Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Gender and attitudes about mental health help seeking: results from National Data
- Authors:
- WENDT Douglas, SHAFER Kevin
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 41(1), 2016, pp.e20-e28.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Men often express less emotion than women do, are hesitant to express weakness, and seek professional help much less frequently than do their female counterparts. The lack of help seeking is common across characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, and nationality. Authors used data from the 2006 General Social Surveys mental health module to suggest that the gender gap in help seeking may be rooted in attitudes regarding help-seeking behaviours generally. Using structural equation modeling, the authors linked vignette type (depression and schizophrenia) to the endorsement of help seeking from informal and formal sources. Men showed similar support for informal help seeking regardless of the problem but were less likely to endorse formal help for depression. Furthermore, men were no more or less likely than women to endorse help seeking if the individual in the vignette was male or female. Results show some support for the hypothesis that men are less prone than women to display positive help-seeking attitudes, particularly related to common mental health issues. This may help researchers and clinicians better understand the numerous barriers to men’s help seeking. (Edited publisher abstract)
Men's mental health: a call to social workers
- Authors:
- SHAFER Kevin, WENDT Douglas
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(2), 2015, pp.105-112.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The status of men's mental health and its resulting effect on individuals, families, and communities are often overlooked by social workers. This article documents the prevalence of common mental health issues among men in the United States, the unique problems that men face, and help-seeking behaviours. They also discuss how social work is in an exceptional position to help men, and the systemic effects that social work practice with men can have. The authors assert that helping improve men's mental health is critical for social work, particularly given its values recognizing the dignity and worth of all individuals. Their goal is to raise awareness and spark an open dialogue about social work practice with men. (Edited publisher abstract)
General self-efficacy and its relationship to self-reported mental illness and barrier to care: a general population study
- Authors:
- ANDERSSON Lena M.C., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 50(6), 2014, pp.721-728.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study investigates whether general self-efficacy (GSE) was associated with self-reported mental illness and help-seeking behaviour and barriers to care in a randomized population. The study used a mailed questionnaire completed by 3,981 persons aged 19-64 years who resided in Western Sweden. GSE was measured and logistic regression models calculated, controlling for various sociodemographic variables. Results showed that 25 % of men and 43 % of women reported a lifetime prevalence of mental illness that they felt could have benefitted from treatment. Of those, 37 % of the men and 27 % of the women reported barriers to care. Men and women with low GSE were more likely to suffer from mental illness compared with persons high in GSE, but GSE did not enhance help-seeking behaviour or perceived barriers to care. The most prevalent barriers to care for both sexes were beliefs that the illness will pass by itself, doubt whether treatment works, lack of knowledge of where to go and feelings of shame. Overall, GSE scores did not differ among those who experienced various barriers to care with the exception of two barriers only among women. (Edited publisher abstract)
Examining gender differences in service utilization among children: nature, nurture or social network?
- Authors:
- MASCHI Tina, PEREZ Rose M., GIBSON Sandy
- Journal article citation:
- Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 27(3), June 2010, pp.177-191.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This study examines gender differences in the service referral and service utilization patterns among children through the lens of biological, social construction, and social networking perspectives. A secondary analysis of county wide data was used that consisted of a sample of 1,408 children aged 1–11 and data from the Adolescent Information Form (AIF) for the source of referral, contributing factors for referral, and service use histories across multiple sectors of care, such as child welfare, social service, mental health, and juvenile justice. Descriptive analyses revealed significant gender differences in the source of referral, and factors contributing to referral and service utilization among the sample of children. Girls were more likely to be referred by child welfare workers for sexual abuse victimization and family problems, such as parental substance abuse and poor parenting skills. Boys were more likely to be referred by family court workers for mental health issues, including suicidal ideation and gestures, peer relations, behavioural problems, and delinquency. The implications for the development and refinement of gender sensitive practice and research are discussed.
