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Experiences of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students in using the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills in mental health settings in Norway
- Authors:
- BONSAKSEN Tore, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(7), July 2011, pp.332-338.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) is an observer-rating instrument which provides a picture of these skills when observed through the actions of a particular client in a particular context. This study investigated its utility in mental health settings, as experienced by Norwegian occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. An informal draft translation was used. Focus group interviews were conducted with three occupational therapy practice educators working in mental health settings and six occupational therapy students on practice placement, who had used the ACIS during an 8-week mental health practice placement in 2009. Three main themes emerged: observing with the ACIS, scoring the ACIS and using the ACIS in clinical practice. Questions were raised about: how the therapist's level of engagement during the observation may have an impact upon the client's performance; whether the process of scoring and giving feedback concerning the client's skills may be emotionally challenging for therapists, students and clients; and how to give feedback to clients. The authors conclude that, by giving a structure and terminology that supports precise observation and reporting, the ACIS has the potential to make a positive contribution, both for the individual client and for the professional staff.
Community participation and mental health during retirement in community sample of Australians
- Authors:
- OLESEN Sarah C., BERRY Helen L.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(2), March 2011, pp.186-197.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper considers whether people use community participation to manage the transition into retirement. The study aimed to investigate whether community participation during later adulthood is more strongly associated with mental health during retirement than it is while in employment. The participants were a random sample of 322 men and 311 women aged 45 years and older resident in an Australian coastal community. The frequency of participation across 14 types of community-based activities was assessed and overall mental health was measured on a 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Analysis of the results showed that retirees did not participate in their communities more than working people. The association between community participation and psychological distress did not differ by retirement status when people of all ages were considered together. However, stronger associations between several activities and less distress were found for retirees compared to their working peers in a younger cohort (aged 45 to 54) who were approaching the age of retirement. The findings offer some support for the view that community participation may become particularly important during the transition to retirement as a means of compensating for the absence of paid work or because these activities define a new retirement phase of life.
Tackling loneliness to avert a downward spiral
- Author:
- QUINNEY Lee
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 10.2.11, 2011, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The findings of a report which examined loneliness in the social and structural context of society are summarised. The report included an literature review on loneliness and also drew on a survey of 2,256 people about their experiences of loneliness. The findings suggest that people feel more lonely in today’s society. Possible links between our individualistic society and increase in mental health problems are also highlighted. The report recommends a more proactive response to loneliness in society by professionals with an interest in well-being and mental health. Practice implications for social workers, directors and commissioners are listed.
The Resident Athletic League: a sports-based ‘interpersonal effectiveness’ group for adolescent males in residential treatment
- Author:
- BOUTIN Todd J. Marquis
- Journal article citation:
- Groupwork, 21(2), 2011, pp.71-83.
- Publisher:
- Whiting and Birch
This article addresses the benefits of a sports-based ‘interpersonal effectiveness’ group for adolescent males who are in a residential treatment programme. The residents of the treatment facility often showed deficits in social skills and tended to respond to interpersonal stressors with self- or other- harming behaviour. The aim of the Resident Athletic League (RAL) was to help the residents to learn the ability to achieve desired ends in social situations while maintaining both relationships and self-respect. This article introduces the groupwork and human behaviour theories that provided the foundation for the RAI. It explains how these theories were implemented through group planning and facilitation. Two examples of the resident group experience are provided, showing how the flexibly formatted group allowed for individualised planning and member-driven purpose. The article concludes by discussing the relationship between effective groups and House culture.
Battered, broken, bereft: why people still end up sleeping rough
- Author:
- ST. MUNGO'S
- Publisher:
- St. Mungo's
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 14p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This short report examines how and why rough sleeping is increasing in England today. Taking evidence from the largest ever national survey of street outreach workers and the largest annual survey of rough sleepers, as well as personal testimonies from St Mungo’s clients, it paints a picture of people who are ill, alone and failed by public services. Outreach workers across England report increasing numbers of rough sleepers and most believed that there is not enough emergency accommodation available. The report looks at the changes in the rough sleeping population in terms of mental health problems, relationship breakdown, and domestic violence. Illustrative case studies are included. The opportunities to help each of these groups before they are forced onto the streets are discussed. The authors conclude that the Government must focus on those opportunities so that no one is left without help in their darkest hour. They suggest that service reform need not be costly; particularly if the right interventions reach people in time to prevent rough sleeping, from which the journey to recovery is much longer.
