Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Promoting mental health in Northern Ireland: addressing division, inequality and stigma
- Authors:
- DAVIDSON Gavin, LEAVEY Gerard
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 9(4), December 2010, pp.6-15.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The authors review the literature on the impact of sectarian violence, known as ‘the Troubles’, on mental health in Northern Ireland. Three main phases of professional and policy response were identified, starting with concerns about the effects of violence in the 1970s, then several years of collective denial and neglect, until acknowledgement, following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, of high levels of trauma and unmet need. The authors also explore the impact of inequality and stigma and argue that peace is necessary but insufficient for promoting mental health. The development of mental health services in Northern Ireland are then outlined and the main developments in promoting mental health are discussed. It is suggested that attempts to address the needs arising as a result of ‘the Troubles’ and more general mental health promotion strategies have, to some extent, developed in parallel and that it may be important to integrate these efforts. Routine screening, in primary care and mental health services for trauma, including Troubles-related trauma, is recommended to identify and address these issues on an individual level. However, the authors also argue that more substantial political change is needed to effectively address societal division, inequality and stigma to the benefit of all.
Connecting mental health and human rights
- Authors:
- DAVIDSON Gavin, MCCALLION Maura, POTTER Michael
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 87p.
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
While arguing for increased funding for mental health promotion and community services, the report also highlights areas where human rights standards may currently be being breached. Involuntary intervention raises particular concerns. For example, in Northern Ireland people who are involuntarily detained may be treated against their will, even if they are mentally capable. The report recommends that detailed research should be carried out on the use of electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) and other potentially irreversible treatments. It also raises serious concerns about the lack of human rights protection within the procedures for detaining people under mental health legislation.
Mental health under review
- Author:
- DAVIDSON Gavin
- Journal article citation:
- Professional Social Work, June 2002, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- British Association of Social Workers
Gives the BASW response to plans to review policy and practice for mental health services in Northern Ireland.
Supported decision making: experiences, approaches and preferences
- Authors:
- DAVIDSON Gavin, et al
- Publishers:
- Praxis Care, Mencap, Queens University Belfast
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 72
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This report presents the findings from research which explores how people are supported to make their own decisions. The report includes the results of a review of literature on supported decision making, including different approaches; a review of key guidance; and findings from interviews with 41 people with mental health problems and/ or intellectual disabilities carried out by peer researchers. The interviews provided an in-depth understanding of people’s experiences of support for decision making and their ideas on how decision making should be supported in the future. The research was funded by the Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning (DRILL) programme and was led by Praxis Care in partnership with Mencap NI and Queen’s University Belfast. The findings identified three things that participants felt make decision making harder: the type of decision; the role of other people; and what the outcome might be. Time was also identified as an important factor. In terms of support, people said they would like: practical support including more accessible information; emotional support including someone to talk to; and sometimes the options to choose from. The report makes a number of recommendations for how support for decision making should be provided but also specifically for how these findings might help to inform how the new support principle in the Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 should be implemented in practice. (Edited publisher abstract)