Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Boundary work in inter-agency and interprofessional client transitions
- Authors:
- SAARIO Sirpa, JUHILA Kirsi, RAITAKARI Suvi
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interprofessional Care, 29(6), 2015, pp.610-615.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article analyses the accomplishment of boundary work performed by professionals engaged in inter-agency collaboration. As a means of building authority within a particular field, boundary work is found to be a common feature of most professional practices. By analysing the talk of Finnish professionals who work in the field of supported housing in mental health, the article investigates the ways professionals - as collective representatives of their service - talk about doing boundary work when transferring their clients to another agency. The study drew on the principles of exploratory case study design and ethnomethodology. A key finding from the analysis of professionals’ focus groups and team meetings indicated that boundary work is employed when disputes arise between supported housing and collaborating agencies. The article goes on to suggest that professionals accomplish boundary work by rhetorically presenting themselves as holders of "day-to-day evidence" of clients’ mundane living skills and serious ill-health. The paper concludes by arguing that in inter-agency collaboration, boundary work building on day-to-day evidence is used to influence the decision on the most appropriate living arrangement for the client. Boundary work is also used for boosting the authority of professionals as representatives of a relatively new and fixed-term agency in the service system. (Publisher abstract)
Client-level measures of services integration among chronically homeless adults
- Authors:
- MARES Alvin S., GREENBERG Greg A., ROSENHECK Robert A.
- Journal article citation:
- Community Mental Health Journal, 44(5), October 2008, pp.367-376.
- Publisher:
- Springer
This American study presents three client-level measures of services integration, two objective measures, representing the proportion of needed services received and the number of outpatient services received by each client, and one subjective measure, a five-item scale measuring perceived coordination of care among clients’ service providers. Data from the evaluation of the collaborative initiative to help end chronic homelessness (CICH) are used to examine bivariate and multivariate relationships of these three client-level measures to two system-level measures of services integration, one addressing interagency services coordination/planning and the other interagency trust/respect as well as to baseline client characteristics among 734 chronically homeless adults in 11 American cities. Client-level measures of service integration were not strongly associated to each other or to the system-level measures, except for weak associations between one objective client measure and the system-level measure of service coordination and planning, and another between client-level use of outpatient mental health services and system-level trust and respect. Multivariate analysis showed that clients who received a greater array of needed services received more service overall and were more likely to have a diagnosis of PTSD and more medical problems, but less serious alcohol problems. Clients who reported more outpatient mental health and substance abuse visits were significantly more likely to be married, to be veterans, to have more serious drug problems, and to be dually diagnosed. Clients with more serious drug problems reported poorer coordination among their service providers on the subjective measure of client-level service integration. Three client-level measures of services integration were, at best, weakly associated with measures of system-level integration. Positive associations between client-level measures of integration and health status, outpatient service use and negative relationships with indicators of substance abuse suggest they may usefully represent the experiences of chronically homeless clients, even though they are not strongly related to system-level measures.
Key dimensions of collaboration quality in mental health care service networks
- Authors:
- NICAISE Pablo, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interprofessional Care, 35(1), 2021, pp.28-36.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Appropriate care delivery for patients with severe mental illness (SMI) requires a high level of collaboration quality between primary, mental health, and social care services. Few studies have addressed the interpersonal and inter-organizational components of collaboration within one unique study setting and it is unclear how these components contribute to overall collaboration quality. Using a comprehensive model that includes ten key indicators of collaboration in relation to both components, we evaluated how interpersonal and inter-organizational collaboration quality were associated in 19 networks that included 994 services across Belgium. Interpersonal collaboration was significantly higher than inter-organizational collaboration. Despite the internal consistency of the model, analysis showed that respondents perceived a conflict between client-centered care and leadership in the network. Our results reveal two approaches to collaborative service networks, one relying on interpersonal interactions and driven by client needs and another based on formalization and driven by governance procedures. The results reflect a lack of strategy on the part of network leaders for supporting client-centered care and hence, the persistence of the high level of fragmentation that networks were expected to address. Policy-makers should pay more attention to network formalization and governance mechanisms with a view to achieving effective client-centered outcomes. (Edited publisher abstract)
Local suicide prevention planning in England: an independent progress report
- Authors:
- CHADWICK Tom, OWENS Christabel, MORRISSEY Jacqui
- Publishers:
- Samaritans, University of Exeter
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 97
- Place of publication:
- Ewell
This report, from Samaritans and the University of Exeter, looks at the breadth and depth of suicide prevention planning within and across local authorities in England. Specifically, the research looked at the current state of local multi-agency suicide prevention action plans, the actions contained in local plans, and the successes and challenges in suicide prevention experienced by local authorities. The findings are drawn from survey research and qualitative interviews with local suicide prevention leads, and qualitative analysis of local suicide prevention plans. The report covers actions featured in local plans according to the seven priorities: reducing the risk of suicide in key high-risk groups; improving mental health in specific groups; reducing access to the means of suicide; information and support to those bereaved or affected by suicide; support to the media; support research, data collection and monitoring; and reducing rates of self harm. The research found that almost all local authority areas have established an action plan and multi-agency suicide prevention group. There is also a commitment to collaborative working at local level. However, the research found that some areas are further ahead than others, and that local areas would benefit from collaborating with neighbouring authorities where good practice could be shared, or economies of scale savings made. In addition, over three-quarters of local authorities said they would welcome additional support nationally to improve their suicide prevention activities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Interagency collaboration in vocational rehabilitation for persons with mental health problems: the perspective of the service users and the professionals