Stress, depression, workplace and social supports and burnout in intellectual disability support staff
- Authors:
- MUTKINS E., BROWN R.F., THORSTEINSSON E.B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55(5), May 2011, pp.500-510.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Work stress, described as when the perceived demands of a job exceed one’s internal and external resources to do the job, is common in staff providing support to people with intellectual disabilities, putting them at increased risk of burnout. Stressors typically reported by those working in this environment include, challenging behaviour, interpersonal issues with colleagues and organisational concerns. The small prior literature provides little consensus on predictors of burnout in disability support staff. This study examined client behaviour, staff psychological stress, anxiety, depression, social support (number and satisfaction), organisational support and burnout in 80 disability support staff in a community setting in Australia. Burnout levels were similar to or slightly lower than normed values for human services staff. Cross-sectional regression analyses indicated that depression symptoms and organisational support were related to worse emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, whereas less social support was related to less personal accomplishment. Social support satisfaction (but not social support number or organisational support) moderated between high psychological stress and less emotional exhaustion. Taken together, these results suggest that depression symptoms and low organisational support are often concurrent with burnout symptoms. Worker’s personal and organisational supports may help to bolster their sense of personal accomplishment and buffer against the potential for emotional exhaustion.
Development of the Children's Attributions about Psychological Problems in their Peers Scale
- Authors:
- SWORDS L., HENNESSY E., HEARY C.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 37(3), May 2011, pp.446-455.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Research has shown that children's beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are related to their attitudes and reactions towards affected peers. While sympathy and compassion will result in prosocial responses, anger will give rise to exclusion, social distance and rejection. This study describes the development of the Children's Attributions about Psychological Problems in their Peers (CAPPP) Scale, an instrument which assesses children's beliefs about the causes of psychological disorders among their peers. The 16 items comprising the CAPPP were derived from previous qualitative research findings. A total of 595 young people, with ages spanning early childhood to late adolescence, completed a CAPPP Scale for each of 2 vignettes describing the behaviour of hypothetical peers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an externalising condition, and depression, an internalising condition. Modifications following consideration of psychometric properties and conceptual fit resulted in a 12-item scale. For both ADHD and depression, the components that emerged were ‘Volition’, ‘Recent Life Stress’, ‘Family Factors’ and ‘School Factors’. The results suggest that children's and adolescents' beliefs about the causes of psychological problems are multidimensional and incorporate both individual and environmental factors. Using the CAPPP, researchers can assess which aspect of these beliefs facilitates or hinders positive responses to affected peers.
Campaign appears to influence subjective experience of stigma
- Authors:
- SCHNEIDER Justine, BEELEY Chris, REPPER Julie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 20(1), 2011, pp.89-97.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Between September 2007 and Mental Health Awareness Week in October 2009, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in England conducted an anti-stigma campaign. It hoped to reduce the general public’s stereotyped attitudes to mental health problems and mental health service users. The campaign's rationale was based on social contact theory, which holds that bringing together 2 groups can reduce inter-group hostility. This study evaluates the campaign's impact on removing barriers to service users’ employment, promoting recovery and social inclusion, reducing the incidence of discrimination, as well as dissipating stereotyped attitudes and self-stigma. Factor analysis of questionnaires returned by 243 service users revealed 3 key factors referring to service users’ perceptions of: public attitudes to mental health; service users’ relationships with staff; and other interpersonal relationships. Service users’ perceptions of public attitudes towards mental health were improved, suggesting a short term, successful outcome from the main thrust of the campaign. However, there was no significant effect on the other 2 factors. The authors conclude that certain aspects of stigma associated with mental health may be changed through targeted strategies and community-level interventions. But, there remains an intractable core of stigma experiences associated with interpersonal relationships with family and staff, discrimination and social interactions. Bullying, harassment and assault can occur. These hard core issues present the greatest challenge to future anti-stigma strategies.