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Mental illness and suicide in British South Asian adults
- Author:
- INEICHEN Bernard
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Health Religion and Culture, 15(3), 2012, pp.235-250.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
South Asians make up about 4.7% of the UK population. Studies from the 1990s concluded that the mental health of British people of South Asian origin was at least as good, and probably rather better, than that of the ethnic majority. Their rates for mental illness and suicide have been shown by some researchers to be lower than that of the total UK population, using a variety of measures, and considering many psychiatric conditions. This paper reviews the literature on the extent of mental illness among British South Asian adults, and explores aspects of their service use, and their attitudes to mental illness. Some distinguishing features of British South Asian mental health are identified, including areas justifying further research. The author concludes that variations in the South Asian population including generation, country of origin, religion, class, wealth and geography, emphasise the growing need to disaggregate this population when presenting data about them.
Relationships between physical activity, symptoms and quality of life among inpatients with severe mental illness
- Authors:
- BONSAKSEN Tore, LERDAL Anners
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(2), February 2012, pp.69-75.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study explored the relationships between self-reported physical activity, depression, anxiety and quality of life in 18 inpatients with severe mental illness in Norway. Physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; anxiety and depression were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and quality of life was measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF. Results revealed that patients with more depression and anxiety symptoms reported lower quality of life. There was no relationship between physical activity and quality of life. Findings also confirmed relationships between depression and anxiety scores and lower quality of life. The authors concluded that the findings may be due to participants' severity of illness. Physical activity may be more important to quality of life in better-functioning patients.
Controversies in psychiatry and DSM-5: the relevance for social work
- Authors:
- LITTRELL Jill, LACASSE Jeffrey R.
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 93(4), October 2012, pp.265-269.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
In this essay, the authors address recent controversies surrounding the forthcoming 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the first major revision of the DSM since 1994. The essay reports that mental health professionals across a wide range of professions in the US have signed a petition to the DSM-5 Task Force asking for reconsideration of its intention to loosen and expand criteria for a variety of diagnoses, and notes that critiques of psychiatric medications are increasingly disseminated in the media. It suggests that these issues have particular relevance for children in foster care, who receive diagnoses and medication at high rates. It also discusses diagnoses and the relationship between academic psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry in the US. The authors argue that it is important that social work practitioners are informed about these issues, and consider implications and potential action strategies for social workers.
Editorial introduction: towards a paradigm shift from community care to community development in mental health
- Authors:
- CARPENTER Mick, RAJ Thara
- Journal article citation:
- Community Development Journal, 47(4), October 2012, pp.457-472.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Introducing a special issue of Community Development Journal on mental health, this article explores and discusses the relevance of community development to mental health and well-being and the reasons for limited previous coverage in the journal focusing directly on mental health issues. It looks at the development of the community care approach to mental health services, and suggests that until recently community development has largely ignored mental health and mainstream mental health policy and practice has overlooked community development. The authors argue that community development needs to embrace mental health issues and concerns, and that successful mental health policy and practice should be grounded in the principles of community development. The article also provides an overview of other articles in the special issue.
New grandparents’ mental health: the protective role of optimism, self-mastery, and social support
- Authors:
- SHLOMO Shirley Ben, TAUBMAN-BEN-ARI Orit
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Family Social Work, 15(4), July 2012, pp.254-271.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
First-time grandparents report conflicting feelings in the wake of the transition to their new role. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of optimism, self-mastery, perceived social support, and background variables (age, physical health, economic status) to mental health following the transition to grandparenthood. The sample consisted of 257 first-time Israeli grandparents (156 grandmothers and 101 grandfathers), of whom 151 were maternal grandparents and 106 were paternal grandparents. The participants were asked to complete a series of self-report questionnaires. Analysis was conducted to examine: differences between grandparents by gender and lineage; associations between mental health and the independent variables; and the unique and combined contribution of the independent variables to the mental health of new grandparents. The results indicate the importance of internal and external resources, as well as of health and economic status, for the mental health of new grandparents. The value of designing relevant preventive interventions by family social workers to assist grandparents in coping with their new role is discussed.
Together for mental health: a cross-government strategy for mental health and wellbeing in Wales
- Author:
- WALES. Welsh Government
- Publisher:
- Welsh Government
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 82p.
