Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Parallel Lives: promoting recovery through participant-led research
- Authors:
- LLWEELLYN Penny, RICHARDSON Mark, PHILLIPS Rhiannon
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 17(1), 2015, pp.34-45.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
A group of people with lived experience of mental health problems explored the archived records of a defunct ‘Lunatic Asylum’ and reported on their findings. This was a participant-led project with researchers supported by a tutor and a member of the archive staff. Participants controlled the whole project, choosing their own areas of investigation and how they would study these. They also designed and delivered a presentation of their findings to the public. A focus group, held to evaluate the project, found that the ‘group’, as an entity, was vital to the success of the project, which has uncovered much information about the lives of mentally ill ‘patients’ in the nineteenth century. It has also given the participants valuable research experience. Their control over the study led to increased confidence and empowered participant-researchers to consider routes for progression and increased aspirations for the future which can include recovery.
‘Listen, empower us and take action now!’: reflexive-collaborative exploration of support needs in bipolar disorder when ‘going up’ and ‘going down’
- Authors:
- BILLSBOROUGH Julie, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 23(1), 2014, pp.9-14.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Background: People with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder experience mood fluctuation from depression to mania, and their support needs may differ during these fluctuations. Aims: To investigate support needed during periods of mania and depression, and when ‘going up’ or ‘going down’. Method: Five service user researchers were supported in a reflexive-collaborative approach to undertake and analyse semi-structured interviews with 16 people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and 11 people providing informal support. Results: Support needs differed when becoming manic or depressed. When manic, people needed a calming approach and encouragement to avoid overly stimulating activities. When depressed, positive activity and engaging in everyday life routines were helpful. Three core themes determined the effectiveness of support: (1) being listened to with active engagement through affirmation and encouragement, (2) empowerment through development of personal coping and self-management strategies, and (3) early action and understanding of early warning signs to respond to developing crises and protect wellbeing. Conclusion: Periods of depression or mania, and lesser ‘ups’ and ‘downs’, all require different support needs. Active listening and engagement, facilitating empowerment and appropriate early action are crucial elements of effective support. (Publisher abstract)
Evaluating the impact of participatory art projects for people with mental health needs
- Authors:
- HACKING Sue, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 16(6), December 2008, pp.638-648.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Participatory art projects for people with mental health needs typically claim outcomes such as improvements in confidence, self-esteem, social participation and mental health. However, such claims have rarely been subjected to robust outcome research. This paper reports outcomes from a survey of 44 female and 18 male new art project participants attending 22 art projects in England, carried out as part of a national evaluation. Outcomes were quantified through self-completed questionnaires on first entry to the project, during January to March of 2006, and 6 months later. The questionnaires included three measures: empowerment, mental health [Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE)] and social inclusion. Paired t-tests were used to compare overall change, and mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance to compare subgroups, including age, gender, educational level, mental health and level of participation. Results showed significant improvements in empowerment, mental health and social inclusion. Participants with higher CORE scores, no new stress in their lives and positive impressions of the impact of arts on their life benefited most over all three measures. Positive impressions of the impact of arts were significantly associated with improvement on all three measures, but the largest effect was for empowerment rather than mental health or social inclusion. This study suggests that arts participation positively benefits people with mental health difficulties. Arts participation increased levels of empowerment and had potential to impact on mental health and social inclusion.
Mental health consumers' motives for seeking advocacy support: a qualitative exploration
- Authors:
- STOMSKI N.J., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 54(5), 2018, pp.607-615.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Advocacy plays a vital role in ensuring that mental health consumers’ rights are maintained. However, the primary issues for which consumers seek advocacy support remain unknown. Understanding these issues provides a sound basis from which advocacy organisations may develop a clear service delivery focus. This study addresses the literature gap through presenting a qualitative analysis of 60 records from an advocacy service. Four major themes emerged, across which two key issues were dominant: the sense of fearfulness and disempowerment. These issues accentuate the importance of advocates in enhancing the agency of mental health consumers. (Publisher abstract)
Mental health and art
- Author:
- SECKER Jenny
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, May 2011, pp.21-22.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Drawing on the findings from research conducted at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Central Lancashire 2007, the author discusses how art and artistic expression can help to improve mental health. As part of the study case studies were carried out with six diverse projects. Eight processes that were found to benefit participants in the six projects were identified. These were: getting motivated; focusing on art; connecting with others; rebuilding identities; expanding horizons; self-expression; connecting with abilities; and having time out.
