Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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How does prison visiting affect female offenders' mental health? Implications for education and development
- Authors:
- DE MOTTE Claire, BAILEY Di, WARD James
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 7(4), 2012, pp.170-179.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Women in custody are said to be five times more likely to have a mental health problem than the general population. Visits by relatives or volunteers are one way of preserving familial ties and increasing social support. This paper sets out to determine the state of visiting for women in the English prison system and to explore the relationship between women's mental health and visits in prison. The authors gathered data from a review of the academic and grey literature as well as relevant internet forums and blogs. All literature published from 1983 onwards was included to coincide with the introduction of Pat Carlen's campaigning group Women in Prison (WIP). The review focused on literature from England and Wales to reflect the National Criminal Justice System. Key themes revealed include; visit rejection, the importance of visits for maintaining identity and the contradicting emotions that women in prison experience when visited. The authors note that although social relationships and family ties are protective factors for prisoners' mental wellbeing, the number and frequency of visits to offenders in custody has declined. The role of prison visiting schemes to improve the mental wellbeing of women in custody is explored, including the implications for the education and training of staff and visitors involved in the process.
When exceptional is the rule: mental health, family problems and the reform of legal aid in England and Wales
- Authors:
- MILES Jo, BALMER Nigel J., SMITH Marisol
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Family Law Quarterly, 24(3), 2012, pp.320-332.
- Publisher:
- Jordan Publishing
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 will from April 2013 remove legal aid from many areas of private family law (including child contact and residence, and financial orders) except where there is acceptable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse. However, exceptional funding will be made available on a case by case basis where it is determined that the provision of legal aid is necessary to avoid a breach, or the risk of a breach, of the person’s right under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 (ECHR). The ECHR protects a right to legal aid in civil proceedings where necessary to ensure ‘practical and effective’ access to court. Individuals with mental health problems may be unable to represent themselves satisfactorily and therefore be in need of legal representation. This article examines data from the 2006-2009 Civil and Social Justice Survey (CSJS) which explored the prevalence of mental health problems amongst adults with legal problems. For this study, data was considered for family problems likely to be affected by the proposed legal aid reforms. The finding suggest that, far from being exceptional, mental problems feature in a substantial minority of family disputes, raising the potential for a somewhat higher proportion of family disputants to seek exceptional funding on this basis than anticipated by government.
Screening for psychiatric disorders in a total population of adults with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour using the PAS-ADD checklist
- Authors:
- ALLEN David, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(4), July 2012, pp.342-349.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The nature of the relationship between psychiatric disorders and challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities is the subject of debate; a picture that is confused by challenging behaviour itself sometimes being classified as a form of psychiatric disorder. The authors explore this relationship in a population sample of adults with challenging behaviour. More than 800 service settings in a defined geographical area in Wales were screened to identify individuals with challenging behaviour. Detailed behavioural data, Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with a Developmental Disability (PAS-ADD) checklist and Adaptive Behaviour Scale (Part 1) scores were collected for 76% of the 930 adults identified. Just under 17% of participants reached threshold scores on one on more subscales of the PAS-ADD checklist. There was some evidence of increasing behavioural severity being associated with increasing psychiatric symptoms but there were no associations between specific forms of challenging behaviour and individual symptoms. The authors conclude that these data support previous suggestions that it is unlikely that the majority of challenging behaviours in adults with intellectual disability are underpinned by psychiatric disorders.
Together for mental health: a cross-government strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Government
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 82p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This report presents the new mental health strategy for Wales, covering people of all ages. It aims to address the needs of people with mental health problems or a mental illness, whilst also improving mental wellbeing. The strategy is intended to improve outcomes for service users, carers and their families. It encourages the "recovery and reablement" approach, which aims to help people live independently and achieve their full potential. The strategy builds upon current policy and incorporates the legal requirements of the ‘Mental Health (Wales) Measure’, as follows: chapter 1 states the intent to promote mental wellbeing and, where possible, prevent mental health problems developing; chapter 2 sets out how a new partnership with the public will be established, encouraging an understanding of mental health and mental illness, seeking to eradicate the stigma which can be associated with mental health; chapter 3 emphasises the value of a well-designed, fully integrated network of care; chapter 4 highlights the areas of life which can affect mental health and wellbeing; and chapter 5 provides an overview of how to make the vision a reality.
The legal problems and mental health needs of youth advice service users: the case for advice
- Authors:
- BALMER Nigel J., PLEASENCE Pascoe
- Publisher:
- Youth Access
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Youth Access commissioned this survey of clients of youth advice agencies to investigate the social welfare related legal problems faced by these clients and to measure their mental well-being. The report describes the background and study methodology, and presents the results. 188 young people with social welfare problems were surveyed in youth advice settings across 16 sites throughout England and Wales in May and June 2012. A questionnaire was used to collect information about the nature of problems, the type of help the young people were seeking, the consequences of the problems on their lives, and whether they felt the advice had led to improvements. The survey included screening for common mental illnesses. The report includes a profile of young people in youth advice settings, and presents the findings about the mental health of young people in youth advice settings, the impact of problems on young people's lives, what clients were seeking and their expectations of advice, improvements with advice, and the cost effectiveness of advice. The results indicated high levels of mental illness among young people attending for social welfare advice.
