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Factors affecting attitude towards seeking professional help for mental illness: a UK Arab perspective
- Authors:
- HAMID Aseel, FURNHAM Adrian
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 16(7), 2013, pp.741-758.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study examined various factors affecting attitude towards seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) in Arabs living in the UK: causal beliefs, shame-focused attitudes, confidentiality concerns, ethnic identity and demographic variables. Participants completed an online questionnaire and results indicated that Arabs showed significantly less positive ATSPPH and had stronger causal beliefs in supernatural and non-Western physiology than British Caucasians. Confidentiality concerns, but not shame-focused attitudes were significant predictors of ATSPPH; confidentiality concerns were more significant for Arabs than for British Caucasians. Implications are drawn from the results. (Publisher abstract)
Discrepancies in parental and self-appraisals of prosocial characteristics predict emotional problems in adolescents
- Authors:
- TAYLOR Peter J., WOOD Alex M.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(3), 2013, p.269–284.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives:Parental appraisals of an adolescent may have an effect upon the adolescent's well-being and likelihood of emotional problems. However, the impact of these parental appraisals is likely to be partly determined by the young person's self-appraisal. It was predicted that a discrepancy in self- and parent appraisals of positive, prosocial qualities would be associated with an increased risk of emotional problems. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional design within a large sample of adolescent and caregiver dyads (N = 3,976, aged 11–17 years), drawn from the ‘Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain, 2004’ survey. Method: Two separate measures of prosociality were used to ensure that effects were not specific to one measure. The analysis explored the discrepancy in parent and self-ratings on these measures via interactions within a logistic regression framework. Potential confounds, including gender, parental mental health, conduct and hyperkinetic problems were controlled for in the analysis. Results: The logistic regression analyses demonstrated significant interactions between self- and parent ratings of prosocial qualities in predicting the odds of emotional disorder (i.e., depression and anxiety). This effect occurred across both measures of prosocial qualities whilst controlling for confounds. The pattern of the interactions suggested that low parental appraisals had a more detrimental effect on well-being when self-appraisals were highly positive. Conclusions: The results suggest that moderately high self-appraised positive traits may carry a cost of leaving young people more vulnerable to discrepant, negative parental appraisals. This has important implications for the meaning attributed to self-appraised positive traits in clinical contexts. Practitioner points: Clinicians should be aware that the association between parental perceptions of a child's prosociality and emotional disorder may be influenced by the adolescents' self-perceptions. Clinicians should therefore endeavour to assess both parental and adolescent appraisals.Discrepancies may be clinically meaningful, in terms of the risk of emotional problems, rather than simply being a nuisance.This study is cross-sectional, so although discrepancies may be linked to risk of emotional problems, the direction of this effect requires elucidation.The current study only focusses on the parent–adolescent dynamic and so may not extend to discrepancy effects in other areas of positive functioning or in other relational contexts. (Publisher abstract)
Mental health problems in the workplace: changes in employers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in England 2006-2010
- Authors:
- HENDERSON Claire, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s55), April 2013, pp.s70-s76.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
In 2006 the Shaw Trust charity found high levels of ignorance and poor preparedness to deal with mental health problems among 480 senior employers in the UK. The UK government, non-governmental organisations and Time to Change (TTC) have since provided relevant assistance to employers. This study examines whether there have been improvements in mental health-related knowledge, attitudes and workplace practices among British senior employers between 2006 and 2010. A telephone survey was conducted of senior British employers (n = 480 in 2006 and n = 500 in 2009 and 2010). Results found an increased awareness of common mental health problems was detected. Employers continued to believe that job candidates should disclose a mental health problem, but became less likely to view colleagues’ attitudes as a barrier to employing someone with such a problem. Formal policies on mental health and the use of workplace accommodations became increasingly common. These results are consistent with those of the TTC national public attitudes and the Viewpoint survey of service users between 2008 and 2010, which showed improved public attitudes to mental illness and a reduction in experiences of discrimination in employment. (Publisher abstract)
