Bring recovery to young people: the development of a “discovery college” in Ireland

Purpose Discovery Colleges are new, exciting innovations. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of developing and implementing the first pilot of a Discovery College for young people in Ireland. This paper aims to assist in providing direction for future comparable projects. Design/methodology/approach The author takes a narrative approach to highlight the rationale for introducing the Discovery College model into an Irish context and to outline the project phases and participant feedback. Findings The pilot project is outlined and the key learnings are explained. Originality/value Recovery Education is a growing model both nationally and internationally, and this pilot was an innovative project, the first of its kind to bring Recovery Education to a younger audience in Ireland. This paper aims to assist in providing direction for future comparable projects.

Recovery college features and context: advancing a recovery and well-being policy agenda

Purpose Internationally, there has been a move towards more recovery-oriented mental health policies for people living with mental illness, and some countries have included well-being as a population-level objective. In practice, these policy objectives can be difficult to achieve because of deeply rooted policy legacies, including a biomedical approach to care and the stigma associated with mental illness. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how interventions that operate outside the formal mental health system, such as recovery colleges (RCs), may advance these policy objectives more easily than efforts at broader system reform. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a scoping review to explore the features and context of RCs that make the model an attractive and feasible opportunity to advance a recovery and well-being agenda. Our research is motivated by the initial and growing adoption of RCs by the Canadian Mental Health Association. This paper applies the consolidated framework for implementation research to analyse features of the model and the context of its implementation in Canada. Findings The RC’s educational approach, adaptability, coproduced nature and positioning outside the formal mental health system are key features that facilitate implementation without disrupting deeply entrenched policy legacies. Other facilitators in the Canadian context include the implementing organisation’s independence from government, its federated structure and the model’s alignment with national policy objectives. Originality/value This paper highlights how interventions outside the formal mental healthcare system can promote stated recovery and well-being policy goals.

Social determinants of mental well-being: senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine in relation to such social circles as the extended family, the Romani local community and the whole Ukrainian society. The main research interest is focused on situations and factors that make people feel powerless or empowered. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted using a semi-structured interview method via telephone. Romani NGO experts approved the interview content. Trained Roma-facilitators were interviewers. Every interview was transcribed for further thematic analysis. Findings The most prominent empowerment factors for Romani people are located within their families and local communities, while the bigger society (Ukrainians themselves and Ukrainian public institutions) is a main source of powerlessness. At the same time, the rigid role of family and community expectations is seen as detrimental for both males and females. Originality/value The paper is original in terms of its topic (senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine as social determinants of mental well-being) and research strategy (engagement of Roma-facilitators as interviewers).

What does well-being mean to mental health peer workers?

Purpose This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers. Design/methodology/approach An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming. Originality/value This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.

Mental health support needs within Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities: a qualitative study

Purpose Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and suicide. This study aims to explore the mental health (MH) support needs for GRT people within the British Isles. Design/methodology/approach This study was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with nine self-identified GRT people. Findings The analysis revealed a longing for acceptance, both within and outside the GRT community; barriers to help seeking, specifically unsuitable services, poor awareness, stigma and distrust; and increased vulnerability owing to participants’ perceived lack of prospects and adverse life events. Originality/value Despite increased vulnerability, MH services are underutilised by GRT people for a variety of cultural and practical reasons. To reduce the current inequality, it is imperative that services take steps to increase accessibility. This study expands upon previous research by using the voices of GRT people themselves, creating a narrative built from their own emic perspectives. Unlike previous research, this study focuses exclusively on the MH of participants and includes participants from across the British Isles.

