Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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'Confidentiality smokescreens' and carers for people with mental health problems: the perspectives of professionals
- Authors:
- GRAY Ben, at al.
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(4), July 2008, pp.376-387.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper reports on some of the findings from a collaborative study funded by the Big Lottery and led by Crossroads Caring for Carers about carers for people with mental health problems. The protection and use of information in mental health are firmly rooted in ethics and professional codes, law and policy, as well as values and professional practice. While government initiatives have attempted to augment the role and rights of carers, policy guidance involving information sharing between professionals and carers has failed to deal with the practical dilemmas of patient confidentiality. Professional codes and training neither explore nor develop the moral and ethical ground that stands between the service user's need for privacy and the carer's need for information. Policy and training guidance on confidentiality is scattered, ambiguous, confusing for professionals and inconsistent. There is uncertainty in practice about the information that professionals may share, and many professionals do not take into account carers' rights, not least to basic information to help them care for service users. "Confidentiality smokescreens" may sometimes lead to information being withheld from carers. Professionals sometimes find it easier and safer to say nothing. In order to explore these issues from the perspectives of professionals, 65 participants were interviewed. The sample included directors and senior staff from the health, social care and voluntary sectors. Respondents were asked to comment at length on their understanding of confidentiality and information sharing with carers. Findings highlight confidentiality smokescreens that erect barriers that limit effective information sharing; issues involving confidentiality, risk management and carers in crisis; examples of good practice; and the need for the training of professionals on confidentiality issues and the rights of carers. This paper explores the challenge of confidentiality smokescreens from the perspective of professionals, and draws out implications for professional practice and training.
Sharing care responsibilities between professionals and personal networks in mental healthcare: a plea for inclusion
- Author:
- LANDEWEER Elleke
- Journal article citation:
- Ethics and Social Welfare, 12(2), 2018, pp.147-159.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Abingdon
This positional paper explores the role of personal networks (family and friends) in caring for people with mental health problems. Since the eighties, major changes have been made in the organization and focus of professional mental healthcare. Correspondingly, new expectations and changes in the division of care responsibilities between people with mental health problems, their personal networks and their professional care providers were created. In this paper, I investigate how the transition in mental healthcare changed the allocation of care responsibilities between personal networks, people with mental health problems and professional caregivers. The author considers why care responsibilities of personal networks have been taken for granted in these processes, and discuss whether personal networks should have a more prominent voice in the assignment of care responsibilities, and how this can be done. A theoretical framework of feminist care ethics inspired by scholars such as Margaret Urban Walker, Joan Tronto and Hilde Lindemann is used to reflect on the need for social inclusion. (Edited publisher abstract)
Gatekeepers, proxies, advocates?: the evolving role of carers under mental health and mental incapacity law reforms
- Author:
- KEYWOOD Kirsty
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 25(4), December 2003, pp.355-368.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article explores the potential impact of the mental health and mental incapacity law reforms on carers. The reform proposals anticipate a number of overlapping and at times conflicting roles for carers (including those of gatekeeper, decision-making proxy and advocate), which is suggestive of an ongoing ambivalence toward the caring role at the level of ethics, policy and strategic planning.
The value of everything: social work and its importance in the field of mental health
- Author:
- GILBERT Peter
- Publisher:
- Russell House
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 127p.
- Place of publication:
- Lyme Regis
Considers the value of social work in the light of what users and carers want from mental health services; the value base of the new policies for reform; the role of the social worker in different settings; and ways of taking these values and skills forward into new settings. Also looks at: the role of the approved social workers; the value of social work in management and leadership; and the future of social work and mental health services.
Factors influencing expressed emotion found between Chinese caregivers and their relatives with schizophrenia
- Authors:
- WONG Daniel Fu Keung, LOK Poon Wing
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Mental Health, 1(2), 2002, pp.61-81.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Based on the concept of Expressed Emotion (EE), this study attempted to explore the underlying socio-cultural factors that were related to the unique patterns of communication found between Chinese caregivers and their relatives with schizophrenia. Twelve caregivers were given in-depth interviews, and the transcripts were content-analyzed to delineate the unique communicationpatterns found between caregivers and their relatives with schizophrenia. Thematic analyses were also performed to extricate the possible underlying factors associated with such unique communication patterns. While certain themes such as the lack of knowledge of mental illness, attribution of symptoms to personality causes and feelings of psychological burdens were closely associated with negative communication patterns of critical comments, hostility and emotional over-involvement, parental commitment, knowledge ofmental illness and recognition of positive attributes in relatives were linked to positive communication patterns of warmth and optimism towards illness. Socio-cultural factors such as stigma of mental illness, Confucian work ethics, parental self-sacrificing and devoted behaviours, and acceptance of fate were put forward to explain the findings.
Stress factors and mental health of carers with relatives suffering from schizophrenia in Hong Kong: implications for culturally sensitive practices
- Author:
- WONG Daniel F.K.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 30(3), June 2000, pp.365-382.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study examines the difficulties and stresses experienced by carers with relatives suffering from schizophrenia in Hong Kong. The impact of these difficulties and stresses and of mastery as a coping resource on carers' mental health was also explored. Results show that carers experience most difficulties and stresses related to the management of negative symptoms such as refusal to perform household duties and neglect of personal hygiene, and less to handling positive symptoms such as bizarre behaviours and thoughts. It is also revealed that perceptions of stress associated with difficulties in the care of relatives with schizophrenia accounts for poorer mental health among carers. Lastly, carers with a strong sense of mastery have better mental health. Cultural issues such as 'family shame and face saving', 'family obligations and reciprocal expectations', 'external orientation to personal control' and the 'the Confucian work ethics' are put forward as explanations for these findings. Suggestions on culturally sensitive practices are made.
Appropriateness in acquiring a family caregiver interview from older adults with suspected cognitive impairment
- Authors:
- CHUMBLER N.R., HARTMANN D., BECK C.K.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 4(2), May 2000, pp.158-165.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study attempted to identify the factors associated with the completion of a family caregiver interview among a sample of older adults with suspected cognitive impairment. Multivariate analysis found that a complete caregiver interview was associated with being male, engaging in more face-to-face contact with family members other than the family caregiver, having more visits to the physician (excluding a psychiatrist) and having more difficulties performing instrumental activities of daily living. Discusses the implications of using telephone interviews to collect and evaluate data on the health status and health service needs of older adults with suspected cognitive impairment.
Providing information to carers of people admitted to psychiatric hospital
- Author:
- BRENNAN Geoff
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Care, 1(6), February 1998, pp.196-198.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
Relatives have an increasingly important role in providing care in the community to people with mental health problems, yet numerous studies have highlighted a lack of support from health care professions. Describes the findings of a study to investigate the information provided to relatives of patients in one trust, and suggests solutions to the ethical and professional dilemmas raised.
Mental health problems in old age: a reader
- Editors:
- GEARING Brian, JOHNSON Malcolm, HELLER Tom
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Publication year:
- 1988
- Pagination:
- 222p., tables, bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Chichester
A reader analysing the nature of mental health and mental disorders found among older people living in the community, and how carers and the helping professions should work together.
Learning materials on mental health: risk assessment
- Editors:
- ALBERG Corinna, HATFIELD Barbara, HUXLEY Peter
- Publisher:
- University of Manchester. School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences
- Publication year:
- 1996
- Pagination:
- 184p.
- Place of publication:
- Manchester
Teaching pack designed to inform those involved in mental health risk assessment and risk management of the latest knowledge and best practice. The pack assumes prior training in and an understanding of mental health. A key theme of the materials is the importance of multidisciplinary working. Contains modules on: characteristics of risk; intervention and management; legislation and policy; groups with special needs; ethical issues and user, carer and other perspectives; and training exercises.