A PROBE INTO THE CO-CONSTRUCTION MECHANISM OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

In the context of the national strategy Healthy China, it is imperative to establish a social mental health service system. Co-construction of universities and medical institutions is an important measure to respond to national policy requirements and improve the quality of psychological services for college students. In order to improve the quality of university students’ mental health, planning and deployment should be made in terms of top-level design and specific implementation plans to maximize the mobilization of resources of colleges and universities and the medical system, so that psychological interventions such as mental health education, psychological consultation, and psychological treatment can be integrated into university students’ mental health service system.

Experiences With the Mental Health Service System of Family Caregivers of Individuals With an Intellectual/Developmental Disability Referred to START

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) frequently have behavioral or mental health needs, but experience obstacles to treatment. Family caregivers are often responsible for coordinating the care of individuals with IDD. This study examined family caregiver experiences using intake data from a national tertiary crisis intervention model designed for people with IDD and mental health needs. Caregivers (n = 488) completed the Family Experiences Interview Schedule. Less than half of families reported satisfaction with the mental health services received. Notable gaps were in crisis, night and weekend services, choice of services and providers, communication and coordination between providers, and specialized training. Experiences were worse for caregiving fathers and individuals with IDD with co-occurring chronic medical conditions.

Public Mental Health

Public Mental Health provides a comprehensive introduction and guide to the public health approach to mental and behavioral disorders, and to promotion of mental health. The volume’s chapter authors and coauthors are drawn from the internationally renowned faculty of the Department of Mental Health of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a department uniquely positioned to create this important resource for researchers, students, and public health practitioners. The volume explicates the latest methodologies for studying the occurrence of mental disorders in populations, and provides estimates of burden, cultural differences, natural history, and disparities between population subgroups. It includes reviews of genetic and biological pathways as sources of risk for mental disorders, the occurrence of stresses and their timing over the life span, and crises and disasters as sources of risk. The book includes chapters on the structure and functioning of the mental health service system in the United States, and around the world, and a comprehensive review of population-based strategies of intervention to lower risk. A final chapter lays out a path for the evolution of public mental health in the future.