Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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We want to be able to work
- Author:
- MORGAN Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, October 2005, pp.32-34.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The Highland Users Group is a network of people who use mental health services in the Highlands. This article reports on discussions within the group (meetings were held in 11 of their 13 branches, with 83 people taking part in discussions) too investigate why so few of the group were in employment.
See Me: cross cutting themes. Three year programme evaluation
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 36
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents the cross-cutting themes and issues that have emerged over the past three years from the evaluations of See Me programme to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. It is part of a suite of six aligned reports, with the remaining five reports providing insight into successes and learning from the See Me programmatic areas: social movement, workplace, education and young people, health and social care, and communications. The report identifies the key ingredients and strengths of the programme: social contact and lived experience – evidence consistently demonstrates that social contact-based theory underpins successful approaches to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination; strategic partnerships; education – this is achieved through volunteer training, e-Learning in workplaces, training delivery in schools, at residential and in health and social care settings; the See Me brand, which is a highly valued and an important part of working with the programme for individuals and organisations across programme settings. The report reveals that as the See Me programme progresses, a greater emphasis is being placed on facilitating and influencing anti-stigma and discrimination work and using the knowledge and expertise of local and regional partners to support the delivery of projects and activities. The report calls for a national commitment to tackling mental health stigma and discrimination and recommends improving the framing mental health messages; growing a peer leadership approach; review of See Me programme outcomes; strengthening data collection approaches to support the evaluation of programme outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
See Me: workplace. Three year evaluation
- Author:
- MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 39
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the See Me in Work programme, which aims to support employers to create a working environment that encourages an equal and fair recruitment process for those seeking employment; where people feel safe and able to talk openly about mental health in work, and where those returning to work following ill-health are fully supported back into the workplace. Implementation of the programme incorporates the following aspects: conduct a baseline Mental Health Check survey with staff; create an action plan to tackle mental health stigma, including promoting the e-Learning resource to staff; showcase this work to other employers; and repeat the Mental Health Check survey to show any change. The e-Learning evaluation indicates this resource is the right length, with relevant content that inspires employees to change their own behaviour and that in broader workplace. Organisations value the level of engagement and support they receive from the See Me in Work team. However, some organisations feel that the focus on stigma and discrimination is too narrow and would prefer a focus on broader mental health wellbeing. A more focused single outcome for organisations appeared to be beneficial for those who engaged with the Workplace Equality Fund. Organisations that engaged with the pilot of the Starter Pack found the process to be engaging and helpful. The report makes a number of recommendations, including continuing to engage with the rural local authority to ensure evidence is captured on how to tackle stigma and discrimination in a small community; and considering a broader focus on mental health wellbeing rather than mental health stigma and discrimination. (Edited publisher abstract)
LGBT in Britain: health report
- Authors:
- BACHMANN Chaka L., GOOCH Becca
- Publisher:
- Stonewall
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- London
This report looks at mental health and well-being of LGBT people and investigates the specific experiences of LGBT people when accessing healthcare services. It is based on the findings of a YouGov survey of over 5,000 lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people across England, Scotland and Wales, which asked about their life in Britain today. It looks at the rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions among LGBT people and levels of substance misuse. It also looks at the accessibility of healthcare services and discrimination LGBT people face when seeking medical support. The study identifies high levels of poor mental health among LGBT people compared to the general population and high level of hostility and unfair treatment faced by many LGBT people when accessing healthcare services. In addition, a quarter of LGBT people surveyed also faced a lack of understanding of their specific health needs; a figure that rises to 62 per cent for trans patients. It makes recommendations for better training for all health and social care staff, with specific guidance on how to meet the needs of LGBT patients. It also recommends that NHS England should make mental health a key priority for the new National LGBT Health Adviser. (Edited publisher abstract)
Media, mental health and discrimination: a frame of reference for understanding reporting trends
- Authors:
- KNIFTON Lee, QUINN Neil
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 10(1), February 2008, pp.23-31.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Mental health-related stigma and discrimination are significant public health issues. Media reports can both reflect and influence public attitudes. This article develops a frame of reference that identifies a range of themes that can be used to capture a representative picture of trends in the range and balance of reporting different mental health problems. The frame of reference was applied to assess trends in schizophrenia reports in the broadsheet media in Scotland, between 2001 and 2005, to coincide with See Me, a national anti-stigma media campaign. It is suggested that a national media campaign can succeed in breaking the perceived link between schizophrenia and dangerousness. However, campaigns should give more emphasis to the range of subtle, negative reporting.
