Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 34
Mental illness and suicide in British South Asian adults
- Author:
- INEICHEN Bernard
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 15(3), 2012, pp.235-250.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
South Asians make up about 4.7% of the UK population. Studies from the 1990s concluded that the mental health of British people of South Asian origin was at least as good, and probably rather better, than that of the ethnic majority. Their rates for mental illness and suicide have been shown by some researchers to be lower than that of the total UK population, using a variety of measures, and considering many psychiatric conditions. This paper reviews the literature on the extent of mental illness among British South Asian adults, and explores aspects of their service use, and their attitudes to mental illness. Some distinguishing features of British South Asian mental health are identified, including areas justifying further research. The author concludes that variations in the South Asian population including generation, country of origin, religion, class, wealth and geography, emphasise the growing need to disaggregate this population when presenting data about them.
Research watch: the power of genetic and biological explanations to reduce social inclusion
- Author:
- HOLTTUM Sue
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 16(3), 2012, pp.116-120.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This review summarises two recent research papers relating to the use of biological explanations. The first paper highlights how unhelpful it can be to over-use genetic explanations for various human experiences, and the second paper discusses the unhelpfulness of exclusively biological explanations for mental health conditions. The first paper explores the many ways in which genetic explanations are over-used to understand race, ethnicity, the sexes, sexual orientation, crime, mental health and obesity. This over-use of genetic explanations leads to various negative consequences, among them social exclusion, but may be counteracted by better explanations of both the relatively weak nature of genetic influences and how people's genes and environment interact. The second paper examines evidence about whether it is really helpful to think of mental health conditions as illnesses “like any other”. The author points to the need for promoting a more holistic understanding of human experience, and against focusing too narrowly on only one kind of cause, namely biological, and mostly on one aspect of biology – genes.
Adderall abuse on college campuses: a comprehensive literature review
- Author:
- VARGA Matthew D.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 9(3), June 2012, pp.293-313.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Over the last ten years, prescription stimulant abuse has dramatically increased. However, the amount of research regarding college students and illicit prescription stimulant use is inadequate. This has important implications for college mental health professionals and higher education administrators. In this comprehensive literature review the author explored factors contributing to illicit use, self-medication, and recreational use of controlled prescription stimulants, and explored the potential consequences for those students abusing stimulants. The review also provided recommendations for educating, combating, and assisting students who illicitly use prescriptions stimulants on college campuses. Implications for practice are considered.
The impact of exercise on the mental health and quality of life of people with severe mental illness: a critical review
- Authors:
- ALEXANDRATOS Kristy, BARNETT Fiona, THOMAS Yvonne
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), February 2012, pp.48-60.
- Publisher:
- Sage
While physical exercise is beneficial in terms of mental health and wellbeing, there has been little research investigating its impact on mental health and quality of life for people who experience a severe mental illness. This review explores the effect of physical exercise on the mental health and quality of life of people with severe mental illness. Data was drawn from 16 articles published between 1998 and 2009. The findings revealed that exercise contributed to improvements in symptoms, including mood, alertness, concentration, sleep patterns and psychotic symptoms. Exercise also improved quality of life through social interaction, meaningful use of time, purposeful activity and empowerment. The authors concluded that future studies should focus on psychological outcome measures to provide greater evidence for its use in therapy.
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.
The need for cognitive profiles based on neuropsychological assessments to drive individual education plans (IEPs) in forensic settings
- Authors:
- LOWINGS Graham, WICKS Beth
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 7(4), 2012, pp.180-188.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Many people in secure forensic settings are expected to take part in psycho-educational programmes as part of their treatment and rehabilitation. However many are hampered in this because of cognitive difficulties. These difficulties may result from acquired brain injury, deficits associated with substance misuse, childhood trauma, mental health problems and occasionally prescribed medication, or intellectual disability. This paper outlines the scale of the problem and offers potential solutions. The use of individual education plans based on neuropsychological profiles is proposed together with guidance on the preparation and delivery of educational materials that could improve the efficacy of psycho-educational programmes. The authors believe that understanding neuropsychological difficulties would mean that best use is made of the psycho-educational materials presented, thus speeding up and improving the efficacy of the rehabilitation process and potentially reducing the risk that the person poses to themselves and others. Currently there are resources, which offer guidance to teachers of children with neuropsychological difficulties but not for the adolescent and adult forensic population. This paper aims to address this gap.
