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Patterns of exclusion of carers for people with mental health problems - the perspectives of professionals
- Authors:
- GRAY Benjamin, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 24(4), December 2010, pp.475-492.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The UK government 10 year strategy for carers (Carers at the Heart of 21st Century Families and Communities, 2008) outlines commitment to support for carers, to enable them to be included within service provision and to have a 'life of their own' including income, employment and well-being, helping to prevent social exclusion. In this study, 65 strategic staff in mental health care delivery from a range of settings and sectors were interviewed and invited to comment on the social exclusion of carers. The findings highlight four main types of exclusion: personal exclusions (including stigma and keeping mental health problems a secret), social exclusions (including isolation, commitments and restrictions and young carers), service exclusions (including needs not being addressed and difficulties with access), and financial exclusions (including paying for care). The author discusses the patterns of exclusion and considers the ways in which professionals and services can promote the social inclusion of carers for people with mental health problems in future.
Time to care
- Authors:
- NELSON Sarah, MacDONALD Anne
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, February 2010, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Cairdeas is operated by Penumbra Respite Care, a major Scottish mental health charity, and offers residential respite care as planned breaks for people with a wide range of mental ill health. It gives them short supported breaks away from their home environment to help them over difficult times and to give carers a break. The service is like a guest house, but has skilled staff working on a 24-hour basis and provides social outings like going to the cinema. Yet, despite having only 8 beds and being able to offer 400 respite weeks a year for the whole of Scotland, Cairdeas is often under-used by local authorities, despite an apparent desperate need among carers of adults with mental health problems. The project director, Be Morris, argues that this is because respite is still seen as an add-on extra, that mental health carers are often hidden, and that these carers are missing out on assessments of their need. Statistics have shown that 40% of carers in Scotland have not had an overnight break in the last 2 years.
Only the best: information about antipsychotic and mood stabiliser medication
- Author:
- RETHINK
- Publisher:
- Rethink
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 50p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Some people have mental health problems requiring them to take medication, either for periods of time or for many years. Medication may include antipsychotic drugs or mood stabilisers, also known as ‘anti-manic’ medication. This resource is the 3rd edition of the “Only the Best” guide including information about antipsychotic and mood stabiliser medication for service users and carers. It’s designed to help people living with psychosis to make medications choices based on up to date information. It contains: a 6-step guide to finding the best medication; a list of questions to think about; information about antipsychotic and mood stabiliser medication and how it is meant to work; information about side effects and how best to avoid them; and advice about getting a second opinion. It also includes guidance on best practice medication management based upon the NICE schizophrenia and bipolar guidelines.
Life after stroke: the long-term emotional and psychological needs of stroke survivors and their carers
- Author:
- INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SERVICES
- Publisher:
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 6p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Glasgow
One of a series of briefings providing practice-oriented summaries of published evidence, this Insight focuses on the long-term emotional and psychological needs of stroke survivors and their carers. The briefing provides an overview of the current policy context in Scotland before summarising recent research evidence. Recommendations for practice are then highlighted. These include the importance of preventing depression and anxiety in stroke survivors, the need to prevent social isolation and the importance of effective communication in supporting both survivors and carers.
The effect of psychosocial stressors on the mental health status of African American caregivers of the elderly
- Authors:
- KINGSBERRY Sheridan Quarless, SAUNDERS Marlene A., RICHARDSON Agnes
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 91(4), October 2010, pp.408-414.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Previous studies focused on African American caregivers of the elderly indicated that they experience less caregiver burden, stress, and strain than caregivers of other ethnic groups. But newer studies point to the stress, strain, burden, and depression among contemporary African American caregivers. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of the literature pertaining to the multiple stressors that affect the mental health of African American caregivers. Particular attention is paid to the psychosocial factors that affect their mental health status and well-being, such as limited economic resources, multiple caregiving roles, and dwindling social support networks. These stressors appear to affect the mental health status and well-being of African American caregivers in negative ways. This article discusses in detail the stressors, and provides recommendations that can help professionals in the aging community provide more culturally sensitive services to this at risk population.
