Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Mental health in Northern Ireland: overview, strategies, policies, care pathways, CAMHS and barriers to accessing services
- Authors:
- BETTS Jennifer, THOMPSON Janice
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland Assembly. Research and Information Service
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 54
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This paper provides an overview of mental health and illness in Northern Ireland, including the issues of self-harm and suicide. It highlights the relevant overarching strategies and policies and those specific to mental health, mental illness and suicide for Northern Ireland; describes the care pathway for treating mental health problems, including an overview of the stepped care model and recovery model; looks at provision of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS); and discusses evaluations of mental health service provision in NI in terms of accessing services and barriers to access. It also highlights relevant initiatives in England, Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland relating to accessing mental health services. (Edited publisher abstract)
The mental health and help-seeking behaviour of children and young people in care in Northern Ireland: making services accessible and engaging
- Authors:
- FARGAS-MALET Montserrat, McSHERRY Dominic
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 48(3), 2018, pp.578-595.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Largely as a result of early adverse experiences, children and young people in care are more likely to suffer from mental health difficulties than their peers. Despite these difficulties, they tend to find it hard to seek help and engage with professional services to address their needs. In Northern Ireland, the Mind Your Health study collected data for 233 children and young people in care through phone interviews with their carers, and twenty-five of these young people were interviewed. Focus groups with professionals were also carried out. According to their carers, 35 per cent had diagnosed emotional difficulties, and 36 per cent scored in the abnormal range for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire’s emotional symptoms scale. Carers described difficulties in accessing mental health services for young people, due to lengthy waiting lists, a lack of information offered and a lack of effort to engage them. Young people found it difficult to engage with these services because of their feelings of stigma, embarrassment, insecurity, guilt and fear. Some felt unable to seek help even from their families and friends. The authors recommend that mental health services are made more locally accessible and waiting times are reduced, with a greater emphasis on pro-active outreach work. (Edited publisher abstract)
Think child, think parent, think family: final evaluation report
- Authors:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE, ROSCOE Hannah, CONSTANT Hugh, EWART-BOYE Shirley
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 64p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The final evaluation report of the SCIE 'Think child, think parent, think family' project which aimed to help services to improve their responses to parents with mental health problems and their families. The report documents the progress made by the 10 sites involved, five in England and five in Northern Ireland, and makes recommendations for future activity. The report begins by providing background to the project and the methodology used. It then documents the learning from the sites, considering first what changes to practice have been made and how this has been achieved. Areas discussed are the strategic approaches to implementation, involving service users, workforce development, improving access to services, assessment, planning and reviewing care, and providing care. It then looks at lessons about the process of change and what has helped and hindered this. Recommendations for future work are also made. The project provided useful learning about how to implement the think family approach described in the SCIE (2009) guide. Over the course of the pilot practice sites were found to place and increasing emphasis on early intervention and prevention and progress on improving existing services and the way they work together.
Mind your health: the physical and mental health of looked after children and young people in Northern Ireland
- Authors:
- McSHERRY Dominic, et al
- Publisher:
- Queens University Belfast
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 200
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
Reports on research to profile the health needs of looked after children and young people (LACYP) in Northern Ireland and examine the approaches and interventions being used to meet their needs. The study, which ran from May 2012 to April 2015, used a mixed-methods approach, including: a review of policy and practice documents; five focus group interviews with senior social work managers in each of the Health and Social Care Trusts; 233 telephone interviews with carers (foster, kinship, and residential); 25 semi-structured interviews with young people; and multi-disciplinary focus group interviews with professionals in four HSC Trusts. In relation to health needs, the findings are discussed under a number of broad themes: long-standing illnesses and disabilities; prevalence of mental health problems, behavioural difficulties, and risk-taking behaviours; proportion of LACYP who are considered to be healthy; and contributing factors to healthy children and young people. In relation to services, findings are discussed under the following themes: similarities and differences among HSC Trusts in their practice; help-seeking and engagement; access to services; what works well; and gaps in service provision. Key findings include that behavioural and mental/emotional health problems were the most common health issues suffered by LACYP. LACYP in residential care also had a much more negative physical and mental health profile than those in foster or kinship care. In relation to services and approaches: many LACYP had difficulties in accessing the services they needed; professionals found engaging young people with services challenging; and gaps in service provision were also identified due to lack of resources, capacity issues and the organisation and coordination of services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Opening young minds
- Authors:
- McCARTAN Roisin, SMALL Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2006, pp.27-29.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
This article reports on research carried out in Northern Ireland, in the Southern Health and Social Service Board and Southern Education and Library Board areas, by Action Mental Health's (AMH) MenSana project. The aim of the research was to investigate the needs for information about mental health and mental health services among key adult contacts of young people in the 16-25 year age group, and the kinds of support they would welcome from professionals and services. Professionals with significant contact with young people in this age group (including GPs, mental health professionals, teachers, youth workers, social workers and family and occupational therapists), and parents and guardians were surveyed for their views. Information was sought on respondents' understanding of the term 'mental ill health'; their awareness of the availability of services; perceived gaps; and the kinds of information and support they would find helpful. The article also contains details of the MenSana project, which is specifically aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues among children and young people in the Southern Health and Social Service Board and Southern Education and Library Board areas of Northern Ireland.