Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Perspectives on psychotropic medication treatment among young adults formerly served in public systems of care: a thematic and narrative analysis
- Authors:
- NARENDORF Sarah Carter, MUNSON Michelle R., FLOERSCH Jerry
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 6(1), 2015, pp.121-143.
- Publisher:
- Society for Social Work and Research
This study examines the perspectives of psychotropic medications held by young adults with mood disorder diagnoses. The article presents an analysis of qualitative interviews with 52 young adults who had been involved with public systems of care during adolescence and had used psychotropic medications. The research involved a thematic analysis across cases, then a narrative analysis within selected cases. Two main themes emerged from the thematic analysis. First, young adults described the effects of the medications and how they thought the medications were working. They described the impact on their moods, thinking, bodies, and functioning, and the ways in which these effects related to their lives. Second, the process of taking medications emerged as an important aspect of the medication treatment experience, including the trial-and-error nature of treatment and interactions with psychiatrists. The narrative analysis within cases identified that some youth created a medication narrative composed of three elements: why medications were needed, what medications do, and participants' outlook on future medication use. These narratives are helpful in understanding prior patterns of service use and are instructive in framing young people's future intentions to use medications. Findings support the importance of eliciting the perspectives of young adults about their treatment and ensuring that services are designed and delivered in developmentally appropriate ways tailored to this group. (Edited publisher abstract)
Attitudes toward mental health services and illness perceptions among adolescents with mood disorders
- Author:
- MUNSON Michelle R.
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(5), October 2009, pp.447-466.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Seventy adolescents were recruited from the greater Cleveland area to investigate how they perceived their mood disorders and their attitudes toward mental health services. The study also explored the relationships between demographics, clinical characteristics, perceptions of illness and attitudes. Finally, the psychometric properties of the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised were examined. Structured interviews were conducted utilizing standardized instruments. Results show that adolescents with mood disorders have fairly positive attitudes, with Caucasian youth reporting more positive attitudes than their non-white counterparts. Illness perceptions were related to psychological openness and indifference to stigma.
Voices of parent advocates within the systems of care model of service delivery
- Authors:
- MUNSON Michelle R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 31(8), August 2009, pp.879-884.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
A growing body of research suggests that the “systems of care” approach to children's mental health can be effective in improving children's behaviour and reducing stress on their families. What is less understood is how systems of care achieve these improvements. Through a series of focus groups, this study examined parent advocates, a key but understudied element of systems of care. Focus groups were conducted with parent advocates to examine how they themselves perceive their role within the systems of care model of service delivery. A research team identified several consistent themes from the focus group transcripts: unique role of parent advocates; similarities and differences between advocates and care managers; and, the value of having personal experience. For example, parent advocates saw themselves as navigators for families, helping them understand the system and access traditional and non-traditional services. Because of their own experiences with mental health services, parent advocates also believe they can communicate with family members in ways that professionals cannot. Results from this study can help strengthen the role of parent advocates by clarifying their contributions to service delivery. Future research should measure the extent to which parent advocates can produce the benefits identified in this study.
Knowledge of and attitudes towards behavioral health services among older youth in the foster care system
- Authors:
- MUNSON Michelle R., NARENDORF Sarah Carter, McMILLEN J. Curtis
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 28(2), April 2011, pp.97-112.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examined knowledge of and attitudes toward services among 268 17-year olds with psychiatric diagnoses preparing to exit foster care. A structured interview assessed knowledge of services with vignette scenarios and attitudes with a standardized scale. Descriptive statistics described the extent of knowledge and attitudes among this population and regression analyses examined predictors of these dimensions of literacy. Most youth suggested a help source, but responses often lacked specificity. Gender and depression were the strongest predictors of knowledge and attitudes, respectively. Knowing which aspects of literacy are low, and for whom, can inform education efforts to improve access to care in adulthood.
Managing moods and parenting: perspectives of former system youth who struggle with emotional challenges
- Authors:
- NARENDORF Sarah Carter, MUNSON Michelle R., LEVINGSTON Fredreka
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 35(12), 2013, p.1979–1987.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Young adults who were served in public systems of care as children are much more likely than their peers to be parenting in adolescence and young adulthood. They are also more likely than their counterparts to have a history of mental health problems. This study examined the perspectives of young adult parents with mood problems who had been involved in public systems of care before age 18. Qualitative interviews with twenty-eight participants were analyzed to examine the experience of managing moods and parenting. Young parents described how their symptoms impact their parenting and how parenting impacts their coping. They also described the strengths and challenges of using mental health services while parenting. Findings highlight the need to provide interventions that include supports for both parenting and symptom management and for providers to include both tangible and emotional support in their interventions. (Publisher abstract)
Former system youth with mental health needs: routes to adult mental health care, insight, emotions, and mistrust
- Authors:
- MUNSON Michelle R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 33(11), November 2011, pp.2261-2266.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 60 young adults, aged between 18 and 25 years of age, who had previously been in foster care to explore their use of mental health services in their transition to adulthood. The young adults had histories which included mental disorder, use of publicly-funded mental health services, and use of additional public systems of care such as youth justice, special education or child welfare. Participants were recruited from one Midwestern state. Multi-phase analysis was conducted utilizing immersion/crystallization, constant comparison and concept matrices. Few participants received continuous mental health care across the transition, with the majority experiencing interruptions or discontinuation of care. Factors contributing to service use included physicians, former caseworkers and family. Health clinics and parenting programs emerged as potential entry points for reconnecting disengaged young adults to mental health services. Insight, mistrust, and emotions emerged as novel factors associated with service utilization among young adults.