scholarly journals “Tell Me When ‘Normal’ Stops”: How Parents Recognized Their Child’s Mental Illness

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Salgado

Many parents do not recognize psychological disorder, and current mental health service delivery programs are not sufficiently responsive to the early help-seeking dynamics of families. This mixed-methods study explored Colorado parents’ experiences of recognizing their child’s mental illness as a precursor to seeking treatment, revealing that the phenomenon of parental recognition was a process of “waiting to hear that ‘normal’ had stopped,” wherein parents miscategorized symptoms as typical behaviors in a passing developmental phase. Prior experience with mental illness appeared to significantly decrease both the length of time and the level of distress necessary for recognition. Ultimately, recognition did not occur until someone in the parents’ social network explicitly validated their concerns, which galvanized them to seek treatment. The results of this study can have wide applications for positive social change, because many chronic mental disorders manifest in childhood and benefit from early and sustained treatment. Further, mental health underscores many societal issues such as homelessness, school dropout rates, child abuse and neglect, foster care, and prison overpopulation. Positive social change and parental recognition can be promoted through public policies and programs such as universal mental health screening, mental health literacy, and school and health policies that are more supportive and responsive to the early help-seeking needs of children and families

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Darren Mills

<p>Recovery is a conceptual model that underpins New Zealand’s mental health service delivery in the 21st century. This thesis explores how recovery emerged historically as an influential philosophy and how representations of recovery have changed to meet the needs of different groups. An inquiry, based on Foucault’s genealogical method, investigates the historical and contemporary forces of power that have shaped the construction of mental illness, and the development of methods and techniques to support and manage persons labelled as mentally ill. The normalisation of knowledge developed during 19th century psychiatric practice provided a context for later critique and resistance from movements that highlighted the oppressive power of psychiatric discourse. Key to the critique were the antipsychiatry and service user movements, which provided the conditions for the possibility of the emergence of recovery as a dominant discourse. Since its emergence, recovery has moved through a number of representations as it was taken up by different groups. A significant shift in the 21st century has been the dominance of neo-liberal discourse based on consumerism, a rolling back of the state, and an emphasis on individual responsibility. The implications of this shift for users and providers of services and their effects on current representations of recovery conclude the inquiry.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Thomas ◽  
Fiona Foley ◽  
Katrina Lindblom ◽  
Stuart Lee

Objectives: The Internet is increasingly used in mental health service delivery, but there are significant potential barriers to Internet access for persons with severe mental illness (SMI). There is a need to understand this group’s access to, and confidence with using, the Internet, and current views on using online resources as part of mental healthcare. Method: A survey was conducted of 100 consumers attending a specialist mental health service in Melbourne, Australia. Results: Approximately three-quarters of participants had regular access to the Internet, and two-thirds used the Internet weekly or more. Half of the sample used email at least weekly, and a third were regular users of social networking sites. Internet access was often via mobile devices. Only a minority of participants used the Internet for mental health information, with video streaming and general websites accessed more often than peer forums for mental health content. Most participants were positive about their mental health worker using tablet computers with them in appointments for delivery of mental health materials. Conclusion: Most people with SMI are active Internet users and, therefore, able to use interventions online.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onaiza Qureshi ◽  
Tarik Endale ◽  
Grace Ryan ◽  
Georgina Miguel-Esponda ◽  
Srividya N. Iyer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Research within global mental health (GMH) has extensively documented how contextual factors like political instability, poverty and poorly-funded health infrastructures continue to compromise effective and equitable mental health service delivery. There is a need to develop more feasible and evidence-based solutions through implementation research. This paper, one in a series pertaining to implementation in GMH projects worldwide, focuses on implementation factors influencing mental health service delivery.Methods: This is a qualitative study carried out as part of a Theory of Change-driven evaluation of Grand Challenges Canada’s (GCC’s) global mental health portfolio. Purposive sampling was used to recruit twenty-nine GCC grantees for interviews. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the interviews which were recorded and subsequently transcribed. Transcripts were double-coded and analyzed in NVIVO 11 using framework analysis. This paper reports results related to detection and treatment of mental illness, mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness.Results: Key barriers included: lack of appropriate human resources and expertise for service delivery; lack of culturally appropriate screening tools and interventions; and difficulties integrating services with the existing mental health system. Formative research was a key driver facilitating the cultural adaptation of mental health detection, treatment, promotion and preventative approaches. Recruiting local providers and utilizing mHealth for improving screening, monitoring and data management were also found to be successful approaches in reducing workforce burden, improving sustainability, mental health literacy, participant engagement and uptake.Conclusions: The study identifies a number of key barriers to and drivers of successful service delivery from the perspective of grantees implementing GMH projects. Findings highlight several opportunities to mitigate common challenges, providing recommendations for strengthening systems- and project-level approaches for delivering mental health services. Further, more inclusive research is required to inform guidance around service delivery for successful implementation, better utilization of funding and improving mental health outcomes among vulnerable populations in low-resource settings.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Parker ◽  
Frances Dark ◽  
Gabrielle Vilic ◽  
Karen McCann ◽  
Ruth O'Sullivan ◽  
...  