Determinants of personal social capital among Syrian refugees: comparison of inside and outside camps residence

Purpose This study aims to assess the status and determinants of personal social capital (PSC) in Syrian refugees in Jordan, comparing the inside and outside camp residents. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 151 Syrian refugees residing inside and outside the camp. Findings The overall PSC score was relatively low (M = 27.5 ± 7.15, 95% CI: 26.3–28.6). Scores were significantly associated with age group, marital status, educational level, income level and living place (p < 0.05). Two steps multiple hierarchal regressing showed that income and place of residence are the only significant predictors of PSC (p ≤ 0.05). Originality/value Social support programs are required among Syrian refugees residing outside the camp, specifically among families with older and poorly educated parents, single-parent families and low-income refugees.

The risk of risk management: adopting critical theories to explore clinical risk concerns in mental health care

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline several critical risk theories and explore their application to risk concerns in mental health care. This will contribute to the on-going debate about risk management practices and the impact these might have on recovery and social inclusion. Notably, while risks like suicide can be therapeutically addressed, risk management may involve paternalistic practices that exclude the participation needed for recovery. Design/methodology/approach A viewpoint of key risk theories will be presented to provide a critical eye about some clinical risk concerns in mental health care. Implications for recovery and social inclusion will then be discussed alongside direction for practice and research. Findings Clinical concerns seemed to involve difficulties with uncertainty, holding onto expertise, and the othering of patients through risk. These concerns suggest the patient voice might become lost, particularly within the backdrop of clinical fears about blame. Alternatively, a relational approach to risk management could have merit, while patient expertise may develop understanding in how to improve risk management practices. Originality/value Clinical concerns appear more than managing potential harms; it can involve appraising behaviours around societal norms, explaining to an extent why mental illness might be addressed in terms of risks. While the points raised in the paper support existing findings about risk management, the underlying reasons drawing on the critical risk theories are less explored.

Restraint and confinement of psychiatric patients in community: a scoping review of pasung in Indonesia

Purpose The practice of restraint and confinement of patients with mental disorders is common in Indonesia. This practice is known as pasung and is usually carried out by the family or the villagers in community settings. The previous separated studies have investigated the reasons for, methods, duration and consequences of applying pasung to the patients. A scoping review is needed to study the existing practice of restraint and confinement in Indonesian communities. This study aims to review the published studies on the practice of restraint and confinement of people with mental illness (PWMI) in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach A scoping review method was used to identify studies on the practices of restraint and confinement of PWMI. A search of Science Direct, PubMed database and Google Scholar for articles was conducted. Findings There is an increasing interest in studying the pasung-related aspects among Indonesian mental health practitioners. The studies included the patients, family, caregivers and community as the research subjects. Various elements of pasung; the actors, duration, reason, the consequences and the challenges in releasing pasung have been reported. Stakeholders should consider many factors related to pasung to achieve the free pasung program in Indonesia. Research limitations/implications Pasung is a practice that exists in a significant number in Indonesia. Although researchers have sounded the importance of the pasung as a problem in the community, much has to be done to alleviate the inhuman treatment of PWMI. Originality/value This paper adds to the literature on the research concerning the practice of restraint and confinement of PWMI. The findings could be uses as the basis of the improvement of policy on mental health services, not only in Indonesia but also in other countries where the practice of restraint and confinements of PWMI in the community settings is existing.

Research watch: routes to marginalised students’ increased inclusion and empowerment

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to report on recent research about how students belonging to marginalised groups can be empowered. Design/methodology/approach The author searched for articles that covered the topic of empowerment, published in the past two years. The author selected two papers that each focus on a different group and illustrate processes of empowerment applicable in their contexts. Findings The first paper deals sensitively with the topic of in-fighting amongst Indigenous students at Canadian universities and how Canada’s colonisation history contributes to this. It also illustrates how Indigenous students are working together to improve universities’ recognition of their needs and rights. The second paper describes a consciousness-raising programme for Black girls in secondary schools in Pennsylvania, USA. Black girls attending the programme valued it and felt more connected with other Black girls. There was some dropout from the programme, but those who remained appeared to benefit. Originality/value These two papers represent important illustrations of some complex challenges facing marginalised groups and how their empowerment and inclusion can increase, with implications for their mental and physical well-being.