Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 20
Prevalence, patterns and possibilities: the experience of people from black and ethnic minorities with mental health problems in the criminal justice system
- Author:
- KANE Eddie
- Publisher:
- NACRO
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
Drawing on the findings from key reports and analysis of available data, this paper examines the experiences of people from black and minority ethnic communities with mental health problems in contact with the criminal justice system. It presents statistics to show how black and minority ethnic groups are disproportionately represented within the criminal justice system in England and Wales at all levels of contact. It also highlights ethnic minority groups' differential access to health services and summarises other key areas of inequality. Areas identified for action are: the need to improve awareness and trust between services and those in contact with the criminal justice system; better access to care for people from black and minority ethnic people with mental health problems and better data collection to help contribute to a greater understanding of existing inequalities. Other lessons from related fields include the need for cultural competence; partnership working with groups in black and minority ethnic communities; more user involvement in service design, and adopting a whole person approach rather than focusing on only the immediate problem or offence. (Edited publisher abstract)
An urgent need: We Need to Talk’s manifesto for better talking therapies for all
- Author:
- WE NEED TO TALK COALITION
- Publisher:
- MIND
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 4
- Place of publication:
- London
Sets out an action plan for improving access to psychological therapies for people with mental health problems, drawing on findings from a 2014 survey of 2,000 people who have tried to access talking therapies within the last two years. The study showed that one third of people had to ask for therapy, rather than being offered and half had waited more than three months for an assessment, with 1 in 10 waiting more than a year for assessment. While waiting for therapy 67 per cent of people became more mentally unwell, 40 per cent harmed themselves and 1 in 6 attempted to take their own life. The manifesto calls on the Government to invest in psychological therapies, so that the NHS in England can offer a full range of evidence-based psychological therapies to all who need them within 28 days of requesting a referral. In particular, it advocates: a commitment to equality between physical and mental health; greater investment in talking therapies; the introduction of national access standards and waiting times; improving the choice of therapies people are able to access, choice about when and where they access them, as well as help to take informed decisions; increasing access to psychological therapies for children and young people; and expanding research and evidence base for talking therapies. (Edited publisher abstract)
General self-efficacy and its relationship to self-reported mental illness and barrier to care: a general population study
- Authors:
- ANDERSSON Lena M.C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(6), 2014, pp.721-728.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study investigates whether general self-efficacy (GSE) was associated with self-reported mental illness and help-seeking behaviour and barriers to care in a randomized population. The study used a mailed questionnaire completed by 3,981 persons aged 19-64 years who resided in Western Sweden. GSE was measured and logistic regression models calculated, controlling for various sociodemographic variables. Results showed that 25 % of men and 43 % of women reported a lifetime prevalence of mental illness that they felt could have benefitted from treatment. Of those, 37 % of the men and 27 % of the women reported barriers to care. Men and women with low GSE were more likely to suffer from mental illness compared with persons high in GSE, but GSE did not enhance help-seeking behaviour or perceived barriers to care. The most prevalent barriers to care for both sexes were beliefs that the illness will pass by itself, doubt whether treatment works, lack of knowledge of where to go and feelings of shame. Overall, GSE scores did not differ among those who experienced various barriers to care with the exception of two barriers only among women. (Edited publisher abstract)
Access to and utilization of health services as pathway to racial disparities in serious mental illness
- Authors:
- LO Celia C., CHENG Tyrone C., HOWELL Rebecca J.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(3), 2014, pp.251-257.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Often considered to fare better than White Americans in terms of mental health, African-Americans are nevertheless more vulnerable to chronic, persistent conditions should they become mentally ill, the literature suggests. The present study used data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey to examine race differences in the prevalence rates of serious mental illness and race’s role in relationships among such illness and variables of (a) social status and (b) health services. Results showed that non-Hispanic Blacks’ level of reported chronic mental illness (in the past 30 days) exceeded that of non-Hispanic Whites. The results indicate that variables describing respondents’ mental health care, along with their age and alcohol consumption, affect serious mental illness differently among African-Americans compared to Whites. Implications concerning racial disparities in mental health are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Achieving better access to mental health services by 2020
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- London
Sets out the government plan to end the disparity of esteem for mental health and achieve better access to mental health services. This comprises a first phase in 2014-15 in which substantial investments will be targeted to end the practice of young people being admitted to mental health beds far away from where they live, or from being inappropriately admitted to adult wards; to support people in mental health crisis; and to boost early intervention services, that help some of the most vulnerable young people to get well and stay well. The second phase, from next year, will see the introduction of access standards and waiting time standards for mental health services, with the aim to deliver: treatment within 6 weeks for 75 per cent of people referred to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, with 95 per cent of people being treated within 18 weeks; treatment within 2 weeks for more than 50 per cent of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Additional targeted investment is also promised to help people in crisis to access effective support in more acute hospitals. Subject to future resourcing decisions following the next Spending Review, the final phase from 2016 to 2020, would see the continuous staged roll out of these new access and waiting time standards across the whole of mental health services in England. (Edited publisher abstract)
Health care access, utilization, and problems in a sample of former foster children: a longitudinal investigation
- Author:
- JONES Loring
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 11(3), 2014, pp.275-290.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Three years of descriptive data that describe health problems and access to care for former foster youth are presented (n = 92). Findings were that most youths had health coverage at emancipation, but the proportion with coverage shrinks after three years to 57%. Youths generally reported good health despite the loss of Medicaid and increasing difficulties with access to care. However, mental health problems and substance abuse problems in the sample remained high over the three years of study. Most of the mental health and substance abuse problems remained untreated. The policy implications of findings are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Feeling down: improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities.
