Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health"’ Sort:
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The work of the Hamlet Trust in Central and Eastern Europe
- Author:
- HAYWARD Robert
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Europe, 3(3), 1996, pp.12-18.
- Publisher:
- Russell House
Based on an interview with Robert Hayward, Assistant Director of the Hamlet Trust about the work of the Hamlet Trust in Central and Eastern Europe.
The adoptive family within the Romanian cultural context: an exploratory study
- Authors:
- GROZA Victor, MUNTEAN Ana, UNGUREANU Roxana
- Journal article citation:
- Adoption Quarterly, 15(1), 2012, pp.1-17.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia
After 2001, the Romanian government banned international adoption ostensibly to improve domestic child welfare services. Until then, national adoption programmes were not well developed. In an effort to improve the Romanian knowledge base on domestic adoption, a series of studies of domestic adoption have been conducted. Using a mixed-methods strategy, this article presents results from one study of 39 domestic Romanian adoptions. Data were gathered in 2010 from a convenience sample of adoptive families with adolescent adoptees (11–16 years old) who were adopted younger than 4 years. Overall, children and families were doing well in adoption. The stigma against having a child without being married did not seem to carry over to the families who adopt and disclose the adoption. The authors concluded that the results highlight characteristics of intact adoptions from a Romanian cultural perspective.
Life satisfaction among children in different family structures: a comparative study of 36 western Societies
- Authors:
- BJARNASON Thoroddur, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 26(1), January 2012, pp.51-62.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Children living in less fortunate economic circumstances can be expected to be less satisfied with life and the association between single parenthood and reduced life satisfaction may be partly due to economic hardship. This paper examines differences in life satisfaction among 184,496 children in different family structures in 36 western countries. Findings revealed that children living with both biological parents reported higher levels of life satisfaction than children living with a single parent or parent–step-parent. Children in joint physical custody reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction than their counterparts in other types of non-intact families. Difficulties in communicating with parents were strongly associated with less life satisfaction but did not mediate the relation between family structure and life satisfaction. Children in the Nordic countries characterised by strong welfare systems reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction in all living arrangements except in single father households. While such life events as divorce or single motherhood may be heavily stigmatised in some countries and certain segments within countries, they may well be relatively meaningless in other social contexts. This may be a major source of the considerable variation in life satisfaction among children in living with single mothers or step-parents in different countries.
Mental health in Romania
- Authors:
- BRANDON David, TRIPON Ciprian
- Journal article citation:
- Breakthrough, 1(2), 1996, pp.45-54.
Describes a small study which arose out of exchanges between academic staff at Anglia in Cambridge and the Babes Bolyai University in Cluj Napoca, capital of Transylvania in Romania. The aim of the study was to get general information about Romanian mental health services. Although information was difficult to obtain and provides an insight into mental health services in Romania.
Play as a resource for children facing adversity: an exploration of indicative case studies
- Authors:
- FEARN Maggie, HOWARD Justine
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 26(6), November 2012, pp.456-468.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This review examines the effects that an opportunity to play affords children a natural resource to meet intellectual and emotional challenge. Analysis of case studies focusing on interventions with children caught in the bombing of Beirut, children abandoned to the state system in Romania, and the street children in Rio de Janeiro and Cali, Colombia is used to support this view. Findings suggest that when resources are in deficit, challenge is more likely to become adversity. The impact of adversity is particular to context, but comparison across contexts also shows connections between children’s disparate experiences. Analysis confirms that given the opportunity, children interact with and influence their environment through play and that this process provides a resource to meet the challenge of adversity. The authors concluded that an environment that supports children’s play needs ensures their well-being and development and increases their chances of survival.
State child care in Romania: a university initiative to promote required change from within
- Authors:
- CONN Lorna, CRAWFORD Colin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 13(1), May 1999, pp.83-91.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article describes a University initiative designed to promote social work training between the University of Ulster and the University of Transylvania, Romania and which involved exploratory visits to establish the conditions of care for Romanian children. The article goes on to consider the obvious psychological impact of the described conditions of care and the political context of change in Romania. It argues for both the development and extensions of social work training as a necessary humanitarian priority.
Sans frontiers
- Author:
- FORESTIER Isabelle
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Care, 2(5), January 1999, pp.158-159.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
Mental health issues are easily overlooked as humanitarian aid organisations get into stricken areas. But psychological wounds take much longer to heal. Looks at the difficulties facing those working on mental health programmes in areas such as Romania.
Children of prisoners: interventions and mitigations to strengthen mental health
- Authors:
- JONES Adele, et al
- Publisher:
- University of Huddersfield
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 405
- Place of publication:
- Huddersfield
The COPING project (Children of Prisoners, Interventions and Mitigations to Strengthen Mental Health) is a European Union funded research project that has investigated the well-being and mental health impact of parental imprisonment on children in six countries, France, Germany, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. This mixed methods study gathered evidence from over 1500 children, care-givers,imprisoned parents and stakeholders across Germany, Romania, Sweden, and the UK.. Based on indicator scores from the questionnaire, children with a parent or carer in prison were found to have a significantly greater risk of mental health problems than children in the general population. A purposive sample of 349 participants was selected for in-depth interviews: 161 children, 123 non-imprisoned parents/carers and 65 imprisoned parents. Among findings was the importance of the relationship between caregiver and child. However, to maintain well-being and resilience, having regular contact with the imprisoned parent was crucial. The value of being honest and open as to why a parent was in prison is affirmed by the fact that children appreciated being given accurate information. Children tended to share such information only with their best and most trusted friends. Alsthough schools were mainly supportive when told about parental imprisonment, stigma and bullying were a concern. Only a minority of prisons provided specific interventions for children of prisoners and their families, though prisons did improve visiting conditions that stabilise the parent-child relationship. Thus, there is insufficient funding and capacity to meet the specific needs of children who are also at greater risk of suffering mental health problems. The report examines the potential impact of the COPING study and makes recommendations for: a child-friendly criminal justice system; representing the child’s interests in judicial decisions; maintaining contact with the parent in prison; advice and support to parents, caregivers and children; promote the NGO’s role in supporting children and families of prisoners; recognise and support care givers in building children’s resilience; promote the parenting role of the imprisoned parent; the role of the school; and consideration of children’s perspectives. (Edited publisher abstract)
Specificity and heterogeneity in children's responses to profound institutional privation
- Authors:
- RUTTER Michael L., KREPPNER Jana M., O'CONNOR Thomas G.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 179, August 2001, pp.97-103.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Aims to delineate the behavioural patterns that are specifically associated with institutional privation. A group of 165 children adopted from Romania before the age of 42 months were compared at 4 years and 6 years with 52 non-deprived UK children adopted in infancy. Dysfunction was assessed for seven domains of functioning. Found that attachment problems, inattention/overactivity, quasi-autistic features and cognitive impairment were associated with institutional privation, but emotional difficulties, poor peer relationships and conduct problems were not. Nevertheless, one-fifth of children who spent the longest time in institutions showed normal functioning. Concludes that attachment disorder behaviours, inattention/overactivity and quasi-autistic behaviour constitute institutional privation patterns.