Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Criticalthinkrx may reduce psychiatric prescribing to foster youth
- Authors:
- COHEN David, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Research on Social Work Practice, 23(3), 2013, pp.284-293.
- Publisher:
- Sage
In a quasiexperimental, longitudinal study, the monthly proportion of medicated foster children and the average number of prescriptions per medicated child at Agency 1 (669 clients) exposed to the CriticalThinkRx curriculum were compared to Agencies 2–9 (3,346 clients) in the same two-county service network. Data were collected during 6 months of preintervention, 1 month of intervention, and 9 months of postintervention. Practitioners were not informed of data collection. During postintervention months 1-8, the proportion of medicated children declined from 17.5% to 11.0% at Agency 1, while the mean proportion rose slightly at Agencies 2-9, statistically significant effects. At 9 months, the proportion at Agency 1 rose again though not reaching preintervention level. Average numbers of prescriptions per child remained unchanged. Use of CriticalThinkRx may reduce psychiatric prescribing in foster care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked after children and young people (LACYP): research summary 2
- Author:
- CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE AND OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERVICES
- Publisher:
- Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This summary provides an overview of the key messages from a research review into what works in improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked after children and young people. The study focused on interventions for which the evidence based was most developed, including enhanced foster care, multi-systemic therapy and mentoring.
Caring and thriving: an international qualitative study of caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children and strategies to sustain positive mental health
- Authors:
- PROESCHOLD-BELL Rae Jean, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 98, 2019, pp.143-153.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: Child well-being is associated with caregiver mental health. Research has focused on the absence or presence of mental health problems, such as depression, in caregivers. However, positive mental health – defined as the presence of positive emotions, psychological functioning, and social functioning – likely prevents depression and in caregivers may benefit children more than the mere absence of mental health problems. Little attention has been given to how caregivers sustain positive mental health, particularly when doing challenging work in impoverished settings. Objective: The study's objective was to determine what successful caregivers of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in diverse countries do to sustain their positive mental health. Methods: Using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study design, trained local interviewers recruited a convenience sample of OVC caregivers through residential care institutions from five geographic regions (Kenya; Ethiopia; Cambodia; Hyderabad, India; and Nagaland, India). Participants completed surveys and in-depth interviews about strategies used to sustain their mental health over time or improve it during challenging times. Results: Sixty-nine OVC caregivers from 28 residential care institutions participated. Positive mental health survey scores were high. The authors organized the strategies named into six categories ordered from most to least frequently named: Religious Practices; Engaging in Caregiving; Social Support; Pleasurable Activities; Emotion Regulation; and Removing Oneself from Work. Prayer and reading religious texts arose as common strategies. Participants reported promoting positive emotions by focusing on their work's meaning and playing with children. The similar findings across diverse regions were striking. Some differences included more emphasis on emotion control in Ethiopia; listening to music/singing in Kenya and Hyderabad; and involving children in the tasks the participants enjoyed less (e.g., cleaning) in Cambodia. Conclusions: Under real-world conditions, small daily activities appeared to help sustain positive mental health. In addition, fostering structures that allow caregivers to engage regularly in rewarding caregiving tasks may be an affordable and scalable idea which could potentially benefit caregivers, children, and employers. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting the mental health of looked after and adopted children: a guide for social workers
- Authors:
- ALDRED Karen, RODWELL Helen
- Publisher:
- CoramBAAF
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 170
- Place of publication:
- London
This guide, primarily aimed at social care professionals, translates the theoretical concepts and research about children’s mental health into straightforward language and practical advice. Taking a holistic and attachment-focused approach, it demonstrates how to understand children’s background and current events, rather than focusing on diagnostic criteria and labels. The book is in two parts. Part 1 sets the scene and explores what mental health really means for children who are in (or have been) in care. It introduces a framework of how to understand children in their context, gives a comprehensive model for intervention, highlights relevant legislation, and explores available support services and their limitations. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for mental health provision are also looked at. Part 2 focuses on common worrying behaviours and symptoms experienced by looked after and adopted children and young people, such as anxiety and depression, attachment difficulties, ADHD, behaviour problems, eating and sleeping problems, post-traumatic stress and self-harm. (Edited publisher abstract)
Children and young people with intellectual disability in residential childcare: prevalence of mental health disorders and therapeutic interventions
- Authors:
- AGUILA-OTERO Alba, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 27(4), 2018, pp.337-347.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Children with intellectual disability are more likely to suffer abuse and neglect. Therefore, they are over‐represented among children in childcare interventions, particularly in residential childcare. The main goal of this article was to explore the correlates of mental health diseases in a sample of 169 children (6–18 years old) in residential care with intellectual disability compared with a group of 625 children, also in residential care but without disability. Results show that the prevalence of intellectual disability in residential childcare in Spain is about 19%, which is significant due to their special needs. In addition to this disability, they have a higher frequency of clinical problems in the scales of withdrawal‐depression, thought problems, attention problems and, above all, social problems than do their peers in residential care. They are also referred more frequently to therapeutic services, in particular to psychiatric intervention and they receive more pharmacological treatments.337-347
