute further evidence that sleep difficulties are associated with adverse health outcomes including higher mental illness symptoms and lower well-being among older adults. Sleep disturbances are an unmet public health problem, and may be an important target for public health initiatives to improve mental health and well-being among older adults.

scholarly journals The effect of COVID-19 on mental well-being in Switzerland: a cross-sectional survey of the adult Swiss general population

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Diaz Hernandez ◽  
Stéphanie Giezendanner ◽  
Roland Fischer ◽  
Andreas Zeller
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Mental Health Concerns ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background In addition to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic to physical health, mental health is challenged by the emotional response to the situation and the official measures taken to stop the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of impaired mental well-being due to COVID-19 and explore associated factors. Methods The study was an observational, population-based, nationwide, cross-sectional online survey of a representative sample of the general Swiss population performed between March and April 2020. Participants reported on mental well-being, self-isolation/quarantine, their risk for developing severe COVID-19, and their work situation. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed risk factors for impaired mental well-being due to the pandemic. Results Data from 1022 individuals were analysed. The median age was 44 years (range 18 to 78) and 49% were women. A third of respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic impaired their mental well-being and almost half reported specific mental health concerns. Impaired mental well-being was associated with having health problems (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.29–2.74, vs no problems), being or living with someone at risk for severe COVID-19 (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1–1.9,), smoking (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.24–2.61), living in urban residential environments (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.13–2.32, vs rural), not being able to work due to closed workplace (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.04–2.67), aged between 18 and 29 years old (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.32–3.01, vs 45 to 59 years old), and living in a single household (living with someone, OR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.97,vs single household). Overall, the most significant covariates of impaired mental well-being were specific mental health concerns: feeling depressed (OR = 7.21, 95% CI: 4.5–11.55), feeling less pleasure in doing things than before (OR = 6.28, 95% CI: 4.1–9.62), feeling anxious (OR = 6.13, 95% CI: 3.91–9.59) and feeling lonely (OR = 4.08, 95% CI: 2.53–6.58). Conclusion Impaired mental well-being can carry long-term consequences. We encourage policymakers to implement strategies to promote mental health during this pandemic situation. Special attention should be addressed to the youngest, those at risk for severe COVID-19 and those with government-imposed work restrictions.

Sports person psychological behaviour signal analysis during Thfeir activity session

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Priyan Malarvizhi Kumar ◽  
Adhiyaman Manickam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Sports Activity ◽  
Sport And Exercise ◽  
Mental Well Being

Mental well-being is a significant resource for athletes about their success and growth. Athletes are now facing additional risk factors in mental health in the sporting community, such as heavy workout loads, rough races, and demanding lifestyles. The great difficulty is to diagnose conditions and acquire sport and exercise features that contribute to daily or long-term practice to detrimental emotional reactions. In this paper, the sports activity session monitoring system (SASMS) has been proposed using wearable devices and EEG signal by monitoring the sports person’s heart rate and psychological behaviour. The proposed SASMS mental-health analysis focused on model spectrum forms representing the best results, mental illness, and mental health. The paper’s key conclusions concerned with the athletes’ performance, occupational and personal advancement of athletes in mental health problems, strategies intended to track and sustain athletes’ mental health, and outflow of different mental illness types. This research’s findings provide the basis for implementing actions that promote a healthy emotional state in the sport to enhance activity and fitness.

scholarly journals A Pragmatic Plan for the Mental Health Consequences During Covid-19 Pandemic Through Ayurveda

2021 ◽  
pp. 86-90
Author(s):  
Harshitha K.S ◽  
Shankar Gautam ◽  
Ram Kishor Joshi ◽  
Ajay Kumar Sahu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Complete Health ◽  
The Times ◽  
Mental Well Being

Introduction: Beyond infection, the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected individuals through associated mental illnesses like anxiety and stress and has caused a collateral damage. Ayurveda has described 3 main factors which are responsible for the occurrence of diseases, one of them is Prajnaparadha, which is stated as the main cause for all the mental illness. The threefold treatment principles of Daivavyapashraya, Yuktivyapashraya and Satvavajaya targeting the Ahara, Achara and Chesta is an ideal plan to deal with stress built up in this pandemic. Materials and methods: The Ayurvedic classical textbooks and the peer reviewed articles focusing mental health researches were reviewed. This plan involves the implementation of Daivavyapashraya, Yuktivyapashaya and Satvavajaya based on the exposure and exhibition of symptoms of COVID-19. Daivavyapashraya Chikitsa is employed by Vishnusahasranama recitation/listening, Yuktivyapashraya Chikitsa is employed by the various drugs like Bramhi, Shankapushpi, Ashwagandha etc. and formulations which have psycho-neuro-immune-response, Satvavajaya Chikitsa by the process of counseling. Results and Discussion: The interdependent nature of immunity and psychological state is already well established and it decides the outcome of disorders. An immune response can be largely affected by mental well-being and mental illness can negatively affect its outcome. Conclusion: The three fold treatment plan centering the pshycho-neuro-immune action is a complete health promotive, preventive and curative plan and will certainly help in the revival of mental health in the times and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Practicing Other-Focused Kindness and Self-Focused Kindness Among Those at Risk for Mental Illness: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Katherine Nelson-Coffey ◽  
Ernst T. Bohlmeijer ◽  
Marijke Schotanus-Dijkstra
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Waitlist Control ◽  
Dutch Sample ◽  
Mental Well Being

People with reduced levels of mental well-being might be at risk for developing future mental illness. Although several positive psychology interventions successfully improve mental well-being and psychological distress, less is known about their efficacy in a sample at risk for mental disorders. A Dutch sample of 289 participants with low or moderate levels of well-being were randomly assigned to other-focused kindness with reflection, other-focused kindness without reflection, self-focused kindness, or waitlist control (Trial register: NTR6786). Results of multilevel growth curve analyses revealed that other-focused kindness, but not self-focused kindness, led to improvements in the primary outcome mental well-being relative to waitlist control up to 6-week follow-up. By contrast, only other-focused kindness without reflection led to improvements in psychological distress. The three kindness conditions mainly did not differ from one another, and mainly no differences were found up to 6-months follow-up. An exception was that perceived stress was significantly more reduced up to 6-week and 6-months follow-up when people practiced other-focused kindness without reflection then when participants had practiced self-focused kindness. These findings point to the benefits of practicing kindness for others when people might be at risk for future mental illness. The study also indicates that reflecting about practicing kindness does not seem to have added value.

Policy challenges

2018 ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia A. Huppert ◽  
Kai Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Diverse Populations ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
Uniform Definition ◽  
Mental Well Being

Taking a whole-population perspective, the chapter argues that improved well-being is the most important outcome of policy. Despite growing awareness of its importance, accepting the primacy of well-being has been a challenge within public mental health because there has been no uniform definition or measure, nor consensus on how to apply such a subjective concept across diverse populations. Confusion created by using terms such as happiness, or the continuing tendency to equate mental well-being with lack of mental illness, have created barriers to gaining widespread agreement on the importance of well-being in policy. In this chapter, historical approaches to defining well-being, issues of measurement, and evidence underpinning well-being interventions are explored. The chapter closes with a proposal on how best to consider well-being as an outcome, making use of the evidence in driving public mental health policy.

scholarly journals Persistent Food Insecurity Is Associated with Adverse Mental Health among Women Living with or at Risk of HIV in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L Tuthill ◽  
Lila A Sheira ◽  
Kartika Palar ◽  
Edward A Frongillo ◽  
Tracey E Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Mental Well Being

Abstract Background Food insecurity and mental health negatively affect the lives of women in the United States. Participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) provided the opportunity to understand the association of food insecurity with depression and mental well-being over time. Objective We investigated the association between current and persistent food insecurity and depression among women at risk of or living with HIV in the United States. Methods We used longitudinal data from the WIHS, a prospective cohort study in women at risk of or living with HIV from multiple sites in the United States. Participants completed 6 semiannual assessments from 2013 to 2016 on food security (FS; high, marginal, low, and very low) and mental health (i.e., depressive symptoms and mental well-being). We used multiple regression analysis to estimate the association between these variables. Results Among 2551 participants, 44% were food insecure and 35% reported depressive symptoms indicative of probable depression. Current marginal, low, and very low FS were associated with 2.1-, 3.5-, and 5.5-point (all P < 0.001) higher depression scores, respectively. In models adjusting for both current and previous FS, previous marginal, low, and very low FS were associated with 0.2-, 0.93-, and 1.52-point higher scores, respectively (all P < 0.001). Women with very low FS at both time points (persistent food insecurity) had a 6.86-point higher depression score (P < 0.001). In the mental health models, there was a dose-response relation between current FS and worse mental health even when controlling for previous FS (all P < 0.001). Previous low FS was associated with worse mental health. These associations did not differ by HIV status. Conclusions Food insecurity placed women at risk of depression and poor mental well-being, but the risk was substantially higher for women experiencing persistent food insecurity. Future interventions to improve women's mental health call for multilevel components that include addressing food insecurity.

scholarly journals Mental Health of Young Australians during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Roles of Employment Precarity, Screen Time, and Contact with Nature

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5630
Author(s):  
Tassia K. Oswald ◽  
Alice R. Rumbold ◽  
Sophie G. E. Kedzior ◽  
Mark Kohler ◽  
Vivienne M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Young People ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Core Beliefs ◽  
Health States ◽  
Precarious Employment ◽  
Mental Well Being

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is widely understood to have contributed to mental health problems. In Australia, young people (18–24 years) have been disproportionately affected. To date, research has predominantly focused on the presence or absence of mental illness symptoms, while aspects of mental well-being have been overlooked. We aimed to explore associations between potential risk and protective factors and mental health more comprehensively, using the Complete State Model of Mental Health. An online survey of 1004 young Australians (55% female; M age = 21.23) was undertaken. Assessment of both mental illness and mental well-being enabled participants to be cross-classified into four mental health states. Those with ‘Floundering’ (13%) or ‘Struggling’ (47.5%) mental health reported symptoms of mental illness; a ‘Languishing’ group (25.5%) did not report symptoms of mental illness but mental well-being was compromised relative to those who were ‘Flourishing’ (14%) with high mental well-being. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to examine associations, adjusting for socio-demographic confounders. Protective factors associated with Flourishing mental health included being in secure employment, using screen time to connect with others, and reporting high levels of hope. Both incidental and purposive contact with nature were also associated with Flourishing, while a lack of green/bluespace within walking distance was associated with Languishing, absence of outdoor residential space was associated with Floundering, and lower neighbourhood greenness was associated with all three suboptimal mental health states. Precarious employment, financial stress, living alone, reporting decreased screen time during lockdowns, lower levels of hope, and high disruption of core beliefs were also associated with Struggling and Floundering mental health. Those who were Languishing reported somewhat less hardship and little disruption to core beliefs, but lower levels of hope compared to young people who were Flourishing. This study highlights that young adults require dedicated mental health services to deal with current burden, but should also be supported through a range of preventive strategies which target mental health risk factors, like precarious employment, and enhance protective factors, such as urban green infrastructure.

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