The Making of Mental Health Policy: The 1980s and the Challenge of Sanity in Quebec and Ontario

1987 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Françoise Boudreau
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Political Language ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Volunteer Organizations ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Convergence And Divergence

This paper examines the current socio-political language in the formulation of mental health policy in Ontario and Quebec. “Before long,” coherent and rational policy has been promised in each province to “solve” today's mental health crisis—often identified as that of “deinstitutionaliztion.” However, there is not just one view. Here, we examine the arguments presented in the form of briefs, reports, and working documents on the part of mental health professionals, governments and unions, patient groups, and volunteer organizations in both provinces. We analyze the areas of convergence and divergence and attempt to make sense of this mass of material so important in the formulation of a sensible and sensitive government policy of action.

scholarly journals Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Moral Injury in Nurses on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Marsha Lesley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Structural Model ◽  
Moral Injury ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Moral Hazards ◽  
Self Blame ◽  
Ego Strengths

OBJECTIVE: To raise awareness of the potential for moral injury in nurses working on the frontlines of COVID-19 patient care and to present aspects of mental functioning that may increase the likelihood of psychological distress. Approaches that draw on psychoanalytic thinking to support frontline nurses’ mental health are explained. METHOD: This article draws on recent work that is available from multiple sources, including published journal articles on moral injury, recent reports from news services highlighting the crisis state of the pandemic and effects on nurses, established literature on the structural model of the mind, and recent webinars and online lectures addressing mental health crisis interventions. The author draws on expertise from years of training in the Adult Psychoanalytic Training Program at the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute and graduation as an academic analyst. RESULTS: How nurses navigate moral hazards inherent in the current state of frontline health care may depend on their existing ego strengths and levels of self-blame and guilt from a harsh superego. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health professionals need to be aware of the mental minefields that frontline nurses must navigate when providing care that, due to circumstances beyond their control, may be morally ambiguous. Educating nurses about the meaning of their own emotional and psychic responses amid the realities in the field may help to decrease the damaging effects of moral injury.

India is going partway to easing mental health crisis

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Indian Government ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tertiary Healthcare ◽  
The Government ◽  
National Mental Health

Subject India's efforts to address a mental health crisis. Significance The Indian government is aiming to convert 150,000 primary health centres into health and wellness centres (HWCs) providing comprehensive care, including management of mental disorders. Its plans for secondary and tertiary healthcare include medical insurance for poorer families that will cover treatment of mental illness. According to a 2016 study conducted by India’s National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), 150 million out of the country’s 1.3 billion people urgently need mental healthcare. Impacts Expanding mental healthcare infrastructure could lead to an overemphasis on a biomedical model of treatment for mental health disorders. The government will come under pressure to increase funding for mental health professionals as well as technological resources. Future budgets will be key indicators of the government’s commitment to its National Mental Health Programme.

scholarly journals Writing letters to patients

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 542-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Letter Writing ◽  
Process Of Care ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Icd 10

Recent changes in the law and mental health policy have forced psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to review the traditional cloak of secrecy that surrounds record keeping and letter writing. This paper establishes what proportion of patients attending a psychiatric out-patient clinic are interested in receiving letters from their psychiatrist. Those who are interested tend to be better educated, whereas those who are not interested are much more likely to have an ICD–10 diagnosis of schizophrenia. Overall, there appear to be high levels of satisfaction with the nature of the letters received. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the difficulty of engaging people with the most severe and enduring forms of mental health problems as active participants in the process of care.

scholarly journals COVID-19: Emergence of Mental Health Upheaval and Transition in Human Future Perspectives: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 94-100
Author(s):  
Saba Khurshid ◽  
Sidra Mumtaz ◽  
Hafsa Khalil Toor ◽  
Rubina Hanif
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Psychological Services ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Major Transition

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic is constantly posing warning and creating mental health crisis among people without any discrimination. Therefore, the current study purpose is to explore mental health upheaval and transition in future perspectives due to COVID-19. Using exploratory study design, semi structure interviews were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed by using Thematic Content Analysis. The major themes which were identified showed that COVID-19 is constantly eliciting panic and mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression, fears of death, xenophobia, OCD and uncertainty about future among general population. Results also indicated the major transition in public future perspectives and perception. Concern related to adjustability in life after pandemic is major emerging future concern among Pakistani People. During pandemic outbreak, people are becoming vulnerable to different mental health problems. To overcome these issues successfully, role of mental health professionals cannot be denied. There is strong need to devise activities and strategies which help people to increase resilience and build strong relationships during the period of social distancing. This paper gives a deep insight into mental health problems among general population due to COVID-19 and it also implicates need of psychological services to overcome these issues.

