Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Recovery: a carer's perspective
- Authors:
- MACHIN Karen, REPPER Julie
- Publishers:
- Centre for Mental Health, NHS Confederation. Mental Health Network
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing paper examines what recovery means for the families and friends of people with mental health conditions. It suggests ways in which these informal carers can support recovery and looks at how mental health services can give the best possible help to do this. It also provides information about key resources, including the Triangle of Care and a Wellbeing Recovery Plan for families and friends. The briefing paper has been produced for the Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change Programme, a joint initiative from the Centre for Mental Health and the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network. (Publisher abstract)
Caregiver's burden, coping and psycho-education in Indian households with single- and multiple-affected members with schizophrenia
- Authors:
- CHAKRABORTY Satabdi, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(2), 2013, pp.288-298.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There is considerable evidence that family psycho-education combined with pharmacological intervention for patients with schizophrenia increases family understanding of the illness, reduces familial burden of care and improves patient outcomes. However, no studies have determined whether the burden of care is greater for those families with more than one ill member (multiplex), than for families with a single-affected individual (simplex), and whether psycho-educational programmes should be adapted to meet the specific needs of multiplex families. The study was conducted at a tertiary care postgraduate teaching hospital in New Delhi, India. Caregivers in simplex (N = 50) and multiplex families (N = 30) were compared with regard to levels of burden, coping and the impact of psycho-education on family functioning. All the caregiver participants attended eight bimonthly psycho-educational intervention sessions. They were assessed on the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) and the Coping Check List (CCL) before and after psycho-education. Caregivers from the multiplex families reported significantly more burden on two domains of the BAS, but there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to coping on the CCL. Following psycho-education, significant improvement occurred in the majority of domains of the BAS and the CCL; the effect sizes varied by domain and family type. Multiplex families face a greater burden of care compared with simplex families. Currently available psycho-education programmes are moderately effective for such families. (Publisher abstract)
Burden, interdependence, ethnicity, and mental health in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia
- Authors:
- SURO Giulia, WEISMAN de MAMANI Amy G.
- Journal article citation:
- Family Process, 52(2), 2013, pp.299-311.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Caring for a patient with schizophrenia often results in high levels of perceived burden and poorer overall mental health. Using a sample of 176 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, the present study examined how two components of burden (objective and subjective) interacted with interdependence and ethnicity to influence relatives' overall mental health. In line with study hypotheses, and with the stress-appraisal-coping model developed by Lazurus and Folkman (1984), we found that subjective burden mediated the relationship between objective burden and mental health. In other words, subjective appraisals of caregiving appeared to partially underlie the association between the concrete costs of caregiving and psychological outcomes in schizophrenia caregivers. Also as hypothesised, the authors found that interdependence, or the perceived interconnectedness of individuals within a group, moderated the relationship between objective burden and subjective burden. In other words, when levels of interdependence were high, the objective components of burden appeared to have a weaker relationship with subjective burden. When interdependence was low, on the other hand, objective burden was more likely to be associated with subjective burden. This finding suggests that helping caregivers to value harmony and connection with others over individual self-interests may reduce the likelihood that objective stressors (which are often inevitable in schizophrenia) will result in subjective distress. On the basis of prior research, the authors also tested several hypotheses regarding the role of ethnicity and its association with burden, interdependence, and mental health. However, contrary to expectations, no ethnic patterns were observed. (Edited publisher abstract)
“It’s us that have to deal with it seven days a week”: carers and borderline personality disorder
- Authors:
- DUNNE Emma, ROGERS Bertha
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 49(6), 2013, pp.643-648.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Carers provide unpaid support to family or friends with physical or mental health problems. This support may be within the domain of activities of daily living, such as personal care, or providing additional emotional support. While research has explored the carer experience within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, it has not focused specifically on carers of individuals with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Eight carers for those with a diagnosis of BPD were invited to take part in two focus groups. The first carers’ focus group, entitled ‘The role of Mental Health services,’ produced four super-ordinate themes. The second carers’ focus, entitled ‘Experiences in the Community,’ produced six super-ordinate themes. It seems carers of those with a diagnosis of BPD are continuing to be overlooked by mental health services, and subsequently require more support to ensure their own well-being. (Publisher abstract)
Clinically significant effects of group cognitive behavioral therapy on spouse caregivers' mental health and cognitive functioning: a pilot study
- Authors:
- MACKENZIE Corey S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 56(8), 2013, pp.675-692.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The objective of this pilot study was to investigate whether group cognitive behavioural therapy resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in mood, burden, and cognition of carergivers of older adults with dementia. Ninety seven caregivers in Toronto, Canada, of whom 25 with DSM-IV disorders began the 13-week cognitive behavioural therapy intervention, and 12 completed therapy and the 3-month follow-up. Each caregiver experienced clinically significant improvement on at least 2 of the following outcomes: diagnostic criteria, mood, attention, memory, and caregiver burden. Despite effectiveness, the challenges of recruiting distressed caregivers for therapy suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy might be most useful as part of a stepped care model of treatment. (Edited publisher abstract)
The Facebook effect
- Authors:
- CAMMACK Vickie, BYRNE Kerry
- Journal article citation:
- Health Service Journal, 123(6370),11 October 2013, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Emap Healthcare
Social networking technology is making it easier for patients' friends and family to provide support. Tyze a private social platform which has been developed in Canada, is one example. It consists of a shared calender, a messaging system and a 'CareWall' where stories and updates can be posted. Two users of the system are briefly profiled and the benefits they get from the system explained. (Original abstract)
Creative practice as mutual recovery in mental health
- Authors:
- CRAWFORD Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Review Journal, 18(2), 2013, pp.55-64.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article reviews the literature review to examine the value of approaches to mental health based on creative practice in the humanities and arts, and explore these in relation to the potential contribution to mutual recovery. It found recovery can embrace carers and practitioners as well as sufferers from mental health problems. Divisions tend to exist between those with mental health needs, informal carers and health, social care and education personnel. Mutual recovery is therefore a very useful term because it instigates a more fully social understanding of mental health recovery processes, encompassing diverse actors in the field of mental health. Research demonstrates the importance of arts for “recovery orientated mental health services”, how they provide ways of breaking down social barriers, of expressing and understanding experiences and emotions, and of helping to rebuild identities and communities. Similarly, the humanities can advance the recovery of health and well-being. The notion of mutual recovery through creative practice is more than just a set of creative activities which are believed to have benefit. The idea is also a heuristic that can be useful to professionals and family members, as well as individuals with mental health problems themselves. Mutual recovery is perhaps best seen as a relational construct, offering new opportunities to build egalitarian, appreciative and substantively connected communities – resilient communities of mutual hope, compassion and solidarity. (Edited publisher abstract)
Mental health crisis information for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HEMMINGS Colin, OBOUSY Shaymaa, CRAIG Tom
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(3), 2013, pp.135-142.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This study explores whether mental health crisis information could be modified to be made accessible and meaningful for people with intellectual disabilities. Personalized information to help in a mental health crisis was recorded on folded A4 sized sheets that could be carried in a conveniently sized wallet. Service users were recruited from the psychiatry of learning disabilities outpatient clinics in Croydon, UK. A total of 20 service user participants who had mild intellectual disabilities as well as mental health problems agreed to participate. Three quarters of the participants carried their crisis information wallets on a daily basis for six months before evaluation. They and their carers expressed positive feedback about them carrying the crisis information. No one carrying the information actually experienced a mental health crisis in the six months follow up period so their usefulness in such crises could not be evaluated. However, they were unexpectedly used in other non-mental health settings and reported to have been helpful. Although the sample size was small the findings suggested that the carrying of crisis information might be a helpful measure for some people with intellectual disabilities. A further, larger scale trial is warranted. (Edited publisher abstract)
Development of a framework for recovery in older people with mental disorder
- Authors:
- DALEY Stephanie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(5), 2013, pp.522-529.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study evaluates whether a conceptual framework of recovery developed for working age adults holds value for users of older people's mental health services, including those with dementia. Thirty-eight qualitative interviews were undertaken with service users and carers from an older people's mental health service in South London and were analysed using grounded theory methods. Components of recovery, which appear to be meaningful to older people with mental disorder include the following: (i) the impact of illness, (ii) the significance of personal responsibility, and (iii) specific coping strategies. Unlike their younger peers, older people did not aspire to a new and revised sense of identity, nor did they seek peer support from others with lived experience of mental illness. Three components of recovery were identified as being distinct to older people: the significance of an established and enduring sense of identity; coping strategies, which provide continuity and reinforce identity; and the associated impact of physical illness. Finally, two additional components of recovery were identified for people with dementia: (i) the changing experience over time and (ii) support from others. Mental health policy is increasingly framed in terms of ‘recovery’. This paper provides empirical evidence of how it applies to users of older people's mental health services. Practice implications include the need to focus on the maintenance of identity, and embed the values of empowerment, agency and self-management within service delivery. (Edited publisher abstract)
The formal support experiences of family carers of people with an intellectual disability who also display challenging behaviour and/or mental health issues: what do carers say?
- Author:
- JAMES Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 17(1), 2013, pp.6-23.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
Legislation, policy and strategies encourage services and professionals to work with carers in ways that complement and enhance their roles in order to maximize their capacity to care for their relative. Family carers therefore are recognized as a valuable resource. This article reports the findings of a review of research that explored the support experiences of family carers of a person with an intellectual disability who displays challenging behaviour and/or has a mental health problem. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the reported experiences of family carers from recent research studies, about their own support. Carers commonly reported that the support they want from services and professionals is the provision of clear, understandable information about their relative’s condition and treatment. Also, they want help to develop skills that enable them to manage in difficult situations, the provision of psychological support for themselves and a break from their caring role. They desire well-coordinated services as well as skilled and knowledgeable professionals. Recommendations made for the development of future research and practice.