Attitudes to mental illness 2012 research report: prepared for time to change: September 2013
- Author:
- TNS-BMRB
- Publishers:
- Rethink Mental Illness, MIND
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 49
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the findings of a survey of attitudes towards mental illness among adults in England conducted in December 2012. A total of 1727 adults (aged 16+) were interviewed. The survey questionnaire included a number of statements about mental illness. Respondents were asked to indicate how much they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Other questions covered a range of topics such as descriptions of people with mental illness, relationships with people with mental health problems, personal experience of mental illness, and perceptions of mental health-related stigma and discrimination. The survey - which has been carried out since 1994 and is funded by the Department of Health - aims to monitor changes in public attitudes towards mental illness over time. (Edited publisher abstract)
Psychiatrists’ attitudes toward individuals with substance use disorders and serious mental illness
- Authors:
- AVERY Jonathan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 9(4), 2013, pp.322-326.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Objective: The attitudes of psychiatrists toward individuals with highly stigmatized conditions such as substance use disorders and serious mental illness may influence treatment effectiveness. These attitudes may be influenced by factors including previous specialty training and current practice patterns. This study examined the attitudes of addiction and community psychiatrists toward individuals with diagnosed schizophrenia, polysubstance dependence, comorbid schizophrenia and polysubstance dependence, and depression. Methods: A web-based survey link was sent to the electronic mailing lists of addiction and community psychiatry associations. Results: A total of 84 respondents identified themselves as either addiction (n = 54) or community (n = 30) psychiatrists. The majority were male (70% of addiction and 57% of community psychiatrists) with an average age of 56.0 (SD = 11.86) and 52.7 (SD = 11.8), respectively. Addiction psychiatrists had less stigmatising attitudes than community psychiatrists for individuals with polysubstance dependence (p < .0001), while community psychiatrists had less stigmatising attitudes than addiction psychiatrists for those with schizophrenia (p < .0001). Attitudes toward individuals with dual diagnosis did not vary significantly by psychiatrist group, but both addiction and community psychiatrists had more stigmatising attitudes for individuals with dual diagnosis (p < .0001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that even psychiatrists working with highly stigmatised groups of individuals may continue to hold stigmatising attitudes toward people with other diseases. Future work is needed to further assess stigmatising attitudes among psychiatrists and the impact of these attitudes on quality of care, as well as interventions such as specialised education and training to reduce such stigma among psychiatrists. (Publisher abstract)
“Talk” about male suicide? learning from community programmes
- Authors:
- ROBINSON Mark, BRAYBROOK Debbie, ROBERTSON Steve
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 18(3), 2013, pp.115-127.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the contribution of public awareness campaigning in developing community capacity toward preventing male suicide and explores emerging considerations for suicide prevention programme development. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on campaign evaluation data, specifically qualitative discussion groups with the general public, to report results concerning campaign processes, and “interim” effectiveness in changing public awareness and attitudes, and then discusses how progress is to be lasting and transformational. Findings: The campaign raised the awareness of a substantial proportion of those targeted, and affected attitudes and behaviour of those who were highly aware. The community settings approach was effective in reaching younger men, but there were challenges targeting the public more selectively, and engaging communities in a sustained way. Practical implications: The paper discusses emerging considerations for suicide prevention, focusing on gender and approaches and materials for engaging with the public as “influencers”. There are challenges to target audiences more specifically, provide a clear call to action, and engage the public in a sustained way. Social implications: The paper discusses emerging considerations for suicide prevention, focusing on gender and approaches and materials for engaging with the public as “influencers”. There are challenges to target audiences more specifically, provide a clear call to action, and engage the public in a sustained way. Originality/value: The paper adds fresh evidence of gendered communication processes, including their effects on public awareness, attitudes and engagement. Application of a theory of change model leads to systems level findings for sustaining programme gains. (Publisher abstract)
Negotiating narratives surrounding children's mental health diagnoses: children and their contribution to the discourse
- Author:
- BRINGEWATT Elizabeth H.
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 35(8), 2013, pp.1219-1226.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Despite increasing numbers of children diagnosed with mental health disorders, there is limited research on how children come to understand these diagnoses in childhood. This study examines the retrospective accounts of emerging adults who were diagnosed with mental health disorders in childhood to better understand how they made sense of their diagnoses over time. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 42 emerging adults (ages 18 to 22) who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and/or bipolar disorder in childhood. Interviews elicited participants' experiences learning about their diagnoses and suggestions for how diagnoses should best be explained to children. Findings demonstrate that participants actively sought and obtained information about their diagnoses over time. They negotiated narratives from several sources, including parents, teachers, mental health professionals, peers, siblings, the media, reading materials, and the Internet. Many of those who embraced medical accounts of their diagnoses did so as they obtained in-depth medical information over time. Meanwhile, those whose parents were open and communicative without using medical narratives suggest it is possible to share information with children without utilizing the terminology of “disorder.” Participants emphasize the importance of being open with children and providing them assurances, explaining that their problems are legitimate, common, and “not their fault.” Implications for social work practice are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Symptoms of mental health problems: children’s and adolescents’ understandings and implications for gender differences in help seeking
- Authors:
- MacLEAN Alice, HUNT Kate, SWEETING Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Society, 27(3), 2013, pp.161-173.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Drawing on focus group data from Scottish school pupils, this study demonstrates how young people understood symptoms of mental health problems and how their characterisations of these symptoms as ‘rare’ and ‘weird’ informed participants’ perceptions that peers, teachers and parents would respond to disclosure of metnal health problems in stigmatising ways. Consequently, participants suggested that they would delay or avoid disclosing symptoms of mental health problems. Gender and age differences in the findings are highlighted and implications for policy and practice provided. (Edited publisher abstract)
Public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour regarding people with mental illness in England 2009-2012
- Authors:
- EVANS-LACKO Sara, HENDERSON Claire, THORNICROFT Graham
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s55), April 2013, pp.s51-s57.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Public stigma against people with mental health problems is damaging to individuals with mental illness and is associated with substantial societal burden. This study investigates whether public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in relation to people with mental health problems have improved among the English population since the inception of the Time To Change programme in 2009. Longitudinal trends in public knowledge, attitudes and behaviour between 2009 and 2012 among a nationally representative sample of English adults were examined. Results found improvements in intended behaviour and a non-significant trend for improvement in attitudes among the English population. There was, however, no significant improvement in knowledge or reported behaviour. The findings provide support for effectiveness of the national Time to Change programme against stigma and discrimination in improving attitudes and intended behaviour, but not knowledge, among the public in England. (Edited publisher abstract)
Influence of Time to Change’s social marketing interventions on stigma in England 2009-2011
- Authors:
- EVANS-LACKO Sara, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 202(s55), April 2013, pp.s77-s88.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
England’s Time To Change (TTC) social marketing campaign emphasised social contact between people with and without mental health problems to reduce stigma and discrimination. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the mass media component and also that of the mass social contact events. Online interviews were performed before and after each burst of mass media social marketing to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour and associations between campaign awareness and outcomes. Participants at social contact events were asked about the occurrence and quality of contact, attitudes, readiness to discuss mental health and intended behaviour towards people with mental health problems. Prompted campaign awareness was 38-64%. A longitudinal improvement was noted for one intended behaviour item but not for knowledge or attitudes. Campaign awareness was positively associated with greater knowledge and more favourable attitudes and intended behaviour. Social contact at events demonstrated a positive impact on perceived attitude change. Contact quality predicted more positive attitude change and greater confidence to challenge stigma. The favourable short-term consequences of the social marketing campaign suggest that social contact can be used by anti-stigma programmes to reduce stigma. (Edited publisher abstract)