Digital psychiatry: implications for patients and services

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
James P Pandarakalam
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increased burden on all medical services and healthcare professionals are applying new strategies to cope with the added demands. During the pandemic mental healthcare services in many parts of the world have been reorganised to incorporate modern technology and maintain efficient service delivery. Mental health professionals are playing a major role in alleviating the suffering resulting from this pandemic. A selective survey of the literature, including narrative reviews, was carried out to study the implications of digital psychiatry. Historically, epidemics have had a substantial effect on mental health and general health services. Telehealth appears to be the right solution to the present mental health crisis, but technology cannot substitute for human presence and proximity in mental health services, so the newer interventions have advantages and disadvantages. Remote methods of therapy are likely to continue to be used and proper assessment of these new ways of working in psychiatry is required. In the post-pandemic period, the challenge will be to combine digital and in-person therapies. Discussions about digital revolution in the field of psychiatry should be modified to digital evolution.

Delivering recovery focused mental health care in Ireland: implications for services and practice development

2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Shah ◽  
M. Nolan ◽  
M. Ryan ◽  
J. Williams ◽  
D. Fannon
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Personal Recovery

IntroductionThe recovery approach provides a key organising principle underlying mental health policy throughout the English speaking world with endorsement by agencies such as the World Health Organisation. In Ireland, personal recovery is one of the quality markers identified by users of mental health services and has become central to national mental health policy.Aim and objectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the implications for mental health services and professional practice arising from a structured investigation of what personal recovery means for people using specialist mental health services and the extent to which services support their individual recovery.MethodTen service user participants in a service initiative were assessed using a novel measure based on an empirically based conceptual framework of recovery. The INSPIRE determines the level of recovery promoting support received from mental health staff and the quality of the supportive relationship as perceived by individual service users.ResultsA consistent pattern of beliefs about recovery in keeping with national guidelines and the international literature was apparent. All respondents indicated that support by other people was an important part of their recovery with high levels of support received from mental health professionals. There was less consistent endorsement of the quality of relationships with professionals and recovery-oriented practice as perceived by participants.ConclusionThe findings are highly relevant to the development of recovery focused, clinically excellent services. Further work is needed to improve the process of translating recovery guidance into mental health practice.

Leadership in Mental Health Policy: The National Context

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey Whiteford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Political Decision ◽  
Public Policy Analysis ◽  
National Mental Health

Objective: To describe how mental health policy is developed and implemented. Methods: A review of the literature on public policy analysis and the experience of the author in the development and implementation of national mental health policy. Results: A five-step process of problem identification, policy development, political decision, policy implementation and evaluation provides a framework for understanding the policy cycle. Conclusion: An understanding of this process is essential for psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in order to influence the process and content of mental health policy.

scholarly journals Mental health crisis in midlife – a proposed research agenda

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Bettina Moltrecht ◽  
George Ploubidis
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Statistical Modelling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk

There is a growing amount of evidence indicating increased levels of psychological distress, suicide rates and decreased well-being in midlife (age 45-55). We refer to this phenomenon as the ‘midlife mental health crisis’. As there is little empirical evidence or theoretical grounds to explain the midlife mental health crisis, we propose a research agenda. In order to facilitate further research, we consulted members of public, mental health professionals and researchers on potential reasons for the midlife mental health crisis. Subsequently, we translated those into research questions testable with the British birth cohorts. We propose a series of studies using three statistical modelling approaches: descriptive (what is the midlife mental health crisis?), predictive (who is at increased risk of experiencing the midlife mental health crisis?) and explanatory (what are the processes leading to the midlife mental health crisis?).

Design of a Decision Support Application to Support Individuals in Mental Health Crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 214-217
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Johnson ◽  
Ann M. Bisantz ◽  
Amy L. Reynolds ◽  
Scott T. Meier
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Safety Systems ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Impact

Mental health and suicide are two substantial issues facing our society. They have far reaching impacts on the healthcare and public safety systems, the economy, and human life. Despite their impact and importance, the amount of research is disproportionate to the magnitude of the problem. The current study sought to determine decision requirements of those in mental health crisis and to translate them into a user-friendly mobile application. Individuals who had been in mental health crises and mental health professionals were interviewed. Results showed that both the availability of resources and the impact of anxiety and overwhelm on decision making are areas in which individuals in crisis can be better supported. Outcome of research included design of a prototype mobile application designed to support decision making during mental health crisis.

scholarly journals Supporting Young People’s Mental Health: Reconceptualizing the Role of Schools or a Step Too far?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Glazzard ◽  
Samuel Stones
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Mental Health Policy ◽  
Medical Model ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
The Government

This article provides an overview of the United Kingdom government’s strategy for children’s mental health in schools. Critique of the mental health policy document demonstrates that the government has adopted a clinical approach to resolving the mental health “crisis” among children and young people. We argue that a clinical solution, implemented in schools, is not based on robust evidence and that the policy reflects a medical model which positions children and young people with mental ill health through a deficit lens. We argue that the government should, instead, adopt a systemic response which directly addresses the underlying factors which cause mental ill health rather than implementing a clinical approach in schools. We argue that a clinical response at the level of the individual is not appropriate for most children and young people with mental ill health and that there needs to be an urgent review of policy.

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