Purpose – A novel integrated staffing model for community-based residential rehabilitation services is described. The purpose of this paper is to achieve synergistic gains through meaningful integration of peer support and clinical workers within rehabilitation teams. Key features include the majority of roles within the team being held by persons with a lived experience of mental illness, the active collaboration between peer and clinical workers throughout all stages of a consumer’s rehabilitation journey, and an organizational structure that legitimizes and emphasizes the importance of peer work within public mental health service delivery. This staffing model is not anticipated to alter the core rehabilitation function and service models. Design/methodology/approach – The emergence of the integrated staffing model is described with reference to the policy and planning context, the evidence base for peer support, and the organizational setting. A conceptual and contextualized description of the staffing model in practice as compared to a traditional clinical staffing model is provided. Findings – There is a potential for synergistic benefits through the direct collaboration between horizontally integrated peer and clinical specialists within a unified team working toward a common goal. This staffing model is novel and untested, and will be subjected to ongoing evaluation. Originality/value – The integrated staffing model may provide a pathway to achieving valued and valuable roles for peer workers working alongside clinical staff in providing rehabilitation support to people affected by serious mental illness.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Darren Mills

<p>Recovery is a conceptual model that underpins New Zealand’s mental health service delivery in the 21st century. This thesis explores how recovery emerged historically as an influential philosophy and how representations of recovery have changed to meet the needs of different groups. An inquiry, based on Foucault’s genealogical method, investigates the historical and contemporary forces of power that have shaped the construction of mental illness, and the development of methods and techniques to support and manage persons labelled as mentally ill. The normalisation of knowledge developed during 19th century psychiatric practice provided a context for later critique and resistance from movements that highlighted the oppressive power of psychiatric discourse. Key to the critique were the antipsychiatry and service user movements, which provided the conditions for the possibility of the emergence of recovery as a dominant discourse. Since its emergence, recovery has moved through a number of representations as it was taken up by different groups. A significant shift in the 21st century has been the dominance of neo-liberal discourse based on consumerism, a rolling back of the state, and an emphasis on individual responsibility. The implications of this shift for users and providers of services and their effects on current representations of recovery conclude the inquiry.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Dwyer ◽  
Abílio de Almeida Neto ◽  
Dominique Estival ◽  
Weicong Li ◽  
Christa Lam-Cassettari ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND People living in rural and remote areas have poorer access to mental health services than those living in cities. They also are less likely to seek help because of self-stigma and entrenched stoic beliefs about help-seeking as a sign of weakness. OBJECTIVE E-mental health services have the potential to circumvent these barriers using technology. METHODS This review argues that text-based, real-time communication with a qualified therapist is an effective form of e-mental health service delivery that will be particularly attractive for those concerned with stigma and confidentiality. RESULTS Another advantage of text-based communications is that computational linguistic analyses of transcripts may help identify individuals at risk of serious mental health issues and suicide. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that future research should pursue this potentially fruitful hypothesis to develop policy and improve intervention accessibility for regional communities.


1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 322-323
Author(s):  
Marilyn Wise ◽  
Carole Wood ◽  
Harvey Whtteford

In 1994, Australian Health Ministers agreed that promoting mental health and preventing mental illness was one of the four priority national health goals [1], Australia's National Mental Health Strategy includes among its aims the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness [2]. To date, the main focus of activity under the Strategy has been on the structural reform of the mental health service delivery system.


Author(s):  
Onaiza Qureshi ◽  
Tarik Endale ◽  
Grace Ryan ◽  
Georgina Miguel-Esponda ◽  
Srividya N. Iyer ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Research in global mental health (GMH) has previously documented how contextual factors like political instability, poverty and poorly-funded health infrastructure continue to compromise effective and equitable mental health service delivery. There is a need to develop more feasible and evidence-based solutions through implementation research. This paper, one in a series pertaining to implementation in GMH projects worldwide, focuses on implementation factors influencing mental health service delivery. Methods This is a qualitative study carried out as part of a Theory of Change-driven evaluation of Grand Challenges Canada’s (GCC’s) Global Mental Health portfolio. Purposive sampling was used to recruit twenty-nine GCC grantees for interviews. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the interviews which were recorded and subsequently transcribed. Transcripts were double-coded and analyzed in NVivo 11 using framework analysis. This paper reports results related to detection and treatment of mental illness, mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness. Results Key barriers included: lack of appropriate human resources and expertise for service delivery; lack of culturally appropriate screening tools and interventions; and difficulties integrating services with the existing mental health system. Formative research was a key driver facilitating the cultural adaptation of mental health detection, treatment, promotion and preventative approaches. Recruiting local providers and utilizing mHealth for improving screening, monitoring and data management were also found to be successful approaches in reducing workforce burden, improving sustainability, mental health literacy, participant engagement and uptake. Conclusions The study identifies a number of key barriers to and drivers of successful service delivery from the perspective of grantees implementing GMH projects. Findings highlight several opportunities to mitigate common challenges, providing recommendations for strengthening systems- and project-level approaches for delivering mental health services. Further, more inclusive research is required to inform guidance around service delivery for successful implementation, better utilization of funding and improving mental health outcomes among vulnerable populations in low-resource settings.


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