Participatory action research with asylum seekers and refugees experiencing stigma and discrimination: the experience from Scotland
- Author:
- QUINN Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 29(1), 2014, pp.58-70.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Using evidence from a participatory action research process with over 100 asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland, this study explores participants’ views on mental health problems, stigma and discrimination. The study found that migration can have adverse effects on mental health and well-being, due to racism and the asylum process, and this is worsened by stigma and discrimination. This stigma is influenced by both social and cultural causal factors, including fear, past trauma, isolation, racism and the stress of the asylum process coupled with negative cultural beliefs about mental health problems. The paper considers the international relevance of this approach and the value of a model grounded in principles of community development and grassroots action. (Publisher abstract)
Workplace interventions can reduce stigma
- Authors:
- KNIFTON Lee, WALKER Alice, QUINN Neil
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 7(4), December 2009, pp.40-50.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems is a global issue, imposing a considerable public health burden in terms of social isolation, limited life chances, delayed help-seeking behaviour and stress. While numerous initiatives have been undertaken to address these issues, an evidence base for what works is still emerging. This paper explores the impact of 15 population-level awareness workshops delivered over a five-month period to 137 participants. These were employees drawn from workplaces identified as being important in the day-to-day lives of people with mental health problems. Evaluation approaches maximised specificity, sensitivity and anonymity and they assessed participant knowledge, attitude and behaviour. The workshops significantly improved participant knowledge. Attitude change was more complex with an overall significant improvement in attitudes, particularly in relation to unpredictability and recovery, but not dangerousness, which had more positive baseline attitudes. Social distance, a proxy for behavioural intent, had significant improvements in relation to ‘moderate’ social contact only. Qualitative feedback indicated that complex, unanticipated and positive messages had been absorbed by participants and influenced beliefs and behavioural intent. Service user narratives focusing on recovery were identified as the most valuable component of the intervention.
'Cutting the dash' - experiences of mental health and employment
- Authors:
- ARTHUR Belinda, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 7(4), December 2009, pp.51-59.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
People who have used mental health services in Scotland have the lowest employment rates of all working ages, despite a national programme for mental health and well-being that provides significant investment in anti-stigma initiatives and employment support services. This paper qualitatively identifies barriers to employment from the perspectives of people who have experienced mental health issues by conducting in-depth focus groups with 20 people who have experienced mental health issues undertaken through collaborative research involving people who have experienced mental health issues alongside practitioners and academics. Researchers who have experienced mental health issues instigated and determined the direction, execution and dissemination of the study. The findings add to the growing evidence base outlining the complex and interlinked barriers to employment which include previous experience of workplace discrimination, financial uncertainty, disclosure concerns, quality of jobs available and the potential of work at times to worsen mental health conditions. Despite this, most participants expressed hopefulness and resilience. Many wanted paid work and outlined practical steps that employers can take in terms of recruitment and retention. However, participants also stressed the equal importance of voluntary work and not just as a step to paid employment. A multiple-perspectives approach provides important insights into the complex and sensitive policy area of mental health and employment. Meaningful involvement of people who have used mental health services should be a central aspect of further research that aims to understand and address these barriers. This study has shaped the development of a national service user research consortium in Scotland.
Getting our message across
- Authors:
- DUNION Linda M., GORDON Lindsay
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, December 2006, pp.29-31.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Scotland's 'see me' campaign was launched in October 2002 to challenge stigma and discrimination around mental ill health in Scotland. As part of the campaign, 'see me' developed a process for recruiting, training and supporting individuals to do media interviews about their experiences of stigma. This article reports on the success of the volunteer bureau, which has been expanded beyond stigma to includes individuals able to speak firsthand about recovery, suicide and broader mental health issues.
Breaking the cycle of injustice
- Authors:
- MYERS Fiona, McCOLLAM Allyson, WHITEHOUSE Amy
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, March 2006, pp.23-26.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
One of the objectives of current social policy in Scotland is to ‘close the opportunity gap’. This article reviews current research to show how social injustice – in the form of poverty, deprivation, discrimination and inequality – not only negatively affect mental health and well-being but also hinder recovery from mental illness. The article concludes by looking at the Scottish Executive’s equalities strategy which aims to uncouple these links both by mainstreaming mental health improvement goals in policies and practices aimed at achieving social justice and equality, and by mainstreaming equalities goals within mental health policies and practices.