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‘They don’t treat you like a virus’: youth-friendly lessons from the Australian National Youth Mental Health Foundation
- Authors:
- MUIR Kirsty, POWELL Abigail, MCDERMOTT Shannon
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 20(2), March 2012, pp.181-189.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Over ten years ago the World Health Organisation developed a youth-friendly framework for services to use as a way of reducing barriers to accessing services. Yet, this framework has rarely been evaluated against health initiatives for young people. Drawing on 168 semi-structured, qualitative interviews with young service users, this paper explores the extent to which the Australian National Youth Mental Health Foundation, also called headspace, applied the WHO’s youth-friendly framework. The Framework emphasises accessibility, acceptability and appropriateness (AAA). Using the perspectives of service users, the study examines how youth-friendly the headspace service model is and the practical lessons that can be learnt. It argues that headspace was largely successful in implementing an AAA youth-friendly service and provides evidence of the importance of tailoring services to ensure they are accessible, acceptable and appropriate for young people. However, it also raises questions about what youth-friendly service provision means for different young people at different times. The findings suggest that youth friendliness should be applied across different stages of interaction (at initial engagement and in the ongoing relationship between patient and clinician) and at different levels (the environment the care is provided in, within policies and procedures and within and between relationships from receptionists to clinicians).
Appropriateness of the helpline as a mode of service delivery in minority communities: the case of the Arab population in Israel
- Author:
- AZAIZA Faisal
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 18(4), 2008, pp.463-476.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In 1996, a project providing a helpline to the Arab-speaking population was established in five locations in Israel. The goals were to provide both psychological support and referral information. This article explores the potential fit of the helpline as an appropriate mode of service delivery in ethnic minority communities, particularly within the context of the Arab population living in Israel. The unique situation of the Arabs living in Israel is analysed in terms of their underutilisation of the services and their greater need for services in relation to the prevailing socio-political conditions and cultural norms. The particular features of the helpline as a specific mode of help are then analysed. A representative sample of 200 Arab-speaking subjects took part in telephone questionnaires which assessed basic attitudes towards the helpline in the Arabic language and their awareness of its existence. The mean age of the respondents was 31.7 years and 73.5% were female. Only 10 respondents were aware of the helpline in Arabic. The majority of respondents (84.8%) expressed a positive attitude toward the helpline. Seventy three percent reported that they would use the helpline if they were in distress or crisis. However, 60% reported that they would turn to other sources for help. Though only one respondent had called the helpline, 88.8% said that they would recommend calling the helpline to someone in distress. This was in contrast to 59% who would recommend calling other sources for help. The appropriateness of the helpline as a mode of service delivery for the Arab population living in Israel is discussed in light of these findings.
Young people and mental health: novel methods for systematic review of research on barriers and facilitators
- Authors:
- OLIVER S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health Education Research, 23(5), 2008, pp.770-790.
- Publisher:
- Oxford Press
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
Barriers to, and facilitators of, good mental health among young people aged 11-21 were identified from a systematic review of studies of their views, and compared with what is known from effectiveness studies about appropriate interventions. No clear pattern for effectiveness emerged in terms of mental health promotion focus, type of intervention, intervention provider or young people. Well evaluated interventions do not always target what young people see as important barriers and facilitators, for example material and physical resources. Rather, they tend to focus on low risk populations and priorities other than those raised by young people themselves.
Enabling access to direct payments: an exploration of care co-ordinators decision-making practices
- Authors:
- SPANDLER Helen, VICK Nicola
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 14(2), April 2005, pp.145-155.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
This study considers how workers have responded to direct payments in practice and how they can enable or limit greater access. The analysis is primarily based on 20 in-depth interviews with care co-ordinators who took part in an evaluation of a national pilot to implement direct payments in mental health. Three key responses were identified which mediated care co-ordinators' pursuit of direct payments as an option for clients: using selective criteria; incorporating it into a dominant framework (of ‘providing services’) and re-conceptualizing their role as enabling greater capacity for choice and control. In order to make sense of these responses it was necessary to examine their conflicting work context. The authors conclude that initiatives such as direct payments suggest the need to re-appraise the role of care co-ordinators and may require a significant shift in the focus of their practice. Whilst tensions inherent in their role may make this shift difficult, the analysis also suggests that it could lead to opportunities for putting into practice ideas about user empowerment which should be central to their practice.
Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
- Author:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Place of publication:
- London
A suite of 12 resources which includes short films, reports, at a glance summaries and tools on Independent Mental Health Advocacy. The resources aim to raise awareness and understanding of the IMHA role amongst service users and mental health staff; improve access IMHA, help providing an understand what a good service looks like, and how outcomes can be measured. The resources have been produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence in partnership with The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston. (Edited publisher abstract)
Being understood, being respected: an evaluation of mental health service provision from service providers and users' perspectives in Birmingham, UK
- Authors:
- RABIEE Fatemeh, SMITH Paula
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 15(3), 2013, pp.162-177.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examines the views and experiences of using and providing mental health services from the perspectives of black African and black African Caribbean mental health service users, their carers, voluntary services and a range of statutory mental health professionals and commissioners in Birmingham, UK. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through telephone interviews (n = 15), individual face-to-face (n = 20) and focus group interviews (n = 12), and analysed using Krueger's framework and Rabiee's guidelines. Findings showed differences in the experiences of mental health services amongst African Caribbean and their African counterparts, the impact of social inequality on mental health and the needs of asylum seekers and refugees. It highlighted the important role of voluntary organisations in provision of care and support, insufficient provision of psychological therapies and concerns about high dosage of medication. The implications for practice are discussed, particularly the role of health beliefs in help-seeking behaviour and barriers to accessibility of mental health services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Adults facing chronic exclusion programme: evaluation findings: summary
- Authors:
- CATTELL Jack, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Communities and Local Government
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 8p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Adults facing Chronic Exclusion programme (ACE) tests new ways of working with excluded people who do not access services in the community because their lives are chaotic and their needs are too complex. The programme comprised 12 pilots across England which began in 2007. The pilots differed in terms of the characteristics of their clients, the intervention, the cost of the service, and their outcomes. They were tasked with helping clients access local services and benefits, supporting them with transition points in their lives, and changing the way in which local agencies responded to their needs. In all cases the interventions offered support from a consistent, trusted adult who could advocate between local services and service users. This report summary outlines the findings of a 3-year evaluation of the ACE pilots. The evaluation looked at different outcomes measures including: accommodation status; employment status; use of health services; receipt of benefits; and offending and victimisation. The report summary concludes that the pilots were effective in achieving positive housing, health and well-being outcomes with the clients. The pilots reduced the cost of healthcare, but the positive outcome of securing accommodation and benefits for homeless people resulted in an overall net cost. The pilots demonstrate that long term, positive, outcomes can be secured for this client group, and that these interventions are likely to be cost effective.
Simple but effective: local solutions for adults facing multiple deprivation: adults facing chronic exclusion evaluation: final report
- Authors:
- CATTELL Jack, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Communities and Local Government
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Adults facing Chronic Exclusion programme (ACE) tests new ways of working with excluded people who do not access services in the community because their lives are chaotic and their needs are too complex. The programme comprised 12 pilots across England which began in 2007. The pilots differed in terms of the characteristics of their clients, the intervention, the cost of the service, and their outcomes. They were tasked with helping clients access local services and benefits, supporting them with transition points in their lives, and changing the way in which local agencies responded to their needs. In all cases the interventions offered support from a consistent, trusted adult who could advocate between local services and service users. This report presents the findings of a 3-year evaluation of the ACE pilots. The evaluation looked at the following outcome measures: accommodation status; employment status; use of health services; receipt of benefits; offending and victimisation; and subjective health and well-being. The report concludes that the work of the pilots was effective and inexpensive. They were effective in bringing about better outcomes for the individuals, particularly in terms of health, and persuading local services to engage with the client group. Some of the pilots were highly replicable and half have received continuation funding locally. The lessons for public sector reform, particularly how to make services more flexible and collaborative, are discussed.
Community interventions for older adults with comorbid substance abuse the geriatric addictions program (GAP)
- Authors:
- D'AGOSTINO Carol S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 2(3), 2006, pp.31-45.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This paper provides an initial evaluation of an innovative, model community-based intervention program, the Geriatric Addictions Program (GAP) in the United States, designed to assist older adults who have substance abuse and co-occurring mental health problems in accessing services and changing health behaviours. On entry into the program, an interview using standardized substance abuse and mental health instruments was conducted. A chart review was conducted following discharge to determine disposition. The first 120 clients to the GAP were stratified by clinical referrals (N = 60), non-clinical referrals (N = 60) and by gender. In addition, each client was randomly assigned either: Group (1) a traditional referral approach with an assessment and linkage model, or Group (2) a multi-dimensional approach incorporating geriatric care management assessment, motivational counselling, and the combination of aging service and chemical dependency linkages. Approximately 90% of the clients were referred to the GAP for alcohol problems; 15% had a comorbid or primary prescription drug problem. Comorbid mental health problems were common. Functional levels were relatively low at admission. Although both groups linked to substance abuse treatment at greater rates than seen in younger adults in other studies, those in Group II with the multi-dimensional approach had greater rates of linkage to both outpatient and inpatient treatment. The authors conclude that programs like the GAP model of intervention, by addressing co-occurring physical and psychological problems of older adults with substance abuse, may provide the greatest potential for improved outcomes and stable recovery in later life. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
Insiders on the outside: primary mental health work in schools
- Author:
- HUDDART Paula
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 5(2), June 2006, pp.28-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Pilot mental health link workers have been working in schools in West Lothian since 2002. This article reports initial findings from semi-structured interviews with pupil support staff in 11 secondary schools receiving this service. School staff reported an improvement in referral systems for children at the early stages of mental illness, including quicker access to specialist services, and an improvement in their own knowledge and skills. These benefits were associated more strongly with frequency of contact with the mental health link workers than with physical location of the worker within the school. Link workers with a social work background were more likely that those with a nursing background to be asked to deal with children presenting with behaviour problems.