- Author:
- BURKE Christine-Koulla
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- London
This report is aims to raise awareness among policy makers, commissioners and health and social care services and promote positive mental health of people with learning disabilities. It draws on a literature review, a national survey and focus groups, and real life case studies. The report begins by providing the context of the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities, drawing on the findings of a literature review. It then presents the results from a national survey and focus groups which look at the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families, friends and staff when accessing support for their mental well-being. The final sections of the report provide recommendations for improving the mental health of people with learning disabilities. The report found that people with learning disabilities experience high levels of mental health problems. It also found that access to mental health services, assessment and treatment for this group needs to be improved. (Edited publisher abstract)
Can Assertive Community Treatment remedy patients dropping out of treatment due to fragmented services?
- Authors:
- DRUKKER Marjan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(4), 2014, pp.454-459.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Previously, many patients with severe mental illness had difficulties to engage with fragmented mental health services, thus not receiving care. In a Dutch city, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) was introduced to cater specifically for this group of patients. In a pre–post comparison, changes in mental health care consumption were examined. All mental health care contacts, ACT and non-ACT, of patients in the newly started ACT-teams were extracted from the regional Psychiatric Case Register. Analyses of mental health care usage were performed comparing the period before ACT introduction with the period thereafter. After the introduction of ACT, mental health care use increased in this group of patients, although not all patients remained under the care of ACT teams. ACT may succeed in delivering more mental health care to patients with severe mental illness and treatment needs who previously had difficulties engaging with fragmented mental health care services. (Publisher abstract)
The importance of promoting mental health in children and young people from black and minority ethnic communities
- Author:
- LAVIS Paula
- Publisher:
- Race Equality Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing looks at the policy framework for mental health service provision and provides examples of existing practice which promote mental health for black and minority ethnic children and young people. It also highlights the impact of poor or incomplete data on commissioning and provision of mental health services for black and minority ethnic children and young people. This briefing also looks at specific factors that put children and young people from black and minority ethnic communities at risk of developing mental health problems as well as protective factors that can help build resilience. Two examples of good practice are also briefly described, 'Right Here' in Newham; and' Off the Record' in the London Borough of Croydon. (Edited publisher abstract)
Toward transformative practice: facilitating access and barrier-free services with LGBTTIQQ2SA populations
- Authors:
- LAMOUREUX Alexandra, JOSEPH Ameil J.
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 12(3), 2014, pp.212-230.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article explores the process of critical reflection on the development and implementation of a strategy to provide more appropriate access and barrier-free services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, 2-Spirited, and allies (LGBTTIQQ2SA) populations at a community-based early psychosis intervention mental health programme in Toronto. There is a long history of mental health assessment and diagnostic issues for LGBTTIQQ2SA populations that have been associated with the medicalising of difference and the pathologisation of gender and sexual orientation. The experiences of people of diverse gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations have resulted in unique mental health service needs, requiring affirming and appropriate services that do not participate in the reproduction of Othering through labelling and stigmatisation. The strong relationship between institutionalised oppression, school victimisation, discrimination, LGBTTIQQ2SA-directed violence, and mental health issues highlight the complexities that demand critical reflection and reflexivity in order to transform mental health services beyond discursive or rhetorical changes. This article explores a summary of the findings and achievements in this journey toward transformation as well as lessons learned, recommendations for similar initiatives, and questions for future research and practice. (Edited publisher abstract)