Conquering the Black girl blues
- Authors:
- JONES Lani Valencia, GUY-SHEFTALL Beverly
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work: A journal of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), 60(4), 2015, pp.343-350.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
An examination of the literature on epidemiology, etiology, and use of services for this population reveals an insufficient application of culturally congruent approaches to intervening with black women. An exploration of the social work practice literature and other relevant fields indicate that black feminist perspectives offer the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the intersection and influence of oppression among black women struggling with psychiatric issues and provide a useful framework for mental health practice with this population. This article discusses the evolving black feminist thought and summarises the scholarship on black women's mental health services needs and utilisation issues. The article includes a discussion of black feminisms as an emerging mental health perspective, arguing that black feminist perspectives in therapy provide an ideal framework for services that are responsive to the values and health needs of black women. The article concludes with a case vignette that illustrates some of its points. (Edited publisher abstract)
“You’re nothing but a junkie”: multiple experiences of stigma in an aging methadone maintenance population
- Authors:
- CONNER Kyaien O., ROSEN Daniel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 8(2), 2008, pp.244-264.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This qualitative study examined the existence and experiences of stigma in a sample of older adult methadone maintenance clients. Twenty four subjects aged 50 years or more attending a clinic in a large Midwestern US city participated in semi-structured interviews. Twenty three subjects reported experiencing stigma. Of these, 12 cited experiencing two stigmas simultaneously, 6 experienced three stigmas, and 5 reported four or more stigmas. The two respondents who reported experiencing the most stigmas were both African American men. Generally men reported more stigmas than women. Eight distinct stigma categories emerged the most commonly cited being drug addiction (n=19), aging (n=13), taking psychotropic medications (n=11), and depression (n=10). Respondents who reported more stigmas were more likely to identify stigma as a barrier to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. The authors comment that it is important for clinicians, as well as researchers, to recognise the burden of multiple stigmas, the impact stigmas can have on attitudes toward help seeking, and the way in which they further impact the mental health status of clients.
Gender and self-reported mental health problems: predictors of help seeking from a general practitioner
- Authors:
- DOHERTY D. Tedstone, KARTALOVA-O’DOHERTY Y.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Health Psychology, 15(1), February 2010, pp.213-228.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The main topic of this paper is an examination of the socio-demographic and health status factors that predict help seeking for self-reported mental health problems from a general practitioner (GP), for adults of both genders, because it has been reported previously that many people do not seek help when experiencing psychological distress. Using data from the HRB National Psychological Wellbeing and Distress Survey in Ireland in 2005 and 2006, 382 participants who had reported mental health problems in the previous year, with approximately 60% female and 40% male, were selected. The findings showed gender differences in the models of predictors between males and females with more factors influencing attendance at the GP for males and females. Only access to free health care and social limitations predicted female attendance, a range of seven socio-demographic and psychological factors influenced male attendance – self-reporting embarrassment, limitations in physical activities, martial status, employment status, access to free health care, location/size of household, and level of education. This, say the authors, suggests a ‘gender sensitive approach’ to mental health policies and promotion and to preventative practice programs would be well placed in GP surgeries and at a primary care level generally.
Exploring the influence of gender on adolescents' service needs and service pathways
- Authors:
- MASCHI Tina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 31(2), February 2009, pp.257-264.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This American study explores gender differences in the pathways to services among adolescents. Using a sample of 2482 youth aged 12 to 17 and the Adolescent Information Form (AIF), the characteristics of youth, sources of referral, service history, and contributing factors for referral were explored. Descriptive analyses revealed significant differences in the source of service referral, reasons for referral, and prior service use between male and female. Girls were more likely to be referred by school personnel and private practitioners for family issues, depression, and mental health issues. In contrast, boys were more likely to be referred by the courts and probation for mostly problem behaviours and delinquency. These findings have important implications for services and policies impacting youth. Developing or improving gender specific assessment and intervention strategies can help close the gender divide that may block or misdirect youth from needed services.
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.