Together for mental health: delivery plan 2012-16
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Government
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This document presents a 10-year strategy for improving the lives of people using mental health services, their carers and their families. At the heart of the Strategy is the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, which places legal duties on Health Boards and Local Authorities to improve support for people with mental ill-health. The main themes of Together for Mental Health are: promoting mental wellbeing and, where possible, preventing mental health problems developing; establishing a new partnership with the public, centred on improving information on mental health, increasing service user and carer involvement in decisions around their care and changing attitudes to mental health by tackling stigma and discrimination; delivering a well-designed, fully integrated network of care. This will be based on the recovery and enablement of service users in order to live as fulfilled and independent a life as possible; addressing the range of factors in people’s lives which can affect mental health and wellbeing through Care and Treatment Planning and joint-working across sectors; and identifying how the strategy will be implemented. The Strategy is focused around 6 high level outcomes and supported by a Delivery Plan. This sets out the actions the Welsh Government and partner organisations will undertake to make the Strategy’s vision a reality.
Together for mental health: a strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publisher:
- Wales. Welsh Assembly Government
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 75p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
Together for Mental Health sets out the Welsh Government's ambitions for improving mental health and vision for improved mental health service delivery. Developed through engagement and formal consultation with key partner agencies, stakeholders, service users and carers, it covers people of all ages and emphasises the need to promote better mental health and wellbeing among the whole population. It focuses on how to improve the lives of service users and their families using a recovery and enablement approach. It identifies 6 high level outcomes that the strategy hopes to achieve, and sets out how the outcomes will be delivered. It is supported by a Delivery Plan. A new Mental Health Partnership Board is being established to oversee delivery.
COCOA: care for offenders continuity of access
- Authors:
- BYNG Richard, et al
- Publisher:
- National Institute for Health Research
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 265p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Adult offenders have a high incidence and prevalence of many illnesses, particularly poor mental health and substance misuse. Passage through the various elements of the criminal justice system (CJS) provides both the potential for initial access to healthcare and also the disruption of existing care. The aim of this project was to inform policy on improving health and reducing recidivism for offenders by examining access to, and continuity of, healthcare. A multi-method investigation of continuity of healthcare for offenders included: interviews and health records study of 200 offenders; 5 focus groups; and 8 case studies. A quantitative analysis of the offender interviews demonstrates the extent of the deficit in access. A qualitative analysis of interviews and focus groups data provides insights into how offenders view healthcare and the potential impact on achieving access and continuity. The case studies provide information about the barriers and facilitators from an institutional viewpoint. These findings are used in the development of theory related to offender continuity of care. The study demonstrates that continuity of access to healthcare, particularly for mental health problems, is far from perfect. However, pockets of good practice and innovative projects demonstrate the potential for improving continuity and the quality of care provided.
Self-harm: treating people differently, intervening early
- Author:
- JOHN Ann
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, March 2012, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Self-harm, usually defined as intentional self-poisoning or self-injury, is an important public health problem. The method, nature of motivation, or degree of suicidal intent is complex and may change for any individual over time. Long-term outcome studies in adults consistently highlight the association between self-harm and completed suicide. Those who repeat self-harm are at significantly greater risk of committing suicide than those how have a single episode. There are many factors associated with self-harm: mental health problems, particularly depression; alcohol and substance misuse; personality disorders; and a range of social, economic and cultural issues. All people who self-harm who present at hospital should have a psychosocial assessment and any associated disorders should be managed according to NICE guidelines. All frontline staff should receive suicide and self-harm awareness training and be enabled to manage people in a caring, compassionate manner.
Developing high relational support services for individuals with long term mental health needs: scheme description and service evaluation
- Authors:
- DAVIES Jason, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 16(1), 2012, pp.31-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Community care for individuals with severe and enduring mental health problems is an important aspect of mental health care. The purpose of this paper is to describe a not-for-profit social care facility designed to provide tenancy and high-relational support, and to report on an initial multi-method systematic evaluation of this service during its first year of operation. The property provides 6 individual en-suite rooms with other communal areas. It is intensively staffed with 4 daytime staff and 2 staff at night. The evaluation aimed to determine: the level and type of individual support provided; the impact of support on the tenants; and the views of the tenants, carers and professionals of the service provided. Data were gathered using routine information collected on a daily basis over the course of the year, semi-structured interviews and pre-post testing. The findings showed that support needs vary over time and across tenants, with almost all support provided during waking hours. With appropriate support, the health and wellbeing, personal and community safety, independence and social integration of all the tenants was maintained or enhanced. The article concludes that high-relational support delivered by not-for-profit social care providers can be effective, sustainable and cost efficient.