Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Does early intervention for psychosis services make economic sense?
- Author:
- McCRONE Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, June 2012, pp.31-33.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Early intervention services have existed in England for more than a decade. This article examines whether they deliver the cost savings and cost effectiveness to justify them. It suggests that current evidence points to early intervention services providing cost savings and cost effectiveness, but more research is needed to clarify the conclusions. It concludes that much of the cost saving can be made in terms of increased economic activity and reduced crime, as well as reducing costs in health care settings.
Changing direction
- Author:
- WOODS Phil
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, June 2012, pp.12-13.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The difficulties faced by mental health trusts, councils and service users in trying to introduce self-directed support in mental health services are well rehearsed. As well as responding to the challenging target for the universal offer of personal budgets by 2013, if personalisation is to be a meaningful reality for people with mental health problems and offer them a fundamentally different relationship to services at the same time then commissioners and providers must adopt a radical change in approach. This article sets out some top tips on the key questions that need to be addressed and the groundwork that needs to be done with stakeholders to create an environment within which personalisation can be successfully rolled out for people with mental health problems, their relationship with services transformed accordingly and the benefits maximised.
Increased demand for mental health services on college campuses: perspectives from administrators
- Authors:
- WATKINS Daphne C., HUNT Justin B., EISENBERG Daniel
- Journal article citation:
- Qualitative Social Work, 11(3), 2012, pp.319-337.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Evidence suggests that the mental health problems of students are more severe now than they have been in the past and that a greater number of students are seeking help. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the demand and role of student mental health services as reported by administrators from college counselling and mental health centres (CCMHCs). The data was collected as part of the Healthy Minds Study. Semi-structured interviews were held with 10 CCMHC administrators from U.S. institutions. The findings revealed 4 themes that characterised the changes in demand and role of student mental health services: an increase in the severity of mental health concerns and demand for services; overall psychosocial differences in today’s college student population; changes in the roles of counselling centres; and institutional challenges and the response to those challenges. The responses provide an enriched understanding of the current mental health needs of college students, the potential psychosocial and societal causes of these needs, and the challenges faced by counselling centres when attempting to address these needs.
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores and mental health in looked after children
- Authors:
- GOODMAN Anna, GOODMAN Robert
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(5), May 2012, pp.426-427.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
British local authorities are required to monitor the mental health of looked after children using mean Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores from parents or carers. This short report used a nationally representative sample (n = 1391, age 5–16) to examine whether differences in mean SDQ scores reflect real differences in child mental health in this group. The SDQ was found to be a genuinely dimensional measure of mental health in these children and provided accurate estimates of disorder prevalence.
Rethinking ‘evidence’: towards survivor-led understandings
- Author:
- BERESFORD Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Open Mind, 171, March 2012, pp.6-7.
- Publisher:
- MIND
Evidence-based policy and practice involves a whole set of assumptions and hierarchies in research. As a result, ‘evidence’ tends to be dominated by academic researchers (often influenced by the physical sciences and medical approaches) and neglects the views and experiences of people who use and work in health and social services. This article argues that policy and practice in mental health needs to shift focus from the value base of ‘evidence-based’ to that of ‘knowledge-based’. Improvements can be made through meaningful engagement with a diverse cross-section of service users in order to properly address their needs and tailor appropriate services. Survivor and service user researchers are building up an increasing volume of credible knowledge which is beginning to have an impact on policy and practice. This is based on new research values of acknowledging subjectivity, engagement and the validity and contribution of experiential knowledge.
Researching mental health
- Author:
- CARR Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Open Mind, 171, March 2012, pp.4-5.
- Publisher:
- MIND
Clinical research, working to a biomedical research agenda and model, is currently dominant in mental health research both in terms of funding and influence. This article argues that there needs to be a reconsideration of what is valuable and useful in mental health research. A great deal of evidence has been generated about mental health by research which looks at the social and psychological dimensions of mental health and distress, from many perspectives, including that of people who experience mental distress. However, the scientific experimental way of doing research rarely fits with investigations into the social and psychological influences on mental health and mental distress. People who have lived through mental distress and the mental health system have crucial insights into what works for them. This article calls for their voices to be brought into the conversation about mental health research in order to obtain a more holistic understanding of mental health.
