Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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The poor general health of the severely mentally ill: impact of schizophrenic diagnosis
- Authors:
- CHAFETZ Linda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 41(2), April 2005, pp.169-184.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study focused on poor health among the severely mentally ill and additional risks associated with schizophrenia. Records of 781 clients in short-term residential treatment programs provided data. The schizophrenic subgroup was compared to others in bivariate analyses, with significant findings included in logistic regression. Those with schizophrenia were more likely to be male, unemployed, and insured by MediCal/Medicare. Most health problems occurred at similar rates across diagnoses, reflecting common environmental risk factors. Those with schizophrenia had less substance abuse and fewer liver conditions, but more diabetes and chronic respiratory problems. Implications for providers and for research are discussed.
Characteristics of individuals with severe mental illness who use emergency services
- Author:
- YOUNG Alexander S.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 41(2), April 2005, pp.159-168.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Emergency services are both a safety net and a locus for acute treatment. While the population with severe, persistent mental illness uses emergency services at a high rate, few studies have systematically examined the causes of this service use. This study examines a random sample of 179 people who were high utilizers of services from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Interviews were conducted and 5years of service use data were studied. Greater use of emergency services was associated with male gender, minority race, severe illness, homelessness, and less family support. Efforts to reduce emergency services need to improve access to appropriate community services, particularly for people who are homeless or lack family support.
Changes and predictors of change in objective and subjective quality of life: multiwave follow-up study in community psychiatric practice
- Authors:
- RUGGERI Mirella, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 187(2), August 2005, pp.121-130.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This Italian study aims to describe changes at 2 and 6 years in objective and subjective quality of life in 261 individuals attending a community mental health service and to identify predictors of change in each life domain. The research used a prospective study of demographic, diagnostic and service utilisation characteristics, psychopathology, functioning, disability, self-esteem, affect balance and service satisfaction. Female gender, unmarried status, older age, less education and greater disability predicted a worsening of objective quality of life over time, but explain a small amount of variance. The variance in subjective quality of life was higher (greater than 40%). Greater clinician-rated anxiety and depressive symptoms had a negative effect on satisfaction with health and general well-being. Psychological status, self-esteem and satisfaction with service were the most important predictors in almost all subjective domains; these variables should be important targets for treatment.
Young men’s access to community-based mental health care: qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators
- Author:
- RICE Simon M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 27(1), 2018, pp.59-65.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: Young men experiencing mental ill health report the lowest rates of professional help-seeking of any demographic group across the lifespan. This phase of life (i.e. adolescence and emerging adulthood) also corresponds to a period of disconnection from healthcare services for young men. Aims: The present exploratory qualitative study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to mental health care, as identified by a sample of young help-seeking men and staff involved in mental health service provision. Method: Interviews and focus groups were undertaken with 25 young males (mean = 18.80 years, SD = 3.56) and four service providers. Participants were recruited from headspace enhanced primary care early intervention centres in Australia. Results: Thematic analysis indicated four overarching barriers and facilitators. The identified barriers were male role expectations, talk therapy as unknown territory, difficulties navigating the system and intake processes. The identified facilitators were positive initial contact, effective cross-sector partnerships, availability of male practitioners and use of targeted messaging. Conclusions: Given the ongoing low rates of help-seeking, high rates of suicide and other adverse outcomes for young men, priority research and clinical attention is needed for this group. Recommendations are offered for future research, including suggestions for implementation of targeted strategies addressing gender-based health needs. (Publisher abstract)
A sociology of mental health and illness
- Authors:
- ROGERS Ann, PILGRIM David
- Publisher:
- Open University Press
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 269p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Maidenhead
- Edition:
- 3rd ed.
The revised edition of this best-selling book provides a clear overview of the major aspects of the sociology of mental health and illness. As well as drawing upon a range of social theories and methods to illustrate its points, it provides the reader with information which is organized along dimensions of class, gender, race and age. The mental health professions are critically analysed and long standing debates about the role of legalism explored. Organizational aspects of psychiatry are examined as well as the growing relevance of community mental health work. The book ends with a discussion of the various ways in which psychiatric patients and their relatives can be understood in their social context.
Examining health-related factors among an ethnically diverse group of Asian-American mental health clients
- Authors:
- KIM Wooksoo, KEEFE Robert H.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 6(1), January 2009, pp.17-28.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This study explored healthcare needs among a group of Korean-, Japanese-, and Chinese-American mental health clients and compared the within-group variations in healthcare needs by age, gender and ethnicity. The study included 283 individuals aged 18 to 100 years and comprised 158 Chinese-American, 64 Japanese-American, and 61 Korean-American clients seeking services from an Asian mental health care agency in Seattle, Washington. To assess the subjects the intake worker used the client’s self-reports and reports from their family members and collateral sources, including hospital and primary care physician reports. ANCOVA analyses showed that the three East Asian groups significantly differed in physical but not in health status and self-care items after controlling for age, gender and ethnicity and gender interaction variables. The planned post hoc test found that, in basic physical ability, the Korean-Americans showed a significantly higher level of impairment than the Chinese –Americans. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for health policy, practice and education. They comment that social workers working in the mental health field may need to develop outreach programmes as a preventive measure to their clients’ health issues. Asian Americans may delay mental health service use and seek services only as a last resort and this tendency could be more apparent to certain ethnic groups than to others.
When will they ever work? The importance of employment
- Author:
- FOSTER Tom
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 10(2), September 1999, pp.245-248.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
Paid work holds a central place in the lives of most people of working age, not only as a source of income, but also for the psychological satisfactions and social supports work can provide. The absence of work is just as significant for those people who are unemployed. This article is a brief discussion of the psychological effects of unemployment.
Mental health policy: making gender and ethnicity visible
- Author:
- BUSFIELD Joan
- Journal article citation:
- Policy and Politics, 27(1), January 1999, pp.57-73.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Explores the implications of two major twentieth century changes in mental health policy in relation to gender and ethnicity. The most visible change has been a shift in the dominant focus of service provision away from the asylum towards a diverse range of services loosely defined as community care. This shift has been associated with a second change: the expansion of services dealing with less severe forms of mental disorder such as depression and anxiety - a terrain where women tend to be more heavily represented both as patients and as service providers. At the same time inpatient care is increasingly focused on those with severe problems, especially persons considered dangerous - a population where men and women from certain ethnic groups tend to be over-represented.
A sociology of mental health and illness
- Authors:
- PILGRIM David, ROGERS Anne
- Publisher:
- Open University Press
- Publication year:
- 1999
- Pagination:
- 254p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Buckingham
Provides an overview of the major aspects of the sociology of mental health and illness. Draws on a range of social theories and methods to illustrate points, provides information organised along class, gender, race and age boundaries, and critically analyses the mental health professions. Looks critically at debates around mental health legislation, and examines organisational aspects of psychiatry. Includes a chapter on community mental health work. Concludes with a discussion of the various ways in which psychiatric patients and their relatives can be understood in their social context.