scholarly journals Assessment of Stigma-by-Association amongst Nurses Working in Mental Health Units

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Taghreed B. Almuzini ◽  
Ghada M. Hamouda ◽  
Loujain S. Sharif

Context: Stigma-by-association affects not only people with mental health problems and psychiatric patients or their families but also nurses working in the mental health field. Stigma-by-association among nurses working in mental health units can lead to some nurses feeling ashamed and embarrassed when discussing their work. Aim: To assess stigma-by-association amongst nurses working in mental health units. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at a governmental psychiatric and mental health hospital and two private general hospitals that were not specialized in psychiatric health but had mental health units in Jeddah City. A convenience sampling technique was implemented. The data were collected from 160 registered nurses working in mental health units. The study tools included the Clinician Associative Stigma Scale (CASS) used to measure stigma-by-association among nurses working in mental health units; it consists of 18 statements. Besides, two open-ended questions to measure suggestions and embarrassing situations of nurses working in mental health units about stigma-by- association. Results: The result of the current study revealed that embarrassing situations occurred to nurses working in mental health units that have caused the stigma-by-association. Nurses in both hospitals display a moderate level of stigma by association with a mean percentage of 65.68% among nurses in the government hospital and 69.4% among nurses in the private hospital. The nurses have also suggested that families, patients, and society could be educated on mental illnesses and the role of mental health nurses. Conclusions: This study concludes that the nurses working in mental health units in both government and private hospitals had a moderate stigma-by-association level. Stigma by association among nurses who work in mental health units has also been found to be related to age and years of experience. The study highlighted that psychiatry workshops could help nurses working in the mental health field. Future research is required to identify the causes of stigma-by-association among nurses working in mental health units in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

2022 ◽  
Vol 2022 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Jetli Chung ◽  
Jason Teo

The increase of mental health problems and the need for effective medical health care have led to an investigation of machine learning that can be applied in mental health problems. This paper presents a recent systematic review of machine learning approaches in predicting mental health problems. Furthermore, we will discuss the challenges, limitations, and future directions for the application of machine learning in the mental health field. We collect research articles and studies that are related to the machine learning approaches in predicting mental health problems by searching reliable databases. Moreover, we adhere to the PRISMA methodology in conducting this systematic review. We include a total of 30 research articles in this review after the screening and identification processes. Then, we categorize the collected research articles based on the mental health problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and mental health problems among children. Discussing the findings, we reflect on the challenges and limitations faced by the researchers on machine learning in mental health problems. Additionally, we provide concrete recommendations on the potential future research and development of applying machine learning in the mental health field.


Author(s):  
Ruth D Neill ◽  
Carolyn Blair ◽  
Paul Best ◽  
Emily McGlinchey ◽  
Cherie Armour

Abstract Aim As individuals adjust to new ‘norms’ and ways of living during the COVID-19 lockdown, there is a continuing need for up-to-date information and guidance. Evidence suggests that frequent media exposure is related to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to determine whether COVID-19 related media consumption is associated with changes in mental health outcomes. Methods This paper presents baseline data from the COVID-19 Psychological Wellbeing Study. The cross-sectional study data was collected using an online survey following the Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with some other basic information collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the influence of socio-demographic and media specific factors on anxiety and depression. Results The study suggested that media usage is statistically significantly associated with anxiety and depression on the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales with excessive media exposure related to higher anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion This study indicated that higher media consumption was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression. Worldwide it should be acknowledged that excessive media consumption, particularly social media relating to COVID-19, can have an effect on mental health. However, as this was a cross-sectional study we cannot infer any directionality as we cannot infer cause and effect; therefore, future research involving longitudinal data collection and analyses of variables over time is warranted.


Author(s):  
Ji-Yeon Shin ◽  
Jiseun Lim ◽  
Myung Ki ◽  
Yeong-Jun Song ◽  
Heeran Chun ◽  
...  

Magnitudes of health inequalities present consequences of socioeconomic impact on each health problem. To provide knowledge on the size of health problems in terms of socioeconomic burden, we examined the magnitudes and patterns of health inequalities across 12 health problems. A total of 17,292 participants older than 30 years were drawn from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010–2012). The age-adjusted prevalence ratios were compared across socioeconomic positions (SEPs) based on income, education, and occupation. The magnitudes of socioeconomic inequalities varied across 12 health problems and, in general, the patterns of socioeconomic inequalities were similar among groups of health problems (i.e., non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, and subjective health states). Significant health inequalities across NCDs, such as diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and arthritis, were observed mainly in women. Socioeconomic inequalities in mental health problems, such as depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts, were profound for both genders and across SEP measures. Significant socioeconomic inequalities were also observed for subjective health. No or weak associations were observed for injury and HBV infection. The patterns of socioeconomic inequalities were similar among groups of health problems. Mental illnesses appeared to require prioritization of socioeconomic approaches for improvement in terms of absolute prevalence and relative socioeconomic distribution.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Rubin

Introduction: This study tested a novel explanation for the positive relation between social class and mental healthamong university students. Students with a higher social class were expected to have experienced more authoritativeand less authoritarian parenting styles; these parenting styles were expected to lead to greater friendship and socialintegration at university; and greater friendship and integration were expected to lead to better mental health.Method: To test this model, the researchers asked 397 Australian undergraduate students to complete an online survey.The research used a cross-sectional correlational design, and the data was analysed using bootstrapped multiple serialmediation tests.Results: Consistent with predictions, parenting style, general friendship and support, and social integration at universitymediated the relation between social class and mental health.Conclusions: The present results suggest that working-class parenting styles may inhibit the development ofsocially-supportive friendships that protect against mental health problems. The potential effectiveness ofinterventions based on (a) social integration and (b) parenting style is discussed. Future research in this areashould employ a longitudinal research design in order to arrive at clearer causal conclusions about therelations between social class, parenting styles, friendship, social integration, and mental health.


Author(s):  
Herni Susanti (Corresponding author) ◽  
Ice Yulia Wardani ◽  
Eka Malfa Sari

Government policies and legislation can in fl uence the mental health of the population, including the families of people with serious mental illnesses. Recently, mental health policies in Indonesia have focused on human right of the individuals with mental illnesses, and this may explain why there has been little emphasis on supporting families in Indonesia. A policy review was conducted to identify the government guidance related to the directives for mental health services to support the families of people with serious mental illnesses in the country. A systematic review approach was undertaken for 16 relevant documents related to policies, standards, and guidelines of mental health services for the families of people with serious mental illnesses in Indonesia. The fi ndings of this policy review suggest that there are signi fi cant challenges for mental health services in Indonesia to support the families on behalf of their needs and wellbeing. The crux of the matter is that there have been policies that should be useful to professional, families and services users, yet problems to access these documents may exist. The information from the policy review can enhance the understanding about current mental health services in Indonesia. It is also a valuable source to direct an investigation about what Indonesian families want from the services. This study expects recommendations to respond to the needs which are practical and realistic based on the country’s own limitations in terms of policy support and information access.


2021 ◽  
pp. 263207702199826
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Pavlacic ◽  
Stefan E. Schulenberg ◽  
Erin M. Buchanan

Values-based interventions encourage engagement in valued living as a means to promote psychological well-being. Valued living is best operationalized as ongoing, reinforcing behavioral patterns consistent with idiographic values that facilitate psychological well-being and improved mental health. Cross-sectional research illustrates positive associations between valued living and well-being and negative associations between valued living and psychopathology. However, it is important to have an understanding of different daily-level factors that predict fluctuations in valued living. Consistent with cognitive and behavioral models, meaning may positively relate to engagement in valued living, while experiential avoidance negatively relates to valued living. To address these relationships at the daily level, we systematically examined valued living, meaning, and experiential avoidance using ecological momentary assessment across 14 days with 73 college students. Multilevel modeling supported a positive relationship between meaning (i.e., at both the within- and between-person level) and daily valued living, above and beyond the within-person effects of experiential avoidance. The results elucidate a daily link between valued living and aspects of well-being. Further, these results show that constructs commonly assessed cross-sectionally fluctuate at the daily level, which sets the stage for future research programs that examine factors promoting and inhibiting fluctuations in meaning, experiential avoidance, and valued living. These results have important implications for prevention of mental health problems and promotion of psychological well-being.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinman Zhuang ◽  
Guoxi Cai ◽  
Yixiao Lu ◽  
Yulan Lin ◽  
Liping Ping Wong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Anxiety plays an important role in psychology, explore the anxiety and its chain reactions can provide a good insight of the measures to address mental health problem caused by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) epidemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study using data collected via an online self-reported questionnaire was conduct on Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) to assess the level of anxiety, and explore the relationship of anxiety STAI-6 Score, sources of COVID-19 information, the influences of COVID-19, social anxiety symptoms, discrimination, and evaluation toward the government. Results: 4,127 participants were included to the analysis. The level of anxiety is not equally distributed across the general population with different age, gender, educational level, occupation, income, presence of underlying disease and location (P<0.05). The numbers of sources to get information about COVID-19 have a positive correlation with STAI-6 Score (Spearman’rho=0.176, P<0.001). The influences caused by the pandemic are related to moderate-severe anxiety. Then the high level of anxiety would add to social anxiety (Spearman’rho=0.04, P<0.05) and discrimination behaviors (Spearman’rho=0.11, P<0.01). Generalized additive model shows that high anxiety would lower the responders’ evaluations of the preventive measures took by either national government or local government. Conclusions: Our findings provide a statistical evidence for the chain reaction of anxiety, that anxiety reactions may vary in predictable ways. Further researches can focus on what types of strategic interventions can cut the chain response of anxiety, in order to address the mental health problems in a pandemic.


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.


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