- Authors:
- GERMUNDSSON Per, HILLBORG Helene, DANERMARK Berth
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 26(6), 2011, pp.699-713.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
There is, within the European Union, a pronounced aspiration and policy that persons with disabilities should be fully involved in the community, which includes opportunities to gainful employment. Despite this, a very large amount of disabled people remain unemployed, especially persons with mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate how people with mental health problems and caseworkers in different agencies experience the vocational rehabilitation process from an interagency collaboration perspective. The study participants were 20 professionals (16 women and 4 men) working with vocational rehabilitation, and 8 service users (4 women and 4 men) who had been on sick leave for from about 18 months to up to 5 years. Interviews with service users were carried out on 2 occasions approximately 6 months apart, and focused on the individual’s initial and ongoing rehabilitation process. Four focus groups were conducted with the professionals. Analysis of the data revealed a number of hindering factors portrayed and discussed in 6 themes: the time available for rehabilitation; management; new ways of working; absence of an actor; continuity; and consensus. The article concludes by discussing the implications for interagency collaboration in the field of vocational rehabilitation.
Safeguarding in fragmented families
- Author:
- SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES NETWORK
- Publisher:
- Social Perspectives Network
- Publication year:
- 2008
- Pagination:
- 64p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Papers from a study day designed to look at findings from studies of child death. It also reviews the persistent problems of interagency communication. It focuses specifically on mental health problems of parents exacerbated by separation through hospitalisation, imprisonment and migration and how services need to respond to these issues.
The Michael Stone Inquiry: a somewhat different homicide report
- Author:
- PRINS Herschel
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 18(3), September 2007, pp.411-431.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The report into the care, treatment, and supervision of Michael Stone is commented upon; special attention is paid to questions of anonymity, confidentiality, inter-agency communication, and media conduct.
Partnership in mental health and child welfare: social work responses to children living with parental mental illness
- Author:
- SHEEHAN Rosemary
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work in Health Care, 39(3/4), 2004, pp.309-323.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Mental illness is an issue for a number of families reported to child protection agencies. Parents with mental health problems are more vulnerable, as are their children, to having parenting and child welfare concerns. A recent study undertaken in the Melbourne Children's Court (Victoria, Australia) found that the children of parents with mental health problems comprised just under thirty percent of all new child protection applications brought to the Court and referred to alternative dispute resolution, during the first half of 1998. This paper reports on the study findings, which are drawn from a descriptive survey of 228 Pre-Hearing Conferences. A data collection schedule was completed for each case, gathering information about the child welfare concerns, the parents' problems, including mental health problems, and the contribution by mental health professionals to resolving child welfare concerns. The study found that the lack of involvement by mental health social workers in the child protection system meant the Children's Court was given little appreciation of either a child's emotional or a parent's mental health functioning. The lack of effective cooperation between the adult mental health and child protection services also meant decisions made about these children were made without full information about the needs and the likely outcomes for these children and their parents. This lack of interagency cooperation between mental health social work and child welfare also emerged in the findings of the Icarus project, a cross-national project, led by Brunel University, in England. This project compared the views and responses of mental health and child welfare social workers to the dependent children of mentally ill parents, when there were child protection concerns. It is proposed that adult mental health social workers involve themselves in the assessment of, and interventions in, child welfare cases when appropriate, and share essential information about their adult, parent clients. Children at risk of abuse and neglect are the responsibility of all members of the community, and relevant professional groups must accept this responsibility. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Interprofessional perspectives on transitional mental health services for young people aged 16-19 years
- Authors:
- RICHARDS Maxine, VOSTANIS Panos
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Interprofessional Care, 18(2), May 2004, pp.115-128.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This qualitative study investigated the need for transitional mental health services for young people aged 16 - 19 years in a health district, as perceived by professionals from mental health, social, education and non-statutory services. Semi-structured interviews with 39 managers and practitioners who planned or provided services for this age range, from a wide range of agencies, explored issues related to older adolescents' needs, service communication, transfer arrangements, current gaps, and recommendations. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and themes emerged according to grounded theory. The four identified themes, with 21 categories, were: older adolescents have multi-faceted needs; statutory mental health services are not geared towards this age group; communication between services is variable; and there are no formal transfer arrangements from child to adult services. The findings support the need for specialist transitional services, and the adoption of an interprofessional service model incorporating education, social services and non-statutory agencies.
Research into practice
- Author:
- AYRE Richard
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 7.3.02, 2002, p.45.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Reports on a comparative study of European child protection procedures where parents have mental health problems.