Empowering and demedicalized case management practices perspectives of mental health consumer leaders and professionals
- Authors:
- ELLISON Marsha Langer, DUNN Erin C.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 5(2), 2006, pp.1-17.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The principles of empowerment and demedicalization have been central to the formulations of rehabilitation and social service practices as well as case management, a core community support service provided to people with psychiatric disabilities. This study describes empowering and demedicalized practices in mental health case management. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty leaders in the mental health consumer movement and five professionals. Twenty-five categories of such practices were developed and are presented. Findings have implications for both the nature of the interaction between case manager and client and for program structures, activities, and missions. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Mental health
- Author:
- RYAN Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Research Matters, 15, April 2003, pp.37-42.
- Publisher:
- Community Care
Looks at three research studies which highlight the links between empowerment and the effects of stigma on services users and their families.
Beyond components: using fidelity scales to measure and assure choice in programme implementation and quality assurance
- Authors:
- PAULSON Robert I., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 38(2), April 2002, pp.119-128.
- Publisher:
- Springer
Fidelity scales have become an accepted part of intervention research. Initially, fidelity scales focused on critical components of an intervention. In this paper we argue that the next generation of fidelity scales should include key process variables such as choice. Since choice is an essential element in all empowerment and recovery driven intervention models, a fidelity scale for an enhanced version of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment model that incorporates choice as a fundamental component was developed as part of a SAMHSA community action grant. The process for developing the choice component and the dimensions measured are also described.
Using Therapeutic Beat Making and lyrics for empowerment
- Authors:
- TRAVIS Raphael, Jr., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 21(3), 2021, pp.551-574.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: Mental health remains a significant issue among young people in the US and elsewhere. Evidence of the beneficial role Hip Hop-based approaches can play in this space is growing. The value of such approaches centers on links to community, culture, and the therapeutic potential of practicing certain Hip Hop elements. Yet, while there has been a steady growth in Hip Hop-based approaches, little work has explored how they can overlap, complement, or reinforce each other. In response, this article explores the theoretical synergies between two established Hip Hop-based models – “Hip Hop and Empowerment” (HHE) and “Therapeutic Beat Making” (TBM) – to offer an integrated approach that draws on the complementarity between and uniqueness of each. Findings: Authors identify an integrated HHE–TBM model for supporting youth mental health which forefronts sense of community, cultural relevance, social justice, and empowerment. Authors outline a practice model, which leverages the best of activities, reflections, and discussions, and indicate its potential in working adaptively with diverse communities of young people. Applications: When engaging Hip Hop for therapeutic means, whether for health promotion or complex therapy, it is a dynamic, creative, culturally sensitive, regulating, and developmental means for finding common ground and creating rapport. It bridges creative and insight-oriented practices. It embraces the ability to generate emotional responses from creating and analyzing music, including esthetic emotions (i.e. appreciation (of qualities)), utilitarian emotions (i.e. functional, motivational, relevant to immediate well-being, goal-oriented), and epistemic emotions (i.e. gained knowledge or insight, awareness). (Edited publisher abstract)
Exploring mental health carers’ caregiving experiences in France
- Authors:
- DE JESUS Nancy Santiago, MAURICE Aurelie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 15(4), 2020, pp.207-221.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
France, once a pioneer in psychiatry, is now sinking as its population faces major mental health challenges. This includes the 12 Million French individuals with psychiatric conditions, the lack of appropriate structures and the shortage of skilled mental health professionals, but it also leaves families in critical situations. The purpose of this study was to explore the carers’ caregiving experiences and to suggest ways to organise educational programmes to support mental health carers in France.Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted from January 2018 to November 2019. It included French carers of patients with mental conditions. Recorded semi-structured interviews were used and findings were analysed through an inductive thematic analysis and regrouped into key themes.Findings: Participants had overwhelming negative representations of “mental illness”. The fact that they were excluded from participating in the patient’s health management further added to their misconceptions around mental disability, it limited their communication with their family and amplified their burdens.Research limitations/implications: There is an urgent need for carer empowerment; carers should be included in educational programmes, they should benefit from French Government subsidies and social-network assistance and receive quality assistance by trained mental health professionals. The critical situation of carers can only be addressed by combining these three steps and through the action of appropriate actors in the field of mental health, thus alleviating the current paradigm of psychiatric care in France. Originality/value: Thousands of research papers regarding carers have been published in other countries. In addition yet, to the knowledge, only a few investigations on French mental health carers have been conducted to this day. The singularity of this research lies in the rare individual interviews, which provided us with first-hand testimonies of mental health carers in France. This data could be of vital aid for professionals and for policymakers when advocating for better support of carers in mental health. (Edited publisher abstract)