Uptake and knowledge of voting rights by adult in-patients during the 2010 UK general election
- Authors:
- MCINTYRE James, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatrist (The), 36(4), April 2012, pp.126-130.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
A total of 152 in-patients resident in Westminster were identified across 12 general adult psychiatric wards in London. A clinician completed survey explored their knowledge about their rights and their attitudes to voting. Of the 84 eligible to vote (55% male, median age 39 years, 50% Caucasian), 38% had voted in the 2005 election. This compares with a turnout of 50.7% in Westminster, 61% nationally. Fifty five of the 84 expressed interested in voting in the 2010 election but only 36 had registered to vote. Overall eligible to vote psychiatric adult in-patients were half as likely to register as the general population and half as likely to vote if registered. Nine out of ten of those unregistered mentioned a lack of knowledge of their eligibility to vote or of the registration process. Long-stay patients were particularly disenfranchised. It seems that, despite a significant proportion of those with mental health problems remaining engaged with politics, many patients and staff are unaware of the new rules giving a greater proportion of in-patients the right to vote and the simplified processes. It is suggested that for future elections timely written information should be provided for both patients and staff. Once registered, patients may need further support to overcome practical and psychological barriers, and cast their vote.
Reinventing the employable citizen: a perspective for social work
- Authors:
- ROETS Griet, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 42(1), 2012, pp.94-110.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Modern economies try to employ economically inactive individuals, such as people with chronic mental health problems, through a wide range of strategies. This article, based on a project in Flanders, Belgium, in which social workers are charged with managing labour market training programmes, explores the support elements available for people with mental health problems. It aims to transfer the Belgian experience to the British context in an analysis of the various notions and interpretations of citizenship in social practices. In the analysis, the authors differentiate between notions and experiences of normative and relational citizenship. They argue that a relational approach to citizenship enables social workers in Belgium to make use of their discretionary space to negotiate employment trajectories in a flexible way. In conclusion, social workers are in a critical position to influence social policy makers.
The PAS-ADD assessments and their continuing conceptual development
- Author:
- MOSS Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(1), 2012, pp.5-16.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The PAS-ADD assessments (Psychiatric Assessment Schedules for Adults with Developmental Disabilities) have been in continuous development since the mid-1980s. Although originally developed through work on the health status of older people with intellectual disability they now encompass children as well as adults. The author discusses the theoretical and practical issues that have shaped the development of the assessments. The fundamental aim of the modern PAS-ADD system is to improve case detection and assessment by supporting and enhancing the skills of clinical staff, rather than attempting to replace the need for those skills. The assessor makes the final judgement about diagnosis. The PAS-ADD assessments are based on existing psychiatric classification and diagnostic rules for the general population and are conceptually different from instruments derived from psychometric principles. It is suggested that these factors have major implications, both for instrument design and for the evaluation of effectiveness.
The use of the Wii Fit in forensic mental health: exercise for people at risk of obesity
- Authors:
- BACON Nicola, FARNWORTH Louise, BOYD Richard
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), February 2012, pp.61-68.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Psychotropic medications often lead to weight gain. This study hypothesised that technology could provide novel environments and motivating for exercise, which were previously unavailable to patients in such secure settings. This study investigated the use of the Nintendo Wii Fit in changing physical activity for patients at risk of obesity at a secure hospital. Two participants, based at the Thomas Embling Hospital, a secure mental health facility in Australia, used a Wii Fit for 8 weeks. Participants played Wii Fit up to four times a week in sessions ranging from 7 minutes to 2 hours. Overall, participants increased the time spent actively moving their bodies in physical activity, as measured by the accelerometer. Using the Wii Fit also changed participants' attitudes towards exercise as they realised that it could be fun and challenging, especially if staff members also participated. The authors concluded that the study demonstrated potential use of the Nintendo Wii Fit in mental health settings.