Supporting the mental health of children in care: evidence based practice
- Author:
- McCALL Suzanne
- Editors:
- GUISHARD-PINE Jeune, COLEMAN-OLUWABUSOLA Gail
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 248
- Place of publication:
- London
Combining research with practice findings, this book brings together contributions from a range of experts on improving the mental health of children in care. Chapters describe the difficulties children in care often experience, such as vulnerability to self-harm, substance misuse or inappropriate sexual behaviour. Chapters also explore therapeutic interventions, such as art therapy or integrative therapy, which can be used to address the root of these behaviours. The book also makes recommendations for further training for foster carers, for reinforcing professional support networks and for all agencies to have a developed understanding of cultural considerations when working with children in care. The book will be especially useful for psychologists, psychiatrists, CAMHS professionals and social workers working with children and young people in care. (Edited publisher abstract)
Better Futures: a validated model for increasing postsecondary preparation and participation of youth in foster care with mental health challenges
- Authors:
- PHILLIPS Lee Ann, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 57, 2015, p.50–59.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Higher education participation rates of young people in foster care are dramatically lower than their level of postsecondary education aspiration. Increasing attention to this disparity has stimulated policy and practice enhancements, however rigorously validated models for promoting postsecondary preparation and participation have not existed for young people in foster care, including those with mental health conditions. This article describes Better Futures, which is the first such model to be experimentally validated as effective for increasing the higher education participation and other related outcomes of young people in foster care with mental health challenges. Better Futures features a four day on-campus Summer Institute, coaching provided to youth by older peers who are in college and have shared experiences around foster care and/or mental health, and workshops that bring together youth, coaches and guest speakers for information sharing and mutual support. This article includes the theoretical and component features of the Better Futures model, findings related to intervention fidelity, participants' evaluation of the programme, and discussion of implications for future model refinement and research. (Publisher abstract)
Improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked-after children and young people (LACYP): research review 2
- Authors:
- DICKSON Kelly, et al
- Publisher:
- Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 116p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
On the basis of a systematic review and analysis of key data this review aimed to draw out 'what works?' messages on improving the emotional and behavioural health of looked after children. The review focused on the interventions of enhanced foster care, multi-systemic therapy and mentoring. It looked at the views of looked after children and young people on what they felt constituted emotional and behavioural health. It examined the accessibility, acceptability and effectiveness of enhanced foster care, multi-systemic therapy and mentoring. The third research question was to find out what was known about the contribution made to improve emotional behavioural of looked after children and young people by the attitudes, skills and abilities of foster, residential and kinship carers and birth families and interventions to support this contribution. The review's main findings and conclusions on each of these review questions are summarised in the final chapter.
The mental health of looked after children: matching response to need
- Authors:
- STANLEY Nicky, RIORDAN Denise, ALASZEWSKI Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 13(3), May 2005, pp.239-248.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study aimed to explore the mental health problems of looked after children and to examine the service response to those needs in two English local authorities. The study utilised a purposive sample of 80 looked after children which was biased towards those with high needs but which reflected the characteristics of looked after children in the two areas with regard to age, gender and type of placement. Key data on children and young people were collected from social services' case files and a set of indicators of mental health need was designed by the research team in order to distinguish different types and levels of mental health problems. High levels of mental health need in the study group were associated with placement disruption. Educational difficulties were also apparent in the group with the highest levels of mental health need. Longer-term input from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) professionals did not appear to be targeted on the group with the highest level of mental health needs. The researchers conclude that longer-term CAMHS interventions could be usefully focused on looked after children who have experienced high levels of placement disruption. As the professional group most likely to be providing substantial intervention to looked after children and their carers, social workers require relevant training in identifying and responding to mental health needs. CAMHS professionals could develop and strengthen their consultative roles with front-line carers, social workers and schools.
Catching children as they fall: mental health promotion in residential child care in East Dunbartonshire
- Authors:
- van BEINUM Michael, MARTIN Andy, BONNETT Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, August 2002, pp.14-22.
- Publisher:
- Department of Social Work. University of Strathclyde.
Outlines the first years of a joint project, 'Open Door', which provided a dedicated mental health service for looked after children. The initiative was developed between residential child care managers in East Dunbartonshire and the North Glasgow Community Adolescent Mental Health team. Concludes with a discussion of some of the philosophical underpinnings of the project and suggestions for future development.