The anomalies of evidence-based medicine in psychiatry: time to rethink the basis of mental health practice
- Authors:
- THOMAS Philip, BRACKEN Pat, TIMIMI Sami
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 17(3), 2012, pp.152-162.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) in clinical practice has delivered major improvements in the outcome of care in medicine and surgery. However, its value in psychiatry is less clear. This paper examines its value by subjecting empirical evidence from EBM to a conceptual analysis using the philosophy of Thomas Kuhn. The authors examine evidence drawn from meta-analyses of RCTs investigating the efficacy of specific treatments for depression in the form of antidepressant drugs and CBT. This shows that the non-specific aspects of treatment, the placebo effect and the quality of the therapeutic alliance as seen by the patient, are more important in determining outcome than the specific elements. Using the philosophy of Thomas Kuhn, it is shown that these non-specific and non-technical elements are anomalies that indicate that the technological paradigm in the treatment of depression is fundamentally flawed. The authors concluded that non-specific elements of mental health care are essential in fostering hope, trust and meaning. They constitute non-technical factors that are central to the concept of caring, and vital for recovery, and which resonate strongly with the growth of survivor and user-led systems of support for people who experience distress.
Social factors and recovery from mental health difficulties: a review of the evidence
- Authors:
- TEW Jerry, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 42(3), 2012, pp.443-460.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This paper reviews the international literature on the role of social factors on the onset of mental health difficulties, with specific regard to the United Kingdom. Findings are explored in detail in relation to three areas that had been identified by the wider review as central to recovery: empowerment and control over one's life; inter-personal relationships and social inclusion; and rebuilding positive identities within the context of stigma and discrimination. The authors concluded that a clearer picture of the importance of particular social factors emerge, which defines a broad-based and proactive agenda for mental health social work, with an emphasis not just on working with individuals, but also on engaging with families and communities. However, there is a need for further research in order to determine how to apply interventions most effectively.
Spotlight on deaf and hard-of-hearing youth in Canada and beyond
- Author:
- ERLICH Shoshana
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Youth Services, 33(1), January 2012, pp.5-11.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Hearing loss has been identified as a major risk factor for mental health difficulties. This article reviews current literature on mental health within the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, aiming to identify protective and risk factors and challenges to and opportunities for providing interventions. The focus is on children and young people with hearing loss. It discusses legislation, services and technologies and related limitations and gaps, communication and social supports, life space issues (the environment where children and young people who are deaf or have hearing impairment spend their time), and interventions. It concludes with suggestions for directions for future research and interventions.
Spousal relationships in which one partner has early cognitive problems
- Author:
- PRAKKE Helena M.
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 11(2), March 2012, pp.199-215.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This literature review was undertaken to provide an overview of research on the lived experiences of elderly spousal dyads, in which one partner has early cognitive problems. Nineteen core studies were identified. It appears that couples first experience forgetfulness as something normal for old age. However, if symptoms become too great, the dyad will go and search for meaning. Through medical assessment the affected spouse will be diagnosed as either non-demented or demented. Both situations are experienced as hard and worrisome. Even if diagnosed with non-dementia, the dyad remains confused about what is going on and how to anticipate the future. In spite of the enormous impact of early cognitive problems on the relationship, both partners still seem able to contribute to the quality of it and have few reciprocity issues. How couples differ and what this means for the experience of early cognitive problems remains largely unexplored. No prospective research was found about spousal couples living with cognitive problems before assessment and diagnosis. Studies that looked at this period generally did so retrospectively and paid little attention to the individuality of the relationship.