- Place of publication:
- Cardiff
This report presents the new mental health strategy for Wales, covering people of all ages. It aims to address the needs of people with mental health problems or a mental illness, whilst also improving mental wellbeing. The strategy is intended to improve outcomes for service users, carers and their families. It encourages the "recovery and reablement" approach, which aims to help people live independently and achieve their full potential. The strategy builds upon current policy and incorporates the legal requirements of the ‘Mental Health (Wales) Measure’, as follows: chapter 1 states the intent to promote mental wellbeing and, where possible, prevent mental health problems developing; chapter 2 sets out how a new partnership with the public will be established, encouraging an understanding of mental health and mental illness, seeking to eradicate the stigma which can be associated with mental health; chapter 3 emphasises the value of a well-designed, fully integrated network of care; chapter 4 highlights the areas of life which can affect mental health and wellbeing; and chapter 5 provides an overview of how to make the vision a reality.
Mental health, poverty and development
- Authors:
- FUNK Michelle, DREW Natalie, KNAPP Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Public Mental Health, 11(4), 2012, pp.166-185.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
It is estimated that 80% of people suffering from mental health disorders live in low or middle income countries (LMICs). The poor are, in general, disproportionately affected by mental health problems. This paper, which builds on the findings of WHO's Report on Mental Health and Development, aims to highlight the health, social, economic, and human rights effects of unaddressed mental disorders in LMICs. The authors also propose effective strategies to address mental disorders and their impacts as part of an overall development strategy. The paper begins with a review of the research on mental disorders and poverty. There is evidence of strong links between poverty and mental disorder, supporting the argument that mental disorders should be an important concern for development strategies. Mental disorders have diverse and far-reaching social impacts, including homelessness, higher rates of imprisonment, poor educational opportunities and outcomes, lack of employment and reduced income. The authors suggest that targeted poverty alleviation programmes are needed to break the cycle between mental illness and poverty. These must include measures specifically addressing the needs of people with mental health conditions, such as the provision of accessible and effective services and support, facilitation of education, employment opportunities and housing, and enforcement of human rights protection.
Diagnosing, diagnoses, and the DSM in clinical social work
- Author:
- PROBST Barbara
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 93(4), October 2012, pp.255-263.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
Using data collected within a larger study, this article presents findings about how clinical social workers think about and use diagnoses deriving from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and differential use of diagnostic categories. The US-based qualitative study gathered information from a sample of 30 clinical social workers in Westchester County who took part in face-to-face interviews. The article describes the methodology and the results of thematic analysis of the interviews. It discusses the findings, covering 7 specific themes: diagnosis can provide useful indications for treatment decisions, the importance of a diagnosis depends on the disorder, diagnoses can be affected by preference for a familiar or popular category, clinical social workers prefer to select the mildest diagnosis available, diagnosis is more problematic for children than for adults, experience changes attitudes towards and use of DSM categories, and DSM categories are not exact so choice can be a struggle. It reports that participants distinguished between thinking diagnostically and using the DSM, and considered symptoms a more useful analytic focus than psychiatric categories.
The legal problems and mental health needs of youth advice service users: the case for advice
- Authors:
- BALMER Nigel J., PLEASENCE Pascoe
- Publisher:
- Youth Access
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 45p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Youth Access commissioned this survey of clients of youth advice agencies to investigate the social welfare related legal problems faced by these clients and to measure their mental well-being. The report describes the background and study methodology, and presents the results. 188 young people with social welfare problems were surveyed in youth advice settings across 16 sites throughout England and Wales in May and June 2012. A questionnaire was used to collect information about the nature of problems, the type of help the young people were seeking, the consequences of the problems on their lives, and whether they felt the advice had led to improvements. The survey included screening for common mental illnesses. The report includes a profile of young people in youth advice settings, and presents the findings about the mental health of young people in youth advice settings, the impact of problems on young people's lives, what clients were seeking and their expectations of advice, improvements with advice, and the cost effectiveness of advice. The results indicated high levels of mental illness among young people attending for social welfare advice.
The alienated child
- Author:
- O’SULLIVAN Brian
- Journal article citation:
- Irish Social Worker, Autumn 2012, pp.13-16.
- Publisher:
- Irish Association of Social Workers
Marital breakdown has becomes a serious issue in Ireland, with an increase of 150% over the last decade. One emerging phenomenon that faces families, social workers, judges and mental health professionals relates to cases where a child rejects and denigrates a previously loved parent following separation or divorce. Often, when the alienated child is refusing contact with the rejected parent, all efforts to communicate are to no avail. This article considers some of the contributions put forward by authors to explain this phenomenon, identifies clinical presentations of an alienated child, and identifies the impact of alienation on children.