Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Measuring community preferences for public mental health services: pilot test of a mail survey method
- Authors:
- SHUMWAY Martha, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(4), August 2004, pp.281-295.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study tested the feasibility of a simple mail survey approach to measuring community preferences for mental health services. A 38 item survey detected statistically significant differences in preferences for four central goals, finding that community members most value Focus on the Severely Mentally III, followed by Community Safety and Environment, Service Quality and Original Community Mental Health Goals. Some procedural problems were encountered that reduced the response rates, however, the study yielded information that suggests improved procedures for future surveys. Simple mail surveys appear to offer a potentially affordable, efficient way to assess community service priorities.
Evaluating an education project in mental health of older people
- Author:
- BUTLER Rose
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 31.8.04, 2004, pp.38-40.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Describes the development and evaluation of an education and training pathway for older people's mental health aiming to increase the knowledge and skills of non-specialist NHS-registered and support staff working on acute wards for older people. Concludes the workshops were successful because learning outcomes appear to have been achieved. Summarises factors affecting success and makes recommendations to improve training.
Effective components of a nationwide case management program in Japan for individuals with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- OSHIMA Iwao, CHO Naoko, TAKAHASHI Kiyohisa
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 40(6), December 2004, pp.525-537.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study identified effective components in a case management programme based on the Japan Case Management Guidelines (JCM-GL). Subjects (n=295) with severe mental illness were enrolled throughout Japan. Four outcome scales were utilized. The independent variable, Fidelity to the JCM-GL was the subject of interest. Case management components comprised three factors, extracted from factor analysis to fidelity scales, with the needs-oriented approach factor displaying the highest score. Subjects demonstrating high fidelity on this factor showed significantly higher quality of life and service satisfaction than low scorers. This component should be established first in countries where community care is underdeveloped.
Evaluating mental health services for older people
- Author:
- FINCH Jenny
- Publisher:
- Radcliffe
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 212p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
This book provides an account of the current developments in mental health services for older people and describes a robust model for evaluating health and social care to improve these services. Drawing on international experience, it provides accounts of the development of mental health services for older people in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia. The approaches to evaluating health and social care in these countries are all outlined, and a comparative analysis is given. The services currently offered are patchy, so there is a pressing need for effective mechanisms to be introduced in order to monitor quality.
Educating young people about mental health and mental illness: evaluating a school-based programme
- Authors:
- RICKWOOD Debra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 6(4), November 2004, pp.23-32.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Reducing the stigma of mental illness, increasing knowledge about mental health and improving help-seeking for mental health problems are essential areas of change targeted by mental health promotion interventions. The school-based Mental Illness Education programme, where people with experience of mental illness give an interactive presentation to high school groups, is aimed specifically at these areas. Reports on an evaluation of the programme as implemented in the Australian Capital Territory. Using case control design, 457 high school pupils were tested by self-report questionnaire before and after participation. Results showed strong impact on increasing knowledge, moderate impact on reducing stigma and weak impact on changing help-seeking intentions. Overall, evaluation was positive, though areas of continuing challenge are identified.
Integrating data from multiple public sources: opportunities and challenges for evaluators
- Authors:
- SAUNDERS Robert C., HEFLINGER Craig Anne
- Journal article citation:
- Evaluation, 10(3), July 2004, pp.349-365.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article aims to inform evaluators about issues involved in using and integrating administrative databases from public agencies. With the growing focus on monitoring and oversight of public programs for health, mental health and substance abuse problems, existing data sets in public agencies became an important source of evaluation and planning information. The focus of this article is on the methods used to find, integrate and analyze multiple existing databases. Primary challenges that confront the evaluator in identifying and accessing data sources and in addressing the technical issues involved are discussed.
Are children's DSM diagnoses accurate?
- Author:
- KIRK Stuart A.
- Journal article citation:
- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 4(3), 2004, pp.255-270.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The purpose of this paper is to gauge DSM's scientific accuracy, using the prevalent children's diagnoses of attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders as examples. The author uses the term accuracy to refer to a bundle of questions about the clarity of definitions that distinguish one category from another, the conceptual coherence of these definitions, and the ability of users of the classification system to implement these distinctions consistently in practice. With regard to DSM, he begins with a review of DSM's definitions of children's disorders and their ability to identify and distinguish those children who are disordered from those who are not. He then reviews the extent to which clinicians can use these distinctions reliably. Finally, he looks at some additional problems with the validity of children's diagnoses as defined by DSM.
Breaking down barriers
- Authors:
- GALE Elizabeth, CREPAZ-KEAY David, FARMER Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Today, June 2004, pp.24-26.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
Reports on findings from an international scoping review of programmes and interventions to combat stigma and discrimination commissioned by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) to inform its strategic approach to anti-stigma work. The evidence from the scoping review supports six key principles to inform appropriate programmes and interventions: user/carer involvement; multi-level approaches; behaviour change; clear messages; evaluation; and long term funding.
Psychosocial treatment of youth suicide: a systematic review of the research
- Author:
- MacGOWAN Mark J.
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 14(3), May 2004, pp.147-162.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This article systematically reviews evidence for treatment of adolescent suicidality. In all, 10 empirical studies intended to reduce suicidal behaviors (e.g., suicide attempts) or suicidal ideation were reviewed. Each study's intervention was described and evaluated using two sets of independent criteria to assess the degree to which it was successful in reducing suicidality and the level of its empirical support (well established or probably efficacious). Most of the interventions were successful in reducing suicidality. However, no treatment met the criteria of well established and only two were probably efficacious. Most studies had important methodological limitations. Features of the promising interventions were summarized and methodological limitations highlighted. The number of interventions has increased in the past 10 years, but the research evidence remains weak. Recommendations are offered to strengthen the research, and the role of social workers in using these findings and advancing the research is discussed.
The Scottish 700 Outcomes Study: Comparative Evaluation of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS), the Avon Mental Health Measure (AVON), and an Idiographic Scale (OPUS) in adult mental health
- Authors:
- HUNTER Robert, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(1), February 2004, pp.93-105.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Although many outcome measures are available, there is little empirical evidence to help clinicians to decide which to adopt in clinical, as opposed to research settings. The aim was to assess the content validity and levels of agreement between professionals and service users of three approaches to outcome measurement—a standard measure devised by mental health professionals (Health of the Nation Outcome Scale, HoNOS), a standard measure devised by service users and health professionals in partnership (the Avon Mental Health Measure, AVON), and an idiographic scale the Outcome of Problems of Users of Services (OPUS). The three measures were completed by nearly 700 predominantly long-term users of mental health services, and by their key worker clinicians. All major psychiatric diagnoses were represented in the cohort. A small sub-sample had repeat testing after 3 months to assess sensitivity to change of the three measures. Agreement between the three measures was low. Avon was more likely to detect problems, and to produce agreement between service users and key-workers, than HoNOS. Both omit key problem areas elicited using OPUS. All measures were sensitive to change. The Avon detects problems that service users judge to be important.