scholarly journals THE CULTIVATING SEEDS SYSTEM™ (CSS™): A POTENTIAL FRAMEWORK TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Larrier ◽  
Monica D. Allen ◽  
Irwin M.H. Larrier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Treatment Research

Global mental health research is continuing to unearth the multiple systemic barriers that over 80% of the world’s population experiences in their search for cultural, contextual, and efficient mental health treatment and services. The widespread gaps and shortages in treatment, research, interventions, financial resources, and mental health care specialists are enduring and expansive thus leaving behind many communities and societies in low and middle income countries and high income countries. Whereas there are numerous approaches to these gaps, this article proposes a re-conceptualized approach to the promotion, practice, and intervention of mental health services locally and globally, with the Cultivating SEEDS System (CSS™) framework. This framework addresses two of the most prevalent barriers – the stigma associated with accessing mental health care resources, and the lack of mental health care professionals.

scholarly journals Challenges to peer support in low- and middle-income countries during COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Mpango ◽  
Jasmine Kalha ◽  
Donat Shamba ◽  
Mary Ramesh ◽  
Fileuka Ngakongwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Middle Income Countries

Abstract Background A recent editorial urged those working in global mental health to “change the conversation” on coronavirus disease (Covid-19) by putting more focus on the needs of people with severe mental health conditions. UPSIDES (Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering mental health Services) is a six-country consortium carrying out implementation research on peer support for people with severe mental health conditions in high- (Germany, Israel), lower middle- (India) and low-income (Tanzania, Uganda) settings. This commentary briefly outlines some of the key challenges faced by UPSIDES sites in low- and middle-income countries as a result of Covid-19, sharing early lessons that may also apply to other services seeking to address the needs of people with severe mental health conditions in similar contexts. Challenges and lessons learned The key take-away from experiences in India, Tanzania and Uganda is that inequalities in terms of access to mobile technologies, as well as to secure employment and benefits, put peer support workers in particularly vulnerable situations precisely when they and their peers are also at their most isolated. Establishing more resilient peer support services requires attention to the already precarious situation of people with severe mental health conditions in low-resource settings, even before a crisis like Covid-19 occurs. While it is essential to maintain contact with peer support workers and peers to whatever extent is possible remotely, alternatives to face-to-face delivery of psychosocial interventions are not always straightforward to implement and can make it more difficult to observe individuals’ reactions, talk about emotional issues and offer appropriate support. Conclusions In environments where mental health care was already heavily medicalized and mostly limited to medications issued by psychiatric institutions, Covid-19 threatens burgeoning efforts to pursue a more holistic and person-centered model of care for people with severe mental health conditions. As countries emerge from lockdown, those working in global mental health will need to redouble their efforts not only to make up for lost time and help individuals cope with the added stressors of Covid-19 in their communities, but also to regain lost ground in mental health care reform and in broader conversations about mental health in low-resource settings.

Working with traditional healers to reduce the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries

2018 ◽  
pp. 559-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Ndetei ◽  
Christine W. Musyimi ◽  
Erick S. Nandoya ◽  
Lydia Matoke ◽  
Victoria N. Mutiso
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Mental Health Treatment Gap

Traditional healers have a unique role to play, especially in resource-limited settings. Although more than half of the community members in Africa consult healers, the majority of them have no formal training and thus identify and treat mental illness through experience or apprenticeship. The duration of training can take from several weeks to years, depending on the ability of the apprentice or the individual’s motivation to learn. An informal certification or being given the mandate to treat patients is certified by the trainer who is mostly a fellow healer or an older relative. This chapter discusses the roles, knowledge, attitude, and practice of traditional healers in mental health care, as well as unwarranted practices that have been regulated through the Traditional Health Practitioners’ Bill and Act. Recommendations for future plans to encourage their participation in mental health care are also outlined at the end of the chapter.

Disaster Management in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-369
Author(s):  
Katie A. Willson ◽  
Gerard J. FitzGerald ◽  
David Lim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Primary Health

AbstractObjective:This scoping review aims to map the roles of rural and remote primary health care professionals (PHCPs) during disasters.Introduction:Disasters can have catastrophic impacts on society and are broadly classified into natural events, man-made incidents, or a mixture of both. The PHCPs working in rural and remote communities face additional challenges when dealing with disasters and have significant roles during the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR) stages of disaster management.Methods:A Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology was utilized, and the search was conducted over seven electronic databases according to a priori protocol.Results:Forty-one papers were included and sixty-one roles were identified across the four stages of disaster management. The majority of disasters described within the literature were natural events and pandemics. Before a disaster occurs, PHCPs can build individual resilience through education. As recognized and respected leaders within their community, PHCPs are invaluable in assisting with disaster preparedness through being involved in organizations’ planning policies and contributing to natural disaster and pandemic surveillance. Key roles during the response stage include accommodating patient surge, triage, maintaining the health of the remaining population, instituting infection control, and ensuring a team-based approach to mental health care during the disaster. In the aftermath and recovery stage, rural and remote PHCPs provide long-term follow up, assisting patients in accessing post-disaster support including delivery of mental health care.Conclusion:Rural and remote PHCPs play significant roles within their community throughout the continuum of disaster management. As a consequence of their flexible scope of practice, PHCPs are well-placed to be involved during all stages of disaster, from building of community resilience and contributing to early alert of pandemics, to participating in the direct response when a disaster occurs and leading the way to recovery.

scholarly journals Effective Treatment Interventions for Global Mental Health: An Analysis of Biomedical and Psychosocial Approaches in Use Today

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-14
Author(s):  
Michael Galvin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Psychosocial Treatment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Public Health Workers ◽  
The Right ◽  
Psychosocial Approaches

We are in an important moment for mental health treatment around the world, as many Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) – representing an increasing majority of the world’s population – are currently developing and scaling up services for the first time. Yet, research on Global Mental Health (GMH) best practices remains scattered and difficult to synthesize. This review aims to simplify existing GMH research on effective biomedical and psychosocial treatment approaches from both high-income countries and LMICs to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of existing interventions, based on the highest quality, up-to-date research. By understanding which treatments are most effective and why, we can begin to not only implement more effective practices, but guide the future of GMH research in the right directions. The purpose of this review is therefore to understand mental illness, what it is, how it was treated in the past, how it manifests differently around the globe, and how to best treat it. Ultimately, while psychosocial approaches are advised for patients with more mild to moderate disorders, medications and other biomedical approaches are recommended increasingly only for more severe cases. While significant evidence exists to justify the use of psychotropic medications for mental illness, their adverse effects indicate that psychosocial approaches should be prioritized as first line treatments, particularly for mild to moderate disorders. As one of the first to analyze this research, this review is useful not only for GMH scholars, but for practitioners and public health workers globally, as well.

scholarly journals Romanian GPs Involvement in Caring for the Mental Health Problems of the Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Sfetcu ◽  
Daciana Toma ◽  
Catalina Tudose ◽  
Cristian Vladescu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
National Society

The mental health of the elderly is a matter of increased concern in the context of an aging population since currently only a small fraction of this population is receiving adequate care. The provision of treatment in primary care by the General Practitioners (GPs) has been proposed for over a decade as a potential solution, as services offered by GPs are more accessible, less susceptible to stigma, and have a more comprehensive view of the other health care problems that the elderly might suffer from. In this study, we explored the perception of Romanian GPs regarding their practice and roles in caring for the mental health of the elderly as well as the willingness to increase their future involvement in the management of dementia and other mental health problems. Data was collected via an online questionnaire structured on four dimensions: (1) GPs' sociodemographic profile and practice characteristics, (2) GPs assessment of the services available for elderly with mental health problems, (3) GPs current involvement in mental health care for different categories of problems, and (4) factors that might influence the future involvement of GPs in providing care for elderly with mental health problems. The survey was sent via the member mailing lists of the National Society for Family Medicine. Results show that GPs are currently limited by prescribing possibilities, available resources and knowledge in the area, but they are willing to expand their role in the areas of early recognition and prevention of mental health problems as well as providing disease management and collaborative care. An improved communication with mental health care professionals, a better access to resources and having more financial incentives are the three most important categories for GPs to increase their involvement. In conclusion, increasing the access to personal and professional resources and setting up functional communication channels with specialized mental health care could motivate GPs to provide timely mental health support to elderly patients.

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