Effectiveness of a stress-relief initiative for primary caregivers of adolescents with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- HU Jung, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(1), March 2010, pp.29-35.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study provides a perspective on the mental health status and analyses the effectiveness of a stress-relief programme for primary caregivers of adolescents with intellectual disability. Seventy-seven primary caregivers of people with intellectual disability living in Taiwan were recruited, of which 31 were in the intervention group, and 46 in the non-intervention group. The study involved participation in one stress management workshop (intervention group only) and both groups reading an education booklet on stress management. Findings revealed that 22% of caregivers in the study were at high risk of depressive stress and in need of mental health consultation. This prevalence was nearly six times that of the general population. The effectiveness of mental health initiatives resulted in a significant reduction in depressive stress for the intervention group. The authors concluded that face-to-face workshop were an effective way to decrease levels of depressive stress in the sample group.
Carers included
- Author:
- SYMINGTON Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, September 2010, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The Triangle of Care: Best Practice Guide on Acute Mental Health Care, which promotes the essential three-way relationship between professionals, service users, their carers and families is briefly discussed. The approach was developed by carers and staff who wanted to improve carer engagement in acute inpatient and home treatment services. It emphasises the need for better local strategic involvement of carers and families in the care, planning, and treatment of people experiencing mental ill health and calls for better partnership working between service users, their carers and organisations in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. Adopting the Triangle of Care will ensure the views of carers are heard. The guide offers key principles, resources and examples of best practice to influence services and other people working with carers to be more effective in involving them within acute care and recognises that this will greatly benefit staff, service users and carers themselves. The case of a 65 year old male who first cared for his wife and who is now caring for his daughter is given as an example of how carers have been excluded in the past.
Predictors of depressive symptomatology in family caregivers of women with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders
- Authors:
- BIEGEL David E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 13(1), January 2010, pp.25-44.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Families play a significant role in the well-being of relatives with co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems through the provision of direct care, management of symptoms, retention of treatment and emotional support. This paper describes a stress-process model to investigate the impact of having a female family member with substance use or co-occurring substance use and mental disorder on family caregivers’ depressive symptomatology. Eighty two women receiving substance abuse treatment and the family member providing the most social support for each woman participated. Findings showed that greater caregiver depressive symptomatology was predicted by greater care recipient emotional problems, less care recipient social support, and poor caregiver health. The caregivers were twice as likely to suffer from depressive symptomatology compared to those in the general population. In conclusion, the author suggests that interventions aimed at improving the care recipients’ social network may help to improve the carers well-being.
Dementia
- Authors:
- AMES David, BURNS Alistair, O'BRIEN John
- Publisher:
- Hodder Arnold
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 828p.
- Place of publication:
- London
- Edition:
- 4th ed.
The new edition of this definitive work on dementia and related disorders has been fully updated and revised to reflect recent advances in this fast-moving field. The editors have brought together a team of the world's leading international experts and key opinion leaders on all aspects of the condition, from history, epidemiology and social aspects to the latest neurobiological research and advanced therapeutic strategies, to provide a broad perspective on this multifaceted problem. The new edition includes: the latest neurobiological research made relevant to everyday practice; a thorough review of all treatment strategies from drug and stem cell therapies through to psychosocial interventions; and a comprehensive review of carer support strategies, community care, long term care facilities, and behavioural management techniques. The book is expected to be of value to a wide audience including; specialists in old age psychiatry, neurology and care of the elderly, and all clinicians working with patients affected by dementia, including psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and specialist nursing staff. (Winner of the BMA 2011 book awards: psychiatry category.)
Manual for the adult carers quality of life questionnaire (AC-QoL)
- Authors:
- ELWICK Hannah, et al
- Publisher:
- Princess Royal Trust for Carers
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 10p.
- Place of publication:
- Woodford Green
There are nearly six million people providing unpaid care in the UK. In the National Carer’s Strategy, it was reported that 71% of carers have had health problems which included poor physical and mental health. In turn poorer physical and mental health can affect the person’s ability to care, with the majority of these carers reporting that their health problems also affected the person they were caring for. This manual is intended to provide researchers and practitioners in the field of caring with a relevant and accessible instrument to assess the quality of life of adult, unpaid carers. The questionnaire can be used on a one off basis for the purpose of assessment, or as a pre and post intervention tool to measure change and the impact of support. This manual will be of interest to professionals in the fields of health and social care as well as those researching care-giving and caring organisations themselves.