scholarly journals Professional Interaction in Mental Health Courts: Processing Defendants with Mental Illness

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monte Staton
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Symbolic Interaction ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Mental Health Courts ◽  
Mandated Treatment ◽  
Probation Supervision

In this paper, the author presents ethnographic research and analysis of how criminal justice and mental health professionals interact with each other and with criminal defendants with mental illness in running a mental health court (MHC) program. Ethnographic field research included observations of court programs, interviews of professionals, and gathering of textual documents, at nine MHCs in a Midwestern state. In MHC criminal defendants with mental illness participate in a program of regular court appearances, probation supervision, and mandated treatment, rather than being incarcerated in jail or prison. The author utilized the symbolic interaction perspective and examined how the professionals work together to select participants and judge their performances. Professionals interact and share case documents in socially constructing the participant. They operate the program as a filter so that a relatively small number of the population of incarcerated persons with severe mental illness in the state successfully graduate from the program. Implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Mental health problems, benefits and tackling discrimination

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 200-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Galloway ◽  
Billy Boland ◽  
Gareth Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Advisory Board ◽  
Policy Institute

SummaryPoverty is strongly associated with mental illness. Access to state benefits can be a lifeline for people with mental health problems in times of hardship and can assist them on their journey of recovery. However, benefit application processes can discriminate against those with mental illness and can result in individuals unjustly missing out on support. Clinical evidence from mental health professionals can ameliorate these challenges and ensure that people get access to financial help.Declaration of interestDr Billy Boland is on the advisory board of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute.

Introduction to This Guide

2017 ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Kari M. Eddington ◽  
Timothy J. Strauman ◽  
Angela Z. Vieth ◽  
Gregory G. Kolden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
System Therapy ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Single Approach

Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and mental health professionals in a variety of practice settings have witnessed its debilitating effects. Many pathways can lead to depression, and no single approach to treatment is successful for all clients. Chapter 1 provides an overview of self-system therapy (SST), a treatment approach that targets deficits in self-regulation. Research has shown that SST is as effective overall as cognitive therapy and that it leads to better outcomes for a subset of depressed clients who struggle with self-regulation. Suggestions are given for how the Therapist Guide and Client Workbook should be used for the treatment of depression.

scholarly journals Resilience and associative stigma among mental health professionals in a tertiary psychiatric hospital: a cross-sectional study in Singapore

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e033762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherilyn Chang ◽  
Louisa Picco ◽  
Edimansyah Abdin ◽  
Qi Yuan ◽  
Siow Ann Chong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Family Member ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Close Friend ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Associative Stigma

ObjectivesThe mental health profession exposes healthcare workers to unique stressors such as associative stigma (stigmatisation that is extended from the stigmatised patients to psychiatric professionals and is based on affiliation with an individual with mental illness). Enhancing resilience, or the ability to ‘bounce back’ from adversity, is found to be useful in reducing occupational stress and its negative effects. In view of the high burnout rates reported among mental health professionals, this study aimed to examine resilience in this group of professionals and to explore the association between resilience and associative stigma.DesignObservational study—cross-sectional design.SettingTertiary psychiatry hospital in Singapore.ParticipantsThe study was conducted among 470 mental health professionals (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals) working in the hospital.MeasuresResilience was assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and participants completed questionnaires that examined associative stigma. Participants provided their sociodemographic information, length of service, and information on whether they knew of a close friend or family member who had a mental illness.ResultsMean resilience score for the overall sample was 3.59 (SD=0.64). Older age (β=0.012, 95% CI 0.004 to 0.019, p=0.003) and having known a family member or close friend with a mental illness (β=0.155, 95% CI 0.019 to 0.290, p=0.025) predicted higher BRS score. Associative stigma remained significantly associated with resilience score after controlling for sociodemographic factors whereby higher associative stigma predicted lower resilience scores.ConclusionThe present finding suggests that resilience building programmes among mental health workers should target those of the younger age group, and that addressing the issue of associative stigma is essential.

Knowledge of Patients’ Voting Rights Amongst Mental Health Professionals Working in The London Borough of Westminster During The 2015 Uk General Election

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S450-S450
Author(s):  
T. MacLaren ◽  
J. Townell ◽  
S. Shanmugham ◽  
V. Argent ◽  
L. De Ridder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Voting Rights ◽  
General Election ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Inpatient Settings

IntroductionBeing able to participate in elections and to vote are important components of social inclusion; empowering people with mental illness to have a voice.It is important that mental health professionals understand the voting rights of adults with mental illness in order to be able to provide appropriate advice and support.ObjectivesTo explore knowledge of the voting rights of adults living with mental illness amongst mental health professionals working in both community and inpatient settings in Westminster, London.AimsTo understand the level of knowledge amongst mental health professionals regarding the voting rights of patients with mental illness in order to identify unmet training needs.MethodsA survey, in the form of a staff quiz was undertaken in all community and inpatient teams prior to the May 2015 general election. All multidisciplinary team members were included.Resultsin total, 211 surveys were completed. Ninety-eight percent of staff correctly identified that being a psychiatric inpatient does not change an individual's right to vote. Less than 50% of the staff members demonstrated correct understanding of the rights of patients detained under forensic sections, and the rights of the homeless to vote.ConclusionsIt is encouraging that knowledge of voting rights amongst staff appeared higher in our survey than in some published surveys. However, despite the development of a Trust Voting Rights Policy and Educational Film prior to the 2015 general election further staff education, particularly the rights of those detained under forensic